Cavs Top 3: Evan Mobley leads the way with impressive comeback against the Celtics

The Cavs mounted an incredible comeback against the Celtics.

The Cavs were looking at a route against the Celtics. Down at one point by 19 points, and the bench scoring just two points at one point; it was not Cleveland’s night. Then, midway in the third quarter, J.B. Bickerstaff pulled Isaac Okoro for Ricky Rubio and the entire dynamic of the game changed.

The Cavs mounted an improbable comeback, down three of their best shooters due to injury and illness, led by Darius Garland, Ricky Rubio, and Evan Mobley. It was the kind of comeback that helped prove to critics and fans alike that this Cavaliers team is different.

The Cavs unveiled new jerseys and a new court design on Saturday so it was impressive that they ended up winning. The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 91-89 and improved to 9-5 on the season. The two teams square off again on Monday, the 15th of November in a rare back-to-back.

The Top 3 Cavs players against the Celtics

As always, the bottom is in descending order with the lowest number being the worst and the top is in ascending order with three being the best.

The Bottom Three Performers

1. Isaac Okoro
2. Dean Wade
3. Jarrett Allen

The worst player in the game on Saturday was Isaac Okoro, a player who has done nothing to warrant his playing time since being drafted. His defense has never been good enough to make up for his horrific play offensively. He can’t stretch the defense to any degree, and as proven yesterday, the Cavs play better defense without him on the court. It’s time to move on and see if you can’t upgrade his spot.

It’s hard to say that Dean Wade played bad but if we’re being honest, he didn’t do much to help the Cavs win. Then again, he also isn’t supposed to. He’s an emergency starter at best and it shows in his play. As long as he isn’t actively turning the ball over and missing shots, he’s doing all you can ask.

Jarrett Allen didn’t play much in the second half and was run off the court by Boston’s smaller lineup. He didn’t have the impact he should’ve had. Allen is like an NFL running game, if you’re way behind like the Cavs were, you really don’t want him on the court. You need a faster lineup, and that’s what happened last night.

The Top Three Performers

1. Darius Garland
2. Ricky Rubio
3. Evan Mobley

The first positive point of the night goes to Darius Garland. He was the only offense for the first half but defensively he was a bit of a liability and it showed. He was able to be a focal point in the second half’s comeback.

The two-pointer goes to Ricky Rubio, who replaced Okoro for most of the second half, really stepping up on both sides of the court. He posted the second-highest box +/- of the game, with a +13 on the team. He did most of his scoring in the second half too, after starting off the game pretty poorly on offense.

Lastly, Evan Mobley gets three points for his total domination of the fourth quarter. His versatility and scoring prowess allowed the Cavs to make the comeback they did. He was special on Saturday.

Yearly Standing:

1. Jarrett Allen/Ricky Rubio (16 points)
2. *Tie* Darius Garland/Evan Mobley (12 points)
3. Cedi Osman/(9 points)
4. *TIE* Collin Sexton/Lauri Markkanen/Kevin Love/ (6 points)
5. Dylan Windler (1 point)