Cavaliers Get One Star Back, Lose Another to Protocols

The Cleveland Cavaliers had to play the last ten days without their twin tower combo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and still managed to win some games thanks in large part to star point guard Darius Garland. 

Today, some good news and some bad news on that front for the Cavs.

As the team celebrates the return of rookie sensation Mobley from health and safety protocols, they'll have to make do for a while without Garland, who takes his spot on the quarantine list. And that is the NBA, December 2021, in a nutshell. 

As Mobley exits COVID protocols, Garland enters https://t.co/B0emV9ot5O

— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) December 28, 2021

Mobley will be available for their game Tuesday night, but he could face a conditioning ramp-up period before he's back on the floor, as has been the case for many other players who sat out the 10-day isolation period (since reduced to 6 games, going forward, for vaccinated players). 

The defensive phenom has been one of the league's leading rookies all season, posting averages of 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. That will be a welcome addition back to the front line, on both ends of the court.

Ricky Rubio will have to take up the slack for the loss of Garland, however. Rubio is having a renaissance season as the Cavs' backup point, but he'll be shouldering a much bigger load for the next week or so. 

Jarrett Allen, the other half of Cleveland's twin-tower connection up front, is due to be able to come off the health and safety protocols list tomorrow, if all is well. 

The Cavs continue to be one of the better stories around the NBA this season, sporting a 20-13 record, just one game back of the 3rd place Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference.

Photo Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports