Can the Cleveland Cavaliers overcome the loss of Evan Mobley to an ankle injury?
While no definitive timeline has been given, it’s clear the Cavs’ big man is set for a lengthy absence. The team has options but can it cope in his absence?
Arguably one of the most promising teams in the league and one that has a young core, the Cleveland Cavaliers just can’t seem to catch a break. In yet another blow to the team, Evan Mobley has now been ruled out for an extended period after an ankle injury.
Evan Mobley’s ankle injury is a problem for the Cavs
If you caught Tuesday’s epic game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, then you saw the Cavs launch a 22-point, fourth-quarter comeback to secure the W. Sadly, the victory came at a high price as star forward Evan Movley went down with an ankle injury after a dunk with 5:29 remaining on the clock in the third quarter. In clear pain after what appeared to be a severe twist, Mobley was initially unable to walk off the court which in turn led to Sam Merrill committing a foul. Mobley was then replaced by Caris LeVert and taken to the locker room by trainers. He was seen on crutches following the end of the game. To be clear, the
Mobley’s injury comes as yet another issue that the Cavs could do without. What’s worse is that it’s not the first he’s suffered in recent times. Earlier this season he was forced to miss six weeks after undergoing knee surgery at the end of last year. He now joins fellow starters Donovan Mitchell (left knee) and Max Strus (right knee), both of whom have been on the injured list for quite a while. Regarding what the Cavs have lost in Evan Mobley, it’s worth noting that the big man has averaged 15.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 57.8% from the field. With the exception of his blocks, all of those figures are career highs. That’s to say, his injury is going to hurt the Cavs. To be clear, the Cavs have given no clear timeline as to when Mobley will return, but the team did indicate that he will be re-evaluated in a week.
Ironically, the team may not be as badly off as you might think. Consider for a moment that the team’s best run this season actually occurred when Mobley (and Darius Garland) came off the bench. Indeed, it led to the Cavs relying more on shooting rather than working in the paint, something that saw them put down the Celtics on Tuesday night. At any rate, what’s certain is that with the likes of Dean Wade, Isaac Okoro, and Jarrett Allen, there is cover. The question now is whether it’s enough to maintain the fight for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. At present that spot belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks who are half a game ahead. With Mitchell and Strus expected to return in the near future, all is not lost but rest assured Mobley’s injury is not ideal.