Credit: Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Cleveland’s Defensive Pest DeAndre Liggins

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue says newly signed guard DeAndre Liggins can do the job Tony Allen does in Memphis–guard the best player on the floor who is around his height range and be a menace on defense.

The Cavaliers signed Liggins this offseason, giving him another shot in the NBA. The 28-year-old struggled to find a place in the league — his last stint with an NBA team before signing with the Cavs came during the 2013-2014 season — when he appeared in just one game for the Miami Heat. He isn’t a guy who will put up monster number, but rather a player who will give his best to do all the dirty work.

“Just every night competing,” said Lue. “Every single night guarding the best player, the 1, 2 or 3, and taking that challenge. It kind of became who [Tony Allen] was. He loved it and got up for it every single game. He got up to play and guard the best players and I think Liggins can do the same.”

 

DeAndre Liggins insists he sees some similarities between he and the Memphis Grizzlies guard donned the ”Grindfather.”

”Me and [Tony Allen], we grew up kind of in the same dirt,” according to Liggins. “We always have that competitive edge to us, that chip on our shoulders and teams like that. Every team needs a guy like that on their team to pick up a guy 94 feet and to make a guy rattled a little bit. That’s what I bring to this team.”

Liggins confessed he has something to prove in the league.

“If I can knock down open shots I can add some value to me in this league,” noted Liggins. “I’m going to be open. I’m going to be open because I haven’t played that much for guys to be like, ‘Oh Liggins can knock down open shots.’ Guys still think that I’m a mediocre shooter and I have to prove I can make open shots.”

 

In 14 games played so far this season, Liggins has been averaging 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds along with 0.9 assists in 11.7 minutes per contest. His work hasn’t shown in the stat-sheet, but presence is being felt on the defensive end.