CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs face a challenging start to the season with guards Darius Garland (toe surgery) and Max Strus (foot surgery) sidelined by injuries. But could this apparent setback actually accelerate the team’s offensive evolution?
That’s the intriguing question explored in depth on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast, where host Ethan Sands and cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins examined whether necessity might force innovation.
“Does this force Kenny Atkinson to utilize De’Andre Hunter and especially Evan Mobley to generate offense? Even Jarrett Allen to a lesser extent? I think the quick answer is you would hope so because you need offensive fluctuation, you need it to flow,” Sands pondered, addressing a question from subtexter Lloyd in Mayfield Heights.
The discussion cuts to the heart of Cleveland’s offensive identity crisis. Despite regular season success, their guard-dominated attack became predictable in the playoffs, especially when injuries struck.
Now, with those same guards unavailable to start the year, Kenny Atkinson has no choice but to explore alternative offensive engines.
Watkins took the conversation deeper: “To me, the question is less about whether they will diversify the offense early in the season with these guys out. They have to. They have no other choice. The question is whether it sustains when everybody comes back,” Watkins explained, hitting on the crucial distinction between temporary adaptation and meaningful evolution.
The podcast highlighted De’Andre Hunter as a particularly interesting case study in this forced experiment. While Hunter provides valuable scoring, his career statistics reveal a player not accustomed to creating for others.
“De’Andre Hunter has never averaged more than two assists in a season, which is jarring,” Sands noted. “And that kind of goes into the point of why he might not be in the starting lineup. Ball movement stops with De’Andre Hunter because if he sees a shot that he likes, he’s going to take it.”
This early-season stretch provides an opportunity for Hunter to expand his game beyond scoring, potentially through pick-and-roll actions with Cleveland’s talented big men — connections that could prove valuable in playoff scenarios.
For Evan Mobley, the temporary absence of primary ball-handlers presents perhaps the most significant opportunity. With fewer established options demanding touches, Mobley could emerge as the offensive fulcrum many believe he’s capable of becoming.
The irony wasn’t lost on the podcast hosts. The Cavaliers might actually benefit from these early challenges, provided the organization embraces the developmental opportunities rather than merely surviving until reinforcements arrive.
As the team prepares for opening night with a depleted backcourt, the question looms: Will this forced diversification reveal pathways to a more playoff-ready offensive identity? Or will old habits resurface once the roster returns to full strength?
For a franchise with championship aspirations, finding the right answer could make all the difference between another early exit and a deep playoff run.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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