The Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the NBA two months ago.
They’re even better now.
Adding De’Andre Hunter midway through the season has given them the ultimate Swiss army knife.
His presence allows Kenny Atkinson to go smaller and roll with a positionless basketball kind of lineup to close out games.
Of course, that means someone has had to make adjustments and give up some minutes.
Even so, Jarrett Allen isn’t complaining.
When asked about his new role, the Cavs’ big man tipped his hat to coach Atkinson and claimed he would do everything the team needed to take care of business:
“It’s not really difficult for me,” Allen told cleveland.com following Friday’s 118-117 come-from-behind win over the rebuilding Charlotte Hornets. “I trust Kenny (Atkinson) wholeheartedly. Sometimes I wish I was out there. Sometimes I understand why I’m not. At the end of the day, it’s not my job to decide. It’s my job to do the best I can whenever my number is called.”
Hunter’s versatility, defense, and size allow the Cavs to slide Evan Mobley to the five in crunch time.
That gives the team more mobility and the ability to have five shooters on the court during the most crucial time of the game, all without giving up anything on defense.
It’s not easy to embrace a lesser role at this point in the season, especially if you’ve been doing a great job.
Allen had been instrumental to the team’s early-season surge, and it’s not like he was the problem.
But even good things can be better, provided those who are in the locker room also buy in and don’t become disruptive or negative about it.
Allen has been a class act, and that lays a big precedent and sets an example in the locker room.
It’s always about doing what’s best for the team.
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