ATLANTA -- Ricky Rubio dribbled across the timeline and called out a play. The veteran point guard signaled for rookie Evan Mobley to set a high screen.
Guarded by John Collins at the start, Mobley nudged Skylar Mays and forced a switch. Rubio immediately recognized the mismatch, hopped in the air and fired a pass over Mays’ outstretched arm to a rolling Mobley, who gathered left of the lane, took him his time, bumped into Jalen Johnson, spun into the paint and threw down a thunderous two-handed dunk.
As Mobley hung on the rim, he let out a roar and stared down at the helpless defender.
Described as quiet, laid back and reserved, that’s the kind of fire the Cavs are trying to pull out of their franchise cornerstone. It’s also the level of force and aggression they’d like to see on the offensive end, giving the ball-screen heavy and guard-dominant Cavaliers a different dimension in the halfcourt.
“He has a lot of potential,” Rubio said. “You can throw the ball up high and he’s going to make you look good. We’re going to keep looking for him. He had a really good game -- knowing when to take shots and when to roll -- but the gap is still a lot to improve. That’s where me and coaches come into play, telling him where to be, how to be, how to play the pick-and-roll.
“It doesn’t come overnight. It will take time. But at the same time the potential is there. He can impact both ways at a high level. We’re expecting him to be that type of player. But we have to help him get there.”
Two months ago at Summer League, the Cavs started exploring ways to capitalize on Mobley’s unique skill set. In the Vegas opener, they kept sending the slender 7-footer into the post. It didn’t work. Smaller guys were able to win with leverage. Bigs bullied him. During an off-day practice, assistant coach J.J. Outlaw spoke with Mobley about his favorite spots. In the next matchup, the Cavs gave Mobley the ball on the left elbow and fed him on the move, letting him take advantage of his handle, passing, quickness, agility and explosiveness. It was a plan befitting Mobley’s specialties.
Mobley is stronger now. He added weight and muscle this offseason. His arms are bigger, with more definition. But that doesn’t mean he’s ready to bang underneath with his back to the basket. The Cavs learned that lesson in August. Wednesday’s highlight-reel jam was similar to a Summer League set, only this time he had a deft point guard distributing.
Expect more of the Rubio-Mobley two-man game. Same thing with Mobley and Darius Garland. Eventually, as Mobley refines his offense, the staff will give the tantalizing 20 year old more responsibility. Through the first two preseason games, Mobley has been more of an afterthought at that end. He’s averaging 9.0 points on nine shot attempts per game.
“We have to put the ball in his hands in positions to score,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He got 11 shots tonight. And obviously there’s more there to be had. As we move forward, we’ve got a package for him that we’ll put in. It will put the ball in his hands, allow him to make the right decisions out of there and allow him to be in more aggressive positions to score.”
In the meantime, it’s become clear that Mobley’s greatest impact will come on defense. During the 99-96 win over Atlanta Wednesday, Mobley swatted two shots and grabbed 12 rebounds. That only begins to quantify his presence.
The Hawks -- playing without regulars Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Onyeka Okongwu, Lou Williams and Clint Capela -- shot just 39.6% from the field. They were 19-of-44 (43.1%) on paint attempts. That’s the value of having two 7-foot anchors. It’s why Bickerstaff is committed to this unconventional frontcourt pairing with Mobley and Jarrett Allen. There’s a level of ease both provide. They can erase mistakes.
“Being a little smaller in the backcourt, adding that length in the frontcourt is helpful,” Bickerstaff said. “Both guys have rim-protect and paint-protect instincts. Both are versatile enough and fast enough where they can guard multiple positions and they can get into rotations if needed.”
A late-game possession in Atlanta helps further the appeal. With the Cavs clinging to a one-point lead and around 25 seconds remaining, Garland -- recognizing Mobley and Allen were behind him -- aggressively closed out on De’Andre Hunter beyond the arc. With Garland in the air, Hunter attacked off the bounce. Isaac Okoro, another heady defender, stepped up while Mobley lurked around the baseline, in front of Johnson.
That positioning forced Hunter to kick into the corner, where Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot missed a go-ahead 3-pointer.
The Hawks collected the offensive rebound. Another Cleveland misstep. No problem. Mobley was there to cover. Hunter gathered and came up short on a mid-range floater that was pestered by a leaping Mobley. That sequence won’t show up in the box score. But Mobley’s combination of awareness, length and athleticism helped seal the win.
It was shades of Anthony Davis, Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh -- some of the players Mobley drew comparisons to during the pre-draft process.
“He gets blocked shots and you’re questioning ‘how did he get there in time?’” Allen said. “He just has such long arms.”
Last season, Cleveland ranked 20th in blocks. But Andre Drummond and JaVale McGee -- two guys that helped boost that number -- are no longer around. The Cavs were also 25th in defensive rating. They were last in that metric each of the two seasons before that.
It’s fair to wonder how much improvement is possible with a diminutive, exploitable and physically limited backcourt. If Cleveland is going to remain committed to the Garland-Collin Sexton tandem, then putting the right defensive components around them is likely the only path to respectability. Losing Larry Nance Jr. didn’t help. He was not only the Cavaliers’ best defender but was in line to receive a smattering of All-Defense votes before three lengthy stints on the sidelines.
Replacing Nance with a rookie is asking a lot, but Mobley looks to be a functional replacement -- the rare multi-positional defensive chess piece that can be the voice, shot-blocker, rim protector, passing lane disruptor, rebounder and switcher.
“He is extremely intelligent,” Bickerstaff said. “That to me is what separates him from other defenders. But on top of that, he’s seven feet tall and long. So now he uses intelligence to put himself a step ahead. And then he uses his length to make shot-altering deflections, cover ground, whatever it may be, because he’s able to see two steps ahead because he is so bright. His defensive instincts are extremely unique for a player his age and experience level.
“You can’t put a position on him. He can fit on the floor at any spot and play with anybody.”
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