Evan Mobley: 2023 All Defensive 1st Team

[Alec]

Again, I'm not beholden to basic raw stats when evaluating players. I posted Mobley's advanced defensive metrics 10 pages ago. Clearly his contributions are not measured by the box score alone. It's a big reason why I chose him over Tatum and created a thread on RealGM called "Is Evan Mobley the most valuable asset in the NBA?" 20 games into his career and got 15 pages of shit talk in return. Meanwhile, it appears to be prescient with each passing week.

My point was, Jayson Tatum's contribution are mostly measurable. The ability to efficiently put the ball in the basket. It's an extremely important part of the game. Whether or not he takes a step forward, he's an actualized player and under control for a while. Some people will take that over potential all day. I do think certain metrics are imperfect and overvalue some players while devaluing others. PER in particular isn't that good at parsing out the true differences in value between players.

 

[Eli's Nipples]

I probably have more posts about Mobley in this thread than anyone. I probably champion him more than anyone. But I think people are looking at the Celtic struggles and assuming Tatum is a failure.

prior to this down shooting season, Tatum shot 40% from 3 on 5.2 attempts per game in his career. The last three seasons he’s scored 25 ppg on good efficiency.

He’s a legit 25-4-8 player and he hasn’t turned 24 y/o yet. Pairing him with Garland would help him generate more efficient looks and hopefully play better defense. I love Mobley, but I don’t think you hang up the phone as soon as you hear the name “Tatum.”

You’re basically looking at a DPOY level defender who you hope can become a 20 points per game three level scorer. Vs one of the most talented scoring wings, if not the most talented, of his cohort and hoping that he can get better defensively. I go Mobley. But I’m not assuming Tatum‘s development is done either.

And this is to speak nothing of the contract differences/timeline. Just players straight up.

A lot of words for nothing. Your logic is rooted in casual fandom. It's very disappointing to see significant parts of the fanbase fail to grasp the level of impact Mobley has already infused to this team. Stats can't fully quantify his value, and that certainly can't be said for Tatum.

 

[Alec]

wait until you see my Mobley tattoo

 

[Peacedog]

I probably have more posts about Mobley in this thread than anyone. I probably champion him more than anyone. But I think people are looking at the Celtic struggles and assuming Tatum is a failure.

prior to this down shooting season, Tatum shot 40% from 3 on 5.2 attempts per game in his career. The last three seasons he’s scored 25 ppg on good efficiency.

He’s a legit 25-4-8 player and he hasn’t turned 24 y/o yet. Pairing him with Garland would help him generate more efficient looks and hopefully play better defense. I love Mobley, but I don’t think you hang up the phone as soon as you hear the name “Tatum.”

You’re basically looking at a DPOY level defender who you hope can become a 20 points per game three level scorer. Vs one of the most talented scoring wings, if not the most talented, of his cohort and hoping that he can get better defensively. I go Mobley. But I’m not assuming Tatum‘s development is done either.

And this is to speak nothing of the contract differences/timeline. Just players straight up.

No, I don't "hope" that Evan develops into a 20 ppg scorer. That would be a disappointment. I hope he can get to 25 ppg, regularly. And that (scoring) will still at that point be the least impressive part of his game.

 

[Dr No]

Mobley is great - potential Hall of Fame great. But, just to stir the pot a bit - Mobley is flourishing on a team with an All-star point guard that gets the ball to him and an All-Star center that does a lot of the dirty work for him. Because of the construction of our team, he's allowed to be great at what he's great at. Its very unusual to be a top 3 lottery pick and come into this good of a situation. Put Mobley in crappy Detroit (without a surging Cunningham) or Houston and he does not look this good. Also, when talking about championship potential, it is very rare over the last 30 years that a championship team is led by a non-ball handler - I can think of the Spurs with Duncan and the Mavs with Dirk. There is the possibility that in a series a great defensive team can game plan and scheme him out of dominance.

 

[JJ_PR]

Mobley is great - potential Hall of Fame great. But, just to stir the pot a bit - Mobley is flourishing on a team with an All-star point guard that gets the ball to him and an All-Star center that does a lot of the dirty work for him. Because of the construction of our team, he's allowed to be great at what he's great at. Its very unusual to be a top 3 pottery pick and come into this good of a situation. Put Mobley in crappy Detroit (without a surging Cunningham) or Houston and he does not look this good. Also, when talking about championship potential, it is very rare over the last 30 years that a championship team is led by a non-ball handler - I can think of the Spurs with Duncan and the Mavs with Dirk. There is the possibility that in a series a great defensive team can game plan and scheme him out of dominance.

You don't win championships if you don't have good roster construction. Mobley is a superstar talent that makes our system work.

We need a good roster construction regardless if we have Mobley or not. Having him is cherry on top of the cake.

 

[Dr No]

You don't win championships if you don't have good roster construction. Mobley is a superstar talent that makes our system work.

I love Mobley and there are very few I would trade him for, but I feel like watching people's head's explode. So, lets say we drafted Cunningham (who is killing it over the last 6 weeks - 18 pts & 6 assists, on 45%, 40% from 3), and had Cunningham at the 3 (on D), Laurie at the 4, Okoro at the 2, and Garland at the 1. Are we better or worse? Laurie is a downgrade from Mobley, but he's better at the 4 than the 3. Cunningham is better than Laurie on the wing. In theory it creates even more room for Allen and Garland to operate. We now have serious 3 point threats at 3 of the 5 positions and an alternate ball handler/initiator in Cunningham to spell Garland. We will never know of course, but that could be a very strong, very flexible, roster moving forward. Better on O, but worse on D.

 

[Alec]

I like your creative thinking. But I think they get a lot worse. Cunningham takes the ball out of Garland‘s hands and vice versa. The defense takes a massive hit.

 

[JJ_PR]

I love Mobley and there are very few I would trade him for, but I feel like watching people's head's explode. So, lets say we drafted Cunningham (who is killing it over the last 6 weeks - 18 pts & 6 assists, on 45%, 40% from 3), and had Cunningham at the 3 (on D), Laurie at the 4, Okoro at the 2, and Garland at the 1. Are we better or worse? Laurie is a downgrade from Mobley, but he's better at the 4 than the 3. Cunningham is better than Laurie on the wing. In theory it creates even more room for Allen and Garland to operate. We now have serious 3 point threats at 3 of the 5 positions and an alternate ball handler/initiator in Cunningham to spell Garland. We will never know of course, but that could be a very strong, very flexible, roster moving forward. Better on O, but worse on D.

Trading Mobley would be getting cute. Don't touch what's working. Work around the edges, but that's it imo.

Cunnigham is decent, but we already have Garland, & there's a reason Mobley is ahead of Cade in the ROY race. Cade is not on the level of Mobley & never will be.

 

[Jscc]

Mobley is great - potential Hall of Fame great. But, just to stir the pot a bit - Mobley is flourishing on a team with an All-star point guard that gets the ball to him and an All-Star center that does a lot of the dirty work for him. Because of the construction of our team, he's allowed to be great at what he's great at. Its very unusual to be a top 3 pottery pick and come into this good of a situation. Put Mobley in crappy Detroit (without a surging Cunningham) or Houston and he does not look this good. Also, when talking about championship potential, it is very rare over the last 30 years that a championship team is led by a non-ball handler - I can think of the Spurs with Duncan and the Mavs with Dirk. There is the possibility that in a series a great defensive team can game plan and scheme him out of dominance.

There's no reason to believe this. The Cavs are literally winless in every game Mobley missed this season.

 

[Mowie666]

Would love to watch the 'behind-the-lines' 30 for 30 where Koby is in the office late July 2021 with the whiteboard explaining to his inner circle why Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will work perfectly together. Xs and Os on the whiteboard, he brings in take-out and the whole thing takes hours. Then when everyone has finally convinced him it is time to call it for the night he says "tomorrow's topic: Lauri Markkanen!" and just cackles as the lights go out.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Came here to read about Mobley but then I'm reading about trading him for LaMelo.

In the past, staff strictly enforced keeping trade talk to the trade forum for this very reason. It takes discipline to keep fantasy trade scenarios out of the rest of the forum. I still believes it makes for a more interesting and engaging content.

Evan Mobley is the cornerstone of the franchise. Full stop. There's no reason to discuss trading him.

 

[dark2332]

I wouldn't trade Mobley for Luka Doncic. Some people want to trade him for Lame-lo straight up? That'd be the worst trade in the history of this franchise.

Yeah, well, I wouldn’t trade Mobley for all of King Midas’ silver.

You’re up.

 

[Rich]

People have entirely missed the original post that started this discussion and just carried it into something it wasn't initially. What's new.

 

[Rich]

A lot of words for nothing. Your logic is rooted in casual fandom. It's very disappointing to see significant parts of the fanbase fail to grasp the level of impact Mobley has already infused to this team. Stats can't fully quantify his value, and that certainly can't be said for Tatum.

My guy, as the leader of the Perry Jones fan club who dismissed anyone who wasn't as enamored with him as you were, perhaps the condescension should be left out?