Byron Scott is hanging a “Help Wanted” sign after the Cavaliers’ 106-91 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday evening at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The beleaguered coach is one step short of running an ad in the classifieds or holding open tryouts to find somebody, anybody, to join Daniel Gibson on the team’s unproductive second unit.
With rookie backup center Tyler Zeller still out with a concussion and fractured left cheekbone, Gibson shouldered the load again Sunday. Ironically, thanks to Gibson’s 16 points, the Cavs’ second unit outscored the Thunder’s, 29-22. Of course, that didn’t matter after Russell Westbrook’s 27 points and 10 assists and Kevin Durant’s 26 points and eight rebounds helped Oklahoma City improve to 5-2.
“The biggest thing is, I’m just looking for somebody besides Boobie Gibson to step up off the bench,” Scott said after the Cavs dropped their third straight to fall to 2-5 overall, 1-4 on this six-game trip that ends Tuesday at Brooklyn. “Boobie has been great. I know we’re missing Tyler, but we need somebody else to just step up.”
On the roulette wheel that is the Cavs’ bench, Sunday’s winners were Omri Casspi in place of C.J. Miles and Jon Leuer in place of Samardo Samuels. Casspi went 1-for-7 from the field, with four free throws, seven points, four rebounds and two steals in 14 minutes. Leuer went 2-for-8, with four points, two rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes after Scott was displeased with Samuels’ defense.
That’s not exactly what Scott was looking for.
Asked about Casspi, the coach said: “1-for-7. That’s almost the same as what C.J. was doing, basically. But it’s the first game he’s played so you’ve got to give him the benefit of the doubt and give him a chance and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Of Leuer’s defense, he said: “He was OK. I didn’t think he did terrible.”
For now, that passes as an endorsement.
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