Jarrett Allen is not used to hearing MVP chants, especially in the NBA playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers center will probably be the first one to acknowledge his past postseason struggles, as evidenced by his brutally honest “lights were brighter than expected” comments in 2023. He did not melt on Sunday, however. And Cavs fans took notice.
Allen was fantastic in Game 7 of Cleveland’s first-round playoff series versus the Toronto Raptors, posting 22 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the series-deciding 114-102 victory. An 8-of-14 showing on the free-throw line could have drawn more attention if the contest was closer in the second half, but the 28-year-old big man made sure to thrive everywhere else.
The home crowd gushed over Allen, filling Rocket Arena with MVP chants. He needed a minute to gather his bearings, for it had been a while since he heard such praise in a non-sarcastic manner.
“Probably from the bench, jokingly,” Allen told reporters when recalling the last time fans serenaded him with those three special letters. “Got a little nervous out there, thought it was [Donovan Mitchell] receiving the MVP chants.”
No. 31 was arguably the Cavs’ most important player in this must-win matchup, recording a +13 plus-minus and exorcising some of his playoff demons. People will inevitably skewer Allen if he stumbles against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, which is something he surely realizes, but this performance reminded fans of how impactful he can be on a given night.
When considering the defensive physicality that the Pistons consistently bring, Jarrett Allen could be the Cavaliers’ X-factor moving forward. Hopefully he savored the show of appreciation he received in Cleveland, because the tone will be quite different in Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday.