How the Cavs made a subtle change & a special voice has helped Evan Mobley — Terry Pluto

That meant turning the talented 7-footer who already was a defensive star into more – an all-around terrific player.

When Kenny Atkinson interviewed for the Cavs’ head coaching job, he spent a lot of time on the whiteboard with team president Koby Altman and GM Mike Gansey. Atkinson was prepared, drawing up X’s and O’s, explaining how a slightly different approach to the offense could help Mobley grow as a scorer.

The Cavs already had data about the best combinations of players who worked together on the court. But they were looking beyond the numbers.

The Big Picture

At the end of last season when the Cavs lost in the second round of the playoffs, there was a discussion about roster composition. The NBA was an athletic, 3-point shooting league.

The combination of 7-footers Allen and Mobley were good enough to help the Cavs reach the playoffs. But was their lack of outside shooting a problem deep in the playoffs when defenses crowded the middle vs. the Cavs.

The backcourt was the opposite story. With Mitchell (6-foot-3) and Darius Garland (6-foot-1), were the Cavs too small? Was there a problem with the two guards dominating the ball, leading to stagnation in the offense?

Should the Cavs trade Allen? Trade Garland? Trade both?

Altman didn’t want to make a major move like that. He saw a team that had improved every year. They were a Cavs team that made the second round of the NBA playoffs without LeBron James for the first time since 1993.

Break that up, especially when the Core Four of Allen, Mobley, Garland and Mitchell were in the 23-28 age range? They were just entering their primes as players.

When Atkinson interviewed, he shared the same view as the front office. The roster was young, talented and composed of players with high character. Former coach J.B. Bickerstaff had created a culture of discipline and a defensive mindset.

How to take a big jump?

Atkinson unloaded his playbook on the whiteboard, starting with enhancing the game of the 23-year-old Mobley.

Mobley’s personality

The Cavs first-round pick in 2022, Mobley is an unselfish player with the heart of a defender. Schooled by his father Eric Mobley, Evan didn’t arrive in the NBA with the usual AAU, me-centered baggage. That was a huge advantage for the Cavs because of Mobley’s maturity at the age of 21 when entering the league.

Now an assistant coach at SMU, Eric Mobley spent the previous six years as a USC assistant. His son (Evan’s brother) is Isaiah Mobley, a former Cavs second-round pick. One year older than Evan, Isaiah is averaging 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League.

The 6-foot-8 Isaiah is not as tall or physically gifted as his younger brother. But he has the same team-first mindset and values defense.

The reason for mentioning Mobley’s background is because it played a factor in a key decision that was made in the offseason.

The Mitchell factor

Mobley was heading into his fourth NBA season.

But think about this: In the old days of the NBA when most players spent four years in college … Mobley would be in his rookie pro season!

It’s Mobley’s nature to defer to stars such as Mitchell and Garland, allowing them to handle the ball and create shots. They’re older, more accomplished and it just made sense to play a secondary role to them on offense.

The Cavs realized Mitchell could make a difference by pushing Mobley to score more. The quiet young man would listen to the Cavs unquestioned leader who has a gift of communicating with teammates.

While other players encouraged Mobley to be more assertive on offense, Mitchell’s voice was the most impactful.

A new approach

The Cavs open the game with their Core Four of Garland, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen in the lineup along with another starter.

Then Atkinson begins to substitute. He often brings in Caris LeVert and Sam Merrill first, taking out Mobley and Mitchell. Other substitutions follow. One of the most appealing parts of Atkinson’s plan for the Cavs was to use 10 players a night.

Allen and Garland would go out, and here would come Mitchell and Mobley.

On the court and during timeouts, Mitchell would urge Mobley to look for his shot. Mitchell would set up Mobley on the court. They even used some inverted pick-and-rolls. That means the smaller player (Mitchell) sets a pick for the bigger player (Mobley), who is handling the ball. It’s usually the opposite.

It’s Mitchell’s way of saying, “Evan, I trust you. I’m setting a pick. Go get a shot.”

I recently wrote about Mitchell accepting Atkinson’s plan for him to play fewer minutes, and that would mean fewer shots. Mitchell quickly accepted it, the idea for keeping him fresher and healthier for the playoffs.

But it also is a way of enhancing Mobley’s game. Mitchell doing less is a strong message for Mobley to do more.

Emerging star

The season is only 31 games old. The Cavs are the NBA’s premier team with a 27-4 record.

Mitchell is on his way to his sixth consecutive All-Star appearance. The revitalized Garland also should be an All-Star. Mitchell also played a key role in rebuilding Garland’s confidence.

But the quiet story of this season for the Cavs is the ascension of Mobley thanks not only to Atkinson’s strategy, but the words of Mitchell and other teammates.

Mobley is taking a career-high 12.6 shots from the field. “Usage” measures how much a player has the ball, and Mobley also is at his highest rate.

Overall, Mobley is averaging 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds. He’s shooting 57% from the field and 42% on 3-pointers. He also is at 78% from the foul line. His outstanding shooting continues to improve each season. The Cavs internal rankings have him among the NBA’s top 15 players.

Hear me talk

January 8: I will be at Music Box in The Flats. Doors open at 5 p.m. No cover charge. More information here.

February 13: I will be at the Kingsville Library at 6 p.m. It’s free.

February 19: I will be at the Tuscarawas Library in New Philadelphia at 6 p.m., doing a talk with WKSU’s Amanda Rabinowitz. It’s free.