Cavs Mailbag: Why Is Evan Mobley’s Jumper Taking So Long To Develop?

Spencer Davies answers Cleveland Cavaliers' fans questions before the team’s four-game West Coast road trip starts in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Welcome to Cavs Mailbag! In this daily mailbag, Spencer Davies will respond to fans’ curiosities surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers throughout the duration of the 2023-24 season. In order to submit yours, simply send your questions on X to @SpinDavies or via email at spindavies22@gmail.com.

It was an off day for the Cavs, as they officially took flight on Tuesday afternoon to begin their four-game West Coast road trip. It starts Wednesday night in Oklahoma City against the Thunder, who bested Cleveland in its home opener with a stunning fourth-quarter surge.

Payback is on the wine-and-gold’s mind, and a good start to the week-long roadie would be a big confidence boost. 

Let’s get to those questions:

For a guy that is supposedly a fast learner, why has it taken so long for Evan Mobley to learn how to shoot? - @_milson_

Before offering an opinion on this matter, here’s what Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had to say when I asked him directly about Evan Mobley’s jump shot oftentimes being short and flat.

“Typically you're flat because of your legs or your release point,” Bickerstaff said in his pregame press conference before Sunday’s win over Golden State. “So being shot-ready includes your legs and that gets the ball up, or you're releasing it at a higher point which gets the ball up.

“I think one of the things with guys who have long arms is it's almost that slingshot motion that takes a shot flat. So just consistency on getting his release up and that'll change the flat trajectory.”

So there’s your technical answer. I’ll also go here: Fluctuation in usage. That has to do with injuries, changes in position by playing the 5 vs. the 4 and personnel. For example, scoring-wise, he’s been anywhere from the fourth option to the first option just because of who the Cavs have had out there. That can’t help.

Nov 3, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) shoots while Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Secondly, Mobley will need to knock down those elbow mid-rangers and the occasional triple, but that will not be who he primarily is on the offensive end. He’ll be a weapon in the roll as a passer and a finisher, a hub for dribble handoffs on the block and a mismatch-hunter for jump hooks.

With Jarrett Allen back in the fold, you’ll be seeing Mobley get some dunker-spot lobs too. Plus, in transition, he’s pushing that ball up the floor with a vengeance — whether it’s a quick pass to a teammate or advancing it himself.

Do they ever plan to utilize Isaiah Mobley? Seems like he has upside, but he never plays when the games matter. I understand Tristan is better, but Jones is not. - @FuznFancy

Isaiah Mobley currently appears to be a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option. It looks like Bickerstaff is comfortable with his big-man rotation so long as everybody is healthy. Of course, everything is matchup-based.

You’re going to see Allen for 30 minutes, with Evan Mobley playing most of the backup center position and Tristan Thompson getting somewhere between 10-15 minutes. Bickerstaff has also turned to Georges Niang in spurts depending on what the situation has called for. Less about Damian Jones, I think Thompson has just won over Bickerstaff with his affinity for playing tough, foul-free defense and making teams work on the glass on each end.

Jones has only gotten a couple of opportunities at meaningful run. Yes, the Brooklyn game wasn’t his best, but he did some good things against the Thunder in their first meeting. Jones is quick off his feet and can be a connector offensively. On defense, he’s had some miscommunications, but that's to be expected on a new squad. He'll get another chance at some point.

As for Isaiah, it'll be tough for him to crack this rotation at the moment with a surplus of versatile big men on the main roster. He'll get valuable reps with the G League Cleveland Charge though, and their season begins Friday night with a two-game series at home against the Milwaukee Bucks affiliated Wisconsin Herd.