Evan Mobley was entering his fourth season in the NBA this year with the Cavaliers having made the decision to keep the previous core roster entirely intact. There was much discussion of trading either point guard Darius Garland or center Jarrett Allen. Instead of doing that, they chose to only make a change at head coach. Kenny Atkinson took over after the firing of JB Bickerstaff in the offseason. That change was perhaps the key to one of the biggest improvements for the team: Evan Mobley playing at a true All-Star level.
Improved Shooting
Previously, having both Mobley and Allen on the floor together allowed teams to crowd the paint, only having to worry about three perimeter threats. That was partly why rumors of trading Allen began. If those two were going to continue playing together, something had to change.
The change took place with Mobley drastically improving his jump shot. He shot a much-improved 37.3 percent from three last season after shooting in the low 20s in his first two years. This season, Mobley is shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the three-point line. Not only is he shooting better, he is also shooting more. His three-point attempts per game have jumped from 1.2 per game in 2023 to 2.8 per game this season so far. Taking, and making more threes has opened up the Cavalier offense when he’s on the floor. At this point, the Cavs are an astounding 8-0 when Mobley makes three or more threes in games.
Shot Creation
Becoming a better perimeter shooter would have been a big enough step by itself to warrant praise for Mobley’s leap this season. However, he has taken a huge jump in another aspect of his game: creating shots. Being a shot creator brings the assumption of a player just being able to create for themselves. That is a part of it, but there is another important aspect. Shot creation is also about a player’s ability to open up opportunities for their teammates. Mobley has done both at a very high level this season.
Mobley’s improved shooting is also leading to new shot-creating opportunities. Defenders now have to close out on him, as he is a real threat from beyond the arc. With him being a real shooting threat on the perimeter, the spacing is now much better for him to attack. Once he does attack, he is able to make every play available to him with athleticism and improved skill.
He is able to finish strong at the rim with dunks, or use his footwork and touch to finish with finesse. Mobley is also a solid passer and seems to be seeing the floor much, much better this year. He is throwing lobs to Allen, finding back-cutting wings for layups, or finding shooters open on the perimeter. He is creating a whole array of great shots for all of his teammates, thus opening up the Cavalier offense more than ever.
Defense
Mobley has always been a terrific defender since the moment he stepped foot on an NBA court. The important aspect here is that he is still continuing to improve each season. He is absolutely in the running for defensive player of the year so far, averaging 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. He also is proving his worth as a defender apart from the stat sheet. There are numerous times in each game where Mobley’s presence in the paint forces the offense to abandon a drive or what should have been a good look at the rim.
Where he seems to have made the biggest stride this year on that end of the floor in his on-ball perimeter defense. He has always been mobile and a top-tier rim protector. Now, he is moving very well laterally and using his hands when defending outside of the paint. Teams no longer can matchup hunt, trying to get a switch for a mismatch with Mobley defending quicker wings. He is capable of holding his own on the outside against all five positions.
The Trust with Evan Mobley
Lastly, perhaps the most important factor for Mobley’s improvement this year has been the trust new head coach Kenny Atkinson has in him. Atkinson told reporters in the offseason that he had plans to “add some octane” to Mobley’s game on offense. He has certainly done that with Mobley’s new usage. He also showed the trust he has in his young star in their recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With just 1:19 left in the battle of the league’s top two teams, the Cavs had the ball with only a three-point lead. In that got-to-have-it, need-a-bucket situation, Atkinson went to his fourth-year rising star. The call was for Mobley to come off of a down screen from the weak side to isolate him with his defender in the middle of the floor. Mobley took the ball, faced up against Isaiah Hartenstein, got downhill, absorbed the contact, and rose up to hit a floater, giving the Cavs a cushioned two-possession lead. They would close out and win their 11th straight game.
Going to Mobley in that scenario when you have two All-Star guards in Garland and Donovan Mitchell goes to show how much unwavering confidence the team and staff have in him. Atkinson reportedly was involved in the decision to keep the roster together in the offseason, citing his plans for Mobley as a key reason. He had a vision for Mobley and the team and it is now manifesting in front of the entire league.
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