The Cleveland Cavaliers are joining many other teams around the league in adding players to the ever-growing list on the NBA COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The latest to join is Cavs rookie sensation Evan Mobley, who was added today and will miss Saturday’s game and likely several more games because of his status, unfortunately. His teammate Isaac Okoro was added yesterday to the list and it will make the Cavaliers’ task in front of them this next week a bit more challenging.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 18, 2021
Okoro and Mobley have been key pieces to this new Wine and Gold squad’s resurgence this year as the team stands at 18-12, in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and on a roll, having won five straight games.
Mobley had sat out the last game against the Houston Rockets. Cavs forward Dean Wade stepped in as the starter and provided a nice game in Mobley’s absence with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Cleveland will certainly need more of those quality minutes from Wade over this next stretch of games.
Mobley’s been averaging 13.8 points and 8.3 boards this season for the Cavaliers. Those are nice contributions, but what has been even more noticeable with Mobley as he’s begun his career with the Cavaliers is that his presence on the court, from his defensive skills to his knack for the game and his general gifts for the game, are helping spark this Cavs team this season. With him out of the lineup for any length of time it will be interesting to monitor as the next week or two unfold because I believe his skill sets are what set him apart from so many NBA players.
The Cavs have been without both other big men Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen in recent weeks due to illness/protocols at times, but they had Mobley in the lineup. This will be different and not having that type of gifted and very talented NBA player who seems to be able to do a little of everything on the floor will be missed more than when Allen or Markkanen was out.
How the Cavaliers will come out Saturday night up in Milwaukee to face the Bucks will be interesting to see. I’d imagine they’ll start Darius Garland and Ricky Rubio at guards and then go with Allen, Markkanen, and Wade. I’d guess that Cavs forward Kevin Love would continue to be the first player off the bench, followed by Cedi Osman.
After that probably big man Ed Davis would get some good minutes this next series of three games the Cavs are on the road. We might even see forward Lamar Stevens out there this week too as Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has admired the energy he brings to the team when he plays.
As with any situation with COVID concerns, we hope that other players and coaches can all remain healthy and safe as we all continue to go through this time.