Categories: Editorials

10 Important Lessons We Learned from the Cavs-Warriors Christmas Day Game

Published by

Brad Sullivan

10 years ago

4. Richard Jefferson Needs More Minutes

Against Golden State, Richard Jefferson failed to see action in a Cavaliers game for the first time this season. That comes off playing less than five minutes in a home game against the New York Knicks that went down to the final minutes before the Cavs emerged with the win.

Ideally, Jefferson should be able to spell LeBron James and also maybe help out in the backcourt. It’s clear that giving him at least 20 minutes a game should be a part of the game plan. Going past that threshold has been beneficial for the Cavaliers thus far, given the following numbers: when he plays 20 minutes or more, the Cavaliers are 11-2; less than that and they’re a pedestrian 8-6.

Even those two losses have something of an asterisks attached to them. The first defeat came in a double overtime heartbreaker against Milwaukee on November 14, when Jefferson played 39 minutes. The other loss came in Miami, where the decision to sit James resulted in Jefferson playing 38 minutes.

Next: Late Game Free Throw Shooting Needs Work

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Brad Sullivan

Brad Sullivan is a lead writer for Cavaliers Nation. He has spent much of life in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and has remained a Cavalier fan from their 1970 beginnings through the return of LeBron James. While that fandom was sorely tested during the Reign of Error known simply by one word, Stepien, that overall historical perspective will be part of his writing for Cavaliers Nation in the months ahead.