This isn’t for any of you “trade Evan” bums, just go ahead and skip this post.
The Cavs achieved their most successful regular season in a decade last season by relying less on Mitchell and more on Mobley. And perhaps for good reason.
During the past two postseasons, Mitchell has put up 11 30-point games; the Cavs are just 5-6 in those games."Understanding that hey, this happened and we fucked up," Mitchell told ESPN. "Now it's like, 'OK, how do we not fuck up the next time?"
Mitchell is coming off a season in which he posted a 30.9% usage rate, his lowest since his rookie season in 2017-18. But during the playoffs, in part because of the injuries around him, it skyrocketed to 37.2%, the highest of any player in the playoffs and one of the highest in his career.
“Me and Evan had a conversation, it was like, 'Hey, last year he took a step,'" Mitchell said. "That's his first year really having the ball like that. Now it's like, 'Hey, I'm not open … it's you. That offense creation is coming from you. That's what we expect out of you.' But with that comes great responsibility, too."
“I just got to keep taking that on," Mobley told ESPN, "Taking the challenges."
"I had to find that at his age early on when I first got into the league," Mitchell said. "It's a process. You're seeing him being aggressive, which we'll take. Now it's like how am I being smart with that as well?
“I'm in his ear nonstop. … 'Hey, you're a threat, or there's a pass here, or stop passing the fucking ball, there's no way player X should be able to guard you.' He has it himself, I’m reinforcing that."
19 comments
Why? Dude has zero ambition to be a dawg. He gets pushed over by everybody. He can’t dribble, can’t catch, can’t rebound. How he’s developed zero hands astounds me.
Guys mobley is great but there’s nothing more to unlock, this is it. We ain’t getting a wemby type player out of him.
“the guy” doesn’t have to constantly be told he’s “the guy.” He is and knows it, or he’s not. Mobley is too timid. He’s a great piece. Not a #1
[deleted]
Its obvious to ball knowers that this is a step in the process for mobley. He always starts slow while he finds his spots to go with his improved skills.
People are clueless and don’t know ball. He needs the reps at playmaking. He should have done this from the beginning but the Cavs wanted to contend and Mobley’s development was the cost.
Sometimes I question if I’m watching the same games as yall bcus I thought mobley looked amazing so far. That giannis v mobley third quarter was peak
You can tell the people who watch basketball and the people who watch parlays in here lol
I’ve not see hardly any “trade Mobley bums. Or did you just want to be a spicy lil byatch?
Been saying since the end of the season last year, Evan’s usage rate is the most important metric for the team this year, even more important than the final regular season record. Evan and Don’s usage has to be as close to equal as we can get it and definitely within 10% of each other if this team wants to take a jump. I’m glad they’re forcing it now, even at the cost of wins because its just going to get harder as we get healthier and then even more difficult when the playoffs come around. Don has to stay disciplined enough to pick his spots and Evan has to stay engaged and not just default to Don or anyone else. That’s tough change to make for everyone involved and its going to be a process.
There are no ‘trade evan’ buns lol, you’re making up strawman to beat.
I think it’s always been easy to imagine him turning into something more like what Wemby is becoming (a more realistic 6’11 version lol) because he has shown flashes since his rookie year but in year 5, I’m thinking it’s just not possible.
Wemby at 21 is already displaying creativity and body control and foot work that Mobley doesn’t have at age 25. Not everyone has the potential to be a superstar offensive player. There’s an “it factor” that he’s missing.
With Mobley’s athletic gifts and defensive versatility, I think it’s more realistic for him to become something more like a Draymond/KG hybrid. He is a defensive star who can do a lot of good things on offense but can’t carry an offense himself.
I’d argue experimentation like this started to fade last year as the team began chasing records. I’d rather take some losses and let the coaches and players find their spots and new ways they can impact the game
Keep getting in his ear… he passes when guards are on him, misses wide open people when hes double teamed, takes bad shots and cannot dribble to save his life. At some point, coaching has to be questioned. Stop babying this adult. “you’ll get em next time” isn’t working.
We are missing our point guard who makes everything work on the offense side of the ball. Hate on Garland all you want, when he is in the game the ball moves, bodies move, and we get higher percentage shots. His value isn’t always represented in the stats sheet, but you can see it when he’s on the floor. Give him a few weeks after he gets back on the floor and everything will click
What I learned from this thread is that I am just going to add “ball knowers” to all of my future opinions so that they are completely impeachable. Real ball knowers know this is how you write a Reddit post.
Mobley is averaging 19/9/4.5 this year. While playing top 3 defense in the league. Idk what these idiots want from him
Anyone who says trade mobley, respectfully, is mentally deficient lol. the guy is an absolute stud
I like Mobley but he is best when he is the X-Factor, depending on matchups, game tempo, and when and where we need him, and whether we need a defensive stop, fierce dunk, or rebound. And this is perfectly fine. Not being our 1 option doesnt mean he isnt the most important player during a game.
Defaulting him to be our number 1 option or playmaker is compeltely different and is not who he is.