The Cleveland Cavaliers are finally starting to resemble the team many expected to see this season. After a frustrating stretch filled with injuries and inconsistency, the Cavs have notched back-to-back wins for the first time in a month, taking down the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
And let’s be clear - this recent uptick isn’t just a coincidence. It’s tied directly to one thing: health.
The cavalry is arriving, and it’s showing up on the scoreboard.
Sam Merrill’s return has been a quiet game-changer. Don’t let his role-player status fool you - his presence has had a tangible impact on the Cavs’ offense.
Merrill lit up the Pelicans for 22 points, drilling six threes in the process. But it’s not just the shooting.
Since his return earlier this week, Cleveland’s ball movement has been crisper, the spacing cleaner, and the offense more fluid. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t need the ball to make a difference, and when he’s hitting shots, the entire floor opens up.
Then there’s Darius Garland, who played in his first back-to-back of the season - a small milestone that carries big implications. Garland has long been a tone-setter for this team, and seeing him string together games is a sign that his conditioning and confidence are trending in the right direction. When Garland is healthy and aggressive, the Cavs’ offense moves from predictable to potent.
But make no mistake: this season hasn’t been a smooth ride. Injuries have hit Cleveland hard, and not just in volume - but in timing and impact.
Evan Mobley is out for a month with a calf strain. Jarrett Allen has been in and out of the lineup with finger injuries on both hands.
Merrill had been sidelined since mid-November. That’s not just depth being tested - that’s the core of your rotation being yanked out week after week.
And yet, there’s reason for optimism. As one analyst put it on a recent episode of Courtside with Cavs, “It’s been a season from hell,” but the numbers don’t lie - when this team is even close to full strength, the results have been elite.
The net ratings with the core group on the floor have been outstanding. That’s not spin - that’s what the data says.
So while it might sound like excuse-making to some, the reality is that Cleveland hasn’t had a fair shot to show what it’s capable of. The talent is there.
The chemistry - when available - has been clear. The question now is whether they can stay healthy long enough to build momentum.
That challenge starts on the road, with a three-game trip that kicks off on Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. That’s followed by matchups with the Houston Rockets on Saturday and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. It’s a stretch that offers both a test and an opportunity - a chance for the Cavs to prove that this recent surge isn’t just a blip, but the start of a climb back into the Eastern Conference mix.
The road won’t be easy, but for the first time in weeks, the Cavs are heading into it with some wind at their backs - and a healthier roster to lean on.