The Cleveland Cavaliers are still playing better than they have in multiple seasons but they have certainly been less consistent lately.
This is partly due to the fact that injuries have sprung up on the team, taking down both Jarrett Allen and Rajon Rondo.
And now another player can be added to that list: Dean Wade.
The Cavs announced that the forward will be out for the rest of the season for surgery to repair a meniscus injury in his right knee.
Losing Wade hurts but their playoff hopes are still alive – if not just a bit murkier than before.
With And Without Wade
Before the announcement of his latest injury, Wade had missed the previous seven games.
The team was learning to move on without Wade, who averages 5.3 points a game on 45.6% shooting and 35.9% from the three-point range.
Wade started in 28 games this season for Cleveland and filled in for Lauri Markkanen.
He wasn’t the most consequential player on the team but was a valuable and reliable part of their depth.
Losing Wade will create a hole that needs filling before the postseason begins.
Right now the Cavaliers are seventh in the East with a record of 41-33.
That means they are currently set to participate in the Play-In Tournament.
But they could fall even further in the standings if they don’t stay consistent: both the Charlotte Hornets and the Brooklyn Nets have a record of 39-36.
The good news is that the Cavaliers still have quite a few young, talented, driven players who are ready to put up quite a fight.
The team isn’t where it once was but it is still capable of making some serious noise in the postseason.
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