Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell went into further detail about the impact of forward Evan Mobley before the Cavs take on the New York Knicks in Game 5 on Wednesday.
“I think there’s different things he’s done pretty well,” Mitchell explained, via Cleveland.com Cavs Reporter Chris Fedor. “Obviously stats-wise, it’s not always going to look that the way we all want it to at first, and the way he wants it to at first.
“It’s a learning process. I’ve seen it. You can’t expect it to all just come out and be clicking on all cylinders. You’re playing against two bigs who are highly active, highly aggressive and he’s done well. He can be better, but he’s been pretty good for us. He doesn’t need to be Superman right now.”
Evan Mobley’s impact fluctuated as the series between the Cavs and the Knicks drew on, peaking at 13 points and 13 rebounds in Game 2 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse despite New York’s consistency on the interior throughout the postseason. The 21-year-old forward and center Jarrett Allen struggled to deter the Knicks’ duo of forward Julius Randle and center Mitchell Robinson on the glass in New York, finishing with a combined total of 11 rebounds on Sunday. Robinson brought down 11 of his own.
Evan Mobley and the Cavs’ other young options will have to abide by the mentality revealed by Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff at Tuesday’s practice and play with a sense of urgency if they are to take the game and keep themselves in contention for the second round.
“I don’t think we’ve played our best game yet,” Bickerstaff said, via Right Down Euclid Editor-in-Chief Evan Dammarell. “But, tomorrow, we’ve got an opportunity to.
“I expect our guys to rise to the occasion.”
The Cavs will tip off against the Knicks at 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcasted on NBA TV and Bally Sports Ohio.