Cavaliers Can’t Catch A Break

Injuries are part of the game. We don’t like seeing good players go down. Injuries have cost teams the chances of advancing to the next round or winning it all. No one expected the Cleveland Cavaliers to have that kind of season. It’s the most exciting Cavaliers team since the Lebron James era. However, lately, things haven’t been going their way. The Cleveland Cavaliers can’t catch a break.

Center Jarrett Allen recently suffered a fractured finger; forward Dean Wade is out for the remainder of the season with a torn meniscus. The Cavaliers have gone 4-6 in their last ten meetings. Both Evan Mobley and Lauri Markkanen are also dealing with scary-looking injuries.

Mobley has been a force for the Cavs this year, as he has averaged 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in 66 contests.

Cleveland fans can only hope that Mobley’s ankle injury won’t keep him sidelined for an extended period. Mobley is a phenomenal talent, and we must see how he will perform in the postseason. Seeing good young players perform in their first year in the postseason excites me.

How will these injuries affect their chances when playoff time comes?

Cavaliers need these young guys to be at full strength in the first round if they go up against teams like someone they would love to compete with – Brooklyn Nets. Cavaliers are currently sitting at the 7th spot for the play-in tournament. The Brooklyn Nets are on the 10th seed, which no one saw coming. However, they are the dangerous 10th seed in the NBA. The Nets are another team who have dealt with injuries. Ben Simmons has played a game this season yet. How exciting would it be to see the Cavaliers and the Nets at FULL STRENGTH in a first-round matchup?

On paper, the Nets are the better team. But let me remind everyone of something. When April comes, anything can happen. Guys like Jarrett Allen and Caris Levert are playing with a chip on their shoulders. They would like to have this dance with the Nets. Allen and LeVert have demonstrated to the Nets this season that they never needed Harden in the first place. Levert and Allen are laughing their butts off at the Nets front office. Cleveland also would put its young backcourt, All-Star Darius Garland, and potential Rookie of the Year Evan Mobley on a national stage against Irving — who hit one of the biggest shots in NBA history to help the Cavaliers win the 2016 championship.

Aside from the Brooklyn Nets, the Cavaliers need to set their eyes on the Philadelphia Sixers. Recently, the Cavaliers took on the Sixers. The Cavaliers played a hard-fought game against a team led by star player Joel Embiid and his counterpart James Harden. The Cavaliers lost the game, 112-108, but the effort and mental toughness stood out the most. However, the Sixers constantly going to the free-throw line hurt the Cavaliers big time in this game. The Sixers took 11 more free throws than the Cavs, with Philadelphia’s James Harden and Joel Embiid combining for 28 points at the line on 32 attempts. If the Cavaliers can avoid foul trouble and play tenacious defense, they can give the Philadelphia Sixers a scare, especially if they can get out of the play-in tournament and advance.

Jarrett Allen nor Evan Mobley suit up against the Philadelphia 76ers. They are 3-7 in games Mobley has missed. Following Sunday’s matchup versus Philadelphia, the Cavs will play their final two road games — Orlando and Brooklyn — before coming home for next Sunday’s finale.