The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. After they were knocked out in the first round in 2023, Cleveland made it past the opening round last season. Unfortunately, they ran into the eventual champions Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals and were eliminated 4-1.
With another year under their belt in the Donovan Mitchell era, the Cavs are looking ahead at the 2024-25 season with bigger goals in mind. However, according to Hall of Famer Charles Barkley , the current Cleveland squad won't get to the next level unless they unlock the potential of Jarrett Allen .
"I thought he'd be a 20-10 guy and an All-Star by now," said Barkley on The Jim Jackson Show. "He should be the second option on that team. Like he's the second-best player on that team. People automatically go to Mobley. I said, 'When I watch them play, when Jarrett Allen plays, that's when they play their best.' It should be Donvan and Jarrett Allen, one and two, and then everybody else gets to eat after that."
Cavs play better with Allen on the court
Allen was actually an All-Star in 2022 when he averaged 16.1 points and a career-high 10.8 rebounds per game. But that season, the Cavs also drafted Evan Mobley , who averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while finishing second in the Rookie of the Year race. Since then, Mobley has gotten a more prominent role than Jarrett on offense.
Looking at last season's stats, Allen only had 10.6 FGA per game, which ranked fifth on the team and just behind Mobley's 11.0 FGA. But if you look at the net rating, Jarrett's +6.1 ranks third behind only Spida (+9.0) and Max Strus (+6.8), with Mobley at -2.1. Based on those numbers, Chuck is right about the Cavs playing better with the Texas product on the court.
"I said, 'Man, this guy got so much talent, he got a great body, like he can play against big guys," added Barkley. "He's athletic enough to play wing guys, and they can't guard him in the post cuz he's too big. So he's the one guy in my opinion that if Cleveland's ever going to the next level, it's got to be him."
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Jarrett sees growth in the Cavs
During the 2024 playoffs, Allen talked about how the Cavaliers have grown after their disastrous playoff series against the Knicks in 2023. Although the upstart Orlando Magic took them to the limit, the Cavs showed poise by winning Game 7 at home.
"It's very satisfying," the big man said . "It shows that we've grown not only as a team but as individuals. We're not folding under pressure. We do have our moments, but as a whole, I feel like we've taken a huge step."
Unfortunately, Allen missed the final three games of the Magic matchup and the entire Celtics series with a rib injury. However, with the Cavs returning last season's core healthy next season, they should be a team to watch in the East. Let's hope the new head coach, Kenny Atkinson, feels the same way about Jarrett as Chuckster.
Related: “I think it’ll be quicker than mine and Rudy [Gobert]” — Donovan Mitchell on developing pick-and-roll chemistry with Jarrett Allen
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