Fortunately for Clevelanders, the Browns appear to be a postseason contender.
Due to separate injuries, the Cavaliers, who have already had a dismal 13–12 start to the season, will now be without crucial starters Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for at least a month. The team disclosed both injuries on Friday.
The team’s starting point guard, Garland, collided with Kristaps Porzingis while trying to drive past him in the third quarter of Thursday night’s game against Boston, breaking his jaw.
Although Garland’s absence was greatly regretted, the information worsened. A word that defensive anchor Evan Mobley would be sidelined for six to eight weeks following a knee scope was released less than an hour after the news about Garland was made public.
The Cavaliers are negatively impacted by this on both ends of the court; this season, Cleveland’s net rating is -3.9 while Garland and Mobley are not playing.
With an average of 20.7 points and 5.8 assists per game, Garland is a vital component of the Cavaliers’ offensive engine. When both Garland and Donovan Mitchell are on the court, Clevland’s offense is clicking; in the minutes that both players play, the club has a +9.5 net rating.
Leading the Cavaliers’ eighth-ranked defense this season, Mobley finished second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year both last season and this one. Without Mobley, Clevland’s defense is 9.6 points weaker per 100 possessions.
Cleveland, while having a run of home games and a somewhat softer schedule, is ninth in the East, has lost three straight, and will struggle to make up ground in the near future. Mitchell will now have a lot of responsibility, while Jarrett Allen will serve more as a rim protector in the paint.
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