Beware of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This team has been playing very good basketball for weeks now, holding onto the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference despite being down two of their stars.
Needless to say, they’re only expected to get much better now, as they could be back to full strength for the first time in quite a while.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, star PG Darius Garland could be back on the floor on Wednesday to face the Detroit Pistons after being out since December 14 with a broken jaw.
Cavaliers star guard Darius Garland – out since Dec. 14 with a fractured jaw – plans to return Wednesday vs. Pistons, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Cleveland becomes whole this week with Evan Mobley and Garland back. pic.twitter.com/xBKSqX4G7P
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 30, 2024
Garland was their second-best scorer and best playmaker, and he’s formed a deadly backcourt combination with Donovan Mitchell.
The Cavs recently got PF/C Evan Mobley back, who had been out for almost two months with a knee injury.
Donovan Mitchell has been spectacular in their absence, with Jarrett Allen helping him hold down the fort and anchor the defense in the paint.
J.B. Bickerstaff’s team looks much better and more solid than last season, with multiple role players like Caris LeVert, Max Strus, and even Isaac Okoro stepping up big time and doing all the dirty work.
The Cavaliers looked inexperienced and out of sorts in last season’s postseason run, getting outplayed by the New York Knicks on both ends of the floor.
This time, however, they figure to be one of the biggest dark horses to make a deep postseason run in the East, and while they might still not be championship contenders, they’re definitely heading in that direction.
NEXT: Cavs Are Reportedly Sending A Clear Message About Donovan Mitchell