https://923thefan.radio.com/article...n-lue-looking-jordan-clarkson-expand-his-game
Jordan Clarkson came to the Cavaliers last season as a score-first point guard who can bring instant offense off the bench. This season head coach Tyronn Lue is pushing Clarkson to expand his game and become a more complete basketball player.
"He worked hard this summer," Lue said. "I had a chance to workout with him three or four times this summer, going over some things, teaching him some things and he's come back in great shape ready to play."
Clarkson excells at playing fast and pushing the pace, something Lue has preached all training camp, but sometimes that can turn into an attacking mindset that causes tunnel vision and limit his ability to make the right basketball play.
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Being a true point guard, setting his teammates up for open shots is something that Clarkson has not been asked to do so far in his career. His job has been to come off the bench, push the pace and score the basketball.
While the Cavs still want Clarkson to do the things that have helped him make a name for himself in the league, they know there is untapped potential in his game.
"We all know what Jordan can bring to the table, we all know what his role is for our team," Cavs center Tristan Thompson said. "He's our scoring punch off the bench, gives us that energy, gives us that spark. Lue has done a great job coaching him, mentoring him. We all know he can score the ball. I think the next step for Jordan is in the pick and roll, being able to make that second and third play. The cross-court pass to the three or the big is rolling, pocket pass or the lob, there's different options. We know he can get the mid-range jumper, that's his sweet spot. That's the next spot of his progression and I think he's done a good job in working on that."
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Lue was asked where Clarkson has improved the most so far in camp.
"Reads. Setting his guys up on pick and rolls where he's more free to get his shot off. I think the reads with bigs rolling, making the different passes, he's picked that up."
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"You haven't seen a lot of passes yet but he's been working and he put the work in to get better at that," Lue said.
If the 26-year-old can hone the skills of a passer while possessing the ability to be an instant scorer off the bench capable of going for 20 points on any given night, this season has the potential to be a breakout one for Clarkson.