The Utah Jazz and 3 other teams who aren’t performing as expected
By Chad Porto
![Nov 2, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) dunks against the Orlando Magic in the third quarter at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports Nov 2, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) dunks against the Orlando Magic in the third quarter at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/23950a72585656e000b14bc05402467ea2101e8bf8ff9950f35ac5f13f330718.jpg)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2-4)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are sort of in the same spot that the Miami Heat are, with a poor offense that’s underdeveloped, but they’re at least a good defense. They’re 13th in the league in points per game, not great, but far from bad, and are 14th in the league in shooting percentages against.
The issues come offensively, as they are 27th in the league in points per game, with just over 105 points per game. They’re also only 25th in shooting percentages for the squad, and just 23rd in three-point shots made. This is a team that’s not very good offensively and that’s not shocking, considering that Darius Garland has missed time, and the bench is far from what it was.
Caris LeVert is now their full-time sixth man, and he’s been awful for them. So has new starter Max Strus, who’s hitting just 35% of his shots taken. Then you have Georges Niang, former Jazz forward, who’s shooting just 28% from the field.
Four of their top nine players in shots per game have shot under 40% from the floor to start the year, and of all the guys to get regular minutes only Isaac Okoro is hitting more than 39% of his three-point shots.
Clearly, the offense was not supposed to have stalled this badly to start things but the hope is that when Garland comes back the team will look much better.