Cavs: How Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen can complement each other

The Cavs all-big pick-and-roll

This isn’t something that is run regularly in the league. Regardless, if the Cavs coaching staff is smart, they should do some experimenting with a Mobley-Allen pick-and-roll, or pick-and-pop situation.

Mobley showed at USC that he has great ball-handling for a big man. He also showed that he’s fully capable of running the offense on top of the key. While Mobley has guard skills, Allen is a true old-school big man, and likes to stay within five-feet from the rim. Both are very good finishers, but Allen is more experienced playing against NBA defenses.

Using Mobley’s guard skills and quick feet, he can initiate a pick-and-roll with Allen. Allen is a big body, so he should have no trouble setting a good screen on any NBA defender. This puts the defense in a really tough spot.

Do you switch defenders, even though Mobley will likely be able to beat another center off the dribble? Do you sag off of Mobley and give him the free reign to pull-up and shoot. Finally, the other outcome is a layup or dunk at the hoop for Jarrett Allen. If the opponent doubles Mobley immediately on the screen, then he’s tall enough and has the passing skills to find Allen at the basket, or another player in their spots.

Using those two players in that situation would really help each other complement each other. Allen, as I’ve stated, is a traditional big man, with not a lot of range. But Mobley has been touted as a prospect who can already shoot from anywhere inside the arc, and will develop a consistent three-point shot.

Thus, you force the defense to choose between Allen at the rim, or Mobley from fifteen feet. No matter which player the opposition chooses to target, the other will be open and free to score in their best ways.