The Kenny Effect: How The Cavs Offense is Humming
Adjustment period? Growing pains? If you didn't know any better, this team looks like it was made to play under Kenny Atkinson, not just seven games into a season after with a “new-to-us” head coach. Itwas a quiet and frustrating free agency period for some Cavs fans who wondered if they would fall behind in the loaded Eastern Conference from a lack of moves despite extending Donovan Mitchell and mutch of the rest of the roster in the offseason. Given the lack of roster turnover, this is far from the roller coaster ride that was helmed by JB Bickerstaff last year. A squad with mostly familiar role players and the Core Four intact has stormed out of the gate to a 7-0 record and is the only undefeated team left standing in the Eastern Conference. You are probably asking yourself, "Was it as simple as coaching all along?" Well, not for everything, but it is pretty damn close, and going by the numbers, it's easy to see why this team has a new lease on life.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFENSE
If you've been watching the Cavs, you probably have noticed that everyone feels involved in the offensive sets. One of the many complaints thrown at JB Bickerstaff's feet was the overreliance on the guards and the predictable nature of the offense. In the 23-24 season, Mitchell and Garland racked 79.1 and 75.3 touches, respectively. Many possessions started with high pick-and-roll, with the other three relegated to the corners and dunker spots in more traditional roles on offense, playing off the Mitchell and Garland. Now, everyone feels empowered in this motion-based offense where the ball moves in the half-court, creating advantages not seen under JB Bickerstaff. This is the touches of the Core Four:
DARIUS GARLAND: 59.1
EVAN MOBLEY: 57.9
DONOVAN MITCHELL: 55.0
JARRETT ALLEN: 41.1
The touches aren't just garnished, either. This is reflected in their efficiency, as the Cavaliers lead the association in eFG% in the early going (a stat that measures a team's effectiveness from 2 and 3-point range). They are at a ridiculous 61.1% from the field, punishing teams in the paint and from the 3-point line. They have climbed from an offensive rating of 22nd last year to 3rd, playing a faster-paced, efficiency-based philosophy where dominating the paint and behind the arch is the goal, and the Core Four is taking full advantage of it.
EVAN MOBLEY'S NEW ROLE
Speaking of taking full advantage, Evan Mobley's new role as an offensive hub has been a revelation. One of the reasons Kenny Atkinson was brought in was to unlock Evan Mobley as a front-court playmaker. The new aggressive Evan is rocking a usage rate of 24.1%, a vast improvement from 20%, putting more responsibility in the young bigs' hands than ever before to score. A big piece of his scoring now has been in transition, where, according to synergy, he is in the 92nd percentile in transition points. He is now taking advantage of his speed, length, and touch around the rim as a 7-footer on fastbreaks to help get easier buckets when the opportunity arises. His attempts are up to 15.8 FGA per 36 minutes, and he has maintained his efficiency with a true shooting percentage of 62.4%, which is a good sign that we are destined for the long-awaited leap for Mobley. The offense also benefits from Mobley being more involved on the court, with an offensive rating of 123 when he is on the floor, another massive jump from his 111.2 offensive rating from last year. His improved handle and newfound aggressiveness are taking the pressure off the guards, giving the offense a new dynamic that wasn't the case in the past. Though there is still room for improvement for Mobley, it's hard not to be excited about what this looks like by the time the playoffs come around in April.