Larry Nance Jr. Making The Cleveland Cavaliers A Much Bigger Threat
Image: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Just how important is Larry Nance Jr. to the Cleveland Cavaliers? He’s definitely proven his worth to the team over the last few weeks. With Tristan Thompson out due to injury, Nance has become the team’s rebounding machine. How much more dominant can he become?
The loss of Tristan Thompson has been critical for the Cavaliers. The team wasn’t winning with him. Atleast they showed some grit and determination with him on the court. Nance, who’s struggled to make it into the starting lineup, has stepped up and has earned his spot. Thompson might find himself coming off the bench as a result.
It’s not unusual for Thompson to enter with the second unit. He’s done so in the past with positive results. Nance seems to do a lot better with the starting role. He looks to be motivated and determined. It’s showing based on his recent play.
Nance’s last 6 games have been nothing short of spectacular. He’s recorded 7 or more 11 or more rebounds in each game. This includes his contributions on the offensive glass where he’s recorded games of 3,5,9,10 offensive boards. It’s a streak that most Cavs fans expected from the former 1st round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers when the team traded for him last year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers believe highly in Nance Jr. The team signed him to an extension keeping him in Cleveland through the 2021/22 season. The front office envisioned Nance as a game changer. The confidence they showed in him is paying off greatly.
It’s unclear if the Cavs want to trade Tristan Thompson or Kevin Love. Thompson is the most likely to be moved, opening up a spot for Nance to get all the minutes he can handle. Regardless, Nance needs to be the alpha dog of the frontcourt. He’s a bit small to be a full-time center, but that’s not stopped him by any means.
We’ve seen Nance go up against the NBA’s biggest. He matched up with DeAndre Jordan and more than held his own, owning the former All-Star on the glass. That’s just what the norm is for Nance now. You expect him to be the dominant big.
What’s lost when speaking of Larry Nance Jr. is his passing ability. There’s no Cavs big man that can facilitate the ball better. In addition, Nance’s scoring has increase during his streak (double digits in his last 6 games). It’s not out of the question to see him become a consistent 15 PPG, 12 RPG, 4 APG player.
A lot of teams laugh at the Cleveland Cavaliers, but, Larry Nance Jr. might have the last laugh. He’s a true cornerstone to the franchise. As team’s prepare to face the Cavs, they must gameplan for the threat of Larry Nance Jr. and his amazing athletic and aggressive play. The Cavs are finally seeing that potential which they knew Nance was capable of.
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
