Cavs: 4 crazy stats after the first four games of the season
Cavs: 2 crazy stats for the defensive end
Stat #1: Evan Mobley is holding opponents to 47 percent shooting at the rim
The general consensus is that rookies are bad on defense. NBA offenses are fast and smart, and picking up all of the nuances of defending takes time for new players. That’s why what Evan Mobley has done out of the gate has been so impressive. The 7-footer has been an absolute eraser at the rim despite his slim frame.
It's a sample of just 36 shots, but right now Evan Mobley's allowing makes on just 47% of shots he defends at the rim.
— Zach Kram (@zachkram) October 26, 2021
For context, last season Rudy Gobert led the league at 48% (among high-volume players).
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is already deploying Mobley all over the defensive formation, from using him as a wing stopper in their Triple Towers look, to placing him at the top of their 3-2 zone. There will be growing pains, and Rudy Gobert shouldn’t be looking over his shoulder just yet, but Mobley’s start is an excellent sign of things to come.
Stat #2: The Cavs lead the league in fewest free throws against
Opponents of the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken just 14 free throws per game, which leads the NBA through the first seven days of the season. That’s a trend that could continue to some extent. J.B. Bickerstaff coaches a conservative defense that tries to avoid fouling, and last year they ranked seventh in the league with 20.4 attempts per game.
Why has that advantage been so pronounced so far this year, especially when they have played against guards like Trae Young and Ja Morant that historically draw a lot of fouls? One could point to the new emphasis on limiting foul calls when the offensive player initiates or exaggerates the contact, but those rules should be affecting every team in the league; foul shots are down leaguewide, but they don’t explain the Cavs being in first.
It’s likely a combination of smarter defenders and the zone defense. Ricky Rubio and Evan Mobley may have been the two best defenders on last season’s team and are playing heavy minutes thus far this year. The Cavs have also deployed a 3-2 zone at times, and zone looks tend to cause fewer fouls. Either way, look for this number to stay low the entire year.