CLEVELAND – In 33 seconds, Evan Mobley changed the trajectory of Game 1. Whether he changes the trajectory of the series — and perhaps the Cleveland Cavaliers’ entire playoff run — will depend on his ability to do it again and again.
Mobley made two 3-pointers on successive possessions in the first quarter of Cleveland’s 97-83 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round series Saturday, and while it might not seem like a big deal, it’s really a big deal. for Mobley and the Cavs.
This changed the way Orlando guarded. Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff counted three coverages used by the Magic after Mobley made those first 3. That likely gave Bickerstaff more confidence to roll with his best defensive lineups in a defense-based series, as Mobley and Jarrett Allen closed out the final 5 1/2 minutes of the game together on the court. Mobley finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. He and Allen combined for 29 rebounds.
They played 23 minutes alongside each other in the first game, about six minutes more than the regular season average. The result was an elite defensive rating of 87.8 – which was admittedly greatly aided by Orlando’s terrible offense – and an overall net rating of plus-5.9. It’s only one game, but those ratings are much better than the two generated together during a shaky regular season.
EV4 with back-to-back HUGE threesomes. 🎯@evanmobley | #Let them know pic.twitter.com/xnoaX4pcVJ
– Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 20, 2024
Bickerstaff often had to shift his two best post players due to spacing issues, but he found a set where he could keep them together on the floor while creating driving lanes for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. All of this, however, relies on Mobley continuing to make 3-pointers.
“That’s him,” Bickerstaff said. “If he’s making those shots, you can’t move around and protect the paint as much as you want because you’re just giving him wide-open looks.”
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The only club missing from Mobley’s bag is a 3-point shot. We all know it. I have written about it several times. But we got a glimpse this year, especially during the second half of the season. It’s in there. It happens. From the beginning of February until the end of the regular season, he shot 41 percent from 3. He was more willing to look for those shots and more aggressive in making them.
Opponents have to give up something in the playoffs, and that will likely mean leaving Mobley open on the perimeter, at least for now. So when he ran toward the corner following a possession early in the first quarter Saturday, Orlando’s Paolo Banchero was no closer than 15 feet from him. The Magic were happy to give him this chance. This is the same strategy the New York Knicks employed last year against Isaac Okoro during their first-round series. It got to the point where Okoro was unplayable because he couldn’t make that shot.
Mobley never hesitated and ripped the corner 3. He did it again on the Cavs’ next possession, sliding from the corner to the wing while Banchero was anchored in the lane. Jalen Suggs closed out half-heartedly, but it was clear Orlando was OK with Mobley taking those shots. When he made both, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley immediately called a timeout. Less than five minutes into the game, it was already time to change something.
“If you have to make an adjustment that early in the game, it takes you out of your game plan,” Bickerstaff said. “He was the trigger for this.”
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Everyone with the Cavs can breathe a little easier with a 1-0 series lead. This is only the second time in their last seven playoff series that the Cavs have won a Game 1. Given the heavy criticism they’ve endured all week, they seemingly lost the fourth quarter of the playoff final. season to organize this match against Orlando, a first series. victory was crucial. If the Cavs were indeed chasing the Magic, you understood why in the first game.
Orlando’s offense is terrible. The Cavs have the best player in the series in Mitchell and maybe three of the starting four. And if Mobley continues to put the Magic in tough defensive situations with his outside shooting, this could be a quick series. Gary Harris went scoreless and missed all five of his 3-point attempts. Suggs has significantly improved his 3-point shooting from last year, but he was 1 of 7 from 3 in the opener. If Orlando’s starting backcourt continues to shoot 1 of 12 from deep, they can’t win this series. By using Mobley and Allen to close out the game together, the Cavs tried to ensure that Orlando’s shooters couldn’t make a few late trash cans to build momentum for Game 2.
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Mitchell and Bickerstaff believed Mobley’s early 3-point shooting helped him open up later in the post, especially as the Magic began favoring pick-and-rolls. This created mismatches for Mobley on smaller guards inside that he was able to exploit. Orlando didn’t really blitz the Cavs’ ball handlers, outside of the peculiar decision to double Garland on a possession 30 feet from the basket late in the fourth quarter. Garland turned to a wide-open Mitchell, whose 3-pointer sealed the victory.
SLAM. @spidadmitchell | #Let them know pic.twitter.com/Wv92z2hlFg
– Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 20, 2024
Orlando will make changes before Game 2. Mosley gave up using Suggs, its best defender, on Mitchell for most of Game 1. That will likely change for Game 2 after Mitchell scored 30 points on Saturday. Likewise, the Magic will have to figure out what to do with Mobley. It wouldn’t be a shock to see them leave it open again, at least to start the game. But if Mobley pulls a few fast ones again, it will change everything. Again.
Mitchell is the Cavs’ best player and Allen is their defensive anchor.
Mobley could be the key to a deep playoff run.
(Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images)