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CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen rushed to Evan Mobley’s defense after the Cavaliers laid back-to-back eggs in Detroit to start the Eastern Conference semifinals in a 2-0 hole against the Pistons.
A 7-foot forward with All-Star, All-NBA Second Team and Defensive Player of the Year credentials from last year, Mobley had nine points and just one rebound — one! — in the Cavs’ Game 2 loss at Little Caesars Arena.
Still, Mitchell and Allen pointed out Mobley did the necessary dirty work to keep the Pistons off the glass, clearing the way for other Cavs players to collect rebounds. To add context, Allen was asked about Mobley, and Allen answered. Then Mitchell interjected to back Mobley as well.
What Mitchell and Allen didn’t say while they went to bat for Mobley is they want him to feel supported. It’s because the Cavs need Mobley to be confident and assertive instead of hesitant and passive.
Four days after Mitchell and Allen vouched for him, Mobley became a microcosm of the Cavs’ home-road playoff discrepancy. He flirted with rare five-by-five production on Monday, May 11, helping the Cavs prevail 112-103 in a pivotal Game 4 at Rocket Arena.
The best-of-seven second-round playoff series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in Detroit.
The Cavs are 6-0 at home and 0-5 on the road this postseason. For the fourth-seeded Cavs to get over the hump while visiting the top-seeded Pistons, Cleveland must have plenty of factors fall in its favor. Mobley playing with aggression is certainly on the team’s wish list. The best-case scenario for Mobley would be discovering something in Game 4 on which he can build.
“I thought Evan Mobley was phenomenal,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He was just blocking everything, getting steals. That was the Defensive Player of the Year right there. He was great in the paint.”
Cavs playoffs: Instant reactions to Cavaliers vs. Pistons in Game 4
Cavs playoffs: Cavaliers win Game 4. How the action unfolded against the Pistons
Mobley finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field (1 of 4 on 3-pointers), eight rebounds, five assists, five blocked shots and three steals in 39 minutes. He even made all four foul shots he attempted. Free-throw shooting is a facet of the game with which he has struggled this season (60.6% in the regular season and 64.7% in the playoffs).
The third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley and fellow starters Mitchell, Allen, James Harden and Dean Wade were on the floor for the duration of the Cavs’ 22-0 run to start the third quarter. Mitchell captured the spotlight by scoring 39 of his game-high 43 points in the second half. Meanwhile, Mobley finished with a team-best plus-minus rating of plus-30.
The 24-year-old Mobley is the first Cavs player to compile at least five blocks and three steals in a playoff game. He is the ninth player in NBA history to compile at least 15 points, five assists, five blocks and three steals in a postseason game, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Draymond Green, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Chris Webber, Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant.
It’s an incredible list of legends for Mobley to join amid what has been a rough statistical postseason for him overall.
“I feel like I'm a very impactful player on the court in a lot of different aspects,” Mobley said. “So, tonight I just felt like whatever the team needed me to do, I was trying to get that done. And I think tonight it was a lot of playmaking, getting in the pocket and making the right reads and guys were knocking down shots.
“Also defensively, just protecting the paint as much as possible and getting in passing lanes, using my length, getting steals, deflections and getting out, running the floor, setting good screens. Not necessarily all stuff that is on the stat sheet, but stuff we need to happen for us to win.”
Becoming consistent with the “stuff” and taking it on the road are the next steps. Those boxes must be checked in a hurry.
If the Cavs were to fail to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where the New York Knicks await, no one’s job should be considered safe in Cleveland.
Mobley, for instance, is one of the most popular trade-machine players in the NBA when it comes to potential deals for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Cavs were among the suitors for Antetokounmpo before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, ESPN reported, and the Bucks are accepting trade offers for the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
On the eve of the 2026 playoffs opening in Cleveland, the Beacon Journal asked Mobley during a one-on-one interview how he views rampant speculation about him possibly being dealt for Antetokounmpo.
Mobley essentially said he is focused on the postseason and his own improvement, yet he also unequivocally stated, “I want to stay here.”
In Game 4, Mobley played like someone who is all in with the Cavs.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Evan Mobley plays like he's all in with Cavs amid Giannis trade rumors
Continue reading...
A 7-foot forward with All-Star, All-NBA Second Team and Defensive Player of the Year credentials from last year, Mobley had nine points and just one rebound — one! — in the Cavs’ Game 2 loss at Little Caesars Arena.
Still, Mitchell and Allen pointed out Mobley did the necessary dirty work to keep the Pistons off the glass, clearing the way for other Cavs players to collect rebounds. To add context, Allen was asked about Mobley, and Allen answered. Then Mitchell interjected to back Mobley as well.
What Mitchell and Allen didn’t say while they went to bat for Mobley is they want him to feel supported. It’s because the Cavs need Mobley to be confident and assertive instead of hesitant and passive.
Four days after Mitchell and Allen vouched for him, Mobley became a microcosm of the Cavs’ home-road playoff discrepancy. He flirted with rare five-by-five production on Monday, May 11, helping the Cavs prevail 112-103 in a pivotal Game 4 at Rocket Arena.
The best-of-seven second-round playoff series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in Detroit.
The Cavs are 6-0 at home and 0-5 on the road this postseason. For the fourth-seeded Cavs to get over the hump while visiting the top-seeded Pistons, Cleveland must have plenty of factors fall in its favor. Mobley playing with aggression is certainly on the team’s wish list. The best-case scenario for Mobley would be discovering something in Game 4 on which he can build.
“I thought Evan Mobley was phenomenal,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He was just blocking everything, getting steals. That was the Defensive Player of the Year right there. He was great in the paint.”
Cavs playoffs: Instant reactions to Cavaliers vs. Pistons in Game 4
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Cavs playoffs: Cavaliers win Game 4. How the action unfolded against the Pistons
Mobley finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field (1 of 4 on 3-pointers), eight rebounds, five assists, five blocked shots and three steals in 39 minutes. He even made all four foul shots he attempted. Free-throw shooting is a facet of the game with which he has struggled this season (60.6% in the regular season and 64.7% in the playoffs).
The third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley and fellow starters Mitchell, Allen, James Harden and Dean Wade were on the floor for the duration of the Cavs’ 22-0 run to start the third quarter. Mitchell captured the spotlight by scoring 39 of his game-high 43 points in the second half. Meanwhile, Mobley finished with a team-best plus-minus rating of plus-30.
The 24-year-old Mobley is the first Cavs player to compile at least five blocks and three steals in a playoff game. He is the ninth player in NBA history to compile at least 15 points, five assists, five blocks and three steals in a postseason game, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Draymond Green, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Chris Webber, Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant.
You must be registered for see images
It’s an incredible list of legends for Mobley to join amid what has been a rough statistical postseason for him overall.
“I feel like I'm a very impactful player on the court in a lot of different aspects,” Mobley said. “So, tonight I just felt like whatever the team needed me to do, I was trying to get that done. And I think tonight it was a lot of playmaking, getting in the pocket and making the right reads and guys were knocking down shots.
“Also defensively, just protecting the paint as much as possible and getting in passing lanes, using my length, getting steals, deflections and getting out, running the floor, setting good screens. Not necessarily all stuff that is on the stat sheet, but stuff we need to happen for us to win.”
Becoming consistent with the “stuff” and taking it on the road are the next steps. Those boxes must be checked in a hurry.
You must be registered for see images attach
If the Cavs were to fail to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where the New York Knicks await, no one’s job should be considered safe in Cleveland.
Mobley, for instance, is one of the most popular trade-machine players in the NBA when it comes to potential deals for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Cavs were among the suitors for Antetokounmpo before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, ESPN reported, and the Bucks are accepting trade offers for the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
On the eve of the 2026 playoffs opening in Cleveland, the Beacon Journal asked Mobley during a one-on-one interview how he views rampant speculation about him possibly being dealt for Antetokounmpo.
Mobley essentially said he is focused on the postseason and his own improvement, yet he also unequivocally stated, “I want to stay here.”
In Game 4, Mobley played like someone who is all in with the Cavs.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Evan Mobley plays like he's all in with Cavs amid Giannis trade rumors
Continue reading...
