{"id":183268,"date":"2025-10-01T19:49:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T19:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/183268\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T19:49:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T19:49:09","slug":"how-the-cavs-training-camp-drills-are-redefining-playing-fast-in-the-nba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/183268\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Cavs\u2019 training camp drills are redefining \u2018playing fast\u2019 in the NBA"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 Every NBA team claims they want to play faster during training camp. The Cavs<\/a> are actually proving it.<\/p>\n

As the team opened training camp at IMG Academy in Florida, they unveiled a distinctive drill that rewards players not for making baskets, but for how quickly they move the ball to specific spots on the court \u2014 a telling sign that their commitment to increased pace goes far beyond the usual preseason lip service.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe points weren\u2019t coming from making baskets, twos and threes,\u201d explained Chris Fedor on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast. \u201cThe points were coming from, are you doing the things that you need to do with the kick aheads and the kick across and stuff like that? And if they did it in a certain amount of time quickly, because everything that they want to do is quickly, they got more points.\u201d<\/p>\n

This innovative approach represents what Fedor calls \u201cdrastic measures\u201d in Cleveland\u2019s quest to build upon last season\u2019s offensive success. <\/p>\n

The Cavaliers ranked 10th in pace during the regular season and sixth among playoff teams \u2014 respectable numbers they\u2019re clearly determined to improve.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you start to hear those things and then you see the quote, unquote, drastic measures that the Cavs are taking to implement those kinds of things, you start to say to yourself, okay, maybe it\u2019s not just training camp fodder,\u201d Fedor noted.<\/p>\n

The strategic emphasis extends beyond simply pushing the ball upcourt. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s about creating advantages against defenses designed to disrupt Cleveland\u2019s primary ball-handlers. By encouraging whoever is closest to the ball \u2014 be it Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, or even Sam Merrill \u2014 to initiate offense quickly, the Cavaliers hope to prevent opponents from dictating their offensive rhythm.<\/p>\n

One key element in this philosophy? The acquisition of Lonzo Ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cLonzo Ball is the one that makes me believe that this is more than just your usual training camp fodder,\u201d emphasized Jimmy Watkins. \u201cBecause for his entire career, literally as a rookie, when he was on the court, the Lakers were in transition 2 1\/2% more often. That was the 91st percentile in the league. He\u2019s just been doing this his whole life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ball\u2019s elite outlet passing, above-average rebounding for his position, and instinctive transition game make him the perfect catalyst for Cleveland\u2019s tempo transformation. <\/p>\n

As Watkins explained, Ball\u2019s impact on pace has been consistent throughout his career: \u201cIn four of those seasons with him on the court, the transition frequency increase has been in the 90th percentile or better. This dude equals pace.\u201d<\/p>\n

The broader vision extends to players like Evan Mobley as well. By improving his ball-handling skills (a specific offseason focus), Mobley can now grab defensive rebounds and immediately push upcourt against slower big men \u2014 creating mismatches before defenses can set.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that \u201cpace\u201d isn\u2019t just about fast break points. It\u2019s about initiating offensive actions earlier in the shot clock, allowing for multiple actions if the first option fails. For a team that already boasted the second-best offense in NBA history last season, these refinements could make them even more lethal.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the podcast for this week:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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