The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a rough patch, no doubt about it. They've dropped three straight, four of their last five, and five of their last seven. But while the losing streak is real, so is the context behind it - and a big part of that context is injuries.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t hiding from the fact that his team has been hit hard. Before Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, Atkinson laid it out plainly: “The healthier we get, the better we’re going to be,” he said.
“We’ve gone from pretty much the healthiest team in the league to pretty much [the most injured] team in the league. [These are] facts.
Sixteen different starting lineups…I believe tied for first in most different starting lineups.”
Sixteen different starting lineups. That’s not just a stat - that’s a sign of a team constantly scrambling to find rhythm, chemistry, and continuity. And when your core guys can’t stay on the court together, it’s tough to build any sort of momentum.
The Cavaliers have only had four games this season where Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen were all available. Just four.
But here’s the kicker: in those limited minutes together - fewer than 60 total - they’ve outscored opponents by a staggering 25.9 points per 100 possessions. That’s elite-level dominance, even if it’s coming from a small sample size.
The problem is, that sample size isn’t growing fast enough.
And even when guys are coming back, they’re not coming back at full throttle. Take Garland, for example.
He had his best game of the season on Friday, dropping 35 points and dishing out eight assists in a loss to the Bulls. But that performance didn’t come out of nowhere - it came after a long layoff and a slow ramp-up.
“His evolution is to be expected,” Atkinson said. “[He was] out for four months, no offseason, no training camp.
[He] obviously didn’t start the season. The ramp-up has been slow.
So we knew there was going to be a runway.”
That runway is still being navigated. Garland’s shooting just 49% at the rim - well below league average - and hitting a career-low 32.2% from three.
His turnover rate is up, and his assist numbers are down. In other words, he’s still finding his legs.
Atkinson compared it to a quarterback coming back from injury - the movement, the accuracy, the feel - it all takes time. “I just give the kid a ton of credit,” he said.
“I think he’s playing through some stuff, and this is part of that injury. But he’s been a soldier.
It’s great to see him have a DG game the other night.”
If Garland can get back to his All-Star form, that changes the equation for Cleveland in a big way. His ability to create, score, and stabilize the offense is a massive swing factor for a team that’s struggled to find consistency.
Now, it’s fair for Cavs fans to feel frustrated. Some of these recent losses - especially to teams that are far from playoff-caliber - can’t be chalked up solely to injuries.
There are deeper issues at play, from execution to defensive lapses to late-game decision-making. But Atkinson is staying the course and urging patience.
Despite the bumps, the Cavs are still sitting a game over .500. That’s not where they hoped to be, but it’s also not a death sentence. The East is tight, and a healthy stretch could flip the narrative quickly.
“When you guys asked me, ‘Well, what kind of grade [would you give for the season], I gave a B,” Atkinson said. “I’m buying this dip because I know what we’ve got coming. And I love our leadership.”
That’s not blind optimism - that’s a coach who believes in his locker room and knows what this group looks like when it’s whole. The challenge now is getting healthy and staying healthy. If they can do that, the Cavs still have time to remind the league why they were considered one of the most balanced rosters in the East coming into the season.