CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs built their original identity around their towering frontcourt duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. But what if their similar personalities are actually holding the team back?
That’s the provocative question raised in the latest episode of Wine and Gold Talk podcast, where cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins asks: “Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, are they too similar in their makeup? Can you have two gentle giants on your team and bring the kind of ‘alpha energy’ that high level playoff basketball winning requires?”
This question strikes at the heart of the Cavs’ roster construction philosophy.
While much debate has centered on whether the two big men can coexist offensively, this podcast explores a different angle – whether their shared demeanors create a fundamental leadership vacuum.
Host Ethan Sands doesn’t mince words in his assessment: “My answer to that would be no. I have been banging the drum all summer that the Cavs have needed an enforcer.”
Sands points to a specific contrast in how players can separate their on-court and off-court personas. “I do not think having two soft spoken, nice guy, easygoing big men in today’s NBA, which is changing once again, is optimal for the success in the playoffs of the Cleveland Cavaliers,” he asserts.
He cites veteran big man Steven Adams as the prototype of what Cleveland lacks – someone who maintains respectability off the court while establishing boundaries on it. “Steven Adams is a great guy, a very nice guy and one that is respected around the NBA because if you mess with somebody on his team he is going to check you,” Sands explains.
Watkins acknowledges the dilemma but highlights the practical challenges of addressing it. “If you were to say, ‘we gotta break these guys up,’ obviously if you’re picking one, you’re picking Evan Mobley ... You have to [then] be careful with who you replace Jarrett Allen with.”
This creates a nearly impossible wish list. Find someone with Allen’s defensive skills and rim protection who costs less money yet brings the enforcer mentality the team lacks.
Perhaps the solution lies within.
Watkins suggests: “What if the answer is Evan Mobley does all the things that you want Jarrett Allen to do eventually? Like Evan Mobley is the guy who stays locked in all the time. Evan Mobley is the guy who sets the tone.”
The conversation raises fundamental questions about what it takes to win at the highest level in today’s NBA.
Is it possible to reach championship heights without an enforcer-type personality in your frontcourt? Or will the Cavaliers’ gentle giants need to find a fiercer on-court persona to maximize their championship window?
As the new season approaches, the answer to this personality puzzle might determine whether Cleveland can finally break through its playoff ceiling or if roster changes will become inevitable.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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