3 reasons Cavs’ Evan Mobley should win Rookie of the Year Award

3: Mobley’s defense

Mobley is the best defender of the group of rookies. Again Barnes is the only rookie that could have some say in this department. Both Cunningham and Green are considered scorers and they both have shown that as the season wore on but neither is a great defender like Mobley.

Mobley’s defense from game one was a huge change for a Cleveland team that was not able to defend very well as a team over the last several years.

Mobley recorded 21 games of 10 rebounds or more, and he’s again had 36 games of more than one steal in a game. If you love blocks, Mobley had 55 games where he recorded a block. He also knows how to defend under control, and was rarely in foul trouble all season long. For a tall 7-foot center to be able to stay out of foul trouble is really outstanding, even often with Jarrett Allen in.

The case for Barnes is strong as a defender but still not as good as Mobley’s numbers.  He had 12 games of 10 rebounds or more. He has recorded more steals than Mobley with 48 games of registering a steal. But where Mobley had 55 games of a block, Barnes only had 36 games, and the Raptors have better defenders around him collectively.

The simple eye test also gives Mobley the ROY Award. Mobley’s footwork and ability to pop up to the top of the key to guarding the ball or brought back smoothly to block a shot are simply fun to watch. On a nightly basis, he does so much for his team on the defensive side of the ball.

The ROY Award has seemingly been Mobley’s to lose for quite some time, and I’d expect to hear Mobley’s name announced as the winner, ultimately.

He certainly has revved up his team and the Cavalier fan base that had been lying dormant over the past three years, to some degree.