Cavs Big Man Potentially Expanding his Offensive Arsenal

During the Cavs media day on Monday, head coach Kenny Atkinson made it clear that he’s open to Allen shooting from behind the arc.

“We do deep dives on each guy’s shooting. We have a lot of in-game data … we have all of these metrics. Atkinson said. We have free throw shooting, we know good free throw shooting equals confidence in the three-point shooting. So, we’ll keep looking at it. But again, JA’s got to prove it to me.”

Allen is not known for his shooting as an NBA player. However, in 2018-19 under the guidance of Atkinson, Allen shot a career-high 0.6 threes per game, or 45 in total. Now, Allen only made 13.3% of his threes that year but, as Atkinson mentioned free-throw shooting means better three-point shooting. Last season, Allen shot 74.2% from the charity stripe, his highest mark since his rookie season.

Allen’s shown the ability to shoot from the free-throw line which has a positive correlation to jump shots. Especially for big men, like Allen, who do not typically shoot many jumpers. A confident Allen is crucial to the Cavs offense.

What Allen’s Shooting Adds

If Allen begins to shoot threes this season at a higher rate than ever it would add an entirely new component to the Cavs offense. It would be difficult to imagine a scenario in which Allen is prolific from behind the arc. However, if the seven-footer can shoot nearly enough 25%, it changes how you guard this Cavs lineup.

Last season, Allen’s frontcourt partner, Evan Mobley began to shoot three-pointers at a higher clip adding to his offensive progression. Mobley shot 37.3% from three last season compared to 21.6% the year prior. Allen and Mobley are known typically for their work in the paint and back to the basket. If Allen follows Mobley and starts shooting the Cavs lineup one through five will have the ability to shoot.

Spacing has been a concern for the Cavs lineup with Mobley and Allen on the court together. Neither player has been a shooter through three years together as teammates but times could be changing. As mentioned, Allen and Mobley do not need to be prolific three-point shooters to have added value to the Cavs’ offense. However, the addition of the outside shot will have defenses on their toes when playing against Cleveland this upcoming season.

The Last Word

The addition of Atkinson as the team’s head coach opens up many possibilities on the Cavs offense. Spacing will be a key part of Cleveland’s success this season. Don’t be surprised if Allen opens up the 2024-25 campaign shooting threes or even standing behind the three-point line early in possessions.