The Cleveland Cavaliers almost had a disastrous start to their season on Opening Night Wednesday. Playing the Raptors in Toronto, the Cavs saw their floor general go down with an injury during the second quarter. It wasn’t just any injury; it was a nasty-looking eye injury.
Blink and you might have missed it. Toronto guard Gary Trent Jr. was going for a steal in the backcourt and poked Darius Garland right in the eye. It wasn’t malicious, and not truly reckless. But in that period of unknown, it seemed like the season for Garland and the Cavs might be pushed off course before it even truly began.
Darius Garland may miss some time with an eye injury. What changes to the Cavs’ rotation could occur and what players will need to step up?
Thankfully, the injury was on the minor side. Garland suffered a cut on the inside of his eyelid, which sounds horrifying, but the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that there was no structural damage and that surgery would not be required.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 20, 2022
There has been no official announcement, but it seems very likely that Garland will miss at least Saturday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, and Sunday’s home opener as well. If that happens, what changes will occur in the Cavs’ rotation? Let’s look at three specific things that will change.