Will the Cleveland Cavaliers' fast start withstand injuries to multiple starters?
The Cavaliers announced Tuesday that fast-starting rookie Evan Mobley will miss the next two to four weeks with a ligament sprain in his right elbow. And on Friday, they announced that guard Collin Sexton underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, which had sidelined him since Nov. 7.
In years past, such injuries might not have been a concern in the standings as Cleveland rebuilt through the draft. That's changed early this season, however, as the Cavaliers are a surprising eighth in the Eastern Conference standings at 9-8. Already, Cleveland is above-.500 deeper into the season than at any point since LeBron James' departure for the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018. (Last year's Cavaliers started 8-7 before fading.)
Although Mobley should be back at some point in December, the Cavaliers won't get Sexton back at all, testing their perimeter depth. Let's take a look at how Cleveland replaces Mobley and Sexton and what it means to the Cavaliers' hopes of returning to the playoffs ahead of schedule.