Isaac Okoro’s New Impact to Cleveland Cavaliers’ Good Form

Isaac Okoro is one player whose play has evolved since being thrown in as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ go-to guy for making plays.

The Cavalier’s swingman, ever since he was propelled into the starting lineup to fill an unexpected void left by injuries to teammates Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, has been making solid impacts having taken on the onus. Indeed, he has been playing some of the season’s best basketball.  It is fair to say that nobody seems happier than Isaac Okoro to take on the grunt work on the Cleveland Cavaliers team.

Whenever injuries beset a team, one has to step up and play more minutes than usual. Players get scrappy on the boards when a teammate gets a few early fouls, or contribute offensively when mismatch opportunities arise.

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Okoro started the first five games of the season due to the absence of Allen and Garland and averaged 24 minutes a game during his first 16 games of action. Even playing 32 minutes in back-to-back games— it’s fair to say he has completed everything.

The Cavs’ best on-ball defender, Okoro, had even more responsibilities after Allen was benched due to foul trouble. The 6-foot-5 man was used as a power forward and could hold his own in the point for Cleveland in their small-ball lineup.

He currently averages 9.0 points per game. A  field goal of 49.6, 3 points and a field goal % of 37.5.  On free throws he is 68.3 %, and 3.2 rebounds per game in his fourth NBA season. Suffice to say that not only has he done this, he also improved offensively in his new Cavaliers role. He scored 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including three 3-pointers, in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.

He did all this while putting up a solid defensive effort against the top scorers on opposing teams. He has used his quickness to take bigger opponents off the dribble and finish in the lane, upsetting formidable defenses.

Okoro has demonstrated how his ability to penetrate defenses can help his teammates create more shots. For the fourth time in his career, the 22-year-old has matched a career-high six assists, and in each of his six games with an assist, he has played for thirty minutes or longer.

Max Strus, a forward, remarked,

“We can exploit the way they are guarding him.

We can use Isaac to strengthen our team in those positions because he is an outstanding and intelligent basketball player. He has performed an exceptional job.

We win these games because of the excellent ice on both ends of the floor each night”.

After scoring 37 points against Houston Rockets, Donovan Mitchell declared, “I think this is where Isaac will thrive.” He can make shots from the free throw line, drive to the hoop, locate teammates, and create on the offensive end and the boards. He is aggressive and assertive, and we know his defensive capabilities.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff remarked earlier in the season:

“There are so many things that impact winning that does not go in stat sheets that Isaac does.

You cannot quantify the way he makes his teammates feel when he performs those actions”.

Isaac is someone we know and appreciate. Though he significantly impacts winning, many want to write him off. We are grateful to Isaac to some extent.

Being the team’s hustle and energy guy means a lot to Okoro, as he stated earlier in the season.

Every guy on any team, in my opinion, needs someone like me. It would be best if you had someone who can be an energy guy, someone who handles the grunt work and the little things. It would help if you did that because not many NBA players want to do that.

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Okoro now has the chance and self-assurance to assume the role given him; He will likely continue to see increased opportunities as an offensive creator. If he can maintain this level of play even when the Cavaliers team is healthy, then they have the potential to become even more formidable.