Cavaliers Notes: Allen, Mobley, Garland, Rubio

Originally posted on FortyEightMinutes | By Sameer Kumar | Last updated 11/29/21

Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Lauri Markkanen are three seven-footers in the same starting lineup, which is something extremely rare, especially in the modern NBA.

“I think it’s working pretty well,” Allen said (h/t Michael Scotto of HoopsHype) “If you look at our record, it’s a lot better than a lot of people expected. But even as a teammate, as a player in this trio, I think it’s working really well for all of us. I always bring it back to me and Evan kind of growing up playing the five. I’m not exactly sure what he played in college and high school. But we kind of know how we both will act on the court. We kind of know each other’s instincts. Lauri’s a three or four. He’s just a tall person for his position. If he’s a five, he can shoot the ball and space the floor.”

At first, even Allen was questioning his fit of playing next to Mobley, but those concerns have been quashed over time.

“At first, it was like, ‘Oh, how’s this going to work?’ I’m pretty sure everybody in the country had that question,” Allen said. “But once I was able to get on the floor with him immediately and actually play some pickup games with and against him, I saw the potential immediately.”

More Cavaliers Notes

Mobley provided an excellent spark in his return to the floor during the Cavs’ most recent win against the Magic. He was especially magnificent on defense, as Dan Gilinsky of FanSided explained in his recent article.
Ricky Rubio has been instrumental for the Cavs this season, averaging 14.6 points and 6.3 assists per game while being a mentor. Rubio becomes that much more important without Collin Sexton, Kevin Pelton of ESPN writes.
Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is high on the young duo of Mobley and Darius Garland, our own Sameer Kumar relays. “They’re dynamic together,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They put a threat on the floor, where it’s two-sided and it’s in a lot of space. Teams can’t really pick their poison in that. Both are such good playmakers, you’ve got a tough decision to make.”