Evan Mobley's 3-point shooting key to Cavaliers' playoff success

The Cleveland Cavaliers' strategy of starting two seven-footers suggests a dominance in the paint, which might typically encourage opponents to focus defensively on that area. The Orlando Magic adopted this approach at the outset of Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs' first round. However, strategies on paper often differ in practice, a lesson quickly taught by Cavs forward Evan Mobley. Within the first four minutes, Mobley defied expectations by sinking his first three-pointer of the game, swiftly adding another just over half a minute later, during Cleveland's eventual 97-83 victory.

Despite the Cavaliers beginning the game with a flawless five-for-five from beyond the arc, their streak fizzled as they missed the subsequent 18 attempts. The drought ended only with a three-pointer by Darius Garland at the start of the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, Mobley's initial threes were crucial, setting a commanding tone as Cleveland led from start to finish.

Mobley's growing proficiency from downtown has sparked the Cavs' offense in the latter half of the season. Initially, Mobley wasn't expected to contribute much from the three-point line early in the 2023-24 season. Following a knee injury recovery in late January, the team shifted tactics, emphasizing Mobley's role as a floor spacer and encouraging him to take more shots from distance. He responded well, shooting 37.3% from three for the season.

Interestingly, the Cavs have a strong record when Mobley hits at least two three-pointers, including the playoff win against Orlando. His unexpected three-point shooting in Game 1, where he was left relatively unguarded by the Magic, suggests they underestimated his ability from the perimeter. Since Mobley's career three-point shooting percentage is only 26.5%, Orlando might not have prioritized defending him at the arc. But as Mobley continues to develop this aspect of his game, it forces teams to reconsider their defensive strategies against the Cavs, potentially altering the dynamics of the playoff series and how opponents prepare to face Cleveland each night.


Source Clutchpoints : How the Cavs' Evan Mobley completely bamboozled Magic in Game 1
Source Sports Illustrated : https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/why-evan-mobleys-three-point-shot-may-be-key-to-cavs-postseason