Cavs: 3 stars from back-to-back wins over Atlanta and Denver

Cavs’ First Star: Jarrett Allen

There were many skeptics of the $100 million contract that Jarrett Allen signed this summer, and four games does not suddenly make that that lucrative deal make sense for the Cavaliers. On the other hand, you couldn’t ask much more of Allen to start the season, as he has been hyper-efficient and active on both ends of the court, including in these two wins.

Allen has somewhat surprisingly led the Cavs in minutes played across the two wins, averaging 34.5 minutes per game. He has put up 20 shots total in the two wins, hitting 15 of them for a 75 percent field goal percentage. He has worked to be in position for lobs and drop-offs, but he has also shown an improved ability to take a dribble or two and open up a look at the basket. His baby jump hook has looked lethal thus far.

On the other end of the court, Allen has been vital to the Cavs’ lockdown defense the past two games. They have held two top-tier offenses under 100 points in both games, including holding the reigning MVP and the Denver Nuggets to just 87 points; a team only did that once all of last year, and they had averaged 106 points coming into the night.

Allen has rotated well on the interior for a defense that has inconsistent options on the perimeter. When Evan Mobley has sagged inside to cover penetration while playing their new 3-2 zone look, Allen has come out to the perimeter to fill in the gap. Finally, his rebounding has been absolutely dominant; he averaged 15 rebounds per game over the two wins. He has been this team’s best player thus far this season and earns the “First Star” of our three-person recognition post.