CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs have been playing some of their best basketball of the season over the past 15 games despite missing several key players.
With Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Max Strus working toward their returns, head coach Kenny Atkinson faces what cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor calls “painful decisions” – the kind of problem every contending team wants to have.
“I do think it will be difficult, and I think that’s the mark of a good roster,” Fedor explained on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast. “I think anytime you’re talking about who’s going to be in the lineup, who’s not going to be in a lineup, you want to make the decision on Kenny Atkinson as difficult as possible. You want these to be painful decisions. Because it tells you that you’ve got enough guys that are worthy of that kind of playing time that have filled in admirably during these absences.”
While the Cavaliers have thrived with increased contributions from young players like Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Craig Porter Jr., and Jaylon Tyson, the inevitable return of Cleveland’s stars will create a ripple effect through the rotation. The question isn’t whether all-stars like Garland and Mobley will reclaim their spots – they will – but rather how the coaching staff will handle the players who’ve stepped up in their absence.
Cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins brought clarity to the situation: “I would say, by and large, though, these are less painful decisions. We’re talking about Darius Garland coming back. Okay, everyone move out of the way. He’s an All-Star. Evan Mobley coming back. Okay, everyone move out of the way. He’s an All-Star. Max Strus, core member of this organization, leader in the locker room. Everyone get out of the way.”
The real complications, according to Watkins, come with the second unit: “As you insert Darius now that makes everyone take a step back. The second unit minutes become more complicated because now some of the guys who have been spot starters are now part of that shuffle.”
One factor working in Cleveland’s favor is the trust these young players have earned during their extended minutes. Tomlin, for instance, has grown from a raw prospect to someone Atkinson trusts in critical defensive assignments against elite offensive players.
“I think the belief and the trust that these players are earning now when injuries are prevalent is going to help them when it comes time to get those opportunities,” noted host Ethan Sands. “And Kenny is not going to be as hesitant as he might have been earlier to the season.”
This newfound trust could prove invaluable when situational matchups call for specific skill sets.
“On nights when the Cavs are looking sluggish, Kenny might just get fed up and say, you know what, Nae’Qwan? Go in there and muck the game up. That’s what you do. Go get some deflections, get some rebounds,” Watkins said.
Another complicating factor is the uncertainty surrounding Strus’ return and effectiveness.
Fedor highlighted that Strus “hasn’t done anything like to this point since fracturing his foot. He hasn’t done two on two. He hasn’t done three on three. He hasn’t done four on four. He hasn’t done five on five. He hasn’t taken any contact.”
This likely means a gradual return to action rather than immediately resuming his previous 30-minute workload.
The Cavs’ rotation “problem” represents the best kind of dilemma for a championship-aspiring team – too many capable players deserving minutes.
While the regular season allows for experimentation and flexibility, the playoff rotation will inevitably tighten. The experiences gained by players like Tomlin, Porter, and Tyson during this injury-riddled stretch could prove invaluable when those high-stakes moments arrive.
For fans wanting more insider discussion about the Cavs’ rotation challenges and other team developments, the Wine and Gold Talk podcast offers extensive analysis of these exact topics, with new episodes dropping regularly featuring insights from those closest to the team.
Here’s the podcast for this week: