2 adjustments the Cavs should make with Jarrett Allen sidelined

#1: More Kevin Love/Double Ball Screens

One of the biggest, if not the biggest thing that Jarrett Allen brings to the Cavs is his screen-setting ability. The pick-and-roll is an important part of the team’s offense as it opens up vertical spacing and is Darius Garland‘s “bread and butter.” The DG-JA connection is nearly unguardable for opposing teams as it is a pick-your-poison type of ordeal.

The Cavaliers have tried PnRs with Evan Mobley as the roll man but it isn’t as effective due to his slight frame. Considering Kevin Love‘s 6-foot-8, 251-pound-frame, he seems like the best option as a screen-setter.

With Love, the Cavaliers will lose that verticality but gain things in other areas. Love as a post player has more finesse than Allen with an array of moves to shake his defenders and get them off the ground.

Kevin Love as a screen setter also adds the pick-and-pop dynamic to the offense. Love’s lethal three-point shooting makes him a threat from outside. His quick trigger paired with his confident stroke is what will make him lethal in that area.

Another part of the pick-and-pop is that it has the potential to pull the big man out of the paint, leaving it open for the PnR initiator to operate or for easier finishes at the rim from cutters.

The double ball screen is also something that the team could look to experiment with during Allen’s absence. The double ball screen refers to having two screeners, with one looking to roll and the other looking to pop in the Cavs’ case. This play would create confusion for opposing defenses which could in turn free up Mobley for a lob, Love for an open three, or getting a defender off of Garland.

This screen action could also help to create mismatches. In certain cases, Garland could get a big switched onto him and use his elite handle and craftiness to get by him. Love could work his way into the post from the three and use his strength to muscle through a smaller defender and finish over him.

Whatever the case is, more Love screens make sense with Allen sidelined and could unlock something in an offense that has gone stagnant many times as of late.