We’ll see how beneficial a game like this was when Cleveland can get more healthy. Roles that we haven’t seen him in at all this season or even this past Summer League. A contest like this, although one Cleveland never had hope of winning, gave Bates a chance to operate from different areas on the floor and in different roles. “Just learning how to handle the contact, learning how to create separation and deception when setting up plays.” “This was a great experience for him,” said Gerrity. He will need to continue to develop his overall game like he showed he can on Thursday. Teams know this now and are doing everything they can to make him put the ball on the ground more.Įven though opponents won’t be able to key in on him in this way when the team is at full strength, more defenders will be trying to get into Bates’s body and limit the spots he can catch the ball. Those types of situations for him to be in are good for his development of just reading the defenses and seeing what the game is giving him.”īates came into this one shooting 44.6% from deep on 10.8 attempts per game. “I thought he made a great read with Pete where he drew two defenders and made the right pass after Pete popped. “What I liked is that he also made some pretty good passes,” said Gerrity. The rookie collected 14 points in the third by going 5-5 on two-point attempts while drawing two shooting fouls. He operated more as a ball handler in the pick-and-roll which is something he hasn’t done often when Cooper is healthy.Īlthough Bates was doubled on screens, the little separation the pick created allowed him some daylight to get inside the arc. That flipped in the third quarter when Bates changed how he attacked a defense that wasn’t giving him room to breathe. This resulted in a frustrating first half where Bates struggled to find shots as he had just eight attempts and three turnovers. Not having playmakers like Cooper and Mobley who draw defensive attention really made him the singular focus. The defense was completely keyed into his off-ball movements. “Teams are really locking into him with the game plan, specifically around making things difficult for him by getting into his body and not allowing him to get catches. “The biggest thing with Emoni is just getting in these reps and experiences,” said Charge head coach Mike Gerrity. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 07: Emoni Bates #21 of the Cleveland Charge handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Mad Ants on Decemin Cleveland, Ohio at the Wolstein Center. This time, it was about figuring out how to influence the offense when you aren’t able to do most of your damage off-ball and are the entire focus of the defense. Thursday night was another first for Emoni Bates. Your rookie season is about confronting firsts, learning from them, and improving. This placed Emoni Bates on an island in a way he hadn’t been in his previous six games. The lack of players did however leave Cleveland without anyone who could consistently break down a defense. “They only had eight guys so we can’t really account us missing players as an excuse. “Every team is going through the same thing,” said Carter. No timetable was given for when either will return.Ĭharge guard Olin Carter III wasn’t going to use the absences as an excuse. joined the Cleveland Cavaliers on their four-game road trip while Sharife Cooper (leg) and Aleem Ford (lower back) were held out with injuries. The outcome was never in doubt as they pushed the lead to 27 in the third quarter before eventually taking their foot off the gas despite being down to only eight players.įor the Cleveland Charge, this was also about who wasn’t available. The Indiana Mad Ants controlled every aspect of the game from the jump. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 07: Devontae Shuler #0 of the Cleveland Charge shooting against the Indiana Mad Ants on Decemin Cleveland, Ohio at the Wolstein Center.
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