<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-georges-niang-shares-eye-opening-good-habits-warriors-takedown');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hawks’ Georges Niang shares eye-opening take on ‘good habits’ after Warriors takedown');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hawks-news-Georges-Niang-shares-eye-opening-take-on-good-habits-after-Warriors-takedown.jpg"></figure><h1>Hawks’ Georges Niang shares eye-opening take on ‘good habits’ after Warriors takedown</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-22T20:33:58-07:00">March 22nd, 8:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-23T07:00:09-07:00">March 23rd, 7:00am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Hawks held down the fort at home against the Golden State Warriors, <a href="https://x.com/ATLHawks/status/1903620310735171611" rel="noopener">winning 124-115</a>. The Hawks had the lead for over 46 minutes in the game, and every time it felt the Warriors were going on a run, they had an answer for every opportunity. Those are the things that can shape a winning team, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/hawks-news-georges-niang-issues-sacrifice-take-building-chemistry-hawks">Georges Niang knows what it takes</a> for a win like this to happen.</p><p>“The biggest thing for us is continuing to focus on building good habits,” Niang said after the game. “When you look at our team, there’s a lot of first, second, third, fourth, or fifth-year guys. If you can consistently build habits of no matter what happens win, loss, draw, happy, mad, sad, and I’m going to do these three or four things night in or night out basis, I think at the end of the road you see that you start to become successful, and success is not linear.”</p><p>With the Hawks coming down to the stretch of the season, every game is important if they want to end up in a good position at the end of the year. The team is starting to see their hard work pay off, and from here on, it’s going to take consistency to stay in this flow state they’re in.</p><p>“We won four in a row, then we lost to Brooklyn, and now we win two in a row, and it’s like we want to keep that going,” Niang said. “You also want to win in the margins, that’s contesting shots or always running back on defense, building a wall, or rebounding. You want to build those habits to where they become second nature.”</p><h2><b>Georges Niang, Hawks defeat Warriors for second straight win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Georges-Niang-1.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It was an impressive win for the Hawks as they stayed fairly consistent on both sides of the ball throughout the game. They set the tone in the first quarter, opening up with a 40-23 lead and shooting 65% from the field. The Warriors made a run in the second quarter, but the Hawks were still able to maintain, with Onyeka Okongwu scoring 13 points in the period.</p><p>The second half belonged to Niang as he knocked down six 3-pointers to help the Hawks maintain their lead. Though Niang was on a heater, he still wanted to play within the flow of the offense.</p><p>“I learned at a young age that calling for the ball usually ends in the reverse, so I usually like to have my eyes wide open and show my hands, maybe clap,” Niang said. “Obviously, when you’re rolling, you have a sense of that, and you never want to make it above you.”</p><p>Caris LeVert and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/hawks-trae-young-reaches-steve-nash-territory-with-big-night-vs-pacers">Trae Young brought it in for the Hawks</a> in the end, and with them having another scorer to help down the stretch it brings another dynamic to the team.</p><p>“He brings a lot of scoring ability, he brings a lot of attention,” Young said after the game. “So when I’m off the ball and he has the ball in his hands, more times than not, the guy is face-guarding me now and not letting me go. Gary Payton II was on me tonight, holding me the whole time.</p><p>“Whenever he starts going, beating his defender, and getting to the lane, it forces the defense to help in other ways so I’m able to get the ball later in the clock, get downhill and shoot a floater, find somebody else late in the clock. That just helps us and adds another dimension to the team.”</p><p>It was another true team win for the Hawks, and they’re going to need that going into the final weeks of the season.</p><p>“I think when you have a locker room full of good guys that are willing to put their egos aside and put winning in the forefront of everything,” Niang said. “Our leader is Quin Snyder and then the coaching staff, and I think coach Q does a good job of spelling things out of what he expects from guys and being honest enough where you know what’s expected of you on a night-in and night-out basis.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hawks’ Georges Niang shares eye-opening take on ‘good habits’ after Warriors takedown

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-why-georges-niang-has-been-seamless-fit-atlanta');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Hawks’ Georges Niang has been seamless fit in Atlanta');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hawks-news-Why-Georges-Niang-has-been-seamless-fit-in-Atlanta.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Hawks’ Georges Niang has been seamless fit in Atlanta</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-10T17:17:10-07:00">March 10th, 5:17pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-10T17:17:10-07:00">March 10th, 5:17pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Georges <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-georges-niang-issues-sacrifice-take-building-chemistry-hawks">Niang has made a nice impact</a> on the Atlanta Hawks since being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he’s giving the team another <a href="https://x.com/AcrossCavs/status/1893990271999672465" rel="noopener">reliable three-pointer shooter</a>. Other than what he does on the floor, he’s a veteran that the Hawks could use for such a young team, and head coach Quin Snyder sees the difference he’s made.</p><p>“I have a lot of familiarity with George, and some of the things that he brings, his role here is more significant than it was in when I had him in Utah, which makes sense as he’s gotten older as a player and become a vet in this league,” Snyder said. “Clearly his ability to shoot the ball is something that makes him unique.</p><p>“I think his understanding of the game, just an intelligent player, as far as reading situations, coupled with, his ability and willingness to communicate where he can impact the game in a lot of subtle ways that maybe don’t show up on the stat sheet the way the shooting does.”</p><p>So far with the Hawks, Niang is averaging 13.6 points while shooting almost 41% from three. Though it’s a small sample size, he’s also playing the most minutes in his career due to the injuries the Hawks have dealt with at the forward position.</p><p>He’s hit some big shots for the Hawks so far and also had some of the biggest scoring games in his career in just a short amount of time on the team. As they continue to try and fight for better seeding down the stretch of the season, Niang will be an important part of their success.</p><h2><b>Georges Niang fitting in well with the Hawks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Georges-Niang_31176c.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Coming from the Cavaliers, who are the best team in the Eastern Conference, Georges Niang knows what it takes to be a competitor. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-caris-levert-georges-niang-cavs-tenure-help-atlanta">He spoke about leading by example</a> on his first day on the team.</p><p>“We kind of had a young core over there with Darius [Garland] and Evan [Mobley], and not to do comparisons or anything, but you look at the young core that is here,” Niang said. “You want to lead by example. I think being an everyday guy, not just a sometimes guy, and I think that’s something that me and Caris pride ourselves on.”</p><p>It’s taken some time for the news guys to mesh on the team, but over the past few games, you can see the hard work finally paying off with some wins.</p><p>“This coaching staff doesn’t get enough credit because it’s not like this everywhere where you can just implement guys seamlessly and find production,” Niang said. “You look at all the games we’ve lost, yes they’re losses, but we’re not getting blown out. Nobody is happy about that, but gelling takes time. It’s not lightning in a bottle. Like Trae said, I really feel like we’re finding our niche and I’m excited to see what the rest of March looks like.”</p><p>As the Hawks come down this final stretch of the season, it’s important that they continue to build on the chemistry they have and win games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Hawks’ Georges Niang has been seamless fit in Atlanta

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/hawks-news-georges-niang-echoes-trae-young-sentiment-ahead-stretch-run');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hawks’ Georges Niang echoes Trae Young’s sentiment ahead of stretch run');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Georges-Niang-echoes-Trae-Youngs-sentiment-ahead-of-stretch-run.jpg"></figure><h1>Hawks’ Georges Niang echoes Trae Young’s sentiment ahead of stretch run</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-06T20:48:27-08:00">March 6th, 8:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-06T20:56:28-08:00">March 6th, 8:56pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-trae-young-highlights-mentality-needed-stop-losing-close-games">Hawks found themselves in another tight game</a> after losing against the Milwaukee Bucks two nights ago. This time, the Hawks were up against the Indiana Pacers, and in the final minutes, they were able to walk away with the win, 124-118.</p><p>It was Georges Niang who came up big for the Hawks, scoring 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and knocking down back-to-back threes to help give them a small cushion down the stretch. The Hawks are still finding chemistry with the new guys on the team, but there have been some good moments, and Niang <a href="https://x.com/_MalikATL/status/1897857101076242585" rel="noopener">acknowledged the growth</a>.</p><p>“This coaching staff doesn’t get enough credit because it’s not like this everywhere where you can just implement guys seamlessly and find production,” Niang said. “You look at all the games we’ve lost, yes they’re losses, but we’re not getting blown out. Nobody is happy about that, but gelling takes time. It’s not lightning in a bottle. Like Trae said, I really feel like we’re finding our niche and I’m excited to see what the rest of March looks like.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-trae-young-highlights-hope-remainder-season">Trae Young also sees the growth</a> that they’re building within the unit and thinks they’re real close to figuring it out.</p><p>“You definitely see the moments, and you feel the connectivity on the court with each other when we play, but it’s not going to be perfect right now, and luckily, we still have some games to go to find the rhythm with each other and try to string some wins in a row, and try to find a rhythm at the right time,” Young said.</p><p>“We’ve been playing real well with each other and starting to find a rhythm, especially Caris [LeVert] and Georges, and even Terance [Mann]. We got a long way to go, but we’re right there,” Young continued.</p><h2><b>Hawks finish fourth quarter strong in win against Pacers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Georges-Niang.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Hawks were down numerous times throughout the game, but they always found a way to get back in it. The Pacers threw numerous defenses at them, but it never fazed them. Myles Turner was at the free-throw line to put the Pacers up 102-101 with 5:55 remaining, and Georges Niang and Tyrese Haliburton had a friendly back-and-forth on the sideline. The Hawks came down on the offensive end, Niang hit a three, and coming down on defense, he gave Haliburton a stare.</p><p>The Hawks then got a stop on defense, and Niang came down to hit another big three to put the team up 107-102. From there, they didn’t surrender the lead and came out with the win.</p><p>“I enjoy my moments on the court and trash-talking is something that I grew up on,” Niang said after the game. “Not to say I’m going to be one of those people that’s like ‘Yeah it’s his fault.’ That’s not how I operate. Just friendly banter, and unfortunately for him, we went on a run after that.”</p><p>As the Hawks try to climb up the standings and push for the playoffs, these are the types of games that they’re going to have to win. With the team starting to find a rhythm and the new guys clicking, this stretch run will be critical for them.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hawks’ Georges Niang echoes Trae Young’s sentiment ahead of stretch run

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hawks-news-caris-levert-georges-niang-cavs-tenure-help-atlanta');   ga('set', 'title', 'Caris LeVert, Georges Niang reveal how Cavs tenure can help with Hawks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Hawks-news-Caris-LeVert-Georges-Niang-reveal-how-Cavs-tenure-can-help-with-Atlanta.jpg"></figure><h1>Caris LeVert, Georges Niang reveal how Cavs tenure can help with Hawks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-07T17:25:02-08:00">February 7th, 5:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-07T17:25:02-08:00">February 7th, 5:25pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Hawks introduced their new players before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks, and all seem ready for the new opportunity they’re a part of. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-news-deandre-hunter-hawks-trade">Georges Niang and Caris LeVert were traded</a> to the Hawks for De’Andre Hunter, and they’re leaving a team that was one of the best in the league this season.</p><p>For a team like the Hawks, who aspire to be at the top of the conference, what Niang and LeVert <a href="https://x.com/_MalikATL/status/1888008221732032695" rel="noopener">learned from their tenure</a> with the Cavs can help them.</p><p>“We had a very veteran group, I know this group is very young, so for us it’s just bringing that presence here,” LeVert said.</p><p>“We kind of had a young core over there with Darius [Garland] and Evan [Mobley] , and not to do comparisons or anything, but you look at the young core that is here,” Niang said. “You want to lead by example. I think being an everyday guy, not just a sometimes guy, and I think that’s something that me and Caris pride ourselves on.”</p><p>Both Niang and LeVert bring experience and skills that the Hawks are looking for on the team now and in the future, and they will make a nice impact whenever they’re on the floor.</p><h2>Hawks’ new additions ready to compete</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Georges-Niang.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Hawks’ new additions should fit in seamlessly with the current roster, and most importantly, they give Trae Young more options so he can rack up assists. When asked about playing with Young, Georges Niang had a hilarious answer.</p><p>“I’m just happy I don’t have to guard him because it seems like every time I fouled him,” Niang said. “Every time I was caught up in a switch or a ball screen, so I’m looking forward to being on the receiving end. Being able to play with somebody as dynamic and special as Trae is really going to be a treat for all of us. He draws a lot of attention, and I think all of us can benefit from playing alongside him.”</p><p>Niang and Caris LeVert have been solid three-point shooters throughout their careers, and their lives will be easy with Young finding them for open shots.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bogdan-bogdanovic-gives-farewell-to-atlanta-after-clippers-trade">Hawks also acquired Terance Mann</a> from the Los Angeles Clippers, and he can be a good defender to play alongside Young and the rest of the roster. Some would say that the Hawks’ roster took a step back after the trades, but it’s hard to say that with the quality players they’ve added.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Caris LeVert, Georges Niang reveal how Cavs tenure can help with Hawks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/iowa-state-basketball-news-georges-niang-blunt-reaction-iowa-takedown');   ga('set', 'title', 'Georges Niang fires blunt reaction to Iowa State’s Iowa takedown');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Former-Iowa-State-basketball-player-Georges-Niang.jpg"><figcaption>© David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Georges Niang fires blunt reaction to Iowa State’s Iowa takedown</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-13T06:41:40-08:00">December 13th, 6:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-13T06:42:55-08:00">December 13th, 6:42am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NCAA Basketball</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Former Iowa State basketball player Georges Niang is watching his old team this season. Niang released a social media post after his old school took down Iowa, 89-80.</p><p>Niang made his feelings known while <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgesNiang20/status/1867397323526967717" rel="noopener">also posting a picture</a> of Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’m thinking the same thing coach when are they gunna learn!! <a href="https://t.co/ugOvO7y3tY">pic.twitter.com/ugOvO7y3tY</a></p><p>— Georges Niang (@GeorgesNiang20) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgesNiang20/status/1867397323526967717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I’m thinking the same thing coach when are they gunna learn!!” Niang said on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/iowa-state-basketball-news-4-star-recruit-announcement-turn-heads-entire-big-12">Iowa State basketball is doing very well</a> under Otzelberger, who is in his fourth season with the team. The head coach has Iowa State rolling once again this season, after the Cyclones took the Cy-Hawk Trophy in a recent game. The Cyclones are 8-1 on the year.</p><p>Niang is currently playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The forward is averaging more than 8 points a game, while grabbing 3.8 rebounds a contest.</p><p>The Cavaliers forward is one of the best hoopers to ever put on the sneakers for Iowa State. Niang was named the Big 12 Tournament MVP in 2015, and was twice named a first-team conference selection. Niang scored more than 2,000 points at Iowa State.</p><h2>Iowa State basketball is a contender in the Big 12 once again this season</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tamin-Lipsey.jpg"><figcaption>Nirmalendu Majumdar-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Cyclones are looking to make their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament under Otzelberger. He’s been to the Sweet 16 twice in the last three seasons. Otzelberger has resurrected the Iowa State basketball program after some tough years under Steve Prohm.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/iowa-state-basketball-news-t-j-otzelberger-has-confident-claim-after-historic-win-over-houston">Iowa State basketball is once again ranked</a> and projected to finish near the top of the Big 12. The conference is under major renovation, as four new schools are in the league this year. Those are: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah. Big 12 conference schools will also play 20 conference games this year, instead of the usual 18 contests.</p><p>Iowa State has competition in the Big 12 this season for a possible championship run. Houston, Kansas, Baylor and Arizona are just a few of the teams looking to capture a title. Even teams like West Virginia and Colorado have started the season with some upset wins. It looks like the Big 12 will be the hardest league once again in college basketball.</p><p>Otzelberger immediately found success in Ames, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the coach. He spent two years at UNLV, where he finished with an overall losing record. Otzelberger also coached at South Dakota State, where he took the Jackrabbits to the NCAA tournament twice.</p><p>Iowa State basketball next plays Omaha on Sunday. The Cyclones open their conference schedule with Colorado on December 30. Niang will clearly keep following his team as it continues its journey.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Georges Niang fires blunt reaction to Iowa State’s Iowa takedown

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/news/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-georges-niang-react-unexpected-guardians-heros-hr');   ga('set', 'title', 'Donovan Mitchell, Georges Niang react to unexpected Guardians hero’s HR');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CAVS-NATION-Cavs-news-Donovan-Mitchell-Georges-Niang-reacts-to-unexpected-Guardians-heros-HR.jpg"></figure><h1>Donovan Mitchell, Georges Niang react to unexpected Guardians hero’s HR</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-17T19:34:52-07:00">October 17th, 7:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-17T19:36:16-07:00">October 17th, 7:36pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sportswriter who is comfortable covering many different sports. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs News</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers begin their <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-bold-championship-take-ahead-2024-25-season" rel="noopener">2024-25 NBA season</a> in less than a week, but players are still keeping their eye on another local team during the MLB playoffs. Donovan Mitchell and Georges Niang were left stunned, just like all of Ontario Street, when the Guardians earned one of their most electrifying victories of the last decade.</p><p>The ballclub blew a two-run lead in the eighth inning and entered the ninth trailing the New York Yankees, 5-3. Down to its last out, Cleveland turned to slugger Jhonkensy Noel. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native blasted a pinch-hit two-run home run off closer Luke Weaver, a supremely clutch shot that <a href="https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1847076674879606957" rel="noopener">reverberated throughout the whole city</a>.</p><h2><b>Cavs players go bonkers for Guardians</b></h2><p>“Wow Cleveland must be going bananas right now,” Cavs forward Georges Niang posted on X, formerly Twitter. “GOTTA BE !! !! !!” <a href="https://cavsnation.com/news/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-slighted-by-charles-barkley-in-top-50-ranking" rel="noopener">star guard Donovan Mitchell</a> chimed in.</p><p>The Guardians solidified their great escape in the 10th inning after utility man <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/guardians-news-guardians-hero-pulls-off-bonkers-feat-not-seen-since-1995-albert-belle" rel="noopener">David Fry launched a walk-off homer</a> versus Clay Holmes. What seemed destined to be a heart-wrenching and American League Championship Series-defining Game 3 loss amazingly turned into an unforgettable feat of resiliency.</p><p>Two unlikely heroes have guaranteed that the team will host Game 5 on Saturday. Will this be a catalyst for a landmark upset, or is this just a temporary dose of euphoria before the Yankees land a fatal blow this weekend? Who knows, but Stephen Vogt’s scrappy group is giving Cleveland a triumph to savor.</p><p>While Mitchell has witnessed his beloved New York Mets craft their own improbable journey to the playoffs, he obviously has some enthusiasm to spare for the team that resides just a couple minutes away from his Cavs. He and Niang are surely taking note of the October sorcery that Jhonkensy Noel, David Fry and the rest of the Guardians just released in Progressive Field.</p><p>Maybe they can use some of the leftover magic to help the Cavaliers jump start their own notable campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Donovan Mitchell, Georges Niang react to unexpected Guardians hero’s HR

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-news-georges-niang-insight-kenny-atkinsons-offense');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Georges Niang gives insight into Kenny Atkinson’s new offense');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Georges-Niang-gives-insight-into-Kenny-Atkinsons-new-offense.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Georges Niang gives insight into Kenny Atkinson’s new offense</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-08T18:30:06-07:00">October 8th, 6:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-08T18:30:06-07:00">October 8th, 6:30pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There’s been hype surrounding head coach Kenny Atkinson’s new offense during the offseason and training camp. Under Atkinson, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-news-kenny-atkinsons-tactics-ahead-of-competition">the Cavs are expected</a> to utilize a motion-based offense that wants to play with pace and get up three-pointers. There’s also an emphasis on moving the ball and empowering his players to make the right reads. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kenny-atkinson-to-slowly-reinvent-cavs-entering-training-camp">The idea under Atkinson</a> is to play with flow and pace and create advantages that make the players on the floor effective. This system will empower players to grow and develop, honing skills that could eventually become strengths. But for as much talk as there was about it, it’s hard to mentally visualize it without viewing it. Thankfully, Cavs veteran forward Georges Niang <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlXoDTKGCsY" rel="noopener">gave great insight into how</a> Cleveland will play under Atkinson.</p><p>“It’s flying the ball off the court with the pass,” said Niang. “We have two elite rim-running bigs. So, getting them easy layups and dunks by running the floor keeps them motivated to run the floor.</p><p>“The ball is going to get to them to pass more than you know. We are going to be dribbling the ball up the court. So, I think playing with pace for us is advancing the ball with the pass, getting into the lane, and then starting our cycle of drive and kicks.”</p><h2><b>Cavs’ new offense on full display in first preseason game</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Georges-Niang-Cavs-timeout.jpg"><figcaption>Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thankfully, Niang’s insight came to fruition in Cleveland’s first preseason game against the Chicago Bulls. Within the first five minutes of action, the Cavs roared out to a 19-7 lead. It was all predicated on pace, space, and intelligent passing. It all gelled together nicely, picking apart a haphazard Bulls defense and showing early signs of how Atkinson wants Cleveland to play.</p><p>Twenty-seven of the Cavs’ 47 made field goals came off of assists. Those 24 dimes led to 58 points scored by Cleveland, more than 64.1% of their total points. Seven resulted from the Cavs driving toward the bucket and then kicking back to the open shooter. The remaining 20 were either off crafty dimes to big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who both took turns bullying the Bulls inside. Or they came off of pull-up jumpers or attempts within the perimeter.</p><p>For reference, the Cavs assisted on 2299 of their made field goals last season. Sure, the 67.1.% assist percentage is roughly the same as what Cleveland had against Chicago. Last season’s numbers came in the regular season. The Cavs could put together these numbers with their starters only playing minutes into the second half and Atkinson going deep into his bench throughout. Atkinson started to stretch things out midway into the third and entered the final frame. Regardless, Atkinson’s system kept trying to find clean looks off of constant movement, irrespective of where the attempt came from on the floor.</p><p>Before the game, Atkinson said he didn’t have a firm number of three-point attempts that he wanted Cleveland to take. However, he did joke that he won’t discourage his players from firing away from the perimeter, regardless of whether or not they were contested. Nearly half of the Cavs’ attempts in this game came from the perimeter. Meanwhile, Cleveland saw more than half of their attempts in the paint. The remaining 4.6% of their attempts were considered inefficient by analytical standards.</p><p>That’s the idealized form of Atkinson’s offense. It’s a heavy dose of analytics where his team looks to get the most efficient shot whenever possible. Niang provided a teaser of what to expect, and Cleveland more than backed up their veteran forward’s words against Chicago. Again, these numbers are a bit watered down. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-news-impact-of-max-strus-exiting-preseason-game-early-against-bulls">The Cavs lost</a> Max Strus early and pulled their starters in the third quarter. So, things could be even more refined once the regular season begins. It’s an encouraging first step, even if Cleveland lost to Chicago.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Georges Niang gives insight into Kenny Atkinson’s new offense

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-tyrese-maxey-tobias-harris-react-georges-niang-big-game-for-cavs');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris react to Georges Niang’s big game for Cavs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/76ers-Cavs-Tobias-Harris-Tyrese-Maxey-Georges-Niang.jpeg"></figure><h1>76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris react to Georges Niang’s big game for Cavs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-03-30T09:47:11-07:00">March 30th, 9:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-03-30T09:47:11-07:00">March 30th, 9:47am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers despite holding their star backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to 28 combined points. Georges Niang, who just left the Sixers for the Cavs this offseason, shot the lights out and helped the Cavs <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-vs-cavs-instant-breakdown-tyrese-maxey-donovan-mitchell-kyle-lowry">secure the win</a>.</p><p>Niang scored a game-high 25 points on 10-14 shooting from the field and 5-8 on threes. He didn’t record a rebound or an assist in his 30 minutes. The only other stats he added to his final line was a block and a foul. All it took was pure buckets to make a former beloved role player in Philly the enemy for a night.</p><p>In the three other games Niang played against the 76ers this season (64 total minutes), he recorded 21 points total on 7-17 shooting along with 17 rebounds. The veteran sharpshooter spent two seasons there, becoming a staple of the bench. He’s looking to do the same in Cleveland.</p><p>“It sucks being on the other side of it,” Tyrese Maxey told reporters. “We know what he’s capable of doing, we know if he sees one or two go in, it’s gonna be hard to contain him from the three-point line. But you gotta run him off. We ran him off the three-point line a couple of times but he made some plays today.”</p><p>The 76ers’ defense prioritized the pick-and-roll that Garland and Mitchell ran with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, leaving Niang open in the corner as his man cheated over to the paint. As Niang showed on his first bucket, he’s capable of attacking closeouts and scoring inside the arc.</p><figure><video><source src="https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/03/29/0022301067/111/f1683582-3010-9f0c-fa81-822b85c485b8_1280x720.mp4?_=1" type="video/mp4"></source></video></figure><p>The Sixers had a lot of space to cover when rotating back out to Niang. But because of his height and high release point, he still had plenty of space to fire away. The Cavs’ big men can all <a href="https://x.com/CavsNationCP/status/1773886032875852019?s=20" rel="noopener">make passes on the roll</a>, putting Philly’s defense in a major bind after bringing its centers up to the level of the on-ball screen.</p><figure><video><source src="https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/03/29/0022301067/255/e1a570dd-ca0b-943a-cd34-5f345fcd4da5_1280x720.mp4?_=2" type="video/mp4"></source></video></figure><p>It was an unusual scoring distribution for the Sixers, too. They were led by Kyle Lowry, who notched <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-nick-nurse-honest-take-kyle-lowry-standout-game-loss-to-cavs">an efficient 23 points</a>. Maxey recorded 16 points and 11 assists on 7-26 shooting and Tobias Harris chipped in 21 points on 8-17 shooting. But in the end, Philly allowed Niang to get up good shots and he made them pay.</p><p>“He made some timely shots for them, big  shots  for them — those type of threes that create momentum for their group that he’s able to make,” Harris told reporters. “And somebody who shoots it that well, we gotta be better at [defending]. A lot of that comes from we gotta maintain the basketball, as well.”</p><p>Harris said that “too many drive-bys” allowed the Cavs to get open three. The 76ers have gotten better defensively without Embiid but still have weaknesses to exploit. That’s when an inefficient night from Maxey can really sink them, as it did in this game against the Cavs.</p><p>“So, a couple of things that we can tweak and get better at and get ready for the next one,” Harris said. The next one for the Sixers is an Easter Sunday showdown against the Toronto Raptors.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris react to Georges Niang’s big game for Cavs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-reason-caris-levert-georges-niang-struggles');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why the Cavs keep leaning on Caris LeVert, Georges Niang despite their struggles');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Why_the_Cavs_keep_leaning_on_Caris_LeVert_and_Georges_Niang_despite_their_struggles.webp"></figure><h1>Why the Cavs keep leaning on Caris LeVert, Georges Niang despite their struggles</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-02-25T21:03:42-08:00">February 25th, 9:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-02-25T21:03:42-08:00">February 25th, 9:03pm</time><address><a>Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. He can also be found three to five times weekly on Locked On Cavs, a part of the Locked On Podcast Network.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Coming out of the All-Star break, things have been topsy-turvy for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sure, that’s to be expected from any team after taking nearly a week off, especially when the Cavs opened up the second half of the season with five games in seven nights. But, it’s been hard for them to find balance, especially when Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are still playing their way back into proper shape.</p><p>While Cleveland waits for Garland and Mobley to be 100%, they need their role players to step up and deliver. Thankfully, Isaac Okoro and Max Strus have done precisely that, giving the Cavs defense, energy and scoring whenever they’re on the floor. But, <a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-news-caris-levert-gets-100-honest-on-recent-struggles" rel="noopener">when it comes to Caris LeVert</a> and Georges Niang, two key rotation pieces for Cleveland, it hasn’t been as easy.</p><h2><b>Why the Cavs are leaning on Caris LeVert and Georges Niang</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Caris_LeVert_s_status_is_up_in_the_air_as_the_Cavs_lock_horns_with_the_Bucks.webp"></figure><p>In the three games back from the All-Star break, LeVert has averaged 10.0 points on 29.0% shooting, 6.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 27.0 minutes per game. Niang, meanwhile, has put up 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game, lacking some of the scoring punch he’s given Cleveland most nights. Unfortunately, the scoring woes LeVert and Niang are currently dealing with are part of the human nature of basketball. Neither player can be perfect every night and so the Cavs will keep riding with them until they can find their groove leading up to the postseason.</p><p>But, while LeVert and Niang struggle, Cleveland fans continue to grumble when Sam Merrill and Dean Wade, players who aren’t on the same level as LeVert and Niang but provide similar things, are seldom seeing the floor now that the team’s finding a clean bill of health. While it’s fair to wonder what damage it would do some nights to give Merrill or Wade a little extra burn in place of either LeVert or Niang, it’s not that simple. Sure, it could help the Cavs lock up another win and help maintain their grasp on the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. But, taking time away from LeVert and Niang is counterproductive to the real goal for Cleveland over this final stretch of the season: getting this squad ready for a deep playoff run.</p><p>Before their first game back after the All-Star break against the Orlando Magic, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-taking-it-slow-after-all-star-break-with-eyes-on-playoffs" rel="noopener">Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said</a> the plan is to gradually start ramping up the intensity leading to the postseason. That means more minutes for certain players and overall tighter rotations, with Cleveland ultimately settling on the top eight players to win a playoff series. Of course, the star-studded quartet of Garland, Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen are the center of it all. Outside of that group, it’s become clear that Okoro, Strus, Niang and LeVert finalize Bickerstaff’s top eight. It means that once the playoffs begin, that’s the group that will see the lion’s share of minutes every game.</p><p>With so few of games remaining in the regular season, it first and foremost matters to give Georges Niang and Caris LeVert as many chances to find their rhythm as the team ramps up their run to the playoffs. Moreover, it’s even more important to have Garland and Mobley, who missed over a month mid-way into the season, to also find a rhythm and cadence when sharing the floor with either Niang or LeVert. There aren’t many opportunities to practice left in the NBA’s regular season and in the limited chances they have, it’s chalked up to film review, rest and recovery.</p><p>So, while as tempting as Merrill and Wade might be in the interim to roll with, it could hamper the big picture and goals for the Cavs come playoff time. That’s counterproductive to what matters most: a serious playoff run and possibly a championship. Besides, Merril, Wade, Niang or LeVert aren’t going to be the ones who decide a playoff series. But, having the best supporting cast around your stars sure helps.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why the Cavs keep leaning on Caris LeVert, Georges Niang despite their struggles

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-news-georges-niang-proving-heart-and-soul-hot-streak');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Georges Niang proving to be heart and soul of team amid hot streak');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cavs__Georges_Niang_proving_to_be_heart_and_soul_of_team_copy.webp"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Georges Niang proving to be heart and soul of team amid hot streak</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-02-15T13:28:20-08:00">February 15th, 1:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-02-15T13:28:55-08:00">February 15th, 1:28pm</time><address><a>Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. He can also be found three to five times weekly on Locked On Cavs, a part of the Locked On Podcast Network.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Whenever you’re around the Cleveland Cavaliers, you can quickly tell that Georges Niang is the loudest guy in the room. The more you get to know him, the more you learn that Niang is also unapologetically himself and doesn’t mince words. For example, after going 13-of-14 from the field in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-total-team-effort-vs-bucks-keys-historic-blowout-win" rel="noopener">Cleveland’s 135-95 win</a> over the Milwaukee Bucks in January, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, Niang was brutally honest when he learned he’s been shooting 32.1% from three-point range over the Cavs’ last 13 games.</p><p>“Oh, so you’re telling me I stink,” Niang sarcastically quipped after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-learn-live-die-by-three-win-over-bulls" rel="noopener">Cleveland defeated the Chicago Bulls</a> on Wednesday. “But it’s a fact. I mean, I haven’t been making three-pointers, so I’ve got to find other ways to be effective.</p><p>“I’m not going to sit here and be offended. That’s not how it is. And I know that moving forward, I’m going to have to take and make shots, especially in the playoffs. And I’m eager and excited to show you that or show everybody that.”</p><p>Niang making himself the butt of the joke, aware of his issues on the court, is just one instance in which he’s proven to be <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/georges-niang-becoming-vital-cavs-success" rel="noopener">one of the leaders</a> for a young, up-and-coming Cavs squad. But the brashness of his delivery in acknowledging this cold streak is another lens into what kind of player Niang can be on the court, even when his shot isn’t falling. It gives Niang true grit, and his “don’t take crap from anybody” attitude gave Cleveland a spark in a nail-biter against Chicago.</p><h2><b>Niang’s fiery leadership</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Georges_Niang_and_Coby_White_altercation.webp"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Early into the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game, Niang and Bulls guard Coby White <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1757955456058773592?s=20" rel="noopener">exchanged shoves</a> and heated words while tallying double-technical fouls. As Niang guarded him, White appeared to throw his head back in an attempt to sell a foul. White then passed the ball, pushed Niang’s left arm down, and received a shove in return. Aside from the double technicals, Niang picked up his fourth personal foul during the official review of the play.</p><p>Later, Niang fouled out of the game completely with just four minutes and 39 seconds remaining on the game clock. He checked out with a total of 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 1-of-5 on his attempts from beyond the arc. But what Niang had done in that limited stretch, standing up against a Bulls team that was very physical with the Cavs all night, was a system shock that allowed Cleveland to scratch and claw their way to victory.</p><p>“I love it,” All-Star Donovan Mitchell said when asked about the Niang-White altercation. “The sense of fire — that’s the biggest thing as a team, just having that. We’re not going to go out there and fight. This isn’t WWE. This isn’t UFC. So just being able to set that tone, I think, was huge.”</p><p>Cavaliers swingman Isaac Okoro called Niang an enforcer for his actions in the game against Chicago. While Niang knew it was probably said in jest, he took the compliment from Okoro in stride.</p><p>“Coming from Isaac, I’m sure that was a little sarcastic, but I appreciate that coming from him,” Niang stated. “But, no. I play with a lot of tenacity. I play with a lot of intensity, and that’s just who I am. I don’t back down from anybody, and I hope that rubs off on all our guys because I think we have a great team.</p><p>“We have a chance to do something special.”</p><p>Niang finds himself as part of a tonal shift, one that gives the Cavs the grit they lacked for most of last season. Although one of the league leaders in technical fouls, Max Strus has aided in establishing this new foundation since being acquired in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavaliers-news-max-strus-sign-and-trade-free-agency-4-year-63-million-contract" rel="noopener">sign-and-trade</a> from the Miami Heat this past offseason. Veteran big man Tristan Thompson, who is suspended until March for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-news-tristan-thompson-suspended-25-games-violating-anti-drug-program" rel="noopener">violating the league’s anti-drug policy</a>, also brings a level of grit to this team given his multiple postseason appearances and scuffles through the years.</p><p>Clearly, Cleveland isn’t afraid to get physical and to continue talking trash while their foot is on their opponent’s throats.</p><p>Can it be annoying? Sure. But if an opponent starts feeding into it, the Cavs know they’ve already won since they’ve broken the opposition from a mental standpoint.</p><p>Niang, being as bold and brash as he is, has helped enforce this new mentality. Given all the dynamic play from elsewhere on the roster, this is a recipe that allows the Cavs to keep scrapping and clawing until they prove to be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Georges Niang proving to be heart and soul of team amid hot streak

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/georges-niang-becoming-vital-cavs-success');   ga('set', 'title', 'Georges Niang is becoming vital to Cavs’ success');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/georges-niang-is-becoming-vital-to-clevelands-success.webp"></figure><h1>Georges Niang is becoming vital to Cavs’ success</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-12-09T13:31:51-08:00">December 9th, 1:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-12-09T13:31:51-08:00">December 9th, 1:31pm</time><address><a>Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. He can also be found three to five times weekly on Locked On Cavs, a part of the Locked On Podcast Network.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers needed a spark against the Miami Heat on Friday, staring down the barrel of a 16-point deficit early in the second quarter.</p><p>The starting unit looked shaky and All-Star guard Darius Garland had racked up four quick, questionable fouls. It forced the Cavs to lean on Craig Porter Jr., someone who has earned the trust of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff despite being a rookie. Porter never seemed phased by the moment’s significance and, to the surprise of no one, shouldered the responsibilities Garland typically carries on the floor.</p><p>While Porter was great, he wasn’t the catalyst that helped Cleveland roar back into the game and eventually defeat Miami <a href="https://www.nba.com/game/cle-vs-mia-0022301220/box-score#box-score" rel="noopener">111-99</a>. Instead, those honors go to backup forward Georges Niang, the loud, brash and now vital member of the Cavs on a nightly basis. Niang was Cleveland’s leading bench scorer, finishing the night with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting along with three rebounds and two assists.</p><h2><b>Georges Niang making his imprint on Cavs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cavs-2023-offseason-recap-max-strus-georges-niang-highlight-added-depth.jpg"></figure><p>For Niang and the Cavs, this is what everyone expected from him as a key reserve, replacing the production shooting-wise that Kevin Love gave Cleveland at times last season. It took a bit for him to get there and Niang had a slow start to 2023-24. His shot wasn’t falling and he was getting shredded by opponents on defense. But it was an expected part of the acclimation process as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-2023-offseason-recap-max-strus-georges-niang-donovan-mitchell" rel="noopener">free agency acquisition</a> tried to find his place on a team with strong roster continuity from top to bottom.</p><p>Niang went scoreless in his Cavs debut and scored double-figures just three times in his first 11 games. Bricked, wide-open jumpers and three-pointers led to outside noise and questions about whether he was worth the three-year, $25.5 million contract Cleveland gave him over the summer.</p><p>But internally, Niang had the faith and support of his teammates who knew it would take time for him to adjust to a new situation. Considering that his 13 points against the Heat is the eighth time in 10 games Niang has scored in double-digits, the wait was worth it for Cleveland. Now, he has become a vital steadying force for the Cavs’ second unit, averaging 8.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists while connecting on 36.7% of his three-point attempts per game.</p><p>“First 10 games, I was running around, looking around, but I definitely feel a lot more comfortable knowing my role, what’s expected of me, what I can do, where my spots are gonna be and what I have to do every single day,” Niang said before Cleveland took the road. “I feel extremely comfortable, but when we get our full lineup here, sometimes you have to sacrifice, sometimes you’re expected to do more, sometimes you have to do less. Sometimes you kinda got to get in where you fit in.”</p><p>Niang gives the Cavs a new wrinkle off the bench as an offensive specialist and, now, a consistent shooting threat. He was Cleveland’s most impactful reserve in the win over Miami, especially with sixth man Caris LeVert sidelined by a knee injury. The bold and brash forward has become a vital piece for the Cavs both on and off the court and is shaping up to be the glue guy who brings everyone together and helps the team thrive in a very strong Eastern Conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Georges Niang is becoming vital to Cavs’ success

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-georges-niang-needs-to-find-shot-justify-minutes-with-cleveland');   ga('set', 'title', 'Georges Niang needs to find his shot to justify minutes with the Cavs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Georges-Niang-needs-to-find-his-shot-to-justify-his-minutes-with-the-Cavs.jpg"></figure><h1>Georges Niang needs to find his shot to justify minutes with the Cavs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-10-28T22:45:16-07:00">October 28th, 10:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-10-28T22:45:16-07:00">October 28th, 10:45pm</time><address><a>Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. He can also be found three to five times weekly on Locked On Cavs, a part of the Locked On Podcast Network.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During the offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers made it a priority to upgrade their offensive attack from 3-point range. It started when they drafted rookie forward Emoni Bates in the 2023 NBA Draft. It continued when they re-signed Caris LeVert. The icing on the cake came when they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavaliers-news-max-strus-sign-and-trade-free-agency-4-year-63-million-contract" rel="noopener">signed Max Strus</a>, the best shooting forward on the market. Finally, the cherry on top came when Cleveland signed sweet-shooting forward Georges Niang.</p><p>Bates, LeVert and Strus all address Cleveland’s most significant need at small forward, doubly so with the 3-point threat they present. But, with Niang, he gives the Cavs even more 3-point shooting. More importantly, Niang gives the Cavs a serious three-point threat at power forward and allows Cleveland some creativity alongside Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley, their two stars, albeit non-spacing big men.</p><p>During the preseason, it seemed like the hunch about Niang was right. He connected on a staggering 47.5 percent of his nearly five 3-point attempts per game and provided the Cavs with spacing and rebounding they haven’t had since Kevin Love wore the Wine and Gold. Considering how new the environment was for Niang, he felt like such a <a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-george-niang-reveals-why-cleveland-roster-is-so-unique" rel="noopener">seamless fit for Cleveland</a>. Sure, it was only the preseason, but having a role player in rhythm on offense, complimenting the stars, was huge for when the games started to count.</p><h2><b>Georges Niang struggling with Cavs amid rough 2023-24 start</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cavs-2023-offseason-recap-max-strus-georges-niang-highlight-added-depth.jpg"></figure><p>Unfortunately, three games into the regular season and Georges Niang’s <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/niangge01.html" rel="noopener">3-point marksmanship</a> has completely abandoned him. In 51 minutes played, Niang has attempted 11 triples and has only connected on one. Even worse, Niang has only connected on four of his 19 total field goal attempts. Granted, Niang has made an impact crashing the glass, averaging 3.0 rebounds per game. But if Niang isn’t giving you any offensive production, especially from the perimeter, the Cavs cannot justify giving him consistent minutes going forward.</p><p>That’s because Niang, at his core, is a one-way player. That moniker more or less means that even though he can alter the course of a game with his marksmanship, he’s not the greatest defender on the other side of the court. That’s why the pairing on paper between Niang and either Mobley or Allen works so well. If Niang gets blown past on defense, either Cleveland big man can rotate and protect the rim. For the Cavs, asking either Mobley or Allen to do more on defense is a sacrifice worth making. Niang’s spacing is invaluable and can give Cleveland an offensive dynamic they’ve lacked since 2017.</p><p>But if Niang’s shot isn’t falling like it hasn’t been lately, then the Cavs must look elsewhere in their rotation. Thankfully in a game against the Indiana Pacers, where Cleveland was shorthanded, Niang’s game showed signs of life with the extra minutes available. Niang finished the game against the Pacers with seven points on 30 percent shooting and three rebounds in 10 minutes of action. Perhaps it’s the shot in the arm that Niang needed to start building consistency again. But, until he shows it for a multi-game stretch, Niang should be on a bit of a shorter leash until things start to click.</p><p>Thankfully for Niang’s sake, shooters always bounce back and things should be back to the norm sooner rather than later. It’s a rough patch to start the season and, since winning matters more than anything, the Cavs should be cautious every night with Niang’s offensive production.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Georges Niang needs to find his shot to justify minutes with the Cavs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);   ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-george-niang-reveals-why-cleveland-roster-is-so-unique');   ga('set', 'title', 'Georges Niang reveals why Cavs roster is so unique');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cavs-news-George-Niang-reveals-why-Cleveland-roster-is-so-unique.jpg"></figure><h1>Georges Niang reveals why Cavs roster is so unique</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-10-14T15:51:03-07:00">October 14th, 3:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-10-14T15:55:57-07:00">October 14th, 3:55pm</time><address><a href="https://muckrack.com/alex-sabri">Alex Sabri</a>Alex Sabri started as an Associate Editor for Cavs Nation and ClutchPoints in November 2022. He has just over 2.25 years of collegiate and professional sports and local journalism experience. Though he covers various sports and general assignments for ClutchPoints, he specializes in covering the Cleveland Cavaliers, the NBA and WNBA, the NFL and college football and basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs News</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang <a href="https://twitter.com/SerenaWinters/status/1713265665723769236?s=20" rel="noopener">revealed why he felt</a> Cleveland’s roster was so unique in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWnxLr2H8A" rel="noopener">Saturday media availability</a>, Bally Sports Ohio sideline reporter Serena Winters wrote in a Saturday tweet.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Georges Niang on the uniqueness of this <a href="https://twitter.com/cavs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cavs</a> squad: <a href="https://t.co/owMrMzRoUk">pic.twitter.com/owMrMzRoUk</a></p><p>— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) <a href="https://twitter.com/SerenaWinters/status/1713265665723769236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I think when you have a young group like this that works this hard and is this talented, it’s very rare, especially in professional sports,” Niang said, via a Saturday YouTube video from the Cavs. “Usually, you have guys that at this young age are talented but don’t really know how to be professionals. But here, you have so many guys that are so talented. I ask them their age and they’re like eight years younger than me…</p><p>“They have something special about them that isn’t just their natural ability, that extra drive to want to be better. They’re constantly in here, they have a routine, stuff that I didn’t learn until later in my career. That’s exciting for a guy like me, who really wants to win later in my career, to have young guys that are motivated out there to compete at the highest level every night.”</p><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Cavs-free-agency-Georges-Niang-Evan-Mobley-Donovan-Mitchell-Darius-Garland.jpg"></figure><p><a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-how-clevelands-young-core-ranks-vs-rest-of-nba" rel="noopener">The Cavs earned</a> the second-most votes on the NBA’s GM survey for the team with the most promising young core with 10%. They took spots over the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers. Cleveland took first place in the category with 41% of the total votes during the 2022 GM survey. The Cavs 2023-24 roster will feature a 23-year-old Darius Garland, a 22-year-old Evan Mobley and a 22-year-old Isaac Okoro.</p><p>Garland and Mobley took second and third place on Cleveland’s roster with 21.6 and 16.2 points per game during the 2022-23 regular season, respectively. The duo combined for 30 points in just over 39 minutes of play during the Cavs 108-105 preseason loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday. Okoro added three rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Georges Niang reveals why Cavs roster is so unique

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);   ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-news-georges-niang-bold-rudy-gobert-joel-embiid-comparison-evan-mobley');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs forward Georges Niang makes bold Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid comparison for Evan Mobley');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.cavsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cavs-news-Georges-Niang-makes-bold-Rudy-Gobert-Joel-Embiid-comparison-for-Evan-Mobley.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs forward Georges Niang makes bold Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid comparison for Evan Mobley</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-10-14T15:27:23-07:00">October 14th, 3:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-10-14T15:27:23-07:00">October 14th, 3:27pm</time><address><a>Christopher Smith</a>Christopher Smith is an Associate Editor and covers the Chicago Sky for ClutchPoints. The Aurora, IL native earned a degree in philosophy from Creighton University, where he also competed as a Division 1 Cross Country runner.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cavs News</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers are among the best-positioned franchises in the NBA. The Cavs have a wealth of talent that can help the team win now and in the future. One of the team’s building blocks is big man Evan Mobley. <a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-news-evan-mobley-goals-2023-24-season" rel="noopener">Mobley’s high-level play</a> has been noticed all around the league, but one teammate praises him like no other. Georges Niang compared Mobley to Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWnxLr2H8A" rel="noopener">recent post-practice interview</a>.</p><p>“I would say Evan’s ability to protect the rim is, I don’t want to make a quote and have it go viral, but it’s along the lines of how Rudy Gobert protects the rim,” Niang said via the Cleveland Cavaliers YouTube post. Niang’s quote will go viral but in good faith.</p><h2><b>Evan Mobley draws comparisons to some of the best big men in the NBA</b></h2><p>Niang believes Mobley’s size and frame contribute to his outstanding defensive ability, the same way  Gobert’s physical tools help him. In addition, Niang compared Mobley’s mid-post game<a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-now-trails-only-lebron-james-joel-embiid-and-kevin-durant-in-this-epic-feat" rel="noopener"> to Joel Embiid’</a>s. Like Embiid, Mobley faces up, hits mid-range jump shots, and spreads the floor for the Cavs from three-point range.</p><p>Niang also praised the way Mobley approaches his work. “The coolest thing about Evan is that he’s so eager to be better every single day…I think his drive and work ethic [is exceptional].” The Cavs veteran said that such drive and focus is rare for someone at Mobley’s age in professional sports.</p><p>Georges Niang’s compliments to Evan Mobley will fire Cavs fans up.</p><p>It is great to hear that one of the franchise’s most promising players has the desire to become the best he can be. Soon enough, Mobley will be an example of greatness that younger players model their game after, just as he does with Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid.</p><p> </p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs forward Georges Niang makes bold Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid comparison for Evan Mobley

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cavs-2023-offseason-recap-max-strus-georges-niang-donovan-mitchell');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs 2023 offseason recap: Max Strus, Georges Niang highlight added depth');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cavs-2023-offseason-recap-max-strus-georges-niang-highlight-added-depth.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs 2023 offseason recap: Max Strus, Georges Niang highlight added depth</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-09-12T13:10:43-07:00">September 12th, 1:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-09-12T13:11:25-07:00">September 12th, 1:11pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>“Cleveland, this is for you!” These words will forever be remembered by every single Cleveland Cavaliers fan, as it was the moment LeBron James delivered on his promise and brought back a championship to the city in 2016.</p><p>A lot has changed for the Cavs since then, especially when looking at their core group. James is now with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kyrie Irving is a member of the Dallas Mavericks and Kevin Love is with the Miami Heat. It appeared as if Cleveland was once again heading for a rebuild when LeBron left in 2018, but owner Dan Gilbert and President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman have done a fantastic job of quickly <a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-biggest-accomplishments-of-the-2022-23-season" rel="noopener">turning their organization into a threat</a>.</p><p>Aside from drafting All-Star-like players such as Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers have also added All-Stars Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell in trades over the last two seasons. This four-man core has instantly become one of the best young groups in the entire league and they made a statement by winning 51 games during the 2022-23 season.</p><p>This turned out to be Cleveland’s best season in roughly six years and claiming the 4-seed in what turned out to be a very competitive Eastern Conference was no small feat. Losing to the New York Knicks in the first round was a disappointment, but overall, the 2022-23 season proved to be a massive success for the Cavs.</p><p>As they entered the offseason and now prepare for the 2023-24 season, the focus for Cleveland has <a href="https://cavsnation.com/top-3-cavs-storylines-in-the-offseason" rel="noopener">drastically shifted</a> from rebuilding for the future to contending right now. Unlike most contending teams, the Cavaliers have put themselves in a position to succeed both now and long term.</p><p>Mitchell is just now entering the prime of his career at 27 years old, Allen is 25, Garland is 23 and Mobley is 22. All of them are still growing into their full potential and the Cavs made sure that their core is signed for the foreseeable future, as these four players will be together through the 2024-25 season at the very least, assuming the team does not trade one of them before then.</p><p>The mindset and philosophy of staying young and building themselves into a real threat right now remained during the summer. Cleveland knew they needed to add a little bit extra depth on their bench in order to contend against the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the East, which is why they were not afraid to spend in free agency.</p><h2><b>Offseason additions and departures</b></h2><p><i>Additions: G/F Max Strus (free agency – MIA), F Georges Niang (free agency – PHI), G Ty Jerome (free agency – GSW), C Tristan Thompson (free agency – CHI), C Damian Jones (trade – UTA)</i></p><p><i>Departures: F Cedi Osman (trade – SAS), F Lamar Stevens (trade – SAS), C Robin Lopez (free agency – MIL), G Danny Green (free agency – PHI)</i></p><p>Max Strus was Cleveland’s big addition this offseason after he agreed to a four-year, $63 million deal with the team after spending the last three seasons of his career with the Miami Heat. This ended up being a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavaliers-news-max-strus-sign-and-trade-free-agency-4-year-63-million-contract" rel="noopener">sign-and-trade agreement</a> that involved the Heat and San Antonio Spurs, as Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens were sent to the Spurs to clear up cap room for Strus.</p><p>Last season was Strus’ best since making his NBA debut in 2019. He averaged a career-high 11.5 points per game in Miami and he ended up playing in a career-high 80 games, 33 of which he started in. While he’s always been known to be more of a three-point shooting threat than a defender, Strus’ versatility allowed him to guard multiple positions on the perimeter.</p><p>This is a lot of money that the Cavs invested into the sharpshooter, but he addresses a key need they have had out on the wing for quite some time. Cleveland ranked 12th in team three-point percentage and 19th in made threes a season ago, which is why Strus can instantly help make a positive difference when the new season begins. The former Heat wing is also a better shooter and scorer than Osman ever was, so the Cavs essentially upgraded their bench depth at a slightly higher price.</p><p>Continuing to add shooting depth, Georges Niang found himself as another offensive weapon heading to the Cavs this offseason on a new three-year, $25 million deal. This is the most Niang has ever been given over the course of his seven-year career, always finding himself as a player who was given a minimum contract or a small part of his team’s mid-level exception. The Cavaliers believe in his abilities to be another positive factor on their bench, which is why they sacrificed a large part of their MLE to sign him.</p><p>For his career, Niang has shot 40.3 percent from three-point range. Just last season he shot 52.6 percent <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/georges-niang-shot-chart-this-season" rel="noopener">from the corner</a>, according to StatMuse. Mitchell and Garland now have an immediate shooting threat to pass the ball out to when they drive to the rim and Niang should immediately boost what was one of the league’s worst bench units.</p><p>Strus and Niang were the two big additions for the Cavaliers, as Ty Jerome and Tristan Thompson are two additional signings who provide depth in the backcourt and frontcourt, respectively. Jerome played well on a two-way contract with the Warriors last season and has always been known to be a viable three-point option. As for Thompson, he was a part of the Cavs’ 2016 championship team and was one of the best rebounders in the league not too long ago. His experiences and connection to Cleveland are the two reasons why the organization wanted to <a href="https://cavsnation.com/cavs-news-cleveland-reunites-with-tristan-thompson-on-1-year-deal" rel="noopener">bring him back</a>.</p><p>It’s also worth mentioning that the Cavs agreed to a new two-year contract with Caris LeVert this offseason. There were a lot of questions being asked about if LeVert would return, especially since he was looking to get paid and since his production in Cleveland had been inconsistent. The two sides ultimately came to an agreement and he will enter training camp as the likely starter at the small forward position.</p><p>Over the years, Cleveland had been hesitant to spend a lot of money in free agency. On the verge of being a real threat across the league, the Cavs understood that improving their secondary unit was essential, which is why they made the moves that they did.</p><p>A lot of pressure was cast on the likes of Mitchell and Garland, so much so that this team’s production declined as games went on due to their lack of depth. Both Strus and Niang will be able to help take a lot of the offensive strain off of the team’s two leaders in the backcourt, plus the Cavs are hopeful that LeVert will be able to become more comfortable in his role out on the wing. Based on what the organization lost and who they added, it’s clear to see that the Cavaliers had a terrific free agency period.</p><h2><b>Cleveland’s financials &amp; Donovan Mitchell’s future</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cavs-2023-offseason-recap-max-strus-georges-niang-highlight-added-depth-2.jpg"></figure><p>As is the case with any young team, the Cavaliers are going to be facing some financial decisions as time goes on. Of course, a lot of their decision-making process will factor in the team’s recent success and what they are able to achieve in the playoffs. This doesn’t take away from the fact that the 2023-24 season is going to be vital to their future.</p><p>Any record south of 51 wins will be a slight concern for this organization, especially since they have a better roster than they did a year ago. This franchise expects to be in the playoffs and be one of the final teams standing, which is why potential success, or lack thereof, will play a role in extension talks for Evan Mobley.</p><p>Drafted third overall in 2021, Mobley probably should have been the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year after he displayed his two-way abilities right away. Just this past season, the 22-year-old became an even better double-double threat than he already was and Mobley has shown flashes of his shooting potential outside of the paint.</p><p>The upcoming year is going to be extremely important for the young big man, as he will need to once again show growth as a decision maker and possible No. 3 scoring option next to Mitchell and Garland. What’s interesting about the recent top pick is that at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, he will be eligible for an extension.</p><p>It is looking likely that the Cavs will commit to Mobley on a long-term deal when that time comes. At the same time, should they finish with below 50 wins and fail to win a playoff series, this front office is going to be evaluating all of their options. Who knows what exactly this could lead to in terms of roster moves, but the Cavaliers have a payroll of over $160 million for the next two seasons.</p><p>Looking at the 2025-26 season right now, which would be the first season an extension for Mobley would kick in, Caris LeVert will be the only significant contract expiring. This would mean that a potential $30 million per year contract extension for Mobley would instantly put the Cavs back over $160 million in salaries.</p><p>The Cavaliers are going to be forced to pay a lot of money to keep this current core together and seeing as they are so young, the payroll and tax bill is not going to be declining any time soon. All eyes are on Mobley and a possible long-term extension as a result.</p><p>Heading into the new year, there are also some questions being asked about Mitchell and if he is committed to building a future with the Cavaliers. One of the main reasons the four-time All-Star asked for a trade from the Utah Jazz was because of their lack of success and ability to recruit high-end free agents. Cleveland was at the top of the NBA world with LeBron James as the face of their franchise, but this past year was truly their first successful season without LeBron in over two decades.</p><p>Much has been made about Mitchell and his desire to play for the New York Knicks, especially given his ties to New York City and the tri-state area. There was obvious interest from the All-Star to play for the Knicks before he was traded to the Cavaliers, and there are some around the league who still believe that he wouldn’t mind eventually teaming up with some of his friends such as Josh Hart and Trae Young.</p><p>The idea of building a championship-contending team as the lead star is something Mitchell takes a lot of pride in and he has not given the Cavs any indications that he is having doubts about his future. In fact, sources close to Cleveland’s star told ClutchPoints that Mitchell is extremely comfortable with the Cavaliers and is solely focused on the upcoming 2023-24 season.</p><p>What will be interesting to see is if the team looks to offer him a contract extension, especially since he will have one more year left after the upcoming season before having to make a decision on his player option.</p><h2><b>2023-24 season outlook</b></h2><p>The Cavaliers have a chance to have one of their best seasons in franchise history this upcoming year. Their entire core group is returning and will look a lot more comfortable with one another after having a full offseason to work out. Not to mention, the additions of Strus and Niang will instantly provide a boost on the offensive side of things.</p><p>During the 2022-23 season, Cleveland ranked first in the league in defensive rating and their 106.9 points allowed per game average ranked at the very top of the league as well. As time goes on, Mobley is only going to get better defensively and the organization is still high on Isaac Okoro’s abilities to get after his opponents on the wing. It would be shocking to see the Cavs rank outside of the Top 5 in defensive rating.</p><p>Offensively, the Cavaliers truly weren’t bad last season. Even though they ranked 25th in the league in scoring, their slow pace and ability to take high-percentage shots eventually led to them ranking inside the Top 10 in offensive rating. What hurt this team was the fact that they had zero depth, something that showed up in big games, especially in the postseason.</p><p>When Mitchell, Garland, or Mobley went to the bench, the Cavs were left searching for production. This is where guys like Strus, Niang, and even Jerome could potentially help out this upcoming year, as taking the strain off the backs of the team’s leading scorers will be essential. Mitchell may have gone for 71 points in a game last season, but Cleveland would much rather have other players step up so Don is healthy for the postseason.</p><p>There is a lot to like about this group and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff does not get enough appreciation for the job he’s done. Bickerstaff doubled the team’s win total from his first to second season, then he orchestrated their growth this past year. Head coaches are always the first to receive blame, but we never want to sit back and say that they did an excellent job. Well, hopefully, that changes in regards to the Cavs because Bickerstaff is absolutely a Coach of the Year candidate.</p><p>The Cavaliers have high expectations that they can be one of the best teams in the East during the regular season once more. The only difference between last season and this upcoming season is that they believe they have what it takes to represent the East in the NBA Finals. Time will tell if this young group will take the next step to becoming one of the league’s biggest threats.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
9.9	3.4	1.4	0.2	0.4

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
9.9	3.4	1.4	0.2	0.4

Georges Niang news

Georges
Niang news