For the two of you out there waiting for the newest entry in the Cavalier of the Week series. Forgive me. I have dropped the ball and now have to pick up the slack. That being said, in the time I haven’t handed the award out, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a little bit of a run, going 9-2 since I last donned someone with the incredible honor of being a Cavalier of the Week.
That being said, I am going back to the well and nominating Jarrett Allen for Cavalier of the Week again. The first two-time winner of the illustrious award. What an honor Jarrett.
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In all honesty, with the level of defense — if you can even call it that — we have seen in the last month or so, I cannot in good faith award either James Harden or Donovan Mitchell with the award.
Average Player Grade over last 11 games: A-
Stats during that stretch: 4 games played 16.3 ppg, 9 rpg, 0.8bpg in 21.4 mins per game
Standout performance: Tuesday 3/31 against Los Angeles Lakers (18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists in 19 minutes)
For those immediately wondering how I can pick Allen for the award when he has only suited up in four of the eleven games, I do not blame you. Despite the Cavaliers currently ending the season with one of their best stretches in terms of record. It doesn’t feel like the team can make a real swing for a title if Jarrett Allen isn’t on the floor.
To see how the Cavaliers rely on Allen, look no further than the “standout performance” for Allen. The Cavaliers looked awful against the Lakers. Plain and simple, the team could only find reliable contributions on offense if Jarrett was given the ball. Allen delivered on every touch. His efficiency against Los Angeles is not an outlier. Allen has had the best stretch of his career both in terms of aggressiveness and efficiency.
While it was only 19 minutes, once Allen was off the floor, the Cavaliers couldn’t find a reliable look offensively, and it led to Atkinson pulling all the starters midway through the third. The formula for a good game for the Cavaliers’ offense was highlighted in this game. Get Allen involved early and often. Most teams do not have the answers to the Harden and Allen pick-and-roll. Once that pairing has its fingerprints on the game, it opens up looks for the Cavaliers on the perimeter.
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Now, this highlights an issue we have seen for the Cavaliers this whole season. When Allen is out due to injury, there is no way to replicate this two-man game with the rest of the roster. Mobley, for all he can do on both ends, is not the same roll man as Allen at all. This leads to the Cavaliers’ offense looking like a bunch of chickens running with their heads cut off.
As the Cavaliers look toward the postseason, Allen is the main player to watch. He feels like both an offensive and defensive stalwart. For this responsibility to fall on someone who is still fighting through an injury is far from ideal. The Cavaliers are looking to be fighting an uphill battle as the postseason approaches. However, at least there can be confidence that Allen, if healthy enough is going to be a major contributor.
Jarrett, for the second time… your award is in the mail.
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