Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Isaac Okoro missed his fourth direct game Saturday night after spraining his foot against the Detroit Pistons on December 26. But the Cavs hope he’s back soon.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland. com reported that the hope within the organization is for Okoro to return to the court on Monday, when the Cavs’ path continues in Orlando opposite the Magic.
On the surface, Okoro didn’t seem to have the biggest footprint in the first two games. The No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft averaged 37. 5 minutes in the first two contests, but posted a pedestrian count of 5. 5 points, 3. 0 rebounds and 2. 5 assists. However, the Cavs fought in Okoro’s absence.
Cleveland entered Saturday night’s game opposite the Atlanta Hawks with an offensive score of 117. 6 with Okoro on the ground. This score fell to 102. 8 in his absence. The defensive effect was not as drastic, although it was similar. Cleveland had a defensive score of 101. 9 when Okoro was in the rotation, which dropped to 104. 6 without the former Auburn star on the ground.
Okoro had beaten Cedi Osman and Dylan Windler to win the small component of the team’s starting forward at camp. Head coach J. B. Bickerstaff warned the team that they would miss Okoro’s stabilizing influence on both ends of the field, according to Fedor:
“It’s just Isaac. He makes you feel comfortable. He makes you feel like you can accept him as true by the way he plays. He is safe with basketball. He doesn’t spoil many missions. Array runs offensively where he should, and just does all the little things that make basketball easier. He made us feel incredibly comfortable being able to have him while he is. there on the ground. “
The 19-year-old, one of the most beloved wingers in 2020 elegance heading into the draft, more for his defensive sense than his attacking game. Okoro remains a notable presence in his only season at Auburn, averaging 12. 9 problems and more than 60% of his two-point attempts. But his shooting diversity was limited (28. 6% depth) and he was not necessarily considered a world-class playmaker or ball handler.
However, Bickerstaff alluded to Okoro’s basketball IQ and execution as something that has a tangible effect on his teammates. His ability to fill multiple positions and transfer positions also benefits the rear end of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, neither of whom are suitable individual defenders.
The Cavs hope to progress through Bickerstaff’s first full season as head coach. Okoro’s continued progress in the initial unit turns out to be a large component of that forward-looking growth.
Chuma Okeke will be weeks away
Orlando Magic ahead Chuma Okeke got off to a poor start to his NBA career.
Okeke missed the entire 2019-20 season due to a torn ACL he suffered in Sweet 16 of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Tournament. The Magic still settled on Okeke with the tournament’s 16th pick. the overall standings despite the injury, which seems like a point of convenience in allowing the former Auburn star to regain his strength.
Unfortunately, Okeke suffered a setback.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Okeke is expected to miss “several” weeks of action due to a bone bruise in his left knee. This is the same knee that Okeke suffered the ACL tear on, but Wojnarowski reported that there was no ligament injury this time.
The 22-year-old seemed to be a wonderful pick in Orlando given his versatility. Okeke is averaging 1. 8 interceptions and 1. 2 blocks in his second year with the Tigers, showing an equivalent ability to play passing lanes and protect the rim.
Okeke averaged 3. 0 points, 2. 6 rebounds and 1. 6 assists while playing just over 18 minutes a night in his first five games.
All stats are received via Basketball Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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