Cavs’ Evan Mobley learning lessons in first playoff appearance, still making big impact

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Evan Mobley is a self-described perfectionist. He is his harshest critic. But in Mobley’s first playoff foray — even with some unspectacular stats that aren’t quite up to his own lofty standards — Mobley has learned the importance of moving on quickly.

“Don’t dwell on it,” Mobley said following Tuesday’s practice ahead of the must-win Game 5. “I mean, everyone feels like they can do better always, but you can’t focus on that, just focus on the next game and do your best to be able to (look to the) future more so than the past.”

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The Cavs are down 3-1 in their best-of-seven series against the New York Knicks. Game 5 is Wednesday night at 7 p.m. History isn’t on their side.

With New York’s continued physical dominance in the paint and on the boards, the 21-year-old Mobley has been in the figurative crosshairs despite the youngster averaging a double-double, scoring 10.8 points to go with 10.3 rebounds while anchoring a stifling defense. Mobley hasn’t had his usual feathery touch around the rim and his typically sound decision-making has gotten shaky, with these games looking like they’re moving too fast at times.

That’s led to diminished production. But with Mobley, it’s always been about impact.

“II think there’s different things he’s done pretty well,” teammate Donovan Mitchell explained. “Obviously stats wise, it’s not always going to look the way we all want it to at first, and the way he wants it to at first. It’s a learning process. I’ve seen it. You can’t expect it to all just come out and be clicking on all cylinders. You’re playing against two bigs who are highly active, highly aggressive and he’s done well. He can be better, but he’s been pretty good for us. He doesn’t need to be Superman right now.”

There’s evidence supporting Mitchell’s stance.

In 149 total minutes with Mobley on the court, the Cavs have outscored the Knicks by a team-high 10 points — in a series where they’ve lost three of the first four games. Mobley and rugged swingman Isaac Okoro are the only two players to log more than six total minutes and carry a positive point differential.

In terms of all players this postseason with a minimum of 60 minutes played, Mobley ranked 10th in on-off differential going into Tuesday’s action — all while the still-developing second-year player is making his postseason debut and battling multiple highly-active, more physically mature and more seasoned bigs.

With Mobley on the court, the Cavs are outscoring the Knicks by 4.9 points per 100 possessions. With him off, the Cavs have a paltry net rating of minus-22.3. That’s an astonishing 27.2-points-per-100-possessions difference. It’s an impact mark that puts him alongside Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Phoenix floor general Chris Paul, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton and Boston veteran Al Horford, among others.

“I think he’s gotten better every game,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Mobley. “I think he has a better understanding of what playoff basketball is. I think going through it, understanding what the different atmospheres are going to be, the level of intensity, playing at home versus on the road. I think as he’s gone on, he’s continued to get better.”

A big part of Mobley’s success has come on the defensive end. After becoming the youngest Defensive Player of the Year finalist — and finishing third in the voting behind winner Jaren Jackson Jr. and runner-up Brook Lopez — Mobley has validated his place among the league’s elite. Only five players have contested more shots than Mobley in the postseason — Lopez, Jackson, Anthony Davis, Kevon Looney and Xavier Tillman. Opponents are shooting 9.0% worse with Mobley as the defender.

According to NBA.com matchup data, Mobley has dominated the head-to-head matchup with Knicks All-Star forward Julius Randle, limiting the gimpy Randle — who is still fighting through a sprained ankle — to just 26 points on 26.3% from the field and 3 of 17 from 3-point range as the primary defender.

Mobley said recently his approach against Randle is to stay in front and use his length, not allowing the bruising forward to plow his way into the paint and get to his strong left hand. Mobley has also studied tape on how Randle likes to create space for his patented step-back 3-pointer.

“I like that matchup a lot,” Mobley said recently when asked about taking the defensive challenge against Randle. “Coming into this, it was a great matchup for me. Great for me to show off my defense and how far I’ve come.”

Heading into Game 5, Bickerstaff has implored Mobley to be more assertive on the offensive end. He wants the 7-footer to be attack-minded on every touch, looking at the rim first instead of thinking pass. Then it’s about making the shoot-pass decision based on how the defense is playing him.

Following one of the games earlier this series, Mobley was disappointed with his floor game in the pocket, off the short roll, and made that a point of emphasis. He’s performed better in that area since — even though he’s only 3 of 18 on non-restricted-area shots in the paint through four games.

If the Cavs are going to start their series comeback — becoming the 14th team in NBA playoff history to overcome a 3-1 deficit — Mobley will need to be at the center of it, taking what he’s learned already and applying it to the biggest game of his career to this point.

“Whatever the moment is where there’s a lesson for him, he’s not one of those guys who takes a month to learn,” Bickerstaff said. “He has the ability to learn and grow quickly.

“I think that’s what makes him so unique.”

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