The Cleveland Cavaliers are usually always going to be in the news, whether it’s bad or good. This is mainly because LeBron James is on the team, who might very well be the most talked about player in NBA history. So far this season, the Cavaliers have been on both sides of the spectrum. One positive trend to take away so far this season as has been the productivity of Jose Calderon.
Jose Calderon has been a Major Factor for the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers started out in a huge funk, losing to teams that they shouldn’t have lost to. A big part of their early-season struggles was all of the new faces that were included in the offseason. These additions were made because of the peculiar departure of Kyrie Irving.
The departure of Irving obviously left a void at the point guard position, at least for the first part of the season. With Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Rose still banged up, coach Tyron Lue began to experiment with the position. Iman Shumpert was running the offense for a few games before he got injured as well.
There was even a game where LeBron was officially listed as a point guard. Amid the early season struggles, Jose Calderon did not get much playing time. Once all of these injuries occurred, Calderon’s number was finally called consistently.
With his minutes recently, he has been a huge part of why the Cavaliers have been on a roll. Calderon’s game has always been predicated on taking care of the basketball and making the right play. Throughout his career in the NBA, he has always been near the top in assist to turnover ratio.
Calderon Providing Veteran Leadership
In addition to his ball control, he is also an exceptional shooter from behind the arc. In the recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers, he scored 17 points and knocked down five three-pointers. He has also benefited from playing with LeBron. The attention that LeBron demands allows shooters to have comfortable, wide open shots.
Calderon’s defense has also been a pleasant surprise for the Cavaliers. Even though he is up there in age, he has been picking up the point guards full court and causing havoc. He has also been great at taking timely defensive charges. These defensive plays have been adding to the Cavaliers’ momentum.
Perhaps the best attribute that Calderon has is his professionalism. He knows that he will not be the starter for long. Once Thomas comes back, Calderon will likely have to take a back seat. Calderon is focused on winning and will sacrifice individual numbers in order to help the team.
Calderon’s play has been a huge part of the Cavaliers’ recent success. It will be interesting to see how this team will adjust if Thomas comes back soon. In the meantime, however, Calderon will continue to try and hold down the fort.
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