The Cavaliers‘ fast start has raised expectations in Cleveland, Jarrett Allen tells Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype. Coming off a 22-50 season, the Cavs were hoping to improve enough to contend for a spot in the play-in round, but Cleveland is now 9-8 and starting to aim a little higher.
“We’re definitely shooting for the playoffs,” Allen said. “First, I think people thought, let’s just get in for the play-in game, be one of those ninth or 10th seeds. But now, I guess you’ve got to be in the play-in if you’re seven or eight, but we want to be in one of the old seven or eight playoff spots.”
Allen covers several topics in the interview, including the five-year, $100 million contract he signed during the offseason. Although he was a restricted free agent and the Cavaliers could have waited to match any offer on the open market, they were aggressive and reached a deal quickly to keep him in Cleveland.
“I never thought that would happen,” Allen said of being a $100 million player. “I’m not saying that I didn’t believe in my basketball abilities. I didn’t know that people saw that in me on the court. And you know, now that I have it, nothing’s really changed. I’m still who I am. I’m still going to be who I am on the court. There’s a reason I got the $100 million. I don’t think I need to go out there and shoot 20 threes a game. It’s a dream, and we’ll keep it that way.”
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