Player Ratings: Cavs vs. Nets – Cavaliers coast to easy victory

Cleveland Cavaliers decimated Brooklyn Nets in one of their easiest wins of the season.

The ratings are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Evan Mobley

21 points (7-9 shooting), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Neither Cavaliers had to exert themselves in this game. It was over by the end of the first quarter. Still, Mobley kept his foot on the gas for a team-high 21 points on efficient shooting.

Mobley’s growth as an offensive player is the story of the Cavaliers season. In the past, Mobley might have been overshadowed during a game like this. But this season, the Cavaliers are emphasizing pushing him out of his comfort zone on a nightly basis.

Grade: A+

Donovan Mitchell

18 points (6-14 shooting), 5 assists, 4 steals

Mitchell has had no problem giving up his individual numbers for the team’s success. He established himself as a scorer at various points in this game, but never felt the need to take control of the offense. His selflessness should not be taken for granted.

He also notched five steals as the Cavaliers wreaked havoc on the defensive end tonight. More on this later.

Grade: B+

Darius Garland

11 points (4-6 shooting), 6 assists, 6 turnovers

I won’t pretend that Darius Garland was terrible in a game the Cavaliers won by 29 points. Nevertheless, this was not his sharpest game.

Garland turned the ball over six times, almost all of them feeling unforced. A lazy pass, stepping (or not stepping) on ​​the half-court line, these are all unforced errors that shouldn’t be overlooked – even if they were harmless tonight.

Grade: D

Jarrett Allen

12 points (5-5 shooting), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

Allen had one of his best games of the season earlier vs Washington Wizards. In this game, Allen continued to be a positive contributor by walking perfectly from the floor. He showed Brooklyn no mercy on both ends of the floor and deserves another quality grade.

Grade: A-

Caris LeVert

19 points (6-10 shooting), 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

LeVert was the best player on the floor tonight. Seriously, LeVert was on fire from the first moment he stepped on the court. He looked more athletic than he has all season, flying around the floor defensively for 2 steals and 2 blocks.

This has been a great start to the year for LeVert. He shot 6-for-9 from downtown tonight and is well over 45% from three for the season. We see the total package from LeVert.

Grade: A+

Sam Merrill

7 points (1-8 shooting), 3 assists

Sam… oh, Sam. The three-point shot just hasn’t been as reliable for Merrill as it was last season. He’s shooting under 35% on the year, and tonight’s performance will only drop that number lower.

Merrill is working hard to break even in every other aspect of the game. He makes an effort in defense and does his best to attack ends offensively. But the simple truth is this: Merrill is on the field for his sharpshooting. If he wants to stay in the rotation, he needs to turn it on from deep.

Grade: D

George Niang

17 points (7-10 shooting), 9 rebounds, 2 assists

Cavalier fans were tired with Niang for most of last season. This year we can finally see why Koby Altman added him in free agency. Niang can contribute, especially through an 82-game season where you need players who can eat innings.

Niang’s near-double-double is a perfect example of this. The Cavaliers’ core is capable of resting games when the bench keeps them afloat against lesser competition. This is everything you hoped to get from Niang.

Grade: A+

Shut up Jerome

5 points (2-7 shooting), 6 assists, 3 rebounds

Let’s face it. The inscrutable shot splits from the start of the season would never be sustainable. The fire has cooled. Where does that leave Jerome?

He doesn’t score in bunches like he used to. But tonight showed that Jerome can still be a useful member of the team even when he’s not pulling in from 30 feet. Jerome created offense for others and kept his turnovers to a minimum (two turnovers). If this is a bad game for Jerome, the Cavaliers could do much worse at their backup point guard position.

Grade: C+