(92.3 The Fan) The Cavaliers have shocked many across the NBA with their 18-12 start, but they aren’t as surprised by their strong play as outsiders are.
“I’ve always had high hopes for this team, ever since training camp, just seeing the way that we defended and the energy and the competitiveness that we had all of training camp,” wing Isaac Okoro said on Bull & Fox on Thursday afternoon. “It was just unbelievable. And just seeing the size that we had. I just saw the potential that we had to be a real good team.”
The numbers suggest that the Cavaliers’ strong start is by no means a fluke. They’ve played one of the hardest schedules in the NBA, and they have the second-ranked defense in the league. It’s anchored by center Jarrett Allen and standout rookie power forward Evan Mobley, while Okoro also credited big man Lauri Markkanen – who starts at small forward – for making life difficult on opponents.
“We have three 7-footers protecting the paint, so it makes my job easier and everybody else’s job easier,” Okoro said. “When I’m out there guarding the perimeter, I’m able to press up on the ball more, be more aggressive, gamble a little bit more knowing that I have Jarrett, Evan and Lauri back there to protect. It makes our job easier. We play great defense, and we always have each other’s back.”
Okoro has also played a key role in the Cavaliers’ surge, and he has really ramped up his offensive production recently. He has averaged 18.5 points in the past four games, an uptick over his season average of 9.3.
“Just hard work, just hard work,” Okoro said of the key to increased scoring. “Just being in the gym, putting up a lot of shots, just working on my game. I wasn’t going to let a couple bad games stop me from taking my shots. If teams are going to leave me open to take shots, I’m going to take those shots 100 out of 100 times.”
Shortly after Okoro conducted his interview with Bull & Fox, news broke that he has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols. He’ll likely be out 10 or more days.
