Some might say Jarrett Allen is a boring part of the Cavaliers' core four. In fact, the Cavs might agree with that sentiment to a degree.
But they'll also tell you Jarrett is an absolutely vital piece of their puzzle, the key to their style of play, particularly on the defensive side of the floor.
Allen won't have the 40-point nights of Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland . He doesn't have the other-worldly skillset of Evan Mobley , who the Cavs are waiting to develop into a star. He doesn't have the type of energy Max Strus plays with, which has been a badly needed element to the lineup this season.
Allen is the glue.
When the Cavs went on their hot streak, discovered their blueprint for success and surged into position for the No. 2 seed in the East, it was due to a few elements. One of them was a re-enforcement of their defensive identity. Allen is the player who allows the Cavs to play the style that has worked so well. Without him, none of it works.
"He's the anchor defensively," said Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff . "So, again, if he's not doing his job, our defense doesn't work. His responsibility is to protect everybody else on the floor. And, again, if he's not willing to do that, our defense doesn't work."
Allen wouldn't often be thought of as one of the top-performing players in the league. Even the Cavs might concede he isn't flashy. But the analytics would support the argument Allen has been one of the game's most valuable this season.
According to Basketball Reference's metrics , Allen ranks ninth in the league in win shares (how much a player contributes to his team's wins), ahead of players like Kawhi Leonard , Jalen Brunson , James Harden and Kevin Durant .
And only one player in the league is in the top 10 in both offensive rating and defensive rating (analytical approaches to effectiveness) — Allen, and he's actually ranked in the top seven in both.
Statically, an argument exists Allen is one of the most underrated players in the league this season. The Cavs feel they already knew that, though.
"I think because it's not sexy what he does," Bickerstaff said. "He's not a ball-dominant player, and most people who watch the game typically watch the ball, and the guys who have the ball in their hands typically get the most attention.
"He does a selfless, thankless job, and he knows it. He's aware of it. But he knows how important he is to us and how much it matters to us and our successes. Not sexy. Obviously, people like sexy. But he's a vital piece of what we do and we couldn't survive without him."
The Cavs campaigned for Allen to be named to the All-Star Team . Allen has long been a guy who wouldn't call attention to himself. His teammates basically had to yell it all around the locker room while he was being interviewed, mostly talking about his teammates.
Allen doesn't seem to want the flashy reputation. He wants to be dependable. He's the anchor to what the Cavs do, clocking in and out of work each day.
"I would say coming up in this league, I feel like I wasn't as dependable. I feel like I'd go out, have a double-double one game, and next game I have five and four," Allen said. "For me, it was something that I wanted to expand on, something that I wanted to improve on and be more reliable, whether it's a double-double every single night or just being consistent on the defensive end.
"So, for me, I would just say it was a growth that I wanted to improve on since my rookie year."
One of the reasons why the analytical metrics might value Allen more than the traditional numbers rests with what the Cavs see on film, and why they value him so much. It's part of the reason they gave him a five-year, $100 million deal a few years ago. It's not just that Allen in the past has said his goal isn't just to block shots, it's to alter many more, and force players into shots and angles they don't want.
"Obviously, his threat to put pressure on the rim [exists], but part of the things that he does that nobody sees is, like, how many screens Jarrett Allen sets to help everybody else get open," Bickerstaff said. "It's, like, one screen, it doesn't work, two screens, he goes to get another one to make it work. So, again, it's a lot of thankless things, but things that are important to us."
Allen had perhaps the best game of his career in the Cavs' overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night, finishing with a career high 33 points to go with 18 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. In doing so, he became just the fifth player in Cavs history with at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a game, joining LeBron James , Mike Mitchell, Shawn Kemp and Andre Drummond .
"To be honest with you, I'm used to seeing JA like that," Garland said. "So, I mean, when he kills another great big [guy] like that, I mean, it wasn't surprising to me. Just pat him on the back and say we got another one in a couple days."
Because Allen just goes to work as a key cog in the Cavs machine every day.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs center Jarrett Allen among NBA's best in 2023-24 statistically
