With what he’s provided for the Cleveland Cavaliers in recent seasons, Jarrett Allen has solidified himself as a core piece for the team.
Allen made the All-Star Game last season, and this year, he’s again been a force on both ends for Cleveland. Allen has had ailments at times, and recently, had been dealing with sickness, similarly to Donovan Mitchell, who unfortunately sustained a groin injury in Cleveland’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. We’ll keep an eye out for updates on Mitchell, as an aside.
But for the most part, Allen has been a difference-maker for the Cavaliers with his two-abilities in the paint. On the season, he’s posted 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per outing, and has had 17 double-doubles in 38 games played.
He’s also tacked on 1.2 blocks per contest, and is currently fourth in the league in contested shots per game with 11.7, per NBA.com’s tracking data.
Additionally, Allen has really been making an impact in Cleveland’s recent span of outings. In January, he’s had 14.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and has hit 68.6 percent of his shot attempts, thanks to superb finishing.
It’s been great to see him hitting his midseason stride, and he’s starting to put it all together for Cleveland of late.
Allen is off to a great start to the 2023 portion of the Cavs schedule.
Allen has continually made an immense impact for the Cavaliers this season, and that was to be expected, given his growth over the course of his time with the Wine and Gold. Since the turn of the calendar, he’s been especially crucial, though.
Allen has had three double-doubles in his last five games, and he had to leave after just seven minutes at the Utah Jazz in a tough loss due to sickness. He’s had 24 points apiece in the Cavs’ last two victories at the Portland Trail Blazers and versus the Pelicans as well, and his interior play has played a big role in those comebacks for the Wine and Gold. His touch and offensive improvements, dating back to last season, shouldn’t go unnoticed, either.
One of the aspects of Allen’s play that has popped in this recent stretch has been his passing coming together, too, which has aided the Cavs offense either when he’s fed cutters or made plays out of the short roll. In Cleveland’s last three wins, he’s had five, six and five-assist games, and it’s been a pleasure to see his progress made as a passer in the past two seasons.
There are still some instances where Allen will get stripped when he’s doubled on-ball inside, but as a passer, he’s improving with his processing of defenses, and that’s led to some big-to-big feeds, or on-target skip passes to shooters.
Lastly, Allen’s defensive playmaking has been there still as well since the calendar has turned to 2023, as is nothing new, however, is always a welcomed sight.
His rim protection, and active hands have given the Cavaliers a boost in this recent span of games, and throughout the season, Allen has made significant strides with his switchability onto perimeter players.
Between him and Evan Mobley, both of those players’ contests in those situations give Cleveland’s defense a unique dynamic with their starting bigs. And in drop coverage, both are capable enough of playing a cat-and-mouse game to deter shots a bit, but also passes over the top.
With Allen, anyways, in terms of full games, aside from a clunker against the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 4 when he had two points, and attempted only three shots, he’s been playing great ball for Cleveland in the calendar year 2023 thus far.
While a second consecutive All-Star appearance might be tough to come by this go-round, Allen is undoubtedly one of Cleveland’s best players, and he’s really starting to his stride.