Cavs still “scratching the surface” in win over Raptors; three takeaways

3. Jose Jose Jose Jose

Not enough can be said about Jose Calderon in this game. Along with his 19 points, he had a game-high plus-27 plus-minus. He locked down Kyle Lowry, and in games where he starts, the Cavs are now 23-9 this year.

Perhaps most importantly, he helps open things up on the perimeter for Kevin Love (who already does a good job of taking advantage of mismatches) and to an extent, LeBron James.

Postgame, both Love and Larry Drew talked about Calderon’s ability in pick and roll sets. Drew even said Love came up to him during the game saying that Calderon does a good job of setting his man up before Love or another big even sets a screen. As a result, the Cavs were able to find a lot of success in their pick and roll sets with both Love and James on Tuesday.

“Jose is just a guy who knows his position,” Drew says. “He knows how to play his position. He’s not quick, he’s not fast, he doesn’t do a lot of things out on the court that are very sexy. But he just gets things done. And little things like that, big men have an appreciation for, because Kevin knows if he sets a good screen on Jose’s guy, chances are he’s going to be open.”

Larry Drew on that tandem of Jose Calderon and Kevin Love. Says one thing Calderon does well that helps Kevin is set his defender up for a screen before Love sets it. Says Jose”doesn’t do a lot of things out on the court that are very sexy. But he just gets things done.” pic.twitter.com/KMFc2DDuDi

— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) April 4, 2018

 

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