The Cleveland Cavaliers knew ahead of time that Darius Garland wouldn’t be available for Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs dropped that game 121-112 and are now down 0-1 heading into Game 2 on Tuesday. Indiana was too much at the end despite Cleveland holding a few leads throughout the game. The absence of Garland didn’t factor in much during Cleveland’s 4-0 sweeping of the Miami Heat in round one. That said, the Pacers are not the Heat. To keep up with Indiana’s offense, Cleveland needs Garland back as soon as possible, or this series will go downhill quickly. On top of that, the Cavaliers are also dealing with injuries to Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter, forcing some concerns for the next tilt and maybe beyond.
Cavaliers Face Trouble with Injuries in Play
Injuries to Evan Mobley and Darius Garland put the Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff hopes in jeopardy
There is the very real possibility that the Pacers have been underestimated—ignored, even—all season. Furthermore, they may have been underestimated against the Milwaukee Bucks—look how that series played out. Going into their series with Cleveland, nine out of ten had the Cavs come out on top. Now, perhaps things have changed, given how Game 1 went and the aftermath of developments regarding some injuries Cleveland faces.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Cleveland’s injured players’ availability for Game 2 could be in flux. Garland is still struggling with significant pain and swelling in his toe. The good news is that there is no structural damage. His status could be much worse if that diagnosis were different. Then there is Mobley, who injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Game 1. Mobley played 36 minutes that game, scoring 20 points and adding 10 rebounds.
Additionally, Hunter, whom the Cavs traded for earlier in the season, dislocated his right thumb while attempting a dunk. According to Fedor, neither player’s availability for Game 2 is certain, and both are listed as questionable. Garland’s status also remains questionable.
Are the Cavs in trouble already?
Put aside the injuries Cleveland is dealing with—it’s one reason why they might be in trouble. That said, it’s fair to bring Donovan Mitchell into the conversation. Mitchell took 30 shots in Game 1, which is too much. Granted, he didn’t have Garland in the backcourt with him, so given that Mitchell was Cleveland’s best offensive player on the floor, he maybe felt 30 shots was necessary. The crack in the metal here is that Mitchell’s teams are 1-5 in the playoffs when he takes 30-plus shots (Utah Jazz postseason runs included), which is troubling.
Shooting more doesn’t always equal a win, and in Sunday’s case, Mitchell overshot, and the Cavs lost. Now, provided Garland returns at some point, Mitchell’s need to shoot that much likely decreases. However, if Garland remains out for another game or two and Mitchell continues to launch, there’s no guarantee it will help the Cavaliers. Going back to his days in Utah, Mitchell’s criticism is that he’s never made it past the second round. It’s a reality that hangs over this series. So, trouble? Yes, Cleveland may be in trouble. And while overreacting after one game isn’t wise, extended injuries to Mobley and Garland aren’t ideal if the Cavaliers want to keep pace with the Pacers.
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