New Reports Deepen Cavs’ Injury Worries Before Game 2

The Cavs have an elite roster and quality depth, but losing players of Mobley, Garland, and Hunter’s caliber may prove too significant a burden for their all-world shooting guard, Donovan Mitchell. The challenge becomes even clearer when examining how Cleveland performs without its core pieces.

According to StatMuse, the Cavaliers have a record of 6-5 without Mobley and 4-3 without Garland this season. While those records aren’t disastrous, they highlight how critical the two are to Cleveland’s success, particularly against the Pacers’ fast-paced offense.

On the offensive end, Garland serves as a distributor and secondary shot creator, alleviating some of Mitchell’s offensive burden. Without him, Mitchell is tasked with primary playmaking duties and serving as Cleveland’s number one scoring option, a heavy lift even for a player of his caliber.

Mobley’s absence may be even more significant. As the newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year, Mobley anchors the Cavs’ defense and is crucial to slowing the Pacers' red-hot offense, particularly that of forward Pascal Siakam. Without Mobley, Jarrett Allen is left to handle the paint alone, allowing the Pacers to exploit driving lanes and stretch the floor with their frontcourt’s shooting.

Hunter’s role may not be as high-profile as that of Mobley and Garland, but he fills a key role in Cleveland’s lineup that has proven to be their downfall in past playoff runs. Since joining the Cavs in February, the 3-and-D wing has shot 42.6% from deep while providing reliable defense.

Without him, Cleveland faces a difficult trade-off. Isaac Okoro is a reliable defender, but his limited shooting allows opposing defenses to sag off him. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Sam Merrill; a capable shooter, but a clear liability on defense.

Hunter solved this longstanding conundrum by giving Cleveland a true two-way option on the wing. Without him, the Cavs are once again forced to pick their poison, and neither alternative presents a clean solution.

For Cleveland to keep their championship hopes alive, they’ll need a herculean performance from Donovan Mitchell tonight—and the return of Mobley, Garland, and Hunter at something close to full strength in Indianapolis.