This was supposed to be an area of strength for the Cavaliers.
A major advantage in their opening-round series against the Knicks.
In Jarrett Allen and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Evan Mobley, they had two high-level big men who were going to create issues in the paint at both ends of the floor for the Knicks
Four games in, that hasn’t been close to the case.
In fact, Mitchell Robinson has been the best big man in this series, a major reason the Knicks can end the Cavaliers season on Wednesday with a win at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
The moment has been a bit big for the 21-year-old, 6-foot-11 Mobley, who is in his second season in the league, although he has defended Knicks star Julius Randle very well.
Allen has not been effective, pushed around at times by Robinson and the Knicks.
“There are moments where we have to grow, and we have to grow in a hurry. Understanding what’s on the line, understanding how in playoff basketball, which was something we talked about during the regular season, you don’t flip switches,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “During the regular season, we were able to flip some switches and come back in games. This time [of year] it just doesn’t present the opportunity to do so.”
During a strong regular season, Mobley averaged 16.2 points and 2.8 assists while shooting 55.4 percent from the field. In this series, those numbers are down to 10.8, 1.5 and 47.6.
Allen, likewise, produced 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, but in the playoffs, he’s down to 10.8 and 8.3.
In this series, the Cavaliers are getting outscored by 5.7 points per 100 possessions when Allen is on the floor.
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That’s a pretty stunning number, considering Cleveland outscored its opponents by 7.7 points per 100 possessions during the regular season when the former Net was on the court.
Robinson basically called out the Cavaliers after the Knicks’ 20-point rout in Game 3, suggesting he was getting into their heads.
Bickerstaff said his players “don’t fear anybody.”
“We’re not shook by anyone. And we’ll be ready for Game 4,” Bickerstaff said at the time.
While Mobley and Allen did combine for 26 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s loss, they were again outplayed by Robinson and his backup, Isaiah Hartenstein.
The duo produced 19 rebounds and four blocks, as the Knicks held the Cavaliers under 100 points for the third time in four games.
Allen was again a net-negative, the Knicks outscoring the Cavaliers by 11 points in his 40 minutes.
The Knicks outrebounded them by 14 on Sunday, with Robinson pulling down seven of their 17 offensive rebounds.
“It’s tough. It’s a lot on me, I should be down there, boxing out, pushing guys around more,” Allen said. “It’s frustrating to see myself let somebody get that many offensive rebounds.”