The Cleveland Cavaliers produced their best performance of the season thus far against the Milwaukee Bucks in a 136-111 win. The game not only proved how lethal the Cavs can be when Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley get enough looks, but was also the culmination of head coach Kenny Atkinson’s efforts to get the two big men more involved.
Atkinson had stressed throughout the week that Mobley and Allen needed more touches, particularly in the paint and on deep post catches, after the two combined for just 15 points on 17 shots in the Cavs’ 114-111 loss to Atlanta, per Cleveland.com.
“Reward our bigs,” Atkinson had said. “These guys are busting it defensively. We have to get it to them in the pocket more. Jarrett had a couple flash posts the other day (where) he gets deep position. We’re not throwing it to these guys. And that opens up everything for everybody else.” he said.
That demand culminated in the frontcourt duo combining for 52 points and 27 rebounds against the Bucks while recording a team-high 16 field-goal attempts apiece. He had also pointed out that Mobley’s 11 shot attempts against Minnesota were insufficient, despite the forward scoring 22 points and making five 3-pointers.
Against Milwaukee, Cleveland followed that instruction, with Allen establishing the tone by scoring 10 points in the first quarter and finishing with 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting, 11 rebounds, four assists and a steal. Mobley, meanwhile, took over in the second quarter, scoring 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting and finishing with a season-high 27 points.
Cleveland scored 40 points in the paint in the first half and finished with 60, matching its season high. Allen and Mobley rank first and fourth on the team in salary, but only ranked seventh and eighth in usage percentage.
Atkinson clearly believes that the $80 million pair are going to be central to any success the Cavs have this season, and will want his team to continue in the same vein.