Jarrett Allen thinks the Cavaliers’ next jump comes from something simple, but hard to build: time together.
That was the big message from Allen in a Q&A with Cyro Asseo of HoopsHype, where he said Cleveland’s top group barely shared the floor last season. Allen pointed to the limited minutes he, Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden logged together, and believes that kind of continuity could be the difference if the Cavs want to push all the way to the Finals.
“I saw a stat that Evan, Donovan, James and I only played a hundred or so minutes together last year,” Allen said. “It’s insane to think about how little time that is across 82 games, or the 30 or so games James had been here.”
With Harden now set for a full season, Allen said the Cavs should have more chances to iron out the little things - assuming health cooperates. For him, the formula is less about making one huge leap and more about tightening everything around the edges.
“If we get that experience together, make sure everything runs smoothly and fill in all the cracks, I think that’s it,” he said.
Paul George is finding a different kind of lift in Boston.
The Celtics’ summer addition said the move has helped him reconnect with his enjoyment of the game, even after taking criticism that has sometimes gotten under his skin. In an interview with Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, George said the change of scenery has opened him back up.
“For me, it’s refreshing. Hopefully, I can remain healthy,” George said.
“I think I became a journeyman along the way [of my career]. At this point, I would love to be able to call Boston home.”
Boston landed George from the Sixers over the summer in the Jaylen Brown trade. Now entering his 17th season, the nine-time All-Star is trying to settle into some consistency after appearing in only 78 regular-season games over the past two years.
Part of that time away came because of injuries, and part of it came from a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s drug policy. George said the banned substance was taken for a mental health issue.
Still, he said the early fit in Boston has been energizing.
“I’m fully immersing myself into this organization with the guys,” George said. “I’ve been more than happy. I’m ecstatic with being here, being around these guys, like they brought something else out of me that to be quite frank has been buried, and that’s just a different passion.”
In Washington, the biggest opening-night question is whether AJ Dybantsa will be ready to go.
The No. 1 overall pick is day-to-day after suffering an ankle sprain in Friday’s preseason finale, according to coach Brian Keefe, via Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Keefe did not commit one way or the other when asked if Dybantsa would play in Wednesday’s opener.
“We’re just going one day at a time,” he said.
For now, the Wizards are waiting to see whether their prized rookie can make his regular-season debut as planned.
In Other News...
Jaylon Tyson Is Forcing A New Coaching Challenge For The Cavs
Jaylon Tyson has made enough of an impression in Cleveland that Kenny Atkinson is already having to manage more than just his on-court development. Entering his third NBA season, Tyson has flashed real upside, including a 39-point game and a Rising Stars appearance, and the Cavaliers are still sorting through the best way to mold that potential into a lasting rotation piece.
The coaching challenge now is less about talent than tone. Atkinson said Tyson responds best to positive coaching, which is a useful note for a young player trying to carve out his place on a veteran-minded team, especially with Cleveland holding a team option on him for the 2027-28 season that must be decided by Oct. 31. For a player still trying to secure his long-term standing, the next stretch could say a lot about how the Cavs plan to handle him moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Allen Just Gave Cavs Fans Another Reason To Love Him
Jarrett Allen has long fit Clevelands vibe, and his latest appearance only reinforced it. On a Sunday before the Browns hosted the Ravens, Allen was out in the Muni Lot playing beer die with fans at a tailgate event, a relaxed bit of hometown mixing that always seems to land well with the citys sports crowd. It also came at a time when the big man is settling into his sixth full season with the Cavaliers, with his status as one of the teams more recognizable faces only growing over time.
For Cavs fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable. Cleveland is closing in on its regular-season opener against the 76ers, and Allen has already been part of recent preseason action as the team gets ready to start the year. The connection with the city has never really felt forced, and scenes like this are part of why he continues to be such an easy player for the fan base to embrace. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Reworked Core Faces An Early Contender Test
The Cavaliers spent the offseason reshaping a core that had already proven it could win, coming off a 52-win season and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. The front office also locked in Donovan Mitchell on a four-year, $273 million extension, signaling that Cleveland still sees this group as one built to contend, even with major roster movement around it.
Now the spotlight shifts to how that reworked lineup fits together in real time, with James Harden, Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen slated to open the season together. The talent is obvious, but Clevelands early test will be whether that mix can quickly turn paper strength into the kind of cohesion that carried the Cavs deep last spring. [Read more 🡒]