CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs’ defensive identity has been their calling card for years, but their season opener against the Knicks exposed a vulnerability that opposing teams are eagerly exploiting: perimeter defense.
“I think you just have to ask yourself if you’re playing against the Cavs and you’re trying to find the perceived weak links, who are they? They’re the guys out on the perimeter,” said Chris Fedor, cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter, putting a spotlight on what could become the team’s biggest defensive challenge this season.
While Cleveland still boasts elite rim protection with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, their guards and wings are struggling to contain dribble penetration. This weakness was on full display against the Knicks, as Jalen Brunson and his teammates repeatedly found ways to collapse the defense.
The departure of Isaac Okoro has left a significant void in the team’s perimeter defense.
“Isaac Okoro was an elite point of attack defender. He’s no longer around,” Fedor noted. “Lonzo Ball is a different kind of defender. I think he’s an impactful defender, but he’s more about getting in the passing lines, deflections, use his brain to be one step ahead.”
This defensive shortcoming creates a domino effect throughout the Cavs’ scheme.
When perimeter players can’t contain their assignments, it forces help rotations that pull Cleveland’s big men away from the basket, neutralizing their greatest defensive strength.
“I just don’t know who takes on that role of point of attack defensive stock,” Fedor continued. “Is it Jaylon Tyson? That was a tough ask in the opener to put him on Jalen Brunson.”
The challenge becomes even more complex when facing teams with versatile big men who can stretch the floor.
Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com columnist, highlighted this specific concern: “When you have these guys on the perimeter are going to be the spotlight on them will be brighter when Karl-Anthony Towns is on the court. Because that means one of your best rim protectors has to keep track of somebody 25ft from the basket.”
The problem isn’t new for Cleveland.
As host Ethan Sands recalled from last season’s playoff exit: “Looking back to the Indiana Pacer series, not only were bigger players trying to put their smaller guards into actions, they were also trying to put Jared Allen into actions and get him onto the perimeter to expose him.”
This tactical dilemma forces Cleveland into uncomfortable defensive matchups.
When Mobley or Allen has to guard a shooter at the 3-point line, it removes their shot-blocking presence from the paint, leaving driving lanes more accessible for opposing guards.
The coaching staff is scrambling to find solutions.
Kenny Atkinson has been experimenting with different defensive assignments, even giving rookie Tyrese Proctor minutes guarding All-Star caliber opponents.
Without the ability to consistently get stops, the pressure increases on the offensive end to compensate.
What makes this particularly concerning is that the Cavaliers’ roster construction was specifically designed to have answers for every matchup problem. Yet the season opener suggested that their perimeter defense might be a weakness that will be difficult for schematic adjustments to fully address.
As the Cavs prepare to face Brooklyn on Friday, the question remains: can they develop enough perimeter defensive resistance to support their elite interior defenders? Or will opposing teams continue to attack the perimeter as the path of least resistance?
Tune in to the next Wine and Gold Talk podcast to hear how the Cavaliers adjust their defensive approach against the Nets and whether they can shore up this glaring vulnerability.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our [User Agreement](https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/user-agreement.html) and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our [Privacy Policy.](https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/privacy-policy.html)