Cavs Opinion: Sam Merrill Deserves More Minutes
The Cleveland Cavaliers have undergone more changes to their offense identity during the regular season than some teams do in an entire offseason. With that have come different lineups and opportunities for some players.
One player who has made the most of all the playing time they've been given is Sam Merrill. However, he's still been unable to find a consistent role in the rotation.
Feb 8, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) looks to drive past Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson (45) in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
From the middle of December through the end of January, Merrill played in all but two of Cleveland's games. In the 18 games he appeared in, Merrill averaged 12.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 45% from the floor and 43% from behind the arc.
But in February, Merrill received sporadic playing time and his usage noticeably dipped.
J.B. Bickerstaff has been clear that his team needs to get back to shooting upwards of his around 40 three-pointers a game. This is something that the Cavaliers were doing in January which helped them go on a nine-game winning streak.
One easy easy way to get more threes up is to have a player who attempts 16.3 threes per 100 passions on the floor. That's exactly who Sam Merrill is, not to mention how efficient of a shooter he is too.
It's time that Merrill gets back in this Cavs rotation for the good of the team.
The Cavaliers also pride themselves on playing tough defense. If Merrill was a weak defender then that'd be a valid reason for him to not see more time. But that isn't the case. He has a defensive rating of 114.8 this season which makes him the 3-and-D type player all teams desire to have.
The Cavs have proven to be the best version of themselves when they're attempting a high number of shots behind the arc and playing solid defense. Merrill can give the team both of those when he's on the floor and has earned an opportunity to play in bigger minutes.
