Have recent offensive surges and wins proven that the Cleveland Cavaliers' injuries were the primary culprit of their issues?
With the Cleveland Cavaliers starting to get bodies back into the mix, results have shown. In their last two games, the Cavs have scored 139 and 141 points respectively, shooting over 53% from the field in both.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have won consecutive games for the first time in a month, defeating the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Arena. It's no coincidence that the team is getting better because it's getting healthier. Just over the last few games, we've seen the return of Sam Merrill and Darius Garland play in his first back-to-back of the season, for example.
Merrill, in particular, appears to be a critical piece to unlock Cleveland's offensive threat. He is coming off a 22-point night where he nailed six threes, but the wine and gold have had the ball moving right along since he came back on Monday. That can't be coincidental.
In the latest episode of Courtside with Cavs on Saturday, Spencer German and I talked about those costly injuries that have mattered more than people realize:
"I know I'm holding strong here. I might be the only one left on the island in a couple of weeks. It's just been a season from hell, man. Last week, you find out that Evan Mobley goes down with a calf strain; he's out for a month. Add that on top of the fact that they haven't had Sam Merrill since Nov. 17. Jarrett Allen's barely played 'cause he's had literally two finger injuries on separate hands. It's amazing how much has come crashing down on them so fast.
"The good news is that it's winter time. It hasn't even reached Christmas yet. I don't know, man. I don't live in the world of judgment without the whole picture. They may never be fully healthy; I get that. The net ratings and the results with all these guys together have been astronomically good. They've run into a lot of misfortune. It sounds like excuses; I don't care. They were a talented team. They've been a very talented team by nature."
The Cavs are hitting the road for a three-game trip now, with a Christmas Day matchup against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden next. After that, Cleveland will face the Houston Rockets on Saturday and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. It's a great opportunity against the intense competition ahead.
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