It’s a pleasure to be bringing you the newest edition of the Rookie Ladder to you on this winning Friday, well after a win on Wednesday. Last week, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost on Wednesday night to the Chicago Bulls, 117-104. On the plus side, the Cavs are back to their winning ways this week, beating the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks 115-99 on Wednesday night. It was a hell of a game to watch, with Evan Mobley and Darius Garland making multiple headlining plays, including this clip for dunk of the year.
Overall it was a great team win, and the Cavs are back on a mini-winning streak, coming out as the victors in three straight games. Kevin Love and Cedi Osman combined for 48 points off the bench, hitting 11-for-23 from the three point line. Once again though, the rookie was the man who made the biggest play of the night, slamming home a pass from Darius Garland, right on top of All-NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo. So it should come as no surprise that once again Mobley finds himself on the top of the rookie ladder for the third straight week.
When it comes to talking about how rookies have fared in their first season in the NBA, very few of the most talented players end up on teams that are in a position to win now. That was the thought when the Cavaliers drafted Mobley over the summer. They would let him ease into the NBA this year, and add a lottery pick to the team next year.
However, Mobley has no intentions on taking a year off, as he’s having one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory. What makes it all the more impressive is that he’s doing it on a team that is a serious contender in the Eastern Conference. Laugh at that statement all you want, but the truth is, after beating the Bucks Wednesday night, the Cavs are in sole possession of third place in the Eastern Confernce. If the playoffs started tomorrow, Cleveland would be hosting a series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
With that being said, there’s still half of the season to play, but if the last two months are any notion of what we’re going to get out of the young man from USC, then the Cavs are in good hands for the forseeable future.