CLEVELAND, Ohio — While Darius Garland’s return dominated headlines in the Cavs’ 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers, another storyline has been quietly developing that could have massive implications for the team’s ceiling: De’Andre Hunter is becoming exactly the weapon the Cavs hoped for when they traded for him.
Hunter posted 20 points for the second consecutive game, continuing a remarkable stretch where he’s scored 20 or more in five of his last eight contests. But it’s not just the scoring totals that have the Wine and Gold Talk Podcast hosts excited — it’s how he’s scoring and what it means for Cleveland’s offensive versatility.
“I think De’Andre Hunter is, especially with Darius Garland coming back and Sam Merrill and Max Strus and all these other players, he’s starting to get acclimated into the system that the Cavs ideally had planned for him when they went and traded for him,” said podcast host Ethan Sands. “And I think what’s important is that he’s kind of doing this quietly.”
This quiet productivity represents a dramatic shift from last season’s predictable Cavaliers offense.
Cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor highlighted this evolution on the podcast: “I think one of the things that made the Cavs so difficult for opponents to defend is that they had so many places that they could go offensively and they were so unpredictable. During the J.B. Bickerstaff era, what the Cavs were going to do offensively was very straightforward, and everybody in the league knew exactly what was coming.”
What makes Hunter particularly valuable is his ability to attack off the dribble, a skill set that Cleveland has desperately needed.
With defenses focused on containing stars like Garland, Mitchell, and Mobley, Hunter often finds himself matched up against lesser defenders — and he’s taking full advantage.
“I like the aggressiveness that he’s playing with. He’s not hesitating when he’s getting open shots,” Fedor said. “I like the fact that he has added an element of drives to this team because the drives are supposed to be ingrained in this offense, and that’s kind of where everything starts.”
The timing couldn’t be better for Hunter to find his groove.
As the Cavaliers get healthier and more of their weapons return to the lineup, Hunter is establishing himself as a critical piece rather than getting lost in the shuffle. He’s figuring out how to maximize his impact without dominating the ball, an essential skill on a team with multiple stars.
Sands noted on the podcast that Hunter’s role is becoming more defined: “Maybe that’s because he’s in the starting unit. Maybe that’s because he’s getting touches in his spots. Maybe it’s because the Cavs understand what he can do functionally at the point of attack, but also when it comes to breaking down defenses when called upon.”
“I think there’s still more that the Cavs can pull out of him,” Fedor explained. “I think they have been toying with him in drive situations. Get him the ball either at the top of the key and allow him to take his guy off the dribble. Get him the ball maybe at the elbow, see if he can take his guy off the dribble.”
For a Cavaliers team with championship aspirations, Hunter’s emergence as an additional offensive threat could be the difference between a good team and a great one. His ability to fill gaps in the offense and exploit defensive vulnerabilities gives Cleveland an X-factor that opposing teams aren’t prepared for.
Want to hear the full breakdown of Hunter’s impact and how he’s reshaping the Cavaliers’ attack? Check out the latest Wine and Gold Talk Podcast for the complete analysis of this emerging weapon in Cleveland’s arsenal.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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