Cavs aim to play at ‘extremely slow’ pace

CLEVELAND — The Cavs aren't trying to fly by in the fast line. They're OK just cruising down the road, not in any rush at all.

The Cavs are the slowest-paced team in the league this season. Entering the week, their average number of possessions per game was 96.3, dead last in the NBA. That's just how they like it.

Much of it comes from roster construction.

Defensively, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been the best at-the-rim defensive pair in the league, two pillars in the paint that have made opposing offenses think twice about trying to drive to the basket. But in order to maximize that advantage, the Cavs need to slow the game's pace down whenever possible and allow them to set up inside.

The same goes for the offensive end. While much of it goes through Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, Mobley and Allen have represented the team's best third and fourth options, with each averaging at least 14 points per game. They also play crucial roles in the Cavs' pick-n-roll game and are above-average passers for big men.

So on both ends of the floor, if the Cavs can slow the game to a crawl, they stand to benefit. When asked what kind of pace the Cavs are looking for, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff laughed and said, “Extremely slow.”

“It's about our team and where our strengths lie,” Bickerstaff said. “If you allow our big guys to participate in the defense, it's going to be difficult to score. Same thing on the offensive end of the floor. You allow our big guys to get in, be part of the action and dominate the painted area, it gives us opportunities.”