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Timofey Mozgov Is Cleveland Cavaliers’ Biggest Disappointment At 2015-16 Halfway Point

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When Timofey Mozgov came to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year in a midseason trade, it changed the course of the season for them and ultimately led to an appearance in the NBA Finals. LeBron James was thrilled at first to have another big man in his stable to trot out there, and Mozgov seemed to be the missing piece for a team that was lacking shot blocking and an inside presence.

This year has been quite different. Mozgov has struggled mightily after an offseason in which he endured arthroscopic knee surgery, and he hasn’t appeared on form for the entire season. This was evident against the Golden State Warriors on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Mozgov didn’t deliver, and Tristan Thompson picked up his fourth foul before the second half had even started. The Cavaliers looked listless and uninspired. James even said after the game that it was an old fashioned whooping.

Cleveland still has time to get their offense back on track, but it didn’t seem good against the Warriors. That is because Golden State puts the Cavaliers out of their comfort zone in nearly every aspect of the game.

Mozgov must improve his numbers if Cleveland is going to go anywhere in the playoffs. He is averaging an awful 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and .8 blocks per game. By comparison, last season he averaged 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game after the trade to Cleveland. James and company are clearly the best team in the Eastern Conference, but they will have real trouble with whoever comes out of the Western Conference if the Cavs are lucky enough to make the NBA Finals again. Mozgov lies at the heart of this issue, and it will be intriguing to see if he steps up to the plate or wilts like a summer flower.

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