Cavaliers welcome rare five-day pause after relentless start
cavaliers-welcome-five-day-pause-after-relentless-start
The Cleveland Cavaliers finally have a chance to catch their breath. After logging a league-high number of back-to-back sets and tying for the NBA lead with 25 games played, the club will not take the floor again until Friday, giving the roster five full days to recuperate.
Cleveland sits at 14-11 but has struggled to maintain a steady rotation. Injuries, illness and ongoing injury management have forced coach Kenny Atkinson to juggle lineups throughout the opening six weeks.
“We need it. We need it. We need to reset,” Atkinson said Saturday following a loss to a shorthanded Golden State squad. “Reset, get a little practice. The schedule is going to ease up and we will get back on track.”
Time to heal
Center Jarrett Allen continues to battle a finger problem, while guard Darius Garland is still feeling the effects of offseason toe surgery. Reserve guards Craig Porter Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. have also been banged up, and starters Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley have carried heavy workloads despite avoiding the official injury report.
“Anytime you can buy days in the NBA so guys can heal up a little bit,” Atkinson noted, “it’s a good time to get some guys healthy.”
Looking ahead
The extended break precedes Friday’s matchup with the Washington Wizards, when the Cavaliers will try to translate the extra rest into on-court results. How refreshed bodies respond then may determine whether the early-season grind becomes a turning point or just an excuse.
Source: Hoops Wire
