Evan Mobley: 2023 All Defensive 1st Team

[Lumthemad]

Ultimately, the goal IF Mobley is as good as we all think he is would be to find out who blends the best with him. So, you try things and by year three of his career, you know WHO you want to role with as players who complement him. Allen will ALWAYS have value to other teams, so if you decide to move him it won't be terribly hard. I would argue Markkanen is the same with his ability to shoot the ball.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

If we have Markkanen or Mobley playing significant minutes at the 3, that's going to lead to even more perimeter penetration.

Easy perimeter penetration is typically very bad for a defense.

 

[weepinwillow]

I don't foresee too many minutes with all 3 7' guys out on the court together. Unless something really changes it should be Sexland, Okoro, Evan and Allen with Mark and Rubio in heavy rotation. I can only hope that Windler gets his shit together and overtakes Cedi.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

If we have Markkanen or Mobley playing significant minutes at the 3, that's going to lead to even more perimeter penetration.

Easy perimeter penetration is typically very bad for a defense.

I think Mobley can play the 3 well defensively. The issue I foresee is offensively rather.

He is still not strong enough to take advantage of his height against 3's and he won't even have a rebounding advantage, and he isn't quite there attacking with the ball in his hands, nor is he a good shooter enough shooter right now. His best course of action offensively would be attacking from a triple threat from the elbow, but is that something you want right now? probably not.

But defensively, I kinda like it. He is really long and he covers to much ground laterally as well.. could be interesting.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think Mobley can play the 3 well defensively. The issue I foresee is offensively rather.

He is still not strong enough to take advantage of his height against 3's and he won't even have a rebounding advantage, and he isn't quite there attacking with the ball in his hands, nor is he a good shooter enough shooter right now. His best course of action offensively would be attacking from a triple threat from the elbow, but is that something you want right now? probably not.

But defensively, I kinda like it. He is really long and he covers to much ground laterally as well.. could be interesting.

I can't imagine he or Lauri has the lateral quickness to deal with an explosive NBA wing.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I can't imagine he or Lauri has the lateral quickness to deal with an explosive NBA wing.

I can..

 

[weepinwillow]

I can't imagine he or Lauri has the lateral quickness to deal with an explosive NBA wing.

agreed.

I can..

If it's true, well then we really did draft a unicorn and shame on both Detroit and Houston! He does seem more fluid in movement than any bigman, but does he seem KD fluid/quick?

 

[CavsKermit]

If the plan is to have Mobley eventually be a starter and Markkanen come off the bench, I think for this organization it's best that it just starts that way. Koby hasn't been good at smoothing things over and if Markkanen is playing well but get demoted, it might not going over well.

It would be nice for Mobley to earn it but I think the chances of it becoming a locker room issue is far higher if Markkanen starts and Mobley comes off the bench. Markkanen could play well off the bench and settle into that role while both him and Mobley play well together. It would be less of a competition between the two and more about figuring team chemistry.

It might take more than a single season before Mobley is ready to start. At some point, you have to start putting your best starting unit on the court with the hope winning more than 20 games. Starting 19-year old players impacts the entire starting lineup.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

agreed.

If it's true, well then we really did draft a unicorn and shame on both Detroit and Houston! He does seem more fluid in movement than any bigman, but does he seem KD fluid/quick?

No, he isn't... not really close, but that's ok. He doesn't have to be.

 

[Cavatt]

This.
Earn the minutes.
It also helps if your vets aren't openly tanking/pouting. It's a shame that George Hill, Korvor & JR didn't take a professional approach Sexton's rookie year, but it's also a shame that the organization demanded he get minutes right away. Same with Garland, I'd say the same about Okoro, but by that point the ship had sailed and you needed someone, anyone to put in the effort on defense at the 3 you kind of had to go with it.
Even if the bar is somewhat low, having a vet in the way should make guys realize what they need to work on and help shed some of their bad habits.

Those guys started and were so bad, they lost 6 games in a row and got their coach fired. A much younger team won their first 3 last year.

Mobley's ball skills are not as good as KD, but I don't think KD has some huge advantage as far as lateral mobility over Mobley. Mobley seems like the better athlete to me.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

does he seem KD fluid/quick?

Absolutely not.

 

[CavsFan07]

Absolutely not.

But can make up a lot of ground with his insane length.

 

[2 For The Brew]

The Mobley comparisons to KD are useful for some people.

When Mobley doesn’t live up to that comparison in the first month of the season we’ll have posts here that cite that as proof Mobley is a bust, JBB is a terrible coach and Koby is an idiot.

Mobley will need time to develop and that will take years.

 

[Lee]

Cavs always play rookies big minutes. They think it helps them acclimatise to the pros. Also our vets suck balls

True, also our vets arent any good at playing basketball.

 

[The Oi]

Comping someone to KD is only fair if you do “poor man’s KD” and base it on rookie KD and not mid career KD.

Keeping in mind also that KD’s three point shooting sucked year one.

AD/Bosh is still probably the better comparison.