Opinion: Cavaliers Have A Glaring Underlying Issue
It's reasonable to expect a team that starts with two seven-footers to be fairly dominant on the glass. However, that hasn't quite been the case for the Cleveland Cavaliers, even though they have Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on their roster.
The Cavs have a glaring underlying issue with their team, and it was exposed on Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls. Cleveland was outrebounded a staggering 74-39 in the loss, and one could argue that the second-chance opportunities the Bulls got are what cost the Cavs the game.
This is an extreme example, but it does point to the bigger issue at hand. The Cavs need to grab more boards.
Yes, the Cavaliers are seventh in the NBA with an average of 44.7 rebounds per game. However, when they match up against teams with noticeably more size, such as the Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, or New York Knicks, they've struggled to keep pace.
In Cleveland's four games against Chicago, they've given up 49.5 rebounds per game, while only grabbing 42.6. They've allowed 49 rebounds per game in two games against the Knicks, while only recording 46.
The issue isn't necessarily Allen or Mobley. Together, they're averaging a combined 20.5 rebounds per game. The main problem is that, outside of these two, there isn't another big man who can come off the bench and match up with teams with more size when Cleveland's starting duo is taking a rest.
Feb 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) rebounds beside forward Evan Mobley (4) in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
This shouldn't come as a surprise to the front office, coaching staff, or fans. Rebounding was one of the key issues that plagued Cleveland in the first round of last year's playoffs. The only move that was made to address this issue was signing Tristan Thompson, who was averaging 3.9 rebounds per game before being suspended for using PEDs.
Where do the Cavs go from here? Thompson won't return until mid-March. The buyout market could possibly hold the answer, but in the end, Cleveland will need to rely on some of their wings and guards to hit the glass, even if it's not something they're used to.
