The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of a brutal stretch of basketball, facing off against five straight teams with a winning record. To make matters worse, the Cavs will have to battle without their Jarrett Allen, as the All-Star center is expected to be sidelined indefinitely with a fractured finger; he recently suffered a quad contusion, also.
Touching further on their upcoming games, they have a battle with the number one-seeded Miami Heat before making a quick pit stop in Chicago to face off against the Bulls. The Cavs then come home to face the gritty LA Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Denver Nuggets.
These games will have major playoff implications considering how tight the top-6 race is in the Eastern Conference. The NBA hasn’t given the Cavs any breaks on their schedule and teams have seemed to put much more respect into this team.
To compensate for Allen’s injury, the Cavs signed Moses Brown to a 10-day contract but no player will be able to replicate what Allen does for the team. Allen is among the league’s best in rebounding, defense, and inside scoring. His All-Star season includes career-highs in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage.
A contract extension that was questioned by many now looks like a steal for a player still years away from his prime. Asserting himself as one of the NBA’s top centers, Allen’s presence will be missed as he recovers from injuries.
In today’s article, we will look at two adjustments that the Cavaliers could make with Jarrett Allen sidelined. It’s reportedly uncertain if Allen will return during the regular season, but either way, these adjustments can help Cleveland when he is out.