Our biggest strength is the team
Photo credit Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers lost their two young stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley to injuries that will keep them both out for extended time.
Darius Garland will have surgery to repair a broken jaw and will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks. While Evan Mobley will be out 6-8 weeks due to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to clean up some loose bodies.
Before the Cavs matchup with the Atlanta Hawks (10-14) coach JB Bickerstaff addressed the media and explained how difficult it is to deal with the recent injuries, but finding a way to turn a negative into a positive.
“I mean obviously it’s tough on all of us. You know no more tough on us than it is them. You have empathy for those guys, the time they put in, the work they put in, you know how much this means to them. How much being a part of the team and being in the fight with their teammates means to them. One of the most difficult things that happens when you’re injured is you start to feel isolated and kind of on your own. I think all of us have to do a great job of just embracing them, keeping their spirits up, making them continue to feel like they’re a part of this because they are and then find ways for them during this to improve whether it’s studying, you know, film like how much you can do in the weight room like all those things. You know, we just have to figure out a way to turn it into a positive and make the best out of a tough situation”
With Garland out, Donovan Mitchell’s scoring will be even more necessary, however coach Bickerstaff wants Mitchell to keep a focus on managing the game.
“We’re gonna direct the ball to the guy who’s one of the most elite scorers in the league. But you know, there’s so many moments in a game, where we talked about having empathy for your teammates and understanding what they need and how they need to feel a part of it to do the other things that we asked them to do. You ask Jarrett Allen to protect the paint, defend every pick and roll, communicate the defense. And then offensively if we don’t throw him the ball, you know, It doesn’t always translate. He’s got to manage the game as a whole and understand because the ball is going to be in his hands primarily. How do I get my teammates involved? Show them that I trust and believe in them. Give them the energy to go out and do all the dirty and nasty things that are going to be necessary for us to win during this stretch.”
The injuries have now created the opportunity for more playing time for guys on the bench. When asked about Craig Porter Jr’s future role as point guard, coach Bickerstaff says he’ll play the role no doubt.
“I mean, he’s gonna get minutes there. There’s no doubt about it. I think he’s proven that when called upon, he responds so we don’t have any doubts or worries about what Craig can do. He’s proven to help us win basketball games. So you know, he’s gonna get out there and he’s gonna do what he always does.”
The injuries have now called into question the Cavs future as Donovan Mitchell’s pending free agency hangs over the organization. Does coach Bickerstaff feel that his uncertainty has had any impact on the team?
“I mean, I watched their relationships. I watch what they do when the lights aren’t bright, and you know, you guys don’t get to see and I can’t tell you that it has. I can’t tell you that there’s been any change in their relationships. You know, they’ve gone to dinners together, they spend holidays together, so I couldn’t tell you that. I am not a mind reader and I couldn’t tell you what everybody is thinking but in the things that matter most I can tell. I watch how they play together and I don’t see any selfish motives like finger pointing, blame game, you know, any of that stuff. So I can’t say that I’ve seen any of it. What goes on, in people’s heads and behind doors. That I don’t see.”
When asked if having to play another game so quickly was a blessing, Coach Bickerstaff wouldn’t go that far, but appreciates the moment they have to just focus on basketball.
“For these guys, the game of basketball and the competition of sport is what they’re drilled to do. To have the opportunity, like for all of us, whatever’s going on in our lives for these two hours that we go out and we compete together as a group. That’s the sole focus of what we’re able to do. So it is an easing moment. I can’t say it’s a blessing. But it’s a moment where you can take a step away from all the *expletive* that goes on around you, and just focus on what you love to do and the stuff that you put your heart, soul and blood into, and just focus on that for two hours.”
Donovan Mitchell when asked after Saturday night’s game what his initial reaction to hearing both Garland and Mobley are going to be out for extended time, he knows no one outside the Cavs locker room is going to care.
“I can’t curse. ‘Wow.’ I mean, it’s just one of those things. We lose three straight games where you feel like they’re winnable and you’re kind of down. Then both of them on the same day. He texted me first and he told me and I was just like, no fucking way. There’s no way. My biggest thing is obviously the game and the games and the wins and losses and whatever and how we need to play, but for him as the person, as a person, you work so hard. I’ve seen it firsthand. Work so hard to play, to continue to get back, coming back from what was hurt before to come back and then to have this happen, something that’s completely out of his control, that definitely hurts. And then for Evan, it’s the same thing. Those guys have been working their butts off and to have that happen and injury is a part of the game, but you hate to see it, hate to see with two guys who continuously put the work in to get better. That was my reaction. Damn. You know what I mean? But on the flip side, and I think these two will feel the same way. No one’s going to care outside of this locker room. You know what I mean? I think that’s what kind of brings us together. And these guys showing up, D.G.(Garland) came, Ev (Mobley), gave him a hug immediately. That’s big being here because you don’t have to be here when getting knee surgery. DG can’t talk, but he’s here still being a part of what we got going on that speaks to the character of those two guys and we wouldn’t want it any other way. You know what I mean? I think we’re going to hold it down until they get back. But it’s tough. It’s tough. And I feel for them as humans, more so than just basketball”
Jarrett Allen echoed coach Bickerstaff’s words reiterating that it’s a team game and no one man has to be superman.
“So you know, you have to do more than a little bit. JB said before the games, it’s not our job to go out there and try to be Superman. It’s not our job to go out there and try to make up for everything that’s lost. It’s just for us to try to find one area that we can improve in and try to help the team and so I don’t think it was clarifying for me it was just trying to find somewhere I can help the team.”
Dean Wade after the game said it sucks missing two of their best players, but know they have to operate with ‘next man up’ mentality.
“I feel bad because those two guys mean so much to us. I know they care a lot about this team. And you never want to see people miss games like this, so I feel bad for those guys. For the most part, what they have to go through to get back into the swing of things missing this many games watch the, you know, watch the team play is, it’s tough.from the bench. They have so much talent and could help and so mentally I hope they stay the whole course of it and get positive out of this whole thing. But as a team man, it sucks, because there’s two best players to see those guys go down like that, you know, it sucks, but you know, it’s basketball. It’s next man up kind of mentality.”
