For most of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers could trust Ty Jerome.
He was one of the finalists for Sixth Man of the Year, and he had multiple big-time performances as a spot-up starter.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case when it mattered the most.
He struggled mightily in Game 2, and every missed shot hurts the most when you lose by one.
With that in mind, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com claimed that Kenny Atkinson could look to give Craig Porter Jr. a longer leash, even if that means cutting into Jerome’s minutes:
“In terms of the rotation, Jerome was having a miserable game. He shot 1 for 14, scoring two points in 28 rather frazzled minutes. His usual poise was gone. The alternative was Craig Porter Jr. The second-year pro was on the court for four minutes. He had a steal, a layup, a blocked shot and was his usual poised self. He should have taken some time from the struggling Jerome. That’s my suggestion for Game 3,” Fedor wrote.
This makes sense because Jerome looked exhausted down the stretch, so perhaps he will benefit from turning back to the second unit.
Nevertheless, as much as there’s no margin for error at this point, Jerome’s efforts cannot be overlooked after a bad game.
He was one of the best players on the team in Game 1, and he’s already proven that he can be an explosive and efficient three-level scorer.
If anything, the Cavs need their stars to show up.
De’Andre Hunter and Evan Mobley missed a must-win game with minor injuries, and they need to find a way to get back on the court for the remainder of the series.
The same goes for Darius Garland, who has now missed the past four games.
Depth is important, and having reliable role players is usually a big plus in the position.
Then again, at the end of the day, those players are stars for a reason, and it’s time to prove it.
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