Player Grades: Cavs vs. Lakers – Jarrett Allen stifles the Lakers’ offense

The Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 5-0 after starting the game strong and never letting the Lakers smell a hint of a comeback.

Grades are based on our expectations of each player.

Donovan Mitchell

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

It was clear from the note that Mitchell would make a name for himself early on. Mitchell often caught the inbounds, strolled to the fence and simply fired. It immediately put the Lakers in a bad position and his aggressiveness really elevated the offense and put the game in jeopardy early on for the Lakers.

Grade: A+

Evan Mobley

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

Mobley's stats are more impressive than the tape itself. Mobley was a big beneficiary of the bad time, as he scored 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. Mobley got into foul trouble early on and committed four fouls, meaning he was only able to play 12 minutes in the first three quarters. While it's nice to see Mobley aggressive against players like Jaxson Hayes and Max Christie, it wasn't enough to earn a good grade.

Grade: B

Darius Garland

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

Garland remained steady tonight after enduring his offensive explosion against the Knicks. While he wasn't a Human Torch against the Lakers, Garland did a great job of navigating the Lakers' defense and finding quality looks for all of his teammates. Garland doesn't need to score more than 30 points a night to make an impact, especially if he puts his teammates in the right spots.

Grade: B+

Jarrett Allen

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

A thoroughly great Jarrett Allen game. Allen was a force on both ends of the floor. He was the Lakers' worst nightmare: whether it was stifling the Lakers' attempts at the rim (I don't know if Rui ever recovered from that) or dealing with the mismatches the Lakers had with him. Games like this are a reminder of why you don't trade Jarret Allen for Brandon Ingram or someone similar in the offseason. It is a special center that, when switched on, is a serious disruptor.

Grade: A+

Dean Wade

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

A good Wade game in the sense that while his shots weren't frequent, his defense was. Wade was a threat to the Lakers' personnel. He disrupted passing lanes, ripped the ball out of LeBron's hands and suffocated the outside players. Games like this show why Wade is more complex than the average fan might think.

Grade: B

Caris LeVert

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

A best-case scenario for the LeVert pendulum. LeVert was controlled, deliberate and decisive. He continued his hot three-point range (4:6 shots) and mastered them in the rhythm of the offense. LeVert not only scored, but also set up the decisive points with some clever assists while driving on the rim.

Grade: A

Sam Merrill

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

Not Merrill's best, although filming isn't quite finished yet, it's clear the staff likes what else Merrill brings to the table. He can be a great secondary playmaker and has some defensive performances that can surprise. His basketball IQ allows Merrill to be much more than just a simple shooter.

Grade: C

Georges Niang

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

Niang did a good job against the Lakers. Even though his shot wasn't necessary in this win, Niang contributed well to the defense and was a nuisance for opposing players. That's a good impact for a player who didn't need to light it up.

Grade: C+

Isaac Okoro

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

Okoro had a lot of leeway in this game. With 20 minutes left, Okoro just wasn't playing well. Okoro was often an afterthought on offense and the defense wasn't notable enough to make big plays to raise the grade. I think Okoro will turn things around at some point, but when the team is firing on all cylinders and he's the underdog, things aren't looking great.

Grade: D

Ty Jerome

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

Jerome didn't have many meaningful minutes in this game. Like Mobley, Jerome also benefits from garbage time in the fourth quarter. Aside from a few runs in the second quarter, Jerome collected most of his stats in the fourth quarter. However, it's nice to see that the shot is still falling.

Grade: C