Thunderstruck: Two takeaways from the Cavaliers’ loss to the Thunder

Ladies and gentlemen, we might be witnessing Evan Mobley take his leap right before our very eyes. This season, Mobley seems to have a different mentality. He has the same level of fire game in and game out, and while it does not lead to gaudy scoring numbers all the time, his motor has been more relentless than it has been for the past two seasons.

The key thing for Mobley in year three was consistency. Coming into the Thunder game, Mobley only had two games this season with fewer than 10 rebounds. He finished with only five against the Thunder, but he was a man on a mission on offense, specifically in the paint.

Mobley was attacking the rim, and finishing strong. He had had six dunks in the game, and two and-ones as well. Coming into the year, the talk was all about whether or not his improved offseason strength would translate on the court in real games. It is safe to say that it has so far.

Mobley looks stronger, unafraid, and ready for a bigger role in the Cavs’ offense. Hopefully, the team continues to find a rhythm, and when they do, expect Mobley to be at the forefront. He may not become a 25-point-per-game scorer this season, but his impact goes far beyond that. He just needs to be consistent with that impact on a nightly basis if the Cavs want to get where they want to be.