Browns post-game scribbles: Bullied on the line, QB sneaks

urn due to so many injuries. He has had hip, hand, toe and shoulder surgeries. He also has had a few concussions. a close up of a man: Kevin Love will probably be out for a month with a calf muscle injury. He came into the season having missed 115 of 312 games over the previous four years. John Kuntz, © John Kuntz cleveland.Com/cleveland.Com/cleveland.Com/TNS Kevin Love will probably be out for a month with a calf muscle injury. He came into the season having missed 115 of 312 games over the previous four years. John Kuntz, Love sounded energized talking about playing this season for J.B. Bickerstaff, entering the season having missed 115 of 312 games over the previous four years. At 32 with three years (counting this season) and $90 million left on his deal – there’s not much trade value. There are players with as bad or worse contracts: Chris Paul ($80 million for two years), John Wall ($130 million for three years), Tobias Harris ($147 million for four years), Russell Westbrook ($132 million for three years), Blake Griffin ($75 million for two years) and Khris Middleton ($146 million for four years). Wall and Westbrook were recently traded for each other – two declining guards on huge contracts with little market value elsewhere. If Love is traded, it probably will be a deal like that. What the Cavs need for the present and the future is Love back on the court playing reasonably well for a few months. Hard to know if that will happen this season. ABOUT DARIUS GARLAND When I heard the talk of “Darius Garland being the Cavs’ best player in their mini-bubble,” I didn’t pay much attention. The team had its own version of a summer league, playing against each other for a few weeks. The fact that Garland was better than his rocky rookie season wasn’t saying much. Also, who was he facing? Mostly backups and free agents hoping to win a roster spot. But after the first five games, Garland now looks like a lottery pick. He is averaging 19 points, 7.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds. Here are the numbers so far: 50% from the field, 52% on 3-pointers. That compares to 40% (35% on 3-pointers) last season. He has lost weight and gained strength, and his surgically repaired knee looks healthy. The 6-foot-1 Garland is only 20. His skill level is showing, especially when it comes to his soft floaters and crafty bank shots as he drives to the basket. ESPN’s NBA analyst and analytics expert Kevin Pelton noticed Garland in this tweet: “Based on his the strength of his form and his confidence, he looks likely to comfortably improve on his 35.5 % (3-point shooting) as a rookie.” The Cavs say this is the player they pictured when making him the No. 5 pick in the 2019 draft. They talked about him being an elite shooter, a smart player. Meanwhile, Collin Sexton (No. 8 pick in 2018 draft) continues to score. The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging 25.8 points, shooting 56% from the field, 60% on 3-pointers. Sexton is 21. Garland is 20. Once his sore foot heals, 19-year-old Isaac Okoro will be starting at small forward. Those are GM Koby Altman’s three lottery picks. We’ll see how they grow together. But so far, the improvement made by Garland and Sexton from their rookie years is encouraging. ABOUT THE CAVS 1. Love’s injury opens the door for Larry Nance Jr. To start at power forward. Nance is one of the team’s best defenders – and most unselfish players. The Cavs have lots of internal stats showing how Nance has a positive impact on the team because of his all-around game. 2. The Cavs entered the weekend ranking in the top 10 defensively in several categories. It’s only five games and the Cavs haven’t played elite opponents. Nonetheless, they guarded no one last year. They ranked dead last in defensive field goal percentage, 29th in defensive efficiency. 3. This is not to suggest the Cavs are turning into a great defensive team. But they should be respectable. A heavy dose of Nance will help that along with the addition of Andre Drummond late last season and JaVale McGee this season. As one Cavs official told me, “When was the last time we had 7-foot rim protectors like that? Maybe (Timofey) Mozgov (2015-16)? With Drummond and JaVale, we have 48 minutes of 7-foot.” 4. With the Cavs playing a pair of 6-foot-1 guards Garland and Sexton, they were determined to add size under the basket. That led to the late-season deal for the 6-foot-10 Drummond. While he’s not 7-foot, he defends like it with his long arms, rebounding and shot-blocking. 5. Before the season, they made a quiet deal for McGee, a legitimate 7-footer. The Lakers were looking to take some money off their salary cap. They sent McGee and his $4.2 million salary to Cleveland for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell. The Cavs also picked up a 2026 second-rounder in the deal. 6. McGee and Drummond are both in the final season of their contracts. They both have connected with Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who is determined to change the defense and end it being an embarrassment. In terms of little things, Nance and Drummond rank in the top three in steals this season. 7. The Cavs hope to have Okoro back in a week. The small forward has a defensive mindset, helping him fit in well with Drummond, Nance and McGee. Bickerstaff has added different zone defenses to help protect the small guards. 8. Meanwhile, the coach is demanding more defensive effort from Garland and Sexton. I also believe with Drummond and Nance behind them, the two young guards know they have to do a better job defensively. The big men insist on it. 9. The Cavs have been a defensive disaster dating back to James’ final year. They turned on the defense in the 2018 playoffs. But they ranked 28th and then 30th (last) twice in the last three years in defensive field goal percentage. 10. Cedi Osman opened the season with averaging 11.5 points, shooting 53% from the field and 7-of-17 on 3-pointers in the first three games. In his next two games, he shot 3-for-20 in 50 minutes. Osman is 25. This is his fourth NBA season. His inconsistency has often been an issue. 11. Matthew Dellavedova hasn’t played yet because of a concussion suffered in the preseason. Dellavedova has had several concussions in his career, and the Cavs want to be very careful before bringing him back. 12. The Cavs are trying to use Dante Exum as a backup point guard, but he struggles at that spot. A healthy Dellavedova would help the team when Garland leaves the court. I’m not a big fan of Exum, who doesn’t seem to have a natural position or one skill that stands out. 13. As for Kevin Porter Jr., no word when he’ll be back. The Cavs have said he’s dealing with some personal issues. The 20-year-old Porter had two off-court problems before the season. He wasn’t convicted of any charges, but the Cavs are concerned about his maturity. They don’t want to rush him back but will wait until they believe he’s emotionally ready to return. RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS The Browns finally have a BIG game, how will we react? Hey Terry, what about a new Browns kicker? Why was Jets game postponed? ----

---- Giving up on the Browns? Nope! They have come to far Terry’s Talkin’ Tribe: Can they keep threading the needle? How about this for a Christmas gift? A promising draft from Browns Hey Terry: What about the Cavs? Darius Garland? Collin Sexton? A Cleveland State basketball player scored 46 points. Who is D’Moi Hodge? New Cavs face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charity.