The Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest X-factor for the rest of the season

With 19 games left on the schedule, there is minimal room for error. The Cleveland Cavaliers returned from the break dropping two consecutive games- a close one at home against the Denver Nuggets, the best team in the Western Conference, and a disembowelment in Atlanta, to a Hawks group with then an interim head coach.

The Land has seen tougher times following the wine and gold, no doubt, but the latter of the losses leaves an acidic taste in one’s mouth. The fans deserved better than the effort they saw, especially on a Friday night when there are other appealing activities to participate in over watching a crew show up for a check.

It didn’t take a quarter for the Cavaliers to yield defensively. They were slow getting back across halfcourt and beat off the dribble guarding the point of the attack. What should annoy supporters most is that before this affair turned into a mugging, Evan Mobley had only taken three shots, making two.

At the intermission, Cleveland was down 24 points, and Mobley had logged four off four attempts in over 15 minutes. In Thursday’s defeat to the Nuggets, he logged double that in the first half with 16 on his scorecard. That night he was the premier performer for his club, finishing with 31 points on 63.2% shooting. On Friday, he contributed 13 points and four rebounds.

For the Cavaliers to ascend to juggernaut status and receive favor from observers and bookmakers, Mobley has to elevate into an All-Star caliber player full-time.

It’s clear that for the rest of the way, Mobley is the biggest X-factor for the Cavs.

When Mobley is looking to score and not just free up teammates with a pick, the squad has a lethal option at the rim. There Mobley records 81.2% of his baskets – an area where 40.5% of his attempts come from.

When the offense bogs down, #4 should get fed in the paint. He will force the defense to collapse the closer he gets to the cup, exposing the perimeter for the snipers. If left in single coverage, it’s a bucket.

As a playmaker, Mobley is underused. He should be a hub for dribble handoffs at the elbows so Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell can get more time off the ball and not have 10 eyes on them so often. Most of Mobley’s assists come from DHOs, but he averages 2.4 for the season when he could easily double it. He is not respected enough yet as a midrange threat, so defenders give him space. After the handoff, he can have more opportunities to attack the low defender off the ball.

Putting the ball in his hands for this action has its perks over having him get open off a regular screen-and-roll. As the decision maker, he can fake the pass for a dive at the hoop.

Over his last 10 games, he is averaging 19.3 points while converting 54.1% of his tries, with 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, and his offensive growth is really coming to light of late. In that span, he is taking almost 15 shots a game. Those numbers are impressive for any second-year player, but it’s not close to scratching the surface of Mobley’s potential.

In the future, he must get the touches of a legitimate third option. 15 tries a night is a nice start, but eventually, he should be taking close to 20. Soon, he will require a double team whenever he approaches the low post.

The Cavaliers should do everything possible to accelerate his development because when they get to the point where three of the five starters demand help to contain them, opposing teams won’t have many answers to stop Cleveland.