Cavs 2022-23 Season Preview: 4 stars, 3 awards, 1 playoff berth

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Evan Mobley (left) and Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports) /

Cavs 2022-23 Season Preview: The Defense

Last season the Cavs were figuring out something new on the fly. They had a rookie big who entered the league as a top-10 most versatile defender, and likely ended it in the top 5. They had a 7-foot small forward. Those gave them unique challenges and opportunities on the defensive end, and it’s hard to argue with the results, with the Cavs’ defense climbing all the way into the top tier of defenses leaguewide.

How does that change this year with Donovan Mitchell playing big minutes in a small, defensively-challenged starting backcourt? Their starting small forward will by definition have less size. Isaac Okoro may play fewer minutes, and Ricky Rubio won’t be available for a few months. Suddenly it’s back to the drawing board to craft a defensive scheme to make it all work.

Thankfully, J.B. Bickerstaff and company have two of the league’s best defenders to work with. Jarrett Allen is an absolute tower in the paint, every bit of seven foot and all size and strength and stubbornness. Yet Allen is also fleet of foot, able to switch out onto the perimeter and hold his own. Who can forget Allen putting the clamps on Damian Lillard and forcing a buzzer-beating miss?

Mobley is the true secret weapon, however. He can defend inside, outside and from all sides at once. The Cavs will almost certainly practice their zone during the season to break out in the playoffs, with Mobley roving at the top and the smaller guards hiding down near the baseline. Garland and Mitchell can play defense a certain way knowing they have help inside.

Playing Okoro at the 3 gives the Cavs a defensive weapon to put on opposing guard and wing creators; playing Dean Wade lets them match up against bigger combo forwards. Playing the Philadelphia 76ers? Close with Okoro. Playing the Miami Heat? Close with Wade and put him on Jimmy Butler.

There are a number of defensive liabilities in the rotation, from Garland and Mitchell to Caris LeVert and Kevin Love. If ever a defensive two-some was going to make up for that, however, it would be Mobley and Allen.