What's Wrong With The Cleveland Cavaliers?

Remember when Cleveland started last season 15-0 and cruised to 64 wins? That feels like ancient history. The Cavs are sitting at 15-14 right now, and something's clearly broken.

The injury bug has absolutely ravaged this team. Donovan Mitchell has played 26 games, Evan Mobley 25, and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a strained calf. Jarrett Allen has suited up for 18 games, and De’Andre Hunter 28. Darius Garland's toe surgery from last postseason has limited him to just 13 games, and when he has played, he's been a shell of himself, averaging 15.5 points while shooting a brutal 29% from three. Max Strus hasn't played a single game due to foot surgery. Of their projected starting lineup for this season (Garland, Mitchell, Hunter, Mobley, and Allen), they have played just two games together all season.

Even when guys are healthy, they're not hitting shots, and they aren’t defending, sitting 12th in points per game with 118.4, shooting just 45% from the field and 34% from downtown. Defensively, despite having two elite paint protectors, the team sits 16th in opposing points per game at 116.3. 

Losing Ty Jerome in free agency has hurt more than anyone expected. His instant offense off the bench was sneakily vital, and replacing him with Lonzo Ball, who can't play back-to-backs and has struggled offensively, hasn't worked. With Garland also battling availability issues, the guard depth is paper-thin. 

But here's the thing: this roster proved last year it can dominate when healthy. They've got the talent, the coaching, and the experience. One of the surprises of this season has been the play of second-year shooting guard Jaylon Tyson, who has proved capable of being a starter, bumping his scoring average up by ten points over his rookie season. The path back to contention starts with getting bodies on the floor; literally just having their starting five play more than two games together would be progress. They need Garland and Strus back and producing, and Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen staying healthy for a sustained stretch.

The shooting will come around when the roster stabilizes. The defense needs to remember what made them great last year: communication, effort, and rim protection. And if Tyson keeps developing? That's an unexpected weapon. The East is still wide open, but Cleveland's window is closing fast. Just two games out of sixth, they’re not far from contention. While the team still finds itself holding a play-in berth, it needs to stop being its own worst enemy. Health isn't everything in the NBA, but for the Cavs right now, it's the only thing that matters.