Cavs Mailbag: Why Is Craig Porter Jr. Stuck To The Bench?

Spencer Davies answers Cleveland Cavaliers fans' questions after a 120-113 road loss to the Boston Celtics in the first of two meetings.

Welcome to Cavs Mailbag! In this daily mailbag, Spencer Davies will respond to fans’ curiosities surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers throughout the duration of the 2023-24 season. In order to submit yours, simply send your questions on X to @SpinDavies or via email at spindavies22@gmail.com.

Despite a hard-fought game with the Boston Celtics where the Cavs got Caris LeVert back and drilled a season-high 19 threes, the wine-and-gold came up short on Tuesday at the TD Garden. 

Luckily for Cleveland, the team will get another chance at the C's on Thursday in the second game of this mini-series on the road.

Let's get to your questions:

Why does J.B. continue to not play Craig Porter Jr. when the team is better when he plays? Getting ridiculous at this point. - @craiger113

This has now become the most popular question after games. I am in total agreement. As I've been writing for weeks at this point, Craig Porter Jr. should be a part of the regular rotation regardless of the predicament Cleveland is in.

Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, as seen in the above video, explained last week why the rotation has typically been tighter. While his argument is valid, there's no way that 12-15 minutes aren't available to play alongside Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, or even one or the other.

Porter's ability to organize the team, especially in being a rookie, is not only impressive, but it is necessary. Garland played darn near 80 minutes combined in two nights, while Mitchell logged 74. Tired legs could've been a reason for Cleveland's fourth-quarter lull before trying to rally late. 

Bickerstaff leans on LeVert a bunch as well, so getting him back doesn't help Porter's playing-time case. It's also a big reason why Sam Merrill didn't see any minutes last night despite logging healthy first-quarter floor time in back-to-back games prior.

At the end of the day, I think two things are true. Bickerstaff is correct when he says the Cavs have a boatload of backcourt talent who are similar-sized. Cleveland wants its best players on the court as much as possible, as well as the proven shooting talent the team added over the summer. There are only five players on the hardwood at once for your squad.

But, by the same token, Bickerstaff has been stubborn in gluing a ready-to-go, winning player to the bench. It's almost too much loyalty and preferential in ways that have been detrimental to the Cavs.

If the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets games weren't enough evidence, how about coming in cold to the Miami Heat game and settling the team down with Garland in foul trouble? It literally changed the game in the first half. Porter is fearless on each end, doesn't play rushed, hustles and makes incredibly advanced reads for the lack of pro experience he has.

The evidence is right there. I do not get it either. Maybe it's a two-way contract thing where they don't want to waste Porter's games away? He does only have 36 left before he hits the 50-game limit. But I really don't know what else it could be.

Dec 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter (9) during the second half at Kaseya Center / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Why do they always have such a disparity in free throws attempted compared to their opponents? - @DCarbetta

Contrary to belief, the Cavs do get downhill and attack. It's actually the primary reason why they generated a season-high 45 attempts from long range Tuesday night in Boston and 40 in Orlando the night beforehand. 

LeVert and Max Strus did comment on that last night, though their tone was much calmer than Bickerstaff, who blasted the officiating for a 26-9 discrepancy at the free-throw line. I'm not good at the "why" when it comes to foul calls or lack thereof. It honestly may just depend on who's assigned to referee the game that night.

Cavs players seem to want to put more of an emphasis on finishing through contact and, defensively, guarding without fouling. It's a simple fix for them apparently. 

I think it also has something to do with how opponents have different schemes. Cleveland did just attempt 33 free throws in Orlando despite the "chucking" narrative, so clearly the team is getting inside. Being stronger with the ball could help too.

That's the best I have for you!

Why did J.B. continue to stick to the zone defense when they were clearly hitting the threes Tuesday? - @DillonBlair13

Game-planning for the Celtics is a pick-your-poison endeavor that nobody should envy. Are you going to allow Jayson Tatum to beat somebody on an island? Probably not. How about Jaylen Brown? Unlikely. 

Do you have the right matchups for Kristaps Porzingis inside and out? What about Derrick White's three-point shooting ability and attack-mindedness? Guess what, we didn't even bring up Jrue Holiday's ability to get it going. That is one hell of a starting five they have in Beantown.

I think the zone, more or less, was betting on Boston not being able to make perimeter shots vs. letting Tatum and Brown and White get to the rim at will. Cleveland's game plan to put the game in the "others" hands worked, but those "others" did the job they're paid to do. Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard made those shots. 

On the flip side, Bickerstaff said postgame last night that Cleveland will make the proper adjustments as a coaching staff. 

I think the Cavs have to be better with how far they're cheating off toward the middle from the corners and how fast the bigs need to get back when they show/blitz so there isn't a mismatch created. Porzingis being on the block changed that game in the fourth. White was sensational all game waiting the catch-shoots too. It takes not one, not two, not three, but four, five, six efforts defensively against a team like this. 

It's hard to accept as a fan, but it's okay to say the Celtics are good. They are undefeated at home after all. Their good was just better than Cleveland's good on Tuesday — at least from my perspective.