The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally found a winning formula without LeBron James on the team.
That involves rolling out a lineup of big men and challenging opponents to match their size and pace.
So far, the formula has resulted in a 7-4 start to the season.
Much of the attention is focused on the dominant play of rookie and No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley.
But the true MVP of the team so far is Jarrett Allen.
The $100 million man is living up to his new contract and was just recently named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
OFFICIAL: @_bigjayy_ is the Eastern Conference Player of the Week!#FROHIO x #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/CN3dIfL4n6
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 8, 2021
Allen had an amazing week as his team went 4-0 from Monday through Sunday.
A Rare Honor In Cleveland
The Cavaliers have not been a good team without James in town.
That means Allen is the first Cavaliers player to take home Player of the Week honors since LeBron was in Cleveland.
Jarrett Allen last 4 games:
20.5 PPG
16.3 RPG
2.5 APG
1.5 SPG
1.3 BPG
63.3 FG%
4-0 recordHe is the first Cavs player to be named Player of the Week since LeBron James in 2018. pic.twitter.com/9R6K8cXch3
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 8, 2021
Such a feat being accomplished points toward the team actually making positive strides forward this season.
Winning without James has been a problem for the team ever since he left the first time for Miami.
But the front office has hit on scouting and the patience is paying off.
As for Allen, the Cavaliers basically stole him from the Brooklyn Nets as part of the James Harden trade.
Brooklyn gave up on a top young center and Cleveland is happy to have him.
He now pairs with Mobley in the post to form a dynamic duo, while Kevin Love and Lauri Markkanen are also playing well down low this year.
The strategy of playing so many bigs together is working and opponents can’t seem to do much to stop it.
If Allen misses out on a rebound or a put-back dunk, a seven-footer is usually near to finish the job.
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