As the NBA regular season begins to wind down, the Cleveland Cavaliers are focused on positioning themselves for the postseason. While the division race may be slipping away, Cleveland still has plenty to play for, including holding onto the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and securing home-court advantage in the first round.
But if the Cavs want to make any real noise in the playoffs, Jarrett Allen’s health could be one of the biggest factors in their success.
Allen Still Sidelined With Knee Tendinitis
Allen hasn’t played since March 3 after being sidelined with knee tendinitis, and the team still hasn’t provided a clear timetable for his return.
Originally, Cleveland announced on March 16 that the one-time All-Star would miss “at least” three more games. Since then, Allen has continued to sit out, including Tuesday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for Allen this season. Earlier in the year, he missed time with a finger strain, and the knee issue has now kept him off the floor for multiple weeks.
So far this season, Allen has appeared in 51 games, averaging:
- 15.3 points
- 8.5 rebounds
- 0.9 blocks
- 63.6% shooting from the field
When he’s healthy, Allen remains one of the league’s most efficient interior players and a key piece of Cleveland’s frontcourt.
The Cavs Are Simply Better With Allen
The numbers back it up. Cleveland has been noticeably stronger with Allen in the lineup this season, using his rim protection, rebounding, and interior presence to anchor both ends of the floor.
Allen’s absence has also forced the Cavaliers to lean more heavily on Evan Mobley at center. Mobley has stepped up admirably, averaging 21.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game since Allen went down, but the team is clearly at its best when both big men share the floor.
With Allen in the paint, Mobley has more freedom to operate offensively, whether stretching the floor, handling the ball, or attacking mismatches.
Pick-and-Roll Chemistry With James Harden
Another factor that makes Allen’s potential return so important is his developing chemistry with James Harden, who joined the Cavaliers at the trade deadline.
Harden has long been one of the NBA’s most dangerous pick-and-roll creators, and Allen’s ability to dive to the rim makes him a perfect partner in that action. When defenses collapse on Harden, Allen becomes an easy lob target. And if defenders rotate, Cleveland’s shooters benefit from open looks.
Add Donovan Mitchell’s scoring ability into the mix, and the Cavs’ offense becomes far more difficult to defend when Allen is available.
Cleveland Hoping for a Playoff Return
The good news for Cleveland is that the team has managed to stay competitive even without Allen, and they remain heavily favored in games like tonight’s matchup against the struggling Orlando Magic.
Still, if the Cavaliers hope to contend against top Eastern Conference teams like Boston in the postseason, having Allen back and fully healthy could make all the difference.
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Simply put, the Cavs can survive without Jarrett Allen, but their playoff ceiling is much higher with “The Fro” protecting the rim and controlling the glass.
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