Evan Mobley is turning into a much bigger problem for defenses, and the Cavaliers are reaping the rewards.
Through six games, Cleveland’s frontcourt anchor has put up 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per night while shooting 58.1% from the floor and 57.7% from 3-point range. The Cavaliers have won four of those six, and Mobley’s fingerprints are all over the way the offense is functioning right now.
The most recent example came in Saturday’s 136-111 win over Milwaukee, where Mobley dropped 27 points and helped Cleveland turn a tight first quarter into a comfortable road victory. That followed the Atlanta game, when he went scoreless from deep, a reminder that the hot start is still in its early stages.
What stands out most is how cleanly Mobley is playing. He’s taking the shot when it’s there, attacking the lane when it opens, and moving the ball when a teammate has the better look. He isn’t forcing the issue, and Cleveland is getting efficient possessions because of it.
So far, Mobley has hit 15 of 26 from 3-point range. Last season, he shot 29.7% from deep on 3.2 attempts per game.
This year, that number has climbed to 4.3 attempts a night, along with a major jump in accuracy. Six games is nowhere near enough to declare a permanent change, but it is enough to show that he’s shooting with confidence.
That matters because all 22 of his 26 three-point attempts have come off the catch. If defenses have to respect those looks, the whole floor opens up. A defender stepping out on Mobley makes it harder to load up on Donovan Mitchell drives, disrupt a James Harden pick-and-roll or help on Jarrett Allen around the rim.
Mobley already gave Cleveland a preview of that impact against Washington. He scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 121-111 comeback win, knocking down five 3-pointers and burying consecutive fourth-quarter triples as the Cavaliers took control after trailing by 10 at halftime.
The Milwaukee game showed the rest of the package. Mobley scored 13 of his 27 points in Cleveland’s 48-point second quarter, mixing in cuts, a drive, a short jumper, free throws and a 3. He kept working inside in the third quarter, then added two more triples.
That balance is the point. Cleveland wants him stretching the floor, but not at the expense of the rim. He’s giving them both.
The passing has been part of it too. Peyton Watson assisted three straight Mobley baskets in the second quarter, setting him up for a layup, a dunk and a 3. Jarrett Allen later found Mobley for three assists in the third, and Mobley had already set up Allen’s first two baskets.
Those sequences let Cleveland generate offense through its frontcourt instead of asking the guards to create everything. That’s a real change in how the Cavaliers can attack.
Mobley’s numbers have also been stronger in wins. He’s averaging 22.3 points in Cleveland’s four victories, compared with 14.5 in the two losses. It’s a small sample, but it lines up with how central he’s become to the team’s early success.
Even when the shot isn’t falling, he’s still making an impact. At Atlanta, Mobley finished with seven assists despite scoring 11 points and not making a 3.
The challenge now is keeping that level of involvement as opponents adjust. The shooting will fluctuate.
The coverage will change. Cleveland still needs Mobley to keep looking for his own offense while knowing when to move it along.
For now, the Cavaliers have already seen the payoff. Mobley helped shoot them back into the Washington game, then blended perimeter shooting with interior production against Milwaukee. His early stretch is showing just how much more dangerous Cleveland becomes when he embraces that expanded role.
In Other News...
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Cleveland has its own lineup question to sort through, with Peyton Watson listed as questionable because of right hamstring soreness. If he cannot go, the Cavs could be forced into a different look on the perimeter, and Mario Hezonja would be in line for a possible first start in a Cleveland uniform. [Read more 🡒]
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Garlands rough start has only sharpened the contrast. The Clippers have had trouble keeping things together when he is on the floor, and the ball security issues have been hard to ignore as his new team tries to build around him. For the Cavaliers, the early returns are encouraging enough to keep the trade looking like a win, even if the full verdict still has plenty of season left to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Have Found Their Next Wing Fit Around Mitchell And Mobley
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There is already chatter that Cleveland may not be done looking for another versatile piece on the perimeter, especially one who can complement the group without disrupting what has started to work. With the Cavs still sorting out how best to balance size, shooting and defensive flexibility around their core, any additional move would have to make sense both on the floor and in the bigger roster picture. [Read more 🡒]