CLEVELAND, Ohio — Since the Core Four went to the playoffs for the first time as a group, Jarrett Allen’s toughness and validity as a consistently dominant center in today’s NBA have been questioned league wide.

The one line Allen uttered three postseasons ago, “the lights were brighter than expected,” has followed him through every interview, every playoff series, every national talking point questioning whether the Cavs’ big man has the toughness to rise when the pressure ramps up.

Allen’s mental toughness will get tested again when the playoffs arrive, no doubt. That’s where reputations are rewritten or reinforced. But the physical part? That’s settled.

The 6-foot-9 center who anchors Cleveland’s defense has proved that he can take a hit and keep coming back for more.

On Wednesday n

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