Marquese Chriss: Cavs have something to prove

Feb 13, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Marquese Chriss (3) dunks against Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen (31) in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Photo credit © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Independence, OH (92.3 The Fan) – The Cavaliers’ season hasn’t gone the way they had hoped, but that doesn’t mean they’re looking forward to the offseason. They’ve won two of their last five, which included a three-overtime loss to Brooklyn before the All-Star break.

Fans may be focused on Zion, the NBA Draft Lottery and losing games, but the current roster wants to win.

“We have to prove something,” Marquese Chriss said. “Not only to other people, but to ourselves. We’re trying to continue to grow and develop each other and we’re still trying to win games. We’re trying to compete and make games fun and entertaining to watch. I think everybody on this team is hungry.”

Chriss, 21, was acquired in a three-team trade with Houston and Sacramento prior to the deadline. He’s averaging 12.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in five games with Cleveland. He’s just one of the many players who have given this team a boost in recent weeks.

MY GOODNESS, MARQUESE CHRISS. pic.twitter.com/G6eC12ZRYf

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 14, 2019

Brandon Knight is shooting 50 percent from three-point range since joining the Cavaliers. It’s a good sign for a team that was one of the worst teams in total threes made for most of the season. Chriss has been good in that department too, making half of the threes he’s attempted and shooting over 52 percent from the field in five games with the Cavs.

“It’s just something I wanted to add to my game,” Chriss said. “I’ve been working on it over the last couple of years. Being here gave me the confidence to shoot. They’re just letting me be me and it’s helping the ball go in.”

Chriss was drafted eighth in the 2016 NBA Draft. He will be a free agent this summer, which means he needs to showcase his talent for every team in the league. This team is full of players with something to prove.

Chriss wants to show he belongs. Knight is on a mission to prove he can be the player he was before tearing his ACL. Kevin Love wants everyone to know he’s the same player who’s made five All-Star teams.

“Our job is to play as hard as we can, play together and try to win,” Matthew Dellavedova said on Thursday.

The Cavaliers are as healthy as they’ve been all season. Head coach Larry Drew wants to win games down the stretch and that’s exactly what Chriss, Knight and the rest of the Cavs hope to do.