3 Cavs that must have big Game 3s to wrest series control from Knicks

No. 1: Evan Mobley

When Cleveland has been at or near its best, Evan Mobley has often been a big reason why, and on both ends of the floor for the Wine and Gold.

Through two games, Mobley hasn’t been close to his best offensively. In Game 1, he was just four-of-13 from the field, and was not connecting as a finisher in the paint, which was unusual on the looks he had been taking.

In Game 2, Mobley started slow again for the Cavaliers, as he was having issues getting looks to go down. He was having trouble dealing with New York’s physicality on defense, and having some problems converting over length.

In the second half, though, Cleveland was finding clever ways to get Mobley the rock as a cutter and diver, and he was more decisive with the ball in his hands when receiving catches in the mid-post or below the free throw line. As a result, Mobley finished with 13 points in Game 2, and had seven points on three-of-four shooting after halftime, to go with seven rebounds.

If the Cavaliers can utilize Mobley as an impact diver out of the short roll, and find subtle ways off-ball to get him to in-rhythm shots, he could be in-line for a breakout Game 3 performance.

Now, through two games, his defense has been impressive, for the most part, as well, and despite some instances where Julius Randle’s physicality has given him issues, Mobley has typically held his own. His and the Cavs’ team defenses’ active hands have been effective much of the time, and Mobley and Jarrett Allen’s rim protection will continue to be a key factor for Cleveland, and their abilities in that regard are always crucial. Mobley had two blocks and two steals in Game 2, along with 13 rebounds, and he and Allen were everywhere in a statement defensive contest.

As an aside, Randle’s ankle sprain could potentially have played some into the Cavs’ success in forcing him to be inefficient thus far, and his hard fall in the last few minutes of Tuesday night’s game after Allen fouled him on a dunk couldn’t have felt great. Now, that was a basketball play where Allen trying to contest a dunk, for what it’s worth, and hopefully Randle is alright from here.

Anyways, it’s apparent as this series shifts to New York, the Cavs need Mobley to play big on the MSG stage.