The top strength in the East is hard to escape the curse of injury! The Cavaliers new season ending has long been destined

The Cleveland Cavaliers were born to win games, but the problem is that their current roster does not have the ability to win games continuously. On paper, the Cavaliers seem to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference lineup, with MVP-level scorer Donovan Mitchell, and new DPOY's Evan Mobley, and many role players who can pull off the offensive space. With the existence of new player Lonzo Ball, the Cavaliers are completely a team with the ability to win the championship. But there are still scratches under the perfect paper lineup, and the same problems keep coming - injuries, and these are the reasons they returned to nothing last season.

Bauer is the most obvious example. He has not played a full NBA season since 2021 and has been missing for more than two consecutive years due to knee problems. The editor does not deny that when he is healthy, he is undoubtedly an excellent offensive tandemist, but his glass attributes are too high, and even labeling him as "easy to injury" is highly regarded by him. The editor asserted that it was unrealistic to expect him to play 70 games, and once he fell, the Cavaliers' point guard rotation would drop dramatically.

Then there was Dalius Garland, who had to undergo surgery this summer. Garland has missed many seasons of games due to injury problems, and there are many types of injuries, including eyes, hamstrings, and toes. The main point guard's constant injury and slow start of the game make it difficult for the Cavaliers to fully utilize the strength of their lineup under the leadership of Mitchell. Without Garland, Mitchell's offensive pressure will be increased, and an overly single offensive level will allow the opponent's defense to make a targeted layout, so as to easily defeat them in games like the playoffs.

veteran Max Struz also suffered a foot fracture and will be absent for 3-4 months. In terms of attendance, Struz is already considered an Ironman for the Cavaliers. He is also a reliable pitcher who can relieve Mitchell's offensive pressure and is also the Cavaliers' most reliable wing player.

Last year's playoff loss against the Indiana Pacers was a perfect portrayal of what happened when the Cavaliers' health deteriorated, Mitchell broke his ankle, Garland limped, Mobley was injured, and the Cavaliers' rotation collapsed instantly. Granted, the Cavaliers won the No. 1 in the Eastern Conference, but it all became unimportant when their roster collapsed in the second round, such a team that rode the 82-game regular season but failed to prepare for the playoff basketball that began in May.

Andangingly, this is not uncommon for the Cavaliers, and it seems to be becoming the Cavaliers' label. They can always overwhelm their opponents in the regular season by relying on lineup depth, energy and star power in Mitchell. But in the playoffs, when the pace of the game slows down and the number of rotations decreases, even the smallest cracks will be infinitely amplified, and for the Cavaliers, these cracks are always related to the body.

Bauer should be the most important external force to break this balance. If he can return to 80% of his original form, the Cavaliers will eventually get a thruster that can improve the offense of other players. But the more realistic situation is that the Cavaliers are currently asking someone who has not been able to get on the field for many years to create miracles. Coupled with Garland's ongoing injury issues, Struce's absence and everything Mitchell's comeback on the front line in the injury-ridden playoffs, the Cavaliers don't look like a championship-level team, they're strong on the outside and do the inside.

Although the lineup of many strong teams has undergone drastic changes, the competitiveness of the East is not small. The Cavaliers cannot expect that they can limp and wait for the good results to appear. The Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks all have healthier and more reliable core rosters. Although the Cavaliers have the talent to compete with any team, talent alone still cannot survive the ordeal of the playoffs.

If the Cavaliers can't get smarter and not lucky enough to manage their health, the new season may repeat the mistakes of the previous season: having a hopeful start, then a painful mid-term, and finally returning home early in the playoffs. The Cavaliers are not lacking in talent and skills, they just lack usability, and in the NBA, this is the biggest difference between top-notch and pseudo-strong teams.