While the rest of the NBA's teams are still trying the small-ball revolution launched by the Golden State Warriors five years ago, another team is moving in a completely different direction. So far, they have brought no small surprise.
The Cleveland Cavaliers hoarded a large number of interior players through offseason operations. While we still think it's a laughing stock, they punch us in the face!
Mobley, the no. 3 rookie at the 2021 NBA Draft, looks like a superstar, just like Anthony Davis and Kevin Garnett. As a super athletic multi-position player, Mobley has an extraordinary talent for basketball, and as a rookie, his development is diverse. Averaging 13.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, and a true shooting percentage of 55.1%, Mobley shows why he's worth the Show! As Mobley's body continues to grow, Cleveland fans can hold out a glimmer of hope after watching Jan Sr. leave. The Cavaliers showed great competitiveness early in the season, which also portended that they could become a difficult goalkeeper team.
Standing alongside Mobley in the front was Allen, a 6-foot-11-inch center with a retro-style explosive head. In last season's cavaliers' big deal with James Harden, Allen was stolen by the Cavaliers. Since then, Allen has thrived in Cleveland, earning himself a long-term renewal contract of $20 million a year for the next four years. With Allen continuing to grow on both ends of the pitch, it seems that he is still worth the contract.
As cavaliers ace combinations Mobley and Allen aren't like the Pacers' Saboni and Turner, Mobley and Allen are perfect complementary players in Cleveland. In the 152 minutes that Mobley and Allen have shared this season, they have only scored 98.1 points per 100 rounds. Cleveland ranks second in terms of all team missing points, behind the Miami Heat (95.1). The Cavaliers' assumptions in preseason to build an elite defense system centered on the duo were considered successful after actual combat verification, and although the sample size was small, some signs could be seen.
But the duo has a fatal shortcoming, which is offensive inefficiency. Mobley and Allen can only score 94.0 points per 100 possessions, ranking last among all teams in the NBA. But this problem will be solved gradually as Mobley grows.
Before that the Cavaliers' long-held hope was their backcourt duo Darius Garland and Colin Sexton. But now it seems unnecessary to do so, Sexton's rookie contract is about to expire this year, but the Cavaliers don't look like they want to renew it. Garland, on the other hand, looks more compatible with Mobley and Allen, who score 1.0 points per 100 rounds than their opponents In Cleveland's three-man unit, this is the only combination with a positive effect, so Garland may get his contract in the offseason.
What Cleveland lacks now is a small forward who can score points and can take some of the future burden off Garland and Mobley. Now, the Cavaliers are testing markkanen and O'Corro's performance next to their duo. So far, the results have been mixed. Markkanen's defense looks much better, but that's largely due to playing alongside Mobley and Allen for a long time. O'Chloe, on the other hand, added more defense, but his offense, especially on the perimeter, was almost invisible. And he's been sidelined for the last four games with hamstring injuries. These two players are the Focus of the Cavaliers' observation this season.
In any case, the only team that is bucking the times today is the Cavaliers. After hoarding big inside players, hopefully the Cavaliers will be able to play their own style!