Catchings

Cleveland fans have long been spoiled with solid point play since Mark Price guided the team to the Eastern Conference playoffs in the late-80s and early-90s. Terrell Brandon ran the show for a few seasons, as did Brevin Knight, highlighted by cameo appearances by the mini, but mighty Earl Boykins. Before his trade to the Clippers two seasons ago, Andre Miller was the star on struggling Cavalier teams.

Last season must have seemed like an eternity when the Cavaliers went through five different point guards, from the disgruntled Bimbo Coles and displaced Dajuan Wagner to unknowns Tierre Brown, Smush Parker, and Milt Palacio. They were members of a selfish Cavaliers team, prone to turnovers, and who ranked dead last in the league in the assist/turnover ratio (1.20).

Shoring up the position with his first free agent signing in the offseason, Jim Paxson acquired the well-traveled Kevin Ollie to a five-year, $15 million contract, the first long-term contract of his career. Paxson wanted veteran leaders, hard workers, and solid role players to surround and catalyze the development of LeBron James, and Ollie fit the bill.

“Kevin has a certain toughness from the road he’s traveled and players respect his work ethic in every practice, in every drill, and in every play,” says Assistant Coach Mark Osowski. “He really acts as an extension of the coaches on the floor.”

He’s done exactly what the Cavaliers have expected—playing gritty defense, keeping turnovers low and assists high, and stabilizing the younger, impressionable Cavaliers. And Ollie’s also been a league leader with a 3.00 assist/turnover ratio (168 assists/56 turnovers), ranking 11th, right behind New Jersey’s Jason Kidd.

“I work to bring in positive energy whether as a starter or coming off the bench, by either pushing the tempo or sustaining the momentum [of the starters]” says Ollie. “I try to make the players around me better by getting them looks, while also valuing the ball.”

For the first half of the season, he shared the point with James, who was inked into the starter’s spot after an outstanding preseason.

Ollie came off the bench and also corralled the team late in games, but the strain on James from initiating the offense, learning the position, and scoring 20 points a game began to undermine the star rookie’s impact. The team was also turning the ball over too much—partly a result of James’ inexperience at the position—and it cost the Cavaliers a few wins early in the season.

Catchings

Although Ollie filled his role off the bench nicely, Head Coach Paul Silas felt more comfortable with him running the second unit. To upgrade, the Cavaliers traded for Jeff McInnis from Portland on January 21, and moved James to a more lethal spot at shooting guard.

Since the 11 games with McInnis, the Cavaliers have averaged only 11.8 turnovers per game, down about three from their season average. McInnis has also found his teammates, pushing the ball, getting everyone involved in the game early, and scoring late in the game, if needed.

“My main focus is to push the ball, using my speed and quickness to push the game so it’s fast-paced.,” says McInnis. “But I also read the flow, and run the halfcourt [offense] depending on the looks we’re getting from the other team.”

While McInnis’s offense has yet to blossom in Cleveland—he averaged 11.9 points and 5.0 assists in 39 games (26 starts) in Portland—he’s been more of a pass-first, score-later player with the Cavaliers. His 6.5 assist average is indicative of that, and he also prides himself on a high assist/turnover ratio (3.10), which ranks him 8th in the league.

While both Ollie and McInnis are similar in many respects—both CBA and NBA veterans who can run an offense, keep turnovers low, and shoot a solid mid-range jumper—their different strengths play to their defined roles in the game.

“Jeff gives us that spark at the beginning of the game, is more of a scorer, and is an expert at running the transition offense,” says Osowski. “With the second unit, we like to have them extend or hold the lead, if there is one, that the starters created. So, Kevin’s tenacious defense and expert ball-handling is really key at that stage of the game.”

Although neither are flashy, they are solid enough to run the offense, control the flow, and get their teammates involved. Finally, the Cavaliers have their point taken.