Player Ratings: Cavs vs Lakers – Jarrett Allen stifles Lakers offense

On November 2, 2024By Littum

The Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 5-0 after opening the game strong and never letting up Lakers make a comeback.

The grades are based on what our expectations are for the individual player.

Donovan Mitchell

24 points (10-20 shooting), 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals

It was clear from the tip-off that Mitchell would make his mark early. Mitchell often got the entry, strolled up to the perimeter and just shot away. It immediately put the Lakers in a bad position and his aggression really turned up the flow for this offense and put this game in jeopardy for the Lakers early.

Grade: A+

Evan Mobley

25 points (12-16 shooting), 5 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls

Mobley’s stat line is more impressive than the tape itself. Mobley was a big benefactor of garbage time as he scored 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. Mobley was in foul trouble early with four fouls, allowing him to play just 12 minutes in the first three quarters. While it’s nice to see Mobley aggressive, against the likes of Jaxson Hayes and Max Christie, it wasn’t enough to warrant a good grade.

Grade: B

Darius Garland

12 points (5-14 shooting), 10 assists, 2 steals

Garland was solid tonight, coming off the heels of his offensive explosion against Knicks. While he wasn’t a human torch against the Lakers, Garland did a great job navigating the Lakers’ defense and finding quality looks for all of his teammates. Garland doesn’t need to score 30+ points a night to make an impact, especially when he puts his teammates in the right spots.

Grade: B+

Jarrett Allen

20 points (9-12 shooting), 17 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist

A quintessentially great Jarrett Allen game. Allen was a force on both ends of the floor. He was the Lakers’ worst nightmare: whether he stifled the Lakers’ attempts at the rim (I don’t know if Rui ever recovered) or had his way with the mismatches the Lakers had him with. Games like this are a reminder why you don’t trade Jarret Allen for Brandon Ingram or someone similar in the offseason. He is a special center when he is on and is a serious disruptor.

Grade: A+

Dean Wade

8 points (3-7 shooting), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

A fine Wade game in the sense that while his shots weren’t often, his defense was. Wade was a threat to the Lakers staff. He disrupted passing lanes, ripped the ball from LeBron’s hands and suffocated perimeter players. Games like this show why Wade is more layered than the average fan might think.

Grade: B

Caris LeVert

16 points (6-8 shooting), 6 assists, 1 steal

A best-case scenario on the LeVert pendulum. LeVert was controlled, deliberate and determined. He continued to run his hot three-point streak (4-6 shooting) and took them within the rhythm of the offense. LeVert not only scored, but also set up the bigs with some smart assists when driving the rim.

Grade: A

Sam Merrill

3 points (1-4 shooting), 3 assists, 2 steals

Not the best Merrill game, although the shooting hasn’t quite arrived yet, it’s clear the staff likes what else Merrill brings to the table. He can be a great secondary playmaker and has some stretches defensively that could surprise. His basketball IQ allows Merrill to be much more than a simple shooter.

Grade: C

George Niang

5 points (2-4 shots), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Niang did decent work against the Lakers. Although his shooting wasn’t needed in this win, Niang provided good help defense and was a pest for opposing players. This is a good effect for a player who didn’t need to light up.

Grade: C+

Isaac Okoro

3 points (1-3 shots), 1 steal, 5 fouls

Okoro played a lot in this one. With 20 minutes to show, Okoro simply did not play well. Okoro was often an afterthought on offense and the defense wasn’t remarkable enough to draw big plays to boost the grade. I think Okoro will turn it around eventually, but when the team is firing on all cylinders and he’s the odd man out, it doesn’t look good.

Grade: D

Shut up Jerome

14 points (5-7 shooting), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal

Jerome didn’t get many meaningful minutes in this game. Like Mobley, Jerome is a beneficiary of garbage time in the fourth quarter. Outside of some runs in the second quarter, Jerome mostly reaped his stats in the fourth quarter. It’s nice to see the shot still falling though.