And for good reason, if his performance on Tuesday night is any indication. The South Sudanese swingman was nothing short of sensational, netting a team-high 27 points on just 15 shots (including 5-of-5 from three) to help the Cleveland Cavaliers fend off the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center, 120-118.
The result left Cleveland and L.A. with identical records—14-24—albeit with drastically disparate outlooks attached. The Lakers have now lost five in a row and 11 of their last 12 to move into a virtual tie with the Sacramento Kings for second-to-last place in the Western Conference. The Cavs, on the other hand, have their sights set on a playoff push in the awful East after winning three of their last four.
That's why the Cavs shipped three picks and Andrew Bynum's excisable contract to the Chicago Bulls in the first place. They wanted—nay, needed—a savvy veteran at small forward who could not only keep Earl Clark and Alonzo Gee off the floor but also lend some wisdom to a team whose ostensible leader (Kyrie Irving) is still shy of his 22nd birthday.
Deng didn't exactly dominate during his first two outings in a Cavs uniform. He surrendered 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting to Richard Jefferson in a win over the Utah Jazz and followed that up by allowing Rudy Gay to pour in 20 on 8-of-12 from the field in a calamitous 44-point loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Truth be told, Deng and the Cavs didn't exactly sparkle defensively in L.A., either. They let the Lakers shoot 52.4 percent from the floor, with Nick Young and Jodie Meeks combining to score 54 points and knock down 10-of-18 from three.
Of course, it'...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers