Evan Mobley: 2023 All Defensive 1st Team

[Lee]

Mobley got some love this morning from John Hollinger in his Athletic article. The gist was that he thinks Mobley can be "The Guy" on this team and his defensive ability is already amazing. Here are a couple of small excerpts. Worth reading in full if you have the Athletic. He breaks down some videos from the Hawks game too.

I dont even fully comprehend Mobley's defense yet. Sure he is at 2.3 blocks a game, but the amount of balls he alters, the moon shots that dont even hit rim over him. Is it his deceptive length? Quickness to get out on people? Its hard to remember someone altering so many shots. AD? Hakeem? Duncan. He doesnt have any of their strength for on man defense of big men, but he legit stays in front of most guards. (Trae got by him on a play, but Mobley's length from behind was still bothering where he ran right into Allen who blocked the shot).

I wonder how the league adjusts to Mobely, you have to adjust right? You cant let a guy alter or block 7-8 shots a game can you? Its just 3 games, the league will adjust to Mobley. But another way to look at it is that its just 3 games and he is a 19 year old rookie and is so good defensively that the league is already going to have to adjust to his defense.

Its insane to watch, he clearly didnt give a F in the summer league, his defense was nowhere close to this. I see the passing, rebounding, shot coming along, some post moves, few moves going to the basket, sure the offense is there, but the defense is insane. In college where they pack the paint he just didnt see it. With a wide open lane, that crazy length of Mobley and the almost guard level foot speed, he just covers and alters shot at such a high level.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I dont even fully comprehend Mobley's defense yet. Sure he is at 2.3 blocks a game, but the amount of balls he alters, the moon shots that dont even hit rim over him. Is it his deceptive length? Quickness to get out on people? Its hard to remember someone altering so many shots. AD? Hakeem? Duncan. He doesnt have any of their strength for on man defense of big men, but he legit stays in front of most guards. (Trae got by him on a play, but Mobley's length from behind was still bothering where he ran right into Allen who blocked the shot).

I wonder how the league adjusts to Mobely, you have to adjust right? You cant let a guy alter or block 7-8 shots a game can you? Its just 3 games, the league will adjust to Mobley. But another way to look at it is that its just 3 games and he is a 19 year old rookie and is so good defensively that the league is already going to have to adjust to his defense.

Its insane to watch, he clearly didnt give a F in the summer league, his defense was nowhere close to this. I see the passing, rebounding, shot coming along, some post moves, few moves going to the basket, sure the offense is there, but the defense is insane. In college where they pack the paint he just didnt see it. With a wide open lane, that crazy length of Mobley and the almost guard level foot speed, he just covers and alters shot at such a high level.

According to NBA stats he has over 10 shot alterations a game. By far the best in the NBA.

I don't h ave the page in front of me, but I saw it the other day.

 

[stick]

I dont even fully comprehend Mobley's defense yet. Sure he is at 2.3 blocks a game, but the amount of balls he alters, the moon shots that dont even hit rim over him. Is it his deceptive length? Quickness to get out on people? Its hard to remember someone altering so many shots. AD? Hakeem? Duncan. He doesnt have any of their strength for on man defense of big men, but he legit stays in front of most guards. (Trae got by him on a play, but Mobley's length from behind was still bothering where he ran right into Allen who blocked the shot).

I wonder how the league adjusts to Mobely, you have to adjust right? You cant let a guy alter or block 7-8 shots a game can you? Its just 3 games, the league will adjust to Mobley. But another way to look at it is that its just 3 games and he is a 19 year old rookie and is so good defensively that the league is already going to have to adjust to his defense.

Its insane to watch, he clearly didnt give a F in the summer league, his defense was nowhere close to this. I see the passing, rebounding, shot coming along, some post moves, few moves going to the basket, sure the offense is there, but the defense is insane. In college where they pack the paint he just didnt see it. With a wide open lane, that crazy length of Mobley and the almost guard level foot speed, he just covers and alters shot at such a high level.

Well said!

To add, Lee, I've seen several players pass out of shots in the paint with Mobley nearby. Vets like Gordon Hayward among them. This is going to increase in frequency.

His defense is incredible. He has just as many plays that don't show up on the box score that do. The effect of opposing players adapting their game ALREADY sends ripples throughout the entire court and helps the whole team. Cavs as a whole will get better to adjusting and rotating elsewhere on the court as a result of Mobley's impact (especially on the glass when he rotates for help defense and to three point shooters on kick outs)

The thing is, he's only going to get better with reps and learning tendacies and improving his physique. Mobley gets caught on pump fakes from time to time, sometimes players hit a shot with him nearby, but it's rare to see him completely out of position. What a foundation to work from.

 

[Lee]

According to NBA stats he has over 10 shot alterations a game. By far the best in the NBA.

I don't h ave the page in front of me, but I saw it the other day.

I almost put 10 shot alterations a game, i dont know how to look that up, but thought it feels like 10 a game, but no way its that high. I guess I was wrong.

Its such an insane number that no way he can maintain. The league will stop driving into him, there will be scouting reports on him soon. But that is such a crazy number. You talk about the court vision, the rebounding so far, his ball handling skill, but if you are talking about Mobley right now, the first thing you talk about is something that doesnt show up on paper much and its his ability to alter shots on anyone. PG, Center and anyone in between.

 

[Lee]

To add, Lee, I've seen several players pass out of shots in the paint with Mobley nearby. Vets like Gordon Hayward among them. This is going to increase in frequency.

His defense is incredible. He has just as many plays that don't show up on the box score that do. The effect of opposing players adapting their game ALREADY sends ripples throughout the entire court and helps the whole team. Cavs as a whole will get better to adjusting and rotating elsewhere on the court as a result of Mobley's impact (especially on the glass when he rotates for help defense)

The thing is, he's only going to get better with reps and learning tendacies and improving his physique. Mobley gets caught on pump fakes from time to time, sometimes players hit a shot with him nearby, but it's rare to see him completely out of position. What a foundation to work from.

I have seen the same too. The league will adjust, what i mean is they will notice Mobley on them or in the lane and just not drive, he is effecting about 50% of the shots around him, its crazy good. But when the league adjusts, that means Mobley has already partially won because they just wont drive on him in a way they didnt drive on prime time Duncan or AD or Giannis keep players from driving.

And look at the players i have to mention when talking about Mobley's shot altering ability. The thing that it reminds me of, and its a story i have told before, its like when I was playing Brad Miller one on one. Me a slow, fat white 5'9 guy against a 7 foot all star NBA player. It was during college and we were friends, but he altered everyone of my shots for obvious reasons.

Its like Mobley is so good he makes NBA guards look like a short, fat 5'9 white guy, lol.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I have seen the same too. The league will adjust, what i mean is they will notice Mobley on them or in the lane and just not drive, he is effecting about 50% of the shots around him, its crazy good. But when the league adjusts, that means Mobley has already partially won because they just wont drive on him in a way they didnt drive on prime time Duncan or AD or Giannis keep players from driving.

And look at the players i have to mention when talking about Mobley's shot altering ability. The thing that it reminds me of, and its a story i have told before, its like when I was playing Brad Miller one on one. Me a slow, fat white 5'9 guy against a 7 foot all star NBA player. It was during college and we were friends, but he altered everyone of my shots for obvious reasons.

Its like Mobley is so good he makes NBA guards look like a short, fat 5'9 white guy, lol.

*fat jewish white guy


I tried to find it again and found this one. As you can see, the difference is quite extreme.

I don't know if altered shots equals contested shots though. Not sure if that's what I was looking at.

 

[cavsfever]

The good news is I see up to 4-5 intriguing wing prospects in next year's draft.

All the more reason not to trade a first for Ben fucking Simmons.

 

[Lee]

*fat jewish white guy


I tried to find it again and found this one. As you can see, the difference is quite extreme.

I don't know if altered shots equals contested shots though.

What does Jewish have to do with it? lol

Casspi is Jewish and even Amare is Jewish. The fat white guy is enough, lol

 

[cavsfever]

I have seen the same too. The league will adjust, what i mean is they will notice Mobley on them or in the lane and just not drive, he is effecting about 50% of the shots around him, its crazy good. But when the league adjusts, that means Mobley has already partially won because they just wont drive on him in a way they didnt drive on prime time Duncan or AD or Giannis keep players from driving.

And look at the players i have to mention when talking about Mobley's shot altering ability. The thing that it reminds me of, and its a story i have told before, its like when I was playing Brad Miller one on one. Me a slow, fat white 5'9 guy against a 7 foot all star NBA player. It was during college and we were friends, but he altered everyone of my shots for obvious reasons.

Its like Mobley is so good he makes NBA guards look like a short, fat 5'9 white guy, lol.

Yeah, the shot altering is stunning to see from a rookie because it depends not just on height or quickness but on basketball IQ for positioning. There are plenty of tall fast rookies who don't alter a lot of shots because they don't know how to position themselves right, who the right guys to shadow are, and how to get close enough to alter a shot without fouling. He was doing all this stuff RIGHT AWAY, looking Rudy Gobert-esque at times.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Well said!

To add, Lee, I've seen several players pass out of shots in the paint with Mobley nearby. Vets like Gordon Hayward among them. This is going to increase in frequency.

His defense is incredible. He has just as many plays that don't show up on the box score that do. The effect of opposing players adapting their game ALREADY sends ripples throughout the entire court and helps the whole team. Cavs as a whole will get better to adjusting and rotating elsewhere on the court as a result of Mobley's impact (especially on the glass when he rotates for help defense and to three point shooters on kick outs)

The thing is, he's only going to get better with reps and learning tendacies and improving his physique. Mobley gets caught on pump fakes from time to time, sometimes players hit a shot with him nearby, but it's rare to see him completely out of position. What a foundation to work from.

He really excels at those recovery blocks where someone gets by either him or another defender, and Mobley alters the shot from behind. He's just so efficient in all of his defensive movements.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

his barely fouls too. It's pretty crazy to contest so much and foul so little..playing over 35 minutes a game.

 

[cavsfever]

Also, following up to my post about positioning above, Mobley has only 7 personal fouls in his first three games, while being a defensive MONSTER and averaging 35 MPG. Do you know how self-aware and smart you have to be as a 20 year old rookie to impact defense massively right away without fouling anybody?

P.S. edited to say that clearly great minds think alike when it comes to Sir'Dom and me, we posted the same point simultaneously!

P.P.S he actually has the same number of blocks and fouls -- 7 of each through three games!

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

really can't wait for the game tonight. Hopefully he kills it so the Houston Rockets fans don't gain any Green momentum. Need to pounce on them.

 

[Lee]

Yeah, the shot altering is stunning to see from a rookie because it depends not just on height or quickness but on basketball IQ for positioning. There are plenty of tall fast rookies who don't alter a lot of shots because they don't know how to position themselves right, who the right guys to shadow are, and how to get close enough to alter a shot without fouling. He was doing all this stuff RIGHT AWAY, looking Rudy Gobert-esque at times.

Great comparison, didnt think of Gobert, but yeah thats how he looks at times.

 

[Cavatt]

Contesting more shots than anyone in the league already?

Only think I am worried about is will JB get the kid enough rest? He is hard to take off the floor. The team is just much better with him out there.