Cup of Cavs: Evan Mobley’s playmaking will be put to the test
Cavs news and links for Monday, October 21.
Cleveland Cavaliers basketball returns this week. Let’s get the season started off right.
The first sip
Anticipation is once again rising as Evan Mobley enters his fourth NBA season. Is this the year he makes the leap? One determining factor in that question will be his success as a playmaker.
The Cavaliers haven’t been shy about revealing how they plan to use Mobley this year. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has shared his vision of Mobley handling the ball and getting himself downhill more often. And so far, he’s kept true to his word. Mobley was featured above the break throughout the preseason, culminating in an eight-assist game against the Chicago Bulls.
Mobley is no longer bunkering down in the dunker’s spot. Instead, he’s collapsing the defense from the perimeter and adjusting on the fly. This has led to acrobatic finishes in the paint, and some impressive drive-and-kick assists.
There’s more room for creativity when Mobley is facing the basket on his attacks. His agility for a seven-footer has gone unrelegated throughout his career save for a few scattered moments. Atkinson plans on pushing Mobley’s mobility to the forefront, allowing him to create offense by putting the ball on the floor.
Will Mobley’s playmaking be a legitimate weapon? Or is it just a preseason gimmick? Everyone is waiting for Mobley to improve as a scoring threat. But becoming an offensive hub could be just as important. A combination of scoring and passing, with his already superb defense, would make Mobley an All-NBA caliber talent.