After a frustrating loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to get even on Monday with them this season.
In what was the second leg of a home-and-home back-to-back between the Cavs and Minnesota, the Wine and Gold got a W on Monday, albeit one that was closer than it should’ve been in the final minute or so.
In that one, the Cavs got a heck of an outing from Darius Garland, who came up big in clutch time, and was getting his teammates involved in an on-point manner.
Garland ended up having 19 points on nine-of-18 shooting, and nearly tied a career-high with 11 assists. And Collin Sexton had 26 points and three assists in the outing, too.
The standout performer was Jarrett Allen in that one, though, who got the starting nod with Andre Drummond out in that one due to lower back soreness, and it was again, the second leg of a back-to-back, anyhow. So that wasn’t unforeseen, really, and Karl-Anthony Towns was again out for Minnesota because of the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Albeit Allen, again, made his presence felt in a big way, sans Towns for them or not.
Allen was terrific on Monday for the Cavs in that starting 5 role.
In that starting role with Drummond sidelined, Allen was a force at the rim on both ends of the floor. He had 23 points, 18 rebounds and five big blocks, and while you do read into it with a grain of salt with the stat being a bit random and Towns again wasn’t active, that was the first time in Cavs history that that 23-18 and five block clip was notched.
.@_bigjayy_ is the first player in Cavaliers history to tally at least 23 points, 18 boards and five blocks in a single game. pic.twitter.com/cuinzSFLRd
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 2, 2021
Needless to say, it was quite the performance from Allen. He had his 23 points on seven-of-nine shooting, and though much of his scoring is going to come from dunks/looks that are essentially just lay-ins, there’s nothing at all wrong with that.
Allen showcased his powerful finishing capabilities, but also displayed his impressive touch, both of which we’ve seen with him plenty since his arrival via trade from the Brooklyn Nets a few weeks back. On the season, even while again it’s from him doing what he does right near the rim, Allen leads the league, among qualified players, in field goal percentage at 69.1 percent, per Basketball Reference.
His defensive presence, which now includes him leading Cleveland in blocks per game at 2.0, was well in the fold in that performance on Monday as well, as we hit on, too.
Anyway, in watching that outing from Allen, and based on how the flow of the Cavs offense just seems so much more fluid/in-rhythm with him as a screener/rolling presence/lob threat as opposed to Drummond, it’s clear Allen’s Cleveland’s long-term answer at the 5.
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And based on recent reports and the Wine and Gold acquiring him via trade, it’s apparent that Allen will be locked up long-term this offseason, and/or if the Cavs need to match a restricted offer sheet, they will.
Whereas in Drummond’s case, per rumors/reports, albeit while buyout rumors to the Nets seem far-fetched, it’s clear that Drummond could very well be traded by the March 25 deadline by Cleveland with him expiring.
With the Wine and Gold still in the postseason picture in the Eastern Conference, and with Drummond still having a career-high 18.5 points per game, and leading the league with 15.1 rebounds per outing, that could seemingly still be at some point later on, though.
He’s been a key reason why Cleveland is seventh in the NBA in defensive rating, too. And I give Dre his credit for giving the Cavs some huge efforts this season, especially when they were so depleted by injuries, too.
Albeit factoring in Monday’s terrific game for Allen, and with how efficient he was in getting his 23 points, and with his rim protection and mobility as such an effective roller/screener, it again just shows how he’s Cleveland’s long-term answer at the starting 5. Unlike with Drummond, he doesn’t need low-post touches frequently, and is fully bought-into his role more so without the ball.
I would still expect Drummond to be around for a solid chunk here, though, to reiterate, and with him set to make $28.8 million this season, that won’t be the simplest deal. Although, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer did report on a recent podcast of The Ringer NBA Show that he’s “heard” the Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors do have interest in Drummond, for what it’s worth.
But anyhow, it’s been so fun to see Allen in there with the Cavs as a seamless fit alongside a variety of players, particularly floor spacers, and Sexton/Garland.