Has Evan Mobley lived up to the hype?

[Andri]

Trade him to the Lakers for Lebron's farewell tour next season, he will be hyped again

[TMac Culloch]

On defense he's exceeded expectations

on offense he's not meeting expectations

[pepe1991]

Fallacy of empty counting stats to justify how "good" somebody is as player is hilarious.
Guys like Mobley and Chet ( and Dort, Caruso, Daniels etc) are more valuable than whole bunch of mediocre efficiency, high volumen scorers, who fans refer as "stars", because they connect defense and impact game without need to touch ball 85 times a game.

If you don't see value in that, it just means you understand basketball little less than you think you do. Sorry.

Plug & play stars are so damn underrated among "casual " fans because most of casual fans don't even bother watching games, just check box score and look who averages what. That's how Westbrook ended up with MVP title and that's why so many fans died on Zach Lavine / Ja Morant / Derozan hill. "Fans" love to box-score-"watch" games and proclaim how good somebody is.

I'm not only one old enough to remember Stephon Marbury & Steve Francis, or even newer versions in Monta Ellise, David Lee etc. Players who were by default overrated by fans because nobody bothered to actually watch them play, and there was no advanced metrics (nor anything more than raw numbers was popular or even desired among fans ) to see how hollow their impact on game is , and how their teams, without them, would preform similar, if not better, without them.

Mobley is excellent player. But complimentary star. Great team will use such player to win a title ( OKC & Chet) . Bad team will force such player into nonsense ( probably future for Sarr) due Wizards incompetence.
Sad thing is, most people probably think Lauri Markannen is better player ...

[nbaguy1]

Bosh wasnt a real go to player though. 2nd, 3rd string. Toronto had a deep team with a bunch of offensive contributors

? lol what. He was the undisputed go to player for the raptors. I think you're remembering the Heat Bosh, who was the 3rd option on Miami.

I was going to say! I remember CB4 being a monster in Toronto. Definitely a #1 option.

Nope. De Rozan was. And Toronto had plenty of shooters trough the years. Bosh was an excellent efficient system player. That was his stick.

[nbaguy1]

I dont know how anyone expected a KG or Duncan. Both where very different from each other already. Both have very destinct high level characters also apart from normie Mobley, who I see maximum as a Chris Bosh type player. Playing his role as a 2nd or 3rd option with great allround defense. KG and Duncan where on another planet straight out the gate for a decade to come. And you can see it in their faces. A freak of nature(KG) and a master student of the game(Duncan). Mobley is none of that

[pepe1991]

? lol what. He was the undisputed go to player for the raptors. I think you're remembering the Heat Bosh, who was the 3rd option on Miami.

I was going to say! I remember CB4 being a monster in Toronto. Definitely a #1 option.

Nope. De Rozan was. And Toronto had plenty of shooters trough the years. Bosh was an excellent efficient system player. That was his stick.

Huh?

By the time Bosh played his last season with Raptors, in 2009-10, Derozan was a rookie who averaged 8 ppg.

Basically, for entire length of Bosh's career with Raptors, they had same issue: complete lack of offensive talent beside him. At one point TJ Ford, who was like 5'8 - 150 pounds, was second offensive option

[cupcakesnake]

Certainly the likes of Alpie Sengun and Jalen Duren have gone past him as legit centre pieces.

I think Kel'El Ware is soon going to leap frog him too.

Mitchell Robinson arguably is more important to thr Knicks than Mobley is to The Cavs.

Man, the disrespect lol

Let's not forget Mobley is the reigning DPOY... As well as being All NBA, All Defense, and an AS last season.

You're comparing him to his peers who haven't accomplished anything yet.

Fair criticsm, but just saying as a Celtics fan, i would prefer, younger more offensively gifted big man who can score and have a passing/assist impact on impact (Alpie and Duren esp look gifted in that dept)

Mobley does seem like a very hard worker with a great work rate and ethic (something i rate very highly) and would absolutely love him at the Celtics.

Just not sure the ultra defensive great centres like Mobley and Gobert can be lynchpins in any current day NBA Championship team tbh

But I have been wrong before. Just my opinion, not saying it should be taken as gospel etc

Mobley is a really good passer. Not as good as Sengun, but way better than Duren.

Mobley's defense may be ahead of his offense, but he's still a very diverse offensive player who shouldn't be compared to Gobert. The kid has handles, and is pretty great attacking off the dribble.

[JujitsuFlip]

Certainly the likes of Alpie Sengun and Jalen Duren have gone past him as legit centre pieces.

I think Kel'El Ware is soon going to leap frog him too.

Mitchell Robinson arguably is more important to thr Knicks than Mobley is to The Cavs.

Man, the disrespect lol

Let's not forget Mobley is the reigning DPOY... As well as being All NBA, All Defense, and an AS last season.

You're comparing him to his peers who haven't accomplished anything yet.

Fair criticsm, but just saying as a Celtics fan, i would prefer, younger more offensively gifted big man who can score and have a passing/assist impact on impact (Alpie and Duren esp look gifted in that dept)

Mobley does seem like a very hard worker with a great work rate and ethic (something i rate very highly) and would absolutely love him at the Celtics.

Just not sure the ultra defensive great centres like Mobley and Gobert can be lynchpins in any current day NBA Championship team tbh

But I have been wrong before. Just my opinion, not saying it should be taken as gospel etc

How are you putting Duren with Sengun as far as a playmaker/facilitator?

Sengun: 6.9 APG vs 3.3 turnovers
Duren: 2 APG vs 2.6 turnovers
Mobley: 4.1 APG vs 2.6 turnovers

I also do not view Mobley as Gobert. Mobley shoots 38% from 3 on 4.5 attempts per game... Gobert has attempted 17 threes in his entire 13 year career.

[Lalouie]

no

[pepe1991]

Man, the disrespect lol

Let's not forget Mobley is the reigning DPOY... As well as being All NBA, All Defense, and an AS last season.

You're comparing him to his peers who haven't accomplished anything yet.

Fair criticsm, but just saying as a Celtics fan, i would prefer, younger more offensively gifted big man who can score and have a passing/assist impact on impact (Alpie and Duren esp look gifted in that dept)

Mobley does seem like a very hard worker with a great work rate and ethic (something i rate very highly) and would absolutely love him at the Celtics.

Just not sure the ultra defensive great centres like Mobley and Gobert can be lynchpins in any current day NBA Championship team tbh

But I have been wrong before. Just my opinion, not saying it should be taken as gospel etc

How are you putting Duren with Sengun as far as a playmaker/facilitator?

Sengun: 6.9 APG vs 3.3 turnovers
Duren: 2 APG vs 2.6 turnovers
Mobley: 4.1 APG vs 2.6 turnovers

I also do not view Mobley as Gobert. Mobley shoots 38% from 3 on 4.5 attempts per game... Gobert has attempted 17 threes in his entire 13 year career.

Lmao, Gobert

Gobert can't catch majority of passes if they are not perfect. Even if they are perfect, there is good chance he will do something dumb and lose ball.
He can't put ball on the floor at all. He can't pass. I'm not sure he even understands rules of traveling, often he pivots with one leg, than tries to pivot with other. And acts shocked when they call travel. Basically every possession where Gobert has to do anything but dunk without thinking is wasted possession.

I saw way too many Jazz games, Wolves games and sadly enough France games, where Gobert is one of most onedimensional, skilless offensive players in nba. By far.

He had that one play vs Dallas in playoffs where he goes for pump fake ( why ? ) than takes dribble, after 8 uncalled steps he goes for underhand layup and airballs everything from 3 foot. That's Gobert offense -experience.

[jbk1234]

I honestly believe it's because of who he plays with. Garland and Mitchell don't ever get the guy easy buckets (which every great big needs in their shot diet). They simply hunt their own shots most of the time. I wish he could get away from them.

That might be true of Mitchell at times, but Garland's been injured and his absence has been keenly felt by both of our big men. A bigger factor is how the game is officiated. Watching Jalen Brown push off on every drive last night, and still get 15 free throws, is just not something a player Mobley's size will ever get away with. Honestly, it's something the NBA really needs to get their arms around because now the scrubs are mimicking the behavior. Either call the initial contact by the offensive player, or allow the resulting contact by the defender go.

[God Squad]

The Gobert comparisons are laughable. This question is easy to answer. Offensively, he hasn't lived up to the hype if you subscribed to the KG/Duncan comps. Defensively, he's exceeded expectations quickly. He has all defensive teams and DPOY hardware at the age of 24. But I'm also a big fan of the 2021 class, so I'm biased.

[bstein14]

That Cavs team is loaded with "talent" to have not made a conference Finals yet.... if they don't get in this season in a depleted East something has got to give.

[cupcakesnake]

Fair criticsm, but just saying as a Celtics fan, i would prefer, younger more offensively gifted big man who can score and have a passing/assist impact on impact (Alpie and Duren esp look gifted in that dept)

Mobley does seem like a very hard worker with a great work rate and ethic (something i rate very highly) and would absolutely love him at the Celtics.

Just not sure the ultra defensive great centres like Mobley and Gobert can be lynchpins in any current day NBA Championship team tbh

But I have been wrong before. Just my opinion, not saying it should be taken as gospel etc

How are you putting Duren with Sengun as far as a playmaker/facilitator?

Sengun: 6.9 APG vs 3.3 turnovers
Duren: 2 APG vs 2.6 turnovers
Mobley: 4.1 APG vs 2.6 turnovers

I also do not view Mobley as Gobert. Mobley shoots 38% from 3 on 4.5 attempts per game... Gobert has attempted 17 threes in his entire 13 year career.

Lmao, Gobert

Gobert can't catch majority of passes if they are not perfect. Even if they are perfect, there is good chance he will do something dumb and lose ball.
He can't put ball on the floor at all. He can't pass. I'm not sure he even understands rules of traveling, often he pivots with one leg, than tries to pivot with other. And acts shocked when they call travel. Basically every possession where Gobert has to do anything but dunk without thinking is wasted possession.

I saw way too many Jazz games, Wolves games and sadly enough France games, where Gobert is one of most onedimensional, skilless offensive players in nba. By far.

He had that one play vs Dallas in playoffs where he goes for pump fake ( why ? ) than takes dribble, after 8 uncalled steps he goes for underhand layup and airballs everything from 3 foot. That's Gobert offense -experience.

Nah you're taking this too far or just watching the lowlights people post on the internet. Gobert may have 1-2 clumsy, embarrassing plays on offense every game, but mostly he plays his role very solidly. He's not a skilled passer, but he's totally competent hitting corner shooters out of pick & roll plays, and he's a rock solid screener and DHO guy.

Not pushing back on how hilarious and embarrassing some of Gobert's fumbles are, but there's no way you're honestly watching full games and thinking those plays are the norm. He has almost zero ball skills, and stone hands, but he's solid and disciplined in his role as a screener and roller. The Wolves are not a very good interior passing team (Ant finally learned to throw a lob pass this year though!), so we rarely make Gobert look good. If he played with Cade, Hali, or Doncic he'd be a lot more of a useful threat.

He's getting older and creakier, and his high center of gravity has always made him a bit awkward, but people take the hate just a bit too far when they're defining him by his worst moments.

[Onlytimewilltel]

I was going to say! I remember CB4 being a monster in Toronto. Definitely a #1 option.

Nope. De Rozan was. And Toronto had plenty of shooters trough the years. Bosh was an excellent efficient system player. That was his stick.

Huh?

By the time Bosh played his last season with Raptors, in 2009-10, Derozan was a rookie who averaged 8 ppg.

Basically, for entire length of Bosh's career with Raptors, they had same issue: complete lack of offensive talent beside him. At one point TJ Ford, who was like 5'8 - 150 pounds, was second offensive option

haha at this point gotta assume nbaghuy1 is just trolling Clearly just horrible takes here so must be a troll.

[cupcakesnake]

The Gobert comparisons are laughable. This question is easy to answer. Offensively, he hasn't lived up to the hype if you subscribed to the KG/Duncan comps. Defensively, he's exceeded expectations quickly. He has all defensive teams and DPOY hardware at the age of 24. But I'm also a big fan of the 2021 class, so I'm biased.

To me he's still "like" KG, but a poor man's version. He moves so similarly, I always think of KG when I watch Mobley. He simply does not have that level of shooting touch (KG is one of the best midrange shooters ever), and his handles aren't quite as good (relative to the league/era).

He still fits the mold of a versatile, lanky playmaking big with DPOY-level defense. I don't think he has much in common with Duncan.

[JujitsuFlip]

That Cavs team is loaded with "talent" to have not made a conference Finals yet.... if they don't get in this season in a depleted East something has got to give.

I like what the Cavs 1 year pro Tyson said last night.

"We're one of the most talented teams in the NBA. Talent alone doesn't win championships..."

https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/onsi/news/cavaliers-role-player-calls-out-teammates-for-lack-of-effort-in-2025-01kbbzdd5qkp

[QingJames]

He’s not “the next Tim Duncan” or “a full tier above” the other guys in his draft class like people were crowning during his rookie season. I think if anything he’s a little underrated now. Fake DPOY of course (we all know Wemby will be the real one from now until he retires) but Mobley is at worst a top 35 guy in this league.

[mg]

Defensively he's obviously very good. If I had any nitpick it would be that he needs to grab more boards.

Offensively he's going to dunk the ball or shoot the 3. He really needs to add more variety if he's going to be a real offensive threat.

My real concern is he's just such a mellow guy. If he's a top 1-2 player on your team he doesn't play with much fire. Seems like a really nice dude but nice guys can get pushed around in this league.

[Sane]

I think it's time for the Cavs to try something other than double big lineup. I wonder what he'd look like next to an excellent PF who doesn't crowd the paint. Allen is a really good player but maybe this pairing has peaked. A PF with range could open things up for everyone and we'll find out if Mobley can protect the rim at an elite level as the starting C.