With LeBron James on the bench to start the fourth quarter, Mo Williams led the Cavs on a 13-0 run that pushed Cleveland past Dallas, 100-81.
How’s this for a stretch of possessions to open the fourth quarter of a close game: Long jump shot, longer jump shot. Feed a teammate for a layup, then swish another jumper. Get another assist, then nail a 3-pointer from so deep that your defender walks away saying, “Whooo.”
“That’s what they expect,” said Williams, acquired in August to ease the load off James. “Tonight was a great sign. It was a long summer for me, two surgeries. I expected to get going kind of slow, but it was frustrating when you’re used to making shots, making plays.”
The Cavs are just 2-2, but Williams hasn’t hit his stride yet. He’s averaging 13.5 points and 4.8 assists, while shooting 43% from the field. Last season, he averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists, while shooting 48% from the field. But with two offseason surgeries and a new offense to learn, it’s tough to expect Williams to hit the ground running. My only concern about the trade (for the Cavs) is that he’s a player that is at his best when he has the ball in his hands. That’s fine when LeBron is on the bench (such as his terrific run in the fourth quarter), but when LeBron is in the game, Williams will have to defer and learn to be a spot up shooter. That’s a tough adjustment to make.
This is going to be one of the more interesting storylines to watch not only for its effect on the Cavs’ fortunes this season, but also to see how it affects LeBron’s future in Cleveland.
