Even with a poor performance by Evan Mobley, the Cleveland Cavaliers only lost to the defending NBA champions by seven points.
Mobley drew heavy criticism for his play in the loss to the Boston Celtics.
He was smothered on offense by Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, and he struggled to establish his usually strong defensive presence.
That’s why he knew he had to bounce back in the next game.
And bounce back, he did.
Mobley led the Cavs with 30 points on 10-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three-point territory, adding nine rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks.
When asked about his big game, he acknowledged that he needed to be more aggressive to bounce back after such a disappointing outing:
“I didn’t have a great game last game, and I knew that it definitely motivated me for this game,” Mobley said. “I just wanted to come out in attack mode. Not let up.”
Mobley had just seven points and five rebounds vs. the Celtics, missing all of his shots from beyond the arc in what may have been his worst game of the season.
He’s just too important to have such a bad game.
The Cavs are a deep team, and the rest of the group should be able to step up when any player isn’t available or performing at their best.
Nevertheless, Mobley’s play has been the catalyst to this team’s success all year long.
He has the potential to be the Defensive Player of the Year, and his enhanced offensive skills are also a significant aspect of their current success.
Hopefully, he will bring that same aggressive and competitive mindset to the court every time he faces top-tier teams as well.
NEXT: Evan Mobley Has Honest Admission About Darius Garland's Game-Winner
