Rodney Hood (finally) fitting in quite well with Cavs

When you switch jobs, it takes a little while to get acclimated with your new surroundings and co-workers, while you also try and do your best to fit in and improve your company or team at the same time. The same goes for professional athletes. Although they are way more entertaining than an actual 9-to-5 job, professional sports are just a business, something that many players and coaches refer to at times throughout each season.

When Rodney Hood was acquired by the Cavs at the trade deadline, along with a number of others, it changed the Cavs. With six players out and four new ones coming in, it gave the wine and gold a completely different look, one that would not only take some getting used to but would also need plenty of time for the team to gel together and gain some chemistry. While Cleveland has dealt with a handful of injuries since that trade,¹ many of the new players have gotten their chance to play alongside LeBron James and some of the rest of their new teammates.

While it may have taken a little while, it seems as though Hood is (finally) beginning to gel with his new team and has found his role with the wine and gold. After averaging 13.1 points on just over 11 shots per game during his first three-and-a-half seasons in Utah to begin his NBA career, it took the 6-foot-8 shooting guard some time some time to find his role with the Cavs.

During his first five weeks with his new team, Hood averaged 9.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 41 percent from the floor and 30 percent from beyond the arc in 25 minutes a game (13 games, five starts). Over his last six games (four starts), the 25-year-old has averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 46 percent from long distance in just under 28 minutes a night.

Whether it’s him feeling 100 percent or just adjusting to his new role with a new team, Hood has brought plenty of energy, scoring, and length to the wine and gold, especially in the last two weeks or so. He’s attacking the basket, found his jumper, running fast breaks, and getting open when No. 23 has the ball and can find him for a three-pointer. The shooting guard seems to think that his lingering back injury that has slowly gone away is one of the main reasons why he’s playing so much better.

Rodney Hood postgame. Praised Love and LeBron's feeds in transition that allowed him to get out and run for easy buckets, spoke on George Hill getting hurt. I asked about the lift on his jumper and how it relates to his back injury progressing. #Cavs pic.twitter.com/eCRvma13uQ

— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) March 31, 2018

“Definitely,” Hood said when asked if he felt better. “I just feel myself getting more healthy every single game. [Friday] was a night where I felt good running, jumping, things like that. I just gotta continue to stay on top of it.”

That, along with being more aggressive and learning to play with his new teammates is Hood’s biggest reason for (finally) bringing his best to the Cavs.

“Just getting out and not having to stay in the half-court,” Hood said. “Getting out, LeBron, Kevin threw some amazing outlet passes [Friday] so it encourages us to get out and run and get some easy baskets that way. And that’s when we’re at our best here in Cleveland.”

If Hood can continue to bring this production, whether off the bench or in the starting lineup, that will be a huge boost to Cleveland, especially when the wine and gold are fully healthy, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later. He, along with Kyle Korver, Jordan Clarkson, and J.R. Smith can all be under-the-radar guys who can go off for 25-to-30 points in a given game if they are feeling it. During the last few games of the regular season and especially in the postseason, that’s something the Cavs can use to exploit their opponents, along with stars such as LeBron James and Kevin Love giving the production they consistently do night in and night out.

Korver, Clarkson, and Smith have all shown signs of being able to carry an offense at times, even if it’s just for a short stint or two. If Hood can be thrown into that group as well, it will lead to very good things for the wine and gold. Although he struggled early on with his new team, it seems as the lengthy shooting guard has finally found his groove, just in time for the Cavs to start their postseason run at their fourth-consecutive Finals appearance.

1. Injuries that have forced the Cavs to not be at full strength since the trade. [↩]