The Cleveland Cavaliers put an end to the Golden State Warriors‘ 5-game winning streak dominantly. After a shaky start to the season, the team found its balance after restricting Stephen Curry and his men in a 115-104 victory on Sunday night. While Donovan Mitchell took care of the offense, it was the ruthless defense that suppressed the mighty Dubs. Especially with the efforts of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Moreover, following the game, the Cavs head coach J. B. Bickerstaff had an insightful opinion of Allen’s role on the side.
The Cavaliers missed the seasoned center star Allen in the initial few games, and the team definitely paid the price by losing three games. However, Allen’s presence in the team has made an immediate impact on the team. The Warriors’ side, which seemed unstoppable before the start of the game, struggled to get the ball close to the rim. Coach Bickerstaff highly credited the 6′ 9 for this feat. Let’s find out in detail.
Jarrett Allen unlocks Evan Mobley’s true potential
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The franchise spearhead, Donovan Mitchell, took control of the offense alongside Darius Garfield with 31 and 24 points, respectively. Not to undermine the crucial points supplied by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but their efforts at the other end spoke volumes.
Mobley, a 6′ 11 player from the 2021 draft class, is a mature asset of the Cavs lineup. Additionally, Bickerstaff said that Allen’s presence has pushed Mobley’s efforts further, during the post-game press conference. He added, “He is our safety blanket. When you know you have a guy like Jarrett Allen back there to protect you, everybody is little on edge. When Evan [Mobley] obviously knows out there by himself, he trying to do multiple jobs.”
He further credited the duo for their defense role in the team. “Our defense was built with two of them in mind and how they work together and protect one another.”
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While the Cavaliers produced an emphatic victory, what went wrong with the Dubs? Let’s find out.
Second unit failed to pitch in
Even though it was a nightmare for ace shooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with the Cavs’ aggressive defense, they dropped their usual guaranteed points on the board. However, the supporting cast failed to pitch in. Apart from Jonathan Kuminga‘s last-quarter outburst, the players off the bench only contributed 18 points. Notably, Chris Paul, who called it a “Luxury” to be on the dominant side, dropped only 5 points.
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Will the Dubs bounce back in the next game against the Detroit Pistons? Let us know in the comments.