Las Vegas- The Cleveland Cavaliers went to Vegas on a mission. They wanted to win. And win they did. The Cavs defeated the Houston Rockets 99-78 in a game that wasn’t in doubt after halftime. Isaiah Mobley, who was snubbed for both first and second team summer league took matters in his own hands winning game MVP after finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds.
It was truly a team effort though as Sam Merrill finished with 27 points including 6 threes, and Emoni Bates added 19. Craig Porter Jr played well filling in for the injured Sharife Cooper, as he scored 8 points to go with 9rebounds and 8 assist.
But the night was a culmination for Mobley. Mobley put the Cavs on his back in the semifinal game when he scored 23 points and hit the game winner against the Nets. Once the Summer teams were announced, and his name wasn’t on there, Mobley went on a tear.
Mobley said the right thing in saying “ I try not to worry about things I can’t control. Do I agree with it? No, but it is what it is. I’ll take the championship over it any day.”
Mobley was the Cavs most productive player this summer. You can see the growth in his game. Sure, Sam Merrill and Emoni Bates garnered bigger headlines and stories, but it was Mobley who led the Cavs in points, rebounds and assists. A really good summer for the second round pick out of USC in last year’s draft.
Merrill and Bates were named to the first and second teams, respectively. Merrill shot the ball extremely well this summer and looks to be in some of the best shape as he tries to contend for playing time with the Cavs.
Bates looked impressive as a shot maker. This year’s lone draft pick showed signs of why he was rated so highly in high school as he can flat out score the ball. There were defensive struggles, but Bates is a young player so that’s to be expected. But the talent level and ability were on full display in Vegas.
Fast break 101.@CaesarsSports | #Ad | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/tVOdzdVzEq
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) July 18, 2023
The Rockets came into the game undefeated. Cam Whitmore was named tournament MVP. He finished with 14 points. Nate Hinton, who was in Cleveland last year with the Charge, led the Rockets with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Cavs are developing their players. Mobley, Merrill, Cooper (who missed the last two games with a groin injury) all are players who spent time last year with the Charge. Even Hinton, with the Rockets was with the Charge last year. That is four of the five players in last year’s starting lineup that played extremely well this Summer League. If the Cavs keep developing players at this rate, it won’t be long before they fill out the roster with home grown role players. And who knows, maybe the Cavs have two Mobleys for the future. Because the older of the two is making a name for himself!
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