The Cleveland Cavaliers enter training camp with optimism tempered by challenges as injury concerns loom over key players. The season before, the Cavaliers sailed through the Eastern Conference en route to having the best record in the league. Their playoff dreams came crashing down when the Indiana Pacers knocked them out in five games in the conference semifinals.
Darius Garland, an All-Star guard, averaged 20.6 points on 46/38/87 shooting splits along with 6.7 assists during the regular season. He will participate in a restricted capacity of basketball-related activities once training camp starts. He’s slated to miss at least the first month of the next regular season. A turf toe injury has affected his play since the playoffs last season. The surgery required to stabilize Garland’s injured big toe postponed his major league debut. This led to questions about his preparedness for the upcoming season.
His notable absence weighs heavily on the Cavs’ backcourt strategy. Donovan Mitchell should probably get used to playing point guard anyway as Garland recovers. Golden State head coach Kenny Atkinson was adamant about Mitchell’s versatility, and that was indicated by the quote,
“With this guy, he hits what we do to a T. He will add a lot.” – Coach Kenny Atkinson
Sam Merrill will fill the starting shooting guard slot. His experience will be key as the team continues to make these changes. Max Strus put up 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game over 50 games last year. Yet, after having surgery to repair his broken left foot, he will miss the first two months of the season if not more. Strus had 37 starts in the regular season under his belt, making the Cavaliers roster alignment issues even worse.
In his place, De’Andre Hunter will likely take on a majority of the minutes asked of Strus. That provides him a tremendous opportunity to have a major influence on the team’s success. Koby Altman noted Hunter’s progress and readiness for the challenge:
“He focused on the things that we’ve been talking about for a long time, which is weight room strength. He looks good. He’s stronger, more stout and has a great attitude. I think his mental is in the right place.” – Koby Altman
With training camp already underway, the Cavaliers will need to figure these things out with a limited time frame. Consequently, their ability to adapt will be what brings about a winning season. With Garland’s recovery ongoing and other players stepping up in key positions, the team aims to overcome these early setbacks and build momentum as they prepare for their upcoming games.
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