Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen was called ‘soft’ by Draymond Green for this play in the postseason against the Toronto Raptors.
Allen and teammate Evan Mobley have been criticized for letting Raptors bigs Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles have their way in the paint with the Cavaliers in their first-round playoff series, which is tied up right now 2-2. The Raptors have been the far more physical team, and it’s a big reason why they are in a true fight to upset the Cavaliers and emerge victorious in the series.
Draymond Green Says Jarrett Allen is Playing ‘Soft’
The play of Allen has not been lost on his Green, who is one of the NBA’s hardest-nosed defenders. The Golden State Warriors star today said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” that Allen has been playing soft in the playoffs.
“Jarrett Allen seems to get into these playoffs and get really, really, really soft, man. He gets into the playoffs and turns into a completely different player, and not for the better. He gets really, really, really soft in these playoff games, and I just don’t understand it,” Green said.
Green criticized Allen while also complimenting the strong play down low from Barnes and Murray-Boyles, who have been feasting in the paint on Allen and Mobley in the playoffs.
In Game 4, Allen struggled mightily for the Cavaliers, scoring just 3 points on 1-5 shooting. While he did grab 15 rebounds, it wasn’t enough as the Raptors earned the victory. Overall, during this playoff series, Allen is averaging just 8.8 points per game, which is a massive step down from the 15.4 points he averaged during the regular season. Things simply haven’t gone well for Allen on offense, and that’s to say nothing of his defensive effort, which has been porous, along with Mobley.
The poor play of two Cavs big men has been pointed out by fans and media as one of the reasons why the Cavs haven’t already finished off the Raptors in four games, and why they may be at risk of losing this series altogether. In Game 5, look for Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson to make some adjustments if Allen has another poor outing at center.
Cavaliers and Raptors Meet in Game 5 on Wednesday
Game 5 takes place on Wednesday between the Cavaliers and Raptors in Cleveland. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Cavaliers are -8.5 point home favorites to win the game, while being listed at -380 on the moneyline. Therefore, the oddsmakers are bullish on the Cavs’ chances to get past this game with a big home win and make this a 3-2 series in their favor. But if that’s going to happen, the Cavaliers’ big men simply need to play better.
The Cavs have the more talented team on paper, but it’s not just about talent in the playoffs, as we are seeing in the series between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic. It’s about showing up when it matters, and right now, the Cavaliers aren’t doing that. If this team is going to win this series against the Raptors, then they need Allen to step up his game and show why he is being paid over $20 million to guard the paint for them. Should the Cavs lose this series, the team may be forced to shop the market this summer and put Allen and Mobley on the trade block due to their massive contracts and subpar play during this year’s postseason.
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