CLEVELAND, Ohio — Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Cavs lost to the New York Knicks in part because they got bullied on the boards.
If it feels like déjà vu, that’s because it is.
The Cavs’ season-opening 119-111 loss at Madison Square Garden had all the familiar hallmarks of the team’s playoff exit two springs ago – outrebounded (48-32), outmuscled, and ultimately outplayed when it mattered most.
At the center of this recurring nightmare? Jarrett Allen, whose four-rebound performance in 28 minutes of play drew sharp criticism from Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast.
“Jarrett Allen needs to be better. We can start there,” Fedor stated bluntly. “He’s a starting center in today’s NBA. He’s considered one of the best centers in the Eastern Conference. He’s been an All-Star in the past. The Cavs have committed to him financially. He’s got to be better when it comes to rebounding.”
The numbers tell a damning story.
While Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby combined for 25 rebounds, the entire Cavaliers team managed just 32. Even more telling: Ariel Hukporti, a little-known Knicks reserve, exceeded Allen’s rebound total in 10 fewer minutes.
“Four rebounds in 28 minutes, that’s just not good enough,” Fedor continued. “It has to be better. He’s got to be tougher. He’s got to be more physical. He’s got to be more active when it comes to getting rebounds.”
What makes this particularly frustrating for Cavs fans is that this isn’t a new problem.
The team’s struggles against physical frontcourts was their undoing in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals. Despite an offseason of talk about addressing these weaknesses, Game 1 of 82 showed the same vulnerabilities.
Podcast host Ethan Sands didn’t mince words either when discussing Allen’s responsibilities.
“Jarrett Allen, your role isn’t to get 20 points a night. You know that. Everybody in the arena knows that. Your role is to grab 10 boards a night and be a defensive menace and help defend and protect the paint. You didn’t do your job tonight, big fella.”
The concerning part is that this performance came against a Knicks team missing key rebounders Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart.
If Allen and the frontcourt struggled this much against a depleted Knicks roster, what happens when they face full-strength opponents?
Fedor raised this exact concern: “I think it’s hard for me to say that this physicality problem is going to be correctable, especially when the personnel for the Cavs, like what did they do to address that weakness?”
While one game doesn’t define a season, it certainly can foreshadow challenges.
For a team with championship aspirations, the Cavs’ inability to match the physical play of conference rivals remains their most glaring vulnerability.
As the team regroups for their next matchup against Brooklyn, all eyes will be on Allen and the frontcourt. Can they respond with the toughness and physicality required of championship contenders? Or will this familiar weakness continue to haunt them throughout the season?
Listen to the full Wine and Gold Talk podcast for more insight into the Cavs’ opening night struggles and what adjustments might be coming next.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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