Evan Mobley: 2023 All Defensive 1st Team

[The Human Q-Tip]

Nowhere in my post did I say to start splurging on big money players.

We just can’t afford to waste years trying to figure out if Sexton or Garland or Okoro or Bickerstaff or Altman can do the job we need them to do.

They have to start showing it very soon or they will be shown the door.

I think it is going to take some time to figure that out, because it's not easy knowing if a guy is the right guy until you have him in the right role, and with at least the right type of guy around him. So I think there's is going to be a lot of mix and matching as we gradually figure out which combinations -- and therefore which players -- work best around him.

To me, the Sexland combination just isn't working. The key in the short term is figuring out whether the better combination is Rubio/Sexton, or Garland/Okoro, and then moving either Sexton or Garland.

Maximizing Mobley is going to mean pairing him with a PG who really sees the floor well, and knows how to maximize the mismatches Mobley will be capable of making. I personally don't yet know whether or not Garland can be that guy.

 

[MD13]

I think Mobley could make an all defensive team this year? It’s unbelievable how he’s not just getting blocks and steals but he’s already rotating and covering up for others mistakes. That and how he can already D up on 1-5 and shut them down on a switch, it’s insane.

 

[bigfoot5415]

I think Mobley could make an all defensive team this year? It’s unbelievable how he’s not just getting blocks and steals but he’s already rotating and covering up for others mistakes. That and how he can already D up on 1-5 and shut them down on a switch, it’s insane.

If he can show that and average 2 blks & 1 stl ppg, I could definitely see him getting 2nd team. Not sure if enough people would see him to know if he should be on 1st team (even if he deserves it).

 

[MD13]

If he can show that and average 2 blks & 1 stl ppg, I could definitely see him getting 2nd team. Not sure if enough people would see him to know if he should be on 1st team (even if he deserves it).

Yeah, agreed there. I can’t ever see Mobley being good at negotiating around screens, same as Giannis, but everything else he’s showed so far absolutely plays. This isn’t a shooter getting hot or scoring with the same go-to move on offense, his defensive skills through three games absolutely translates anywhere.

 

[Derek]

I think it is going to take some time to figure that out, because it's not easy knowing if a guy is the right guy until you have him in the right role, and with at least the right type of guy around him. So I think there's is going to be a lot of mix and matching as we gradually figure out which combinations -- and therefore which players -- work best around him.

To me, the Sexland combination just isn't working. The key in the short term is figuring out whether the better combination is Rubio/Sexton, or Garland/Okoro, and then moving either Sexton or Garland.

Maximizing Mobley is going to mean pairing him with a PG who really sees the floor well, and knows how to maximize the mismatches Mobley will be capable of making. I personally don't yet know whether or not Garland can be that guy.

I don’t really agree with the bolded.

I think we’ll have a very solid idea by the deadline of who among those I’ve mentioned should be a long-term piece.

I also don’t think it makes any sense to tie Sexton’s fate to Rubio (a long-time effective starter in this league) while tying Garland’s to Okoro (a guy I’m not sure is even an NBA rotation player).

I also don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that we need to get rid of everyone except Allen and Mobley.

 

[Nphan]

You know what's more fun? the threads and their posts about Jalen Green in other threads. They are are a funny bunch. The hottest of hot takers. Read their game threads for the best climax.

Here is a thread title for them 1st on the main page "The Jalen Green experiment is over".

Send them Garland, Okoro and an unprotected 1st. I'll take Green off their hands. Imagine Mobley and Green. The Houston night life and handing with dudes like Porter Jr off the court is fucking with Green development and focus.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I don’t really agree with the bolded.

I think we’ll have a very solid idea by the deadline of who among those I’ve mentioned should be a long-term piece.

Well, to me the deadline is "some time", so I don't think we're all that far apart.

I also don’t think it makes any sense to tie Sexton’s fate to Rubio (a long-time effective starter in this league) while tying Garland’s to Okoro (a guy I’m not sure is even an NBA rotation player).

One argument for Garland has been that Sexton is such a ball hog that he inhibits Garland's natural role as a PG. So pairing Okoro with Garland fixes that problem. Maybe Okoro sucks in that pairing but Garland still looks good, in which case you may keep him anyway. Pairing Sexton with a more assertive PG like Rubio may rein him in a bit and make him a more team-oriented player because that's how Rubio will run the offense. But if Garland doesn't start showing more assertiveness even when not paired with Sexton, and Sexton can't be reined in even by a vet like Rubio, then it's probably time to consider moving one or both.

Point is, I think we're going to have to start trying different starting back courts other than Sexland if we're going to fairly evaluate either Garland or Sexton. Maybe give them another 10 games or so to see if they can work it out, but if not, it's time to start switching up pairings to better evaluate the players involved.

 

[foucault87]

Send them Garland, Okoro and an unprotected 1st. I'll take Green off their hands. Imagine Mobley and Green. The Houston night life and handing with dudes like Porter Jr off the court is fucking with Green development and focus.

This is an awful deal. Why would we give up the 3 better assets for a glorified JR Smith. I wanted nothing to do with Green at the draft and still want nothing to do with him. Now, you could talk me into Garland for Sengun/assets which would be a plus tradr for us

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

This is an awful deal. Why would we give up the 3 better assets for a glorified JR Smith. I wanted nothing to do with Green at the draft and still want nothing to do with him. Now, you could talk me into Garland for Sengun/assets which would be a plus tradr for us

It's not quite as awful if you assume Green is going to be win multiple scoring titles. Of course, that's a rather large assumption.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Send them Garland, Okoro and an unprotected 1st. I'll take Green off their hands. Imagine Mobley and Green. The Houston night life and handing with dudes like Porter Jr off the court is fucking with Green development and focus.

How do you actually know this? Anyway, if Green truly has that little self-discipline and focus, then he's going to figure out ways to pull the same kind of shit on road trips, and despite it being "just Cleveland", he'll figure out how to get in trouble in here anyway. KPJ sure did.

 

[Nphan]

How do you actually know this? Anyway, if Green truly has that little self-discipline and focus, then he's going to figure out ways to pull the same kind of shit on road trips, and despite it being "just Cleveland", he'll figure out how to get in trouble in here anyway. KPJ sure did.

They're like best friends. 2 young dudes + Houston = disaster. In Cleveland it would be all basketball and being around guys like Mobley who you know damn well is not at strip clubs every night. Does Cleveland even have strip clubs?

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

They're like best friends. 2 young dudes + Houston = disaster.

Okoro is a young dude. So are Garland, Sexton, and Mobley, and none of them had the same issues that KPJ had in Cleveland. Same city, different outcomes. Why do you suppose that is?

There also are plenty of young guys who are in cities like Houston, or with even more opportunities for mischief, that don't lose their focus or get in trouble. So if that is what is going on with Green - that he has lost his focus because he's just having too much fun -- the problem isn't KPJ, and it isn't Houston. It's Green, and I suppose part of that is who he chooses for his friends, because there's no rule saying that you can't have friends outside the team. KPJ managed to screw himself over completely in Cleveland despite not clubbing around with a buddy on the team.

In Cleveland it would be all basketball and being around guys like Mobley who you know damn well is not at strip clubs every night. Does Cleveland even have strip clubs?

No, there are absolutely no strip clubs, or actually clubs of any kind, in Ohio. Nor are there any other opportunities to get in trouble. That's why KPJ didn't get in any trouble while he was here.

 

[Muffinalt]

How would you build the team around Mobley?

It's what I spend all my time thinking about since the first game. There is just such a ridiculously high ceiling with him on defense, I would spend a lot of focus there. I know the league is trending more offense, but if you have 4 switchable, good one on one defenders around him it could be game breaking. He could roam like LBJ and be a defensive playmaker. Even more ideal would be to find a high high level perimeter defender too, and have our defense be elite and multi layered.

Derrick White is the guy I'm thinking about. He's gettable, he similarly has elite instincts and IQ there, switchable too and if you have him smothering guards with Mobley as the second layer... My god. Plus White is good in the PnR on offense, is a good shooter and good decision maker.

What I really don't want is a Garland/Sexton type liability on there perimeter. As good as they are/can be offensively, you're really lowering the D potential. We'd be using Mobley/Allen as makeup for their shortcomings like you said in the previous post.

So find big, switchable, 1on1 defenders and wreck havoc.

On offense I think we need to find (most likely draft) his running mate, a PnR scorer/initiator that can shoot well and pass while being a good defender. AJ Griffin for example (based on scouting vids and pre-injury video) could be someone ideal, play the PnR with Mobley and they both could abuse their own mismatch. So damn difficult to find that guy though. And of course spacers, lots of shooting around those two guys that's mandatory.

Actually, funnily enough, I think a roster like current Charlotte would be ideal. Put a strong, prime Mobley in place of Plumlee and that team is sick.

 

[Nphan]

This is an awful deal. Why would we give up the 3 better assets for a glorified JR Smith. I wanted nothing to do with Green at the draft and still want nothing to do with him. Now, you could talk me into Garland for Sengun/assets which would be a plus tradr for us

I can understand if you said the unprotected first might be too much. But Garland and Okoro are not and will not be better players. Book it. We ran revisit this argument later in the year. Lmao at glorified JR Smith.

 

[Nphan]

Okoro is a young dude. So are Garland, Sexton, and Mobley, and none of them had the same issues that KPJ had in Cleveland. Same city, different outcomes. Why do you suppose that is?

There also are plenty of young guys who are in cities like Houston, or with even more opportunities for mischief, that don't lose their focus or get in trouble. So if that is what is going on with Green - that he has lost his focus because he's just having too much fun -- the problem isn't KPJ, and it isn't Houston. It's Green, and I suppose part of that is who he chooses for his friends, because there's no rule saying that you can't have friends outside the team. KPJ managed to screw himself over completely in Cleveland despite not clubbing around with a buddy on the team.



No, there are absolutely no strip clubs, or actually clubs of any kind, in Ohio. Nor are there any other opportunities to get in trouble. That's why KPJ didn't get in any trouble while he was here.

All I'm saying is some young guys tend to follow the lead of older players they admire. Green getting that money + being young can have a bad affect EARLY on. But I bet he starts lighting it up by mid season with or without Porter Jrs Influence. Even Evan Mobleys dad didn't want him bring drafted by the Rockets because Porter Jr was there.

I was joking about the strip club stuff and I know Cleveland has strip clubs but Houston has some of the best in this country like Atlanta and Miami. Young + money + bad influence = bad combo. That's all I'm saying. The combo might not affect everyone but I hav watched Green pro-draft and he's the type it would affect.