The off-season chatter has finally materialized as the Cavs begin their pre-season.
Early Game Notes
On October 8th, the Cavs opened the pre-season against the Chicago Bulls. Kenny Atkinson got Evan Mobley involved immediately with a play designed to drive and isolate Patrick Williams.
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We saw a Max Strus-Evan Mobley pick-and-pop for three on the second possession. The shot did not fall, but we immediately noticed two things emphasized in the summer.
The entire Cavaliers organization has been in Mobley’s ear all summer. They were telling him to be assertive and take on more ball-handling responsibilities. We saw the fruits of their labor as Mobley finished the game with 14 shots, leading the Cavs. Kenny Atkinson put his money where his mouth was.
Under Atkinson, expect Mobley to hunt his shots more actively. Throughout his early Cavs tenure, Mobley operated primarily as a play-finisher. Now that he has matured mentally and physically, Mobley is ready to expand his horizons as he looks to take the next step.
He was utilized in various creative ways in Tuesday’s game, such as the play below, where he grabs the rebound and pushes the ball up the floor.
Other significant offensive developments include Strus ghosting a screen for Mobley (which the Bulls switched), allowing the 23-year-old to process the floor and make a play. This is something we did not see frequently under J.B. Bickerstaff.
Pace is Key
Last season, the Cavs played with the 24th slowest pace at 97.62. Through two preseason games, the team is third in pace at 109.25. As discussed ad nauseam, the early emphasis on pace opens up opportunities for early offense. Atkinson understands the importance of playing faster and discusses this idea in the clip below.
On the third offensive possession of the game, Darius Garland found Donovan Mitchell sprinting toward the corner for a transition three. Kenny echoed this play to the team during the off-season.
It became evident that the focus on playing faster was not just a talking point, but something the squad has been practicing.
44.4% of Cleveland’s shots were threes in the first pre-season contest. Another point of emphasis for the team is not passing up shots. As the pace increases, more shots are available, especially threes. In previous campaigns, you wouldn’t see the Cavs pushing after made shots. Under Atkinson, this is something you should expect more of.
Closing thoughts
Isaac Okoro found himself in a new role, one where he will be more active instead of spotting up. Kenny has begun experimenting with Okoro as a screener, something Okoro has not been asked to do much.
Jaylon Tyson only played 12 minutes in game one but logged 28 in the second against Indiana. Through two games, Tyson has averaged 6.5 rebounds. His energy and effort have stood out early. Tyson looks ready to contribute off the bench.
Dean Wade looks healthy and ready for more usage as the 4/5 off the bench. In game one, there was an extended stretch with him as the center, playing in the roamer role that Jarrett Allen or Mobley are often tasked with. Under Bickerstaff, we did not see these lineups that much. It’s only estimated that Dean only played center 5% of the time in the last two seasons.
Ty Jerome is a welcomed sight after only appearing in 15 minutes last year. His aggression (and Sam Merrill‘s) as a shooter could be an aspect of the bench unit that uplifts the team in the non-Mitchell minutes. Atkinson has been singing the praises of Jerome since camp has begun.
The Cavs open the season on October 23rd with a contest against the Toronto Raptors.
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