When the Cleveland Cavaliers made the playoffs, most of the talk was centered around Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Of course, it’s easy to understand why, as everybody focuses on the leading scorers.
However, as good as Mitchell was in the series, and as crucial as Garland is to the team’s success, Jarrett Allen was the best player in the first round.
Despite being matched up with Bam Adebayo during big stretches, he was still able to dominate on both ends of the floor and made a bigger impact than usual on offense.
As shown by StatMuse on X, he averaged 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game, and while his scoring numbers might not necessarily pop out, the fact that he shot nearly 80% from the field was remarkable.
Jarrett Allen in Round One:
14.3 PPG
10.3 RPG
2.5 SPG
77.8 FG%Dominant. pic.twitter.com/VPcBJVuidf
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 29, 2025
Also, he could’ve had much better numbers if the team hadn’t shut down the starters so early because of the huge lead.
Jarrett Allen is one of the most underrated players in the league.
His game isn’t always flashy, except for when he’s throwing down alley-oop dunks or swatting shots into the fourth row.
Nevertheless, he’s as reliable and serviceable as the best bigs in the league.
The Cavs have plenty of talent and resources, but this team wouldn’t have made it this far without their big man anchoring the paint.
Now, he will be in for a different challenge in the second round, as the Cavs will most likely go against the Indiana Pacers, and both Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam spend a lot of time on the perimeter.
NEXT: Donovan Mitchell Sends Strong Message After Sweeping Heat
