
The loss of Jarrett Allen is a blow to the Cavs‘ shots at making the playoffs, and they have to hope he returns well ahead of the postseason if they want a chance at winning a series. Until the team releases more information, the biggest question surrounding Allen and his injury is how long he is expected to miss.
That’s the answer the team and its fans are waiting to find an answer for. Yet underneath the overall unknown of how long this team is without Allen, there are a number of smaller questions that have to be answered by the coaching staff as they determine how to survive without their All-Star center for some amount of time.
The loss of Jarrett Allen to a fractured finger means finding answers to burning questions. What do the Cavs have to sort out moving forward?
Allen leaves behind a massive hole; not simply because of his size but because of his role. He was the anchor of the defense and played 32.3 minutes per game, which is among the most for NBA centers and a significant leap from his prior numbers. No one else on the team brings his combination of size defensively and finishing offensively.
Yet the Cavs have to fill the void as best they can. How will they do that? Let’s break down three questions whose answers will paint the picture of how head coach J.B. Bickerstaff intends to make this car continue to go forward.