Jarrett Allen is currently listed as out for Monday’s game against the Toronto Raptors due to a strain in his right third finger, according to Underdog NBA. His absence leaves Cleveland without a key piece in the lineup for this crucial matchup.

The Cavs are coming off two consecutive wins in the NBA Cup against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Indiana Pacers, victories achieved without Allen. His presence, however, remains pivotal to Cleveland’s overall performance.

Toronto enters the game on a seven-game winning streak, currently second in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland trails just behind the Raptors, sitting at 12-6, compared to Toronto’s 12-5. This matchup will be crucial for the second seed and positioning near the Detroit Pistons.

The impact of Jarrett Allen

Cleveland is 4-0 this season when Allen scores at least 20 points, with those wins coming against strong opponents, including the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets, all while Allen worked his way back into action.

That trend continues when looking at games in which Allen scores 15 or more points, where the Cavaliers hold a 7-1 record, with the only loss coming against the Boston Celtics in late October.

Conversely, Cleveland has struggled when Allen scores in single digits, posting a 1-3 record. This clearly demonstrates his importance to the team’s offensive flow and overall success. When healthy and in form, Allen is a cornerstone of the Cavaliers’ strategy and performance.

“He’s more relaxed, I think that was his first head coaching job at Brooklyn, you know, and it’s like it’s a hard job,” Allen said during an interview on The Young Man and the Three podcast. “Probably just his confidence and trust in his ideas to propel us forward, it’s a noticeable difference.”

Allen played under Atkinson during his tenure with the Nets from 2016 to 2020. Kenny’s first head coaching role came after stints as an assistant with Paris Basket Racing, the New York Knicks, and the Atlanta Hawks. According to Allen, the transition from assistant to head coach was challenging, but Atkinson has since gained invaluable experience.

“I understand that now that after Brooklyn he went to the Clippers, then he went to Golden State and he was just getting so much more experience,” the center added, reflecting on Atkinson’s growth before joining Cleveland.

Atkinson’s unique coaching style

During the conversation, Jarrett Allen shared an intriguing detail about Kenny Atkinson’s coaching approach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Whenever we do a film session, we always start with something funny,” Allen revealed. “Whether it’s a play from the game or making fun of one of our teammates, we always kick things off with a laugh. It just makes everything so much easier moving forward.”

This insight underscores Atkinson’s emphasis on creating a positive and relaxed atmosphere to foster better performances from his players. “Kenny is just a good dude,” the 26-year-old center noted. He also praised Atkinson’s tactical expertise, adding, “On the basketball side, he’s a genius.”

What’s next for Cleveland?

The Cavaliers responded to their loss against the Boston Celtics by bouncing back with a commanding 128-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Their offensive firepower and resilience were on full display, reinforcing their position as one of the league’s top contenders.

Next up, Cleveland will host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, followed by another home game against the Atlanta Hawks three days later. Both matchups present the Cavaliers with an opportunity to extend their impressive start to the season.

Fast-forward to today and both are having a bit of a timeshare at the center position, but the rumors claim that Jordan wasn’t happy with his role as a reserve last season and that’s the reason why he’s the starter right now.

It’s not a secret that the reason why DeAndre Jordan signed with the Nets in the first place is that he’s close friends with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. In fact, they even took a paycut to be able to lure him in.

Steve Nash Knows There Could Be Drama Between DeAndre Jordan And Jarrett Allen

And, considering that Irving and Durant’s opinions have a lot of weight in the locker room – like it happened with Kenny Atkinson’s firing – new coach Steve Nash knows that he must find a way for both to coexist:

“A bit of everything. He definitely has that relationship with Ky and Kevin. He has that experience as the older player. Caris (LeVert) and JA also have good chemistry. So, it’s a bit of everything. It’s just not something I’m belaboring. Jarrett’s going to play a lot. I love him on the floor. I want to be very careful not to make it like a mini-drama because it’s not,” Nash told The New York Post.

“They both play. JA has been outstanding and will play plenty, if not the bulk of the minutes, but for right now, he’s just playing those minutes from the second unit. He closed the game against Atlanta (on Wednesday). I just don’t want it to become some sort of thing where we’re pitting our own guys against each other because I think the group has got a pretty good vibe right now,” he concluded.

Jarrett Allen is younger and has a higher upside than DeAndre Jordan right now. Also, he’s making the most of his minutes right now with averages of 9.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game on 63% shooting and 22.9 minutes per game.

DeAndre Jordan, on the other hand, is averaging roughly 4.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 19.0 minutesper game and has looked far from the top-notch rim protector he was in his prime.