NBA has to send 4 Cavs to All-Star

[cupcakesnake]

Maybe not crazy, but probably a minority opinion. Boston might have the best 2 players. A Brown/Mitchell poll would be interesting, tbh.

Donovan Mitchell is absolutely better than Jaylen Brown.

Shoot Donovan Mitchell is better than Jayson Tatum.

I don't see what the argument could be for this.
Donovan Mitchell is a more dangerous shooter but that's his only clear advantage. Tatum is so much bigger. We're talking about a 6'8" guy vs. a 6'2" playing a similar offensive role. On offense this shows up in terms of Tatum being a better driver and rim finisher. More importantly he's a massively better defender. While Tatum is one of the best defensive wings in the NBA, Mitchell is more someone who survives (he's been awful at times in his career, but has been pretty solid in Cleveland).

As a playmaker they're both similar to me. I think Mitchell is a better passer, but Tatum's size allows him to draw more defensive attention on drives and unlock easy passes in Boston's offense.

[JonFromVA]

It was a given from the day he was drafted that when Mobley added strength and bulk we'd see what he could really do in the paint, but the interesting thing is that he apparently hasn't added a pound since he played at USC still weighing in at 215.

I'm not even sure how that's possible, unless he traded in a whole lot of baby fat for muscle (which is denser). At times over his career they talked about him getting up to all of 222, but then apparently he'd lose weight during the season.

It's just weird when you consider how much muscle and weight skinny tall players like Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant added over their career, but perhaps there's been a shift in focus in weight training to not destroy these guys joints with bulk.

Whatever the truth is, Evan has become a lot stronger in both his upper body and his base while seemingly giving up none of his mobility or springiness. As his confidence grows he's attacking bigger players with some combination of his speed, strength, and length.

[cupcakesnake]

I have Evan Mobley as a top 10 player this year.

He's a hyper efficient 30 points per 100 right now, while playing defense at a DPOY level. He's physically dominating people on drives, while adding value as a playmaker, finisher, and even spacing the floor a bit. Only Giannis has more dunks, and its not like Mobley is just being spoonfed alleys. He's driving at opposing bigs and embarassing them.

After the MVP candidates (Jokic, Shai, Wemby, Tatum, Luka), I'd make a case for Mobley over anyone.

[Lakers In 5]

I have Evan Mobley as a top 10 player this year.

He's a hyper efficient 30 points per 100 right now, while playing defense at a DPOY level. He's physically dominating people on drives, while adding value as a playmaker, finisher, and even spacing the floor a bit. Only Giannis has more dunks, and its not like Mobley is just being spoonfed alleys. He's driving at opposing bigs and embarassing them.

After the MVP candidates (Jokic, Shai, Wemby, Tatum, Luka), I'd make a case for Mobley over anyone.

Yes, and it ain't just the points outright. His improvement has been pivotal to the entire offense in Cleveland. Teams have to respect his shot now, and it has opened the entire game up. Either Mobley makes them cook by hitting threes at a very efficient rate, or it opens up all sorts of driving lanes for Garland and Mitchell (whom I think hasn't even been *THAT* good this season yet).

As mentioned in the game thread against OKC, it is very telling that when Cleveland went on a scoring drought late in Q4 it was the name of Mobley that was called by Atkinson, and he waltzed right through Hartenstein.

[cupcakesnake]

I have Evan Mobley as a top 10 player this year.

He's a hyper efficient 30 points per 100 right now, while playing defense at a DPOY level. He's physically dominating people on drives, while adding value as a playmaker, finisher, and even spacing the floor a bit. Only Giannis has more dunks, and its not like Mobley is just being spoonfed alleys. He's driving at opposing bigs and embarassing them.

After the MVP candidates (Jokic, Shai, Wemby, Tatum, Luka), I'd make a case for Mobley over anyone.

Yes, and it ain't just the points outright. His improvement has been pivotal to the entire offense in Cleveland. Teams have to respect his shot now, and it has opened the entire game up. Either Mobley makes them cook by hitting threes at a very efficient rate, or it opens up all sorts of driving lanes for Garland and Mitchell (whom I think hasn't even been *THAT* good this season yet).

As mentioned in the game thread against OKC, it is very telling that when Cleveland went on a scoring drought late in Q4 it was the name of Mobley that was called by Atkinson, and he waltzed right through Hartenstein.

The shot perking up is a big deal for sure, but I think the most important development has been the physical ability to take a bump on drives. I figured, with Mobley's build, he'd never be able to play with this level of force. I still get confused watching it sometime, this super lanky guy, dropping shoulders into centers and dunking on them. I don't know where this came from.

I don't 100% trust the shooting yet. I hope its real, but if we went through an ugly cold stretch, we shouldn't be surprised. The driving and physicality is undeniable though.

[Scalabrine]

Haha I'm not opposed to the Cavs getting 4 all-stars but a year ago the Celtics had a million game lead in the standings, and a historic net rating, and multiple all-star caliber players, and absolutely no one on this board would entertain posts from Celtics fans saying they should get more than 2. And they got 2. So yeah.

I love Jrue Holiday, and I know he's great defensively, but he averaged 12/5/5 last year. Allen is averaging 14/10 with elite level offensive efficiency and also great defense. I'd personally have him off my All-Star team but the other three should make it I'd think.

KAT/Mobley
Giannis
Tatum/Brown
Mitchell/Cunningham
Brunson/Lillard/Garland/Young

Last spot probably doesn't go to another guard so Allen might actually have a change. Jalen Johnson deserves mention. If Scottie Barnes stays healthy he should also be considered.

Allen is only averaging 29 minutes a game because he’s usually missing his last shift in blowouts. Per-36 he is averaging 18/13. Johnson and Barnes both play close to 36 a night.

Allen is leading the league in TS% and second behind Towns in TS Add.

It also looks like Ball is gonna make the game as a starter so that might cut out one of Garland/Young. If you cut our Garland, then Allen should definitely get the nod. If you cut out Young then it should go to Jalen Johnson. I think that Barnes is probably on the outside looking in. Teams just not good enough and he's missed games.

[Wargreymon]

Yeah i agree. Silver should give the cavs the atlanta hawks treatment.

Teague/Horford/Milsap/Korver
Garland/Mitchell/Allen/Mobley

[SashimiLover]

It’s only right. This is the best core 4 since 2017 Golden State.

The Lakers had four players named all stars for the all star game back in 1998.

The interesting question might be......do those players on the current Cavs look as talented as Shaq, Eddie Jones, Kobe, and Nick Van Exel?

[JonFromVA]

Yeah i agree. Silver should give the cavs the atlanta hawks treatment.

Teague/Horford/Milsap/Korver
Garland/Mitchell/Allen/Mobley

I'll be surprised if Silver gets it done, the commissioner usually just goes with the player with the next highest voting score.

I expect it'll come down to the coaches (or the assistant they delegate) to decide.

[Iwasawitness]

Yeah i agree. Silver should give the cavs the atlanta hawks treatment.

Teague/Horford/Milsap/Korver
Garland/Mitchell/Allen/Mobley

I'll be surprised if Silver gets it done, the commissioner usually just goes with the player with the next highest voting score.

I expect it'll come down to the coaches (or the assistant they delegate) to decide.

It’s usually the coaches who decides. Silver only steps in for injury replacements.

[yoyoboy]

I have Evan Mobley as a top 10 player this year.

He's a hyper efficient 30 points per 100 right now, while playing defense at a DPOY level. He's physically dominating people on drives, while adding value as a playmaker, finisher, and even spacing the floor a bit. Only Giannis has more dunks, and its not like Mobley is just being spoonfed alleys. He's driving at opposing bigs and embarassing them.

After the MVP candidates (Jokic, Shai, Wemby, Tatum, Luka), I'd make a case for Mobley over anyone.

I’m glad you’re seeing that. I feel like most people, even Cavs fans, aren’t realizing that Mobley is the best player on the team this season. I think he’s actually having his best defensive season to date. He’s just basically perfect in terms of always being in the right position, and he’s better at taking physicality from offensive players in the paint. The team as a whole has taken a bit of a step back defensively compared to a couple years ago when Mobley finished 3rd in DPOY voting, but I think that’s mainly because with the improvement in team offense, the other guys on the team not named Allen and Wade are taking it easier on defense now that it’s not imperative to play that hard in order to win games.

And then offensively, Mobley is a super efficient third scoring option/second scoring option (depending on who’s on the floor) who can make quick connective tissue passing decisions and space the floor a bit. I agree with you that the 3P shooting will regress, but I think he’s improved enough to where defenses have to respect it.

Right now, he’s second in the league in total plus-minus (behind SGA and right in front of Jokic) and he’s only playing about 30 mpg.

[cupcakesnake]

I have Evan Mobley as a top 10 player this year.

He's a hyper efficient 30 points per 100 right now, while playing defense at a DPOY level. He's physically dominating people on drives, while adding value as a playmaker, finisher, and even spacing the floor a bit. Only Giannis has more dunks, and its not like Mobley is just being spoonfed alleys. He's driving at opposing bigs and embarassing them.

After the MVP candidates (Jokic, Shai, Wemby, Tatum, Luka), I'd make a case for Mobley over anyone.

I’m glad you’re seeing that. I feel like most people, even Cavs fans, aren’t realizing that Mobley is the best player on the team this season. I think he’s actually having his best defensive season to date. He’s just basically perfect in terms of always being in the right position, and he’s better at taking physicality from offensive players in the paint. The team as a whole has taken a bit of a step back defensively compared to a couple years ago when Mobley finished 3rd in DPOY voting, but I think that’s mainly because with the improvement in team offense, the other guys on the team not named Allen and Wade are taking it easier on defense now that it’s not imperative to play that hard in order to win games.

And then offensively, Mobley is a super efficient third scoring option/second scoring option (depending on who’s on the floor) who can make quick connective tissue passing decisions and space the floor a bit. I agree with you that the 3P shooting will regress, but I think he’s improved enough to where defenses have to respect it.

Right now, he’s second in the league in total plus-minus (behind SGA and right in front of Jokic) and he’s only playing about 30 mpg.

If you're a 2nd scoring option who can be a bit of a playmaker while also playing DPOY-level defense... historically that's the kind of thing you can build a championship around (Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, KG archetype).

Until this season, I wasn't sure if Mobley would ever have the physicality to play that scoring role, so the thinking was he'd have to become a spacer. Him becoming this level of driver changes absolutely everything.

I like to keep a player ranking during the season, and right now I have Mobley at #7. I get that Mitchell has the reputation and star pedigree, but I don't really see an argument for anyone but Mobley being the best Cavalier. I think you can argue the Cavs have 3x top 15 players this season, and 4 in the top 40.

[Iwasawitness]

I have Evan Mobley as a top 10 player this year.

He's a hyper efficient 30 points per 100 right now, while playing defense at a DPOY level. He's physically dominating people on drives, while adding value as a playmaker, finisher, and even spacing the floor a bit. Only Giannis has more dunks, and its not like Mobley is just being spoonfed alleys. He's driving at opposing bigs and embarassing them.

After the MVP candidates (Jokic, Shai, Wemby, Tatum, Luka), I'd make a case for Mobley over anyone.

I’m glad you’re seeing that. I feel like most people, even Cavs fans, aren’t realizing that Mobley is the best player on the team this season. I think he’s actually having his best defensive season to date. He’s just basically perfect in terms of always being in the right position, and he’s better at taking physicality from offensive players in the paint. The team as a whole has taken a bit of a step back defensively compared to a couple years ago when Mobley finished 3rd in DPOY voting, but I think that’s mainly because with the improvement in team offense, the other guys on the team not named Allen and Wade are taking it easier on defense now that it’s not imperative to play that hard in order to win games.

And then offensively, Mobley is a super efficient third scoring option/second scoring option (depending on who’s on the floor) who can make quick connective tissue passing decisions and space the floor a bit. I agree with you that the 3P shooting will regress, but I think he’s improved enough to where defenses have to respect it.

Right now, he’s second in the league in total plus-minus (behind SGA and right in front of Jokic) and he’s only playing about 30 mpg.

If you're a 2nd scoring option who can be a bit of a playmaker while also playing DPOY-level defense... historically that's the kind of thing you can build a championship around (Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, KG archetype).

Until this season, I wasn't sure if Mobley would ever have the physicality to play that scoring role, so the thinking was he'd have to become a spacer. Him becoming this level of driver changes absolutely everything.

I like to keep a player ranking during the season, and right now I have Mobley at #7. I get that Mitchell has the reputation and star pedigree, but I don't really see an argument for anyone but Mobley being the best Cavalier. I think you can argue the Cavs have 3x top 15 players this season, and 4 in the top 40.

What’s your current top ten ranking?

[Tor_Raps]

Time to send 4 Pacers to the Allstar game instead lol

[RoyceDa59]

I predict Mitchell Garland and Mobley make it.

Allen will be the odd man out.

[cupcakesnake]

I’m glad you’re seeing that. I feel like most people, even Cavs fans, aren’t realizing that Mobley is the best player on the team this season. I think he’s actually having his best defensive season to date. He’s just basically perfect in terms of always being in the right position, and he’s better at taking physicality from offensive players in the paint. The team as a whole has taken a bit of a step back defensively compared to a couple years ago when Mobley finished 3rd in DPOY voting, but I think that’s mainly because with the improvement in team offense, the other guys on the team not named Allen and Wade are taking it easier on defense now that it’s not imperative to play that hard in order to win games.

And then offensively, Mobley is a super efficient third scoring option/second scoring option (depending on who’s on the floor) who can make quick connective tissue passing decisions and space the floor a bit. I agree with you that the 3P shooting will regress, but I think he’s improved enough to where defenses have to respect it.

Right now, he’s second in the league in total plus-minus (behind SGA and right in front of Jokic) and he’s only playing about 30 mpg.

If you're a 2nd scoring option who can be a bit of a playmaker while also playing DPOY-level defense... historically that's the kind of thing you can build a championship around (Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, KG archetype).

Until this season, I wasn't sure if Mobley would ever have the physicality to play that scoring role, so the thinking was he'd have to become a spacer. Him becoming this level of driver changes absolutely everything.

I like to keep a player ranking during the season, and right now I have Mobley at #7. I get that Mitchell has the reputation and star pedigree, but I don't really see an argument for anyone but Mobley being the best Cavalier. I think you can argue the Cavs have 3x top 15 players this season, and 4 in the top 40.

What’s your current top ten ranking?

1. Jokic
2. Shai
3. Giannis
4. Wemby
5. Luka
6. Tatum
7. Mobley
8. J.Williams

Gets murky for the 9th and 10th spots. Any number of offensive guards (Curry, Brunson, Mitchell) or bigs (KD, AD, Towns, Sabonis). I could make a case for any of them.

[basketballRob]

According to ESPN, they've had the easiest schedule so far, and they've been relatively healthy. Let's see how they look between now and the all-star game. They have the 7th toughest remaining schedule.

https://www.espn.com/nba/stats/rpi/_/sort/SOS

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[Iwasawitness]

If you're a 2nd scoring option who can be a bit of a playmaker while also playing DPOY-level defense... historically that's the kind of thing you can build a championship around (Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, KG archetype).

Until this season, I wasn't sure if Mobley would ever have the physicality to play that scoring role, so the thinking was he'd have to become a spacer. Him becoming this level of driver changes absolutely everything.

I like to keep a player ranking during the season, and right now I have Mobley at #7. I get that Mitchell has the reputation and star pedigree, but I don't really see an argument for anyone but Mobley being the best Cavalier. I think you can argue the Cavs have 3x top 15 players this season, and 4 in the top 40.

What’s your current top ten ranking?

1. Jokic
2. Shai
3. Giannis
4. Wemby
5. Luka
6. Tatum
7. Mobley
8. J.Williams

Gets murky for the 9th and 10th spots. Any number of offensive guards (Curry, Brunson, Mitchell) or bigs (KD, AD, Towns, Sabonis). I could make a case for any of them.

This list has no embiid.

Please explain.

(I already know why, I just want to hear it for satisfaction related reasons).

[Effigy]

If you're a 2nd scoring option who can be a bit of a playmaker while also playing DPOY-level defense... historically that's the kind of thing you can build a championship around (Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, KG archetype).

Until this season, I wasn't sure if Mobley would ever have the physicality to play that scoring role, so the thinking was he'd have to become a spacer. Him becoming this level of driver changes absolutely everything.

I like to keep a player ranking during the season, and right now I have Mobley at #7. I get that Mitchell has the reputation and star pedigree, but I don't really see an argument for anyone but Mobley being the best Cavalier. I think you can argue the Cavs have 3x top 15 players this season, and 4 in the top 40.

What’s your current top ten ranking?

1. Jokic
2. Shai
3. Giannis
4. Wemby
5. Luka
6. Tatum
7. Mobley
8. J.Williams

Gets murky for the 9th and 10th spots. Any number of offensive guards (Curry, Brunson, Mitchell) or bigs (KD, AD, Towns, Sabonis). I could make a case for any of them.

Jalen Williams at number 8? Wow, you are really proud of your son, Mrs Williams!

[JujitsuFlip]

Time to send 4 Pacers to the Allstar game instead lol