The 4 most important Cavs in the playoffs not named Donovan Mitchell

No. 1: Jarrett Allen

Allen stands out for more than his unforgettable hair style and love for Pokémon. Since Jarrett Allen’s arrival in Cleveland, he has defined the team’s defensive presence. Further, pairing Allen with Garland allowed DG to develop his playmaking and blossom his potential into reality.

In total, Allen serves as a capstone to Cleveland’s success. The Cavs are a relatively small team outside of their frontcourt, so consistent production from Allen proves crucial in every competition Cleveland enters.

As silent as Allen can be, his on and off court actions place him in a leadership role with the team’s roster. His performance will be a catalyst for the rest of the roster. Jarrett Allen can anchor down the inexperienced Cavaliers, taking his past playoff experience into this year. Whether Allen is vocal in huddles to fire up his teammates or ignites the Cavs through dominant dunks and stifling blocks, Allen will likely be the most important Cavalier next to Donovan Mitchell.

Allen does not need to put up 20-10 games to be successful in this postseason. Using his size and natural game sense will open up opportunities for his teammates to take the next step. It will be Allen’s hustle and mentorship that defines his role this year, even though it will not show up on a traditional box score, necessarily.

If Jarrett Allen’s unstoppable defense and offensive selflessness maintains its current effectiveness, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have no limit to their success this year.