Cavaliers C Andre Drummond is playing at a very high level this season. In 17 games, Drummond is averaging a double-double of 18.9 PPG and an NBA-leading 14.7 RPG. The nine-year veteran continued his strong season on Wednesday night against his former team, the Detroit Pistons.
Against the Pistons, Drummond had 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 steals, while Collin Sexton scored a game-high 29 points as the Cavs defeated Detroit 122-107 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Drummond was the first Cavalier to record a 20-plus points, 15+ rebounds, and 5-plus steals in a single game was Ron Harper in 1987. Drummond is also third in the NBA with 16 double-doubles.
Cleveland plays a very physical game of basketball on both ends of the court, and they scored 66 of their 122 points in the paint. According to Drummond, Cleveland wants to wear teams down.
“For our team, our main goal is to beat up teams as much as possible, to wear them down, and we did a good job of that tonight against Detroit,” Drummond said. “They tried to be physical with us, tried to make us uncomfortable. We stayed the course; we stayed to our gameplan. We allowed them to get a early run in the first half. We came back in the second half, regrouped, and played Cavalier basketball, and the results on the scoreboard showed it.”
It appears that an angry Drummond is a very good Drummond. That was on full display when he angrily dunked on Mason Plumlee late in the fourth quarter. After the game, Drummond was asked if he plays better when he is angry; he said the following:
“Yeah, to answer the question,” Drummond said. “I think for me I naturally play aggressive… I’ll figure a way to play that way throughout the rest of the game.”
Drummond, who has 28 steals this season, also revealed that he has a little wager going with his teammate, Larry Nance Jr., about who can get the most steals this season. Nance has 36 steals. In terms of per game average, Nance is leading the league at 2.3 SPG, while Drummond is averaging 1.6 SPG.
“It makes us better as a defensive team knowing that your two bigs are averaging two to three steals for the game,” Drummond said. “So, for us, it’s just a friendly wager, who can get the most steals per game. Right now, he’s beating me.”
Who will win? It all depends, but I’m putting my money on Nance.
There have been whispers around the league about Drummond’s future in Cleveland after they acquired Jarret Allen from Brooklyn. Drummond can become a free agent at season’s end. It’s clear that Allen is the future, but based on how well Drummond is playing, Cleveland could get some value for the two-time All-Star.
For now, the Cavaliers would love to see more of “Angry Andre.”
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