Overview
- Head coach Kenny Atkinson, acting on assistant Mike Gerrity’s push, inserted Merrill into the starting lineup, a switch players say immediately opened the floor.
- Against the Pelicans, Merrill scored 22 points on 6-of-10 from deep with six rebounds and seven assists, earning praise for defense, toughness, and constant motion.
- With Merrill back, Cleveland posted 139 and 141 points in consecutive games and stacked 76 assists on 104 made field goals across the two wins.
- The adjusted rotation delivered unusual balance as nine Cavaliers reached double figures versus New Orleans, a feat the team had not achieved since 1992.
- Analysts describe Merrill as Atkinson’s needed gravity shooter—likened to Joe Harris or Kyle Korver—with upcoming games against the Knicks, Rockets, and Spurs expected to test the surge’s staying power.