Max Strus has become a reliable NBA player, particularly known for his strong long-range shooting.
However, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting small forward offers more than just his three-point shooting. He also has the ability to facilitate and create plays in the team’s offense, and head coach Kenny Atkinson wants to incorporate more of this into his game plan.
One key area Atkinson wants to emphasize is utilizing Strus as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations.
“I don’t know why it’s taken me so long. All of those hidden handback plays – he’ll pass to [Jarrett Allen] or [Evan Mobley] and follow the ball, and I knew he was good at it, but I wasn’t sure how good,” Atkinson said after the Cavaliers’ practice on Tuesday.
“You’ll see more of that, and I think it will help [Darius Garland] and [Donovan Mitchell], taking some pressure off them and getting them out of the pick-and-roll. I even added a couple of things for Max today. He’s great at feeding those guys when they roll.”
Incorporating this aspect into Cleveland’s already potent offense will make the team even tougher to defend.
As Atkinson points out, this could ease the load for Garland and Mitchell and potentially create more catch-and-shoot opportunities for them on the perimeter.
Despite the Cavaliers already securing a playoff spot and nearing the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Atkinson continues to find new ways to make the offense more dynamic.
We may even see some of these new plays for Strus and the frontcourt in the upcoming game against the New York Knicks.
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