Whenever Evan Mobley grabs a rebound and starts a fast break, just know it's part of the Cavaliers' strategy and a new aspect of the 7-foot forward's repertoire.
And if Mobley looks much more natural in those moments than in years past, it's important to understand focused offseason training is the cause.
"Each game getting better and better," Mobley said recently. "More and more pushes are going to keep coming. I feel like it creates good offense for us as well, collapses the defense for kickouts ... and, if not, keep going until I get the layup. So it's just going to keep happening and happening. I worked on it a lot during the summer, and that was a big factor."
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley has explained his priorities while he prepared for his third NBA season were ...
parlaying his defensive rebounding into pushing the pace
enhancing his playmaking
fine-tuning his face-up game
In the second quarter of Saturday's 125-113 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Mobley pulled down a rebound off a missed foul shot by Bennedict Mathurin and converted it into a coast-to-coast slam dunk with 2:58 remaining before halftime. Mobley again took off after rebounding a missed layup by Mathurin, drew a foul at the other end of the floor and made two free throws with 11:08 left in the third quarter.
Early in the first quarter of Friday's 108-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder , Mobley brought the ball up the court off a rebound and dished out an assist on a 3-pointer by Isaac Okoro . After Cleveland's slow start in its home opener, the play accounted for the Cavs' first basket with 8:17 left in the opening quarter and helped Okoro score their first nine points.
Mobley, 22, occasionally leading the charge in transition is part of the Cavs' plan to play faster on offense this season.
A measuring-stick game for Mobley and the Cavs (1-2) will unfold Tuesday night against the New York Knicks (1-2) in Cleveland. Scars remain visible from the fifth-seeded Knicks eliminating the fourth-seeded Cavs 4-1 during the first round of the playoffs in April.
Mobley said he added 7 pounds of muscle in the offseason, increasing his weight to 222 pounds after he played at about 215 last season. He had a home gym built at his house in California, and the Cavs pointed to him benefiting from bolstered strength in training camp.
"It's been in his face-up game and the way he has taken on heavier and physical guys," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "He has a confidence now when he is bringing the ball up the floor.
"He is confident enough to engage [with defenders] and not always feel like he has to do something to maneuver around them. That added weight also comes with added strength, and when you have that strength you feel more confident hitting people."
Bickerstaff has started Mobley at center in each of the Cavs' first three games this season because Jarrett Allen has been sidelined with a left ankle bone bruise . Mobley is averaging 19 points on 48.9% shooting from the field, 11.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocked shots.
After Mobley scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against the Thunder, Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell said, "He's able to impact the game in so many different ways for us. That's big time of him."
Mobley's encore consisted of 33 points and 14 rebounds against the Pacers, who faced the Cavs with starters Allen, Mitchell (hamstring) and point guard Darius Garland (hamstring) inactive. It was the first time Mobley had compiled at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in the same NBA game.
"We want Evan to dominate the paint, and I think [Saturday night] he did that on both ends of the floor," Bickerstaff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers news: All-time great Bobby 'Bingo' Smith dies at age 77
Mobley has established himself as an elite defender, as evidenced by his first-team selection to the 2022-23 NBA All-Defensive Team .
Expanding Mobley's involvement in the offense is the next step for his young professional career. He's determined to push himself — and the Cavs — to ensure it comes to fruition.
"He should have the mindset of a point forward or point center," Bickerstaff said. "When he defensive rebounds the ball, we want him to push the ball up the floor every single time. It just changes the way defenses have to see him, and most fives aren't comfortable guarding a guy who's pushing it, who's coming at them."
The Cavs, on the other hand, relish it as a facet of Mobley's evolution.
More on the Cleveland Cavaliers: Browns star Myles Garrett wanted to 'plant deep roots' by joining Cavs ownership
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs' Evan Mobley pushing toward expanded role in offense
