Cavs’ Evan Mobley should be studying the game of these 3 legends

No. 3: Kevin McHale

Every big man should have post moves. Mobley has decent tricks around the basket, but he is mainly a face-up big.

Post moves are the perfect emergency weapon when a rival defense has neutralized the ball movement or shut down a perimeter player.

Kevin McHale was as lethal a scorer as the league’s had with his back to the basket. He had hooks, up-and-unders, fadeaways, a ridiculous wingspan, and all the bells and whistles for a menacing post player.

With Evan learning more of these moves, it would guarantee him close to double-digit free throw attempts nightly. Players biting on fakes is a lousy habit across the league, and most wouldn’t know how to cover unreadable faints at close range.

Mastery of the post would get more doubles sent at Mobley too.

For Mobley to successfully use his back to the basket well, he needs to get stronger ASAP. He will have an advantage over shorter players, giving him a better look at the rim. Yet, there are some shorter players with acreage, like Draymond Green and PJ Tucker, who can prevent thinner players from getting to their spots.

Conclusion

This all might be wishful thinking. Trying to play more like Giannis could be as silly as Patroclus trying to fight like Achilles. How did that work out for him?

Or maybe I’m on the money, and what Antetokounmpo said on Nov. 25 isn’t just hot air. Then, he told Cleveland.com that Mobley can be better than him. I won’t rule it out. Giannis knows more game than I do.

If Mobley studies Unseld, Antetokounmpo and McHale and deploys their skill sets, he could start making a case to be the best player in the world. His defense is as good as anyone’s in the NBA. He can stop the ball on the perimeter by forcing a pass out, a bad shot, or a turnover, or he disrupts activity in the lane with length and explosion.

It’s all about the other side catching up, and when it does, the “ceiling is the roof.”