The Cleveland Cavaliers they have it best defense in the nba and with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in the lead, they look destined to maintain that honor throughout the campaign. With their interiors securing their own field and Distilling talent Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland On the other hand, it’s no surprise that the Cavs have today Point 22-11 and begin to sneak among the favorites to fight for the title in 2022-2023.
Of the offensive ability of Mitchell and Garland there is not much to discover. They’re probably the best half court in the NBA today, at least offensively: between them they combine more than 50 points and 12 assists per gamewith both exceeding the 38% in triple rooms and 88% in free rooms.
However, the identity of these Cavaliers is maintained on the defensive side: So far in the season (33 games in his case), they have already left 12 opponents at 100 points or less. A brand that until a few years ago could not say much, but that stands out today, in an NBA in which average points per game is 113.2.
The 104.5 points per presentation which allows Cleveland is not only the best competitor brandbut notes a huge difference with any of the other 29 teams: the second best average corresponds to Philadelphia at 107.4. Almost 3 points over the Cavs.
And while it’s clear that this dominance cannot be 100% attributed to the presence of Allen and Mobley as painting partners, it is also undeniable that this is pillar to build a defensive wall of which we rarely see this league season.
The historic defensive dominance of Allen and Mobley
In fact, what happened to Allen and Mobley is not only unusual in these years, but in racing history. To the extent that they appear just two infield twins who have posted numbers similar to those of Cleveland’s pivots in the same campaign, in terms of rebounds, blocks and advanced statistics (defensive box plus-minus).
What are these two previous pairs? One, legendary: Tim Duncan and David Robinson managed to be over 1.3 blocks, 9 rebounds and +1 DBPM for three straight seasons (1998 to 2000), including a title in 1999. The other, much less remembered: Tree Rollins and Dan Roundfield to the Atlanta Hawks from 1979-1980. Although it is not about hall of the farmers like Duncan and Robinson, between Rollins and Roundfield amassed seven All-Defensive Quintets during their careers.
In defensive terms, The Allen and Mobley thing is quite reminiscent of the Spurs towersas they are huge indoor spaces mobility and readingwho not only dig the color to protect the lip, but have skills and speed to get out to mark the perimeter.
During Cavaliers games, Mobley or Allen are constantly watched defending away from the rim and forcing bad shotseither answering from a distance or denying free access to the rim.
Something they achieve even against much smaller and theoretically faster opponents. Here we see Mobley he keeps pace with Malik MonkSacramento Kings perimeter.
In that Mobley vs. Monk action you can see another of the secrets to the Cleveland duo’s defensive success: intelligence and reasons not to commit offences. Despite being a very strong team on that side and featuring two pivots, the Cavaliers are the third team commits fewest fouls per game.
This Mobley already demonstrates that intelligence and precision for the brand just 21 years oldis particularly noteworthy.
The complement between the two is perfect. Even when Mobley is better on the perimeter, Allen is there to make up for it and protect the rim like few in the NBA. This action is spectacular: between them they answer the shot of OG Anunoby, who makes the good decision to offload for Christian Koloko. And although the Cameroonian looks completely free to score, Allen has shot blocking, pure speed and reflexes.
Scoring in the paint against Cleveland is extremely difficult, even when they attack the rim with burst and aggression. Virtues that will become even more relevant in the Playoffswhere this ability to deny easy points is necessary to win close games. Put Cleveland among the contenders.
