The Cavaliers could be whole again soon. Or at least as close to whole as they have been in quite some time.
That’s because starting center Jarrett Allen and versatile forward Larry Nance Jr. practiced Tuesday, one day before the Cavs are scheduled to visit the Charlotte Hornets.
Allen has missed more than a week’s worth of games with a concussion. Nance has been out with an undisclosed illness. Both are major factors when it comes to the win-loss department.
Former Cavs center and current radio analyst Jim Chones has been particularly impressed with Allen.
“He defends, he can shoot,” Chones said recently. “He can pass. He knows how to finish, and he’s mobile. But the most unique thing I think he brings to the table is what we call his horizontal game, which has more to do with his mentality and his mindset.”
The Cavs also are learning what life is like with a healthy Kevin Love and Matthew Dellavedova. Throw Allen, Love, Nance and newcomer Isaiah Hartenstein together in the frontcourt and … well, things suddenly get intriguing again.
Now, the Cavs not only were missing Allen and Nance for Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, but they also played without the starting backcourt of Collin Sexton (groin) and Darius Garland (ankle).
Neither injury is considered serious, and Sexton and Garland could potentially join their teammates on Wednesday. Both were limited participants at practice.
A lineup of Allen, Love, Sexton, Garland and rookie Isaac Okoro is the ultimate goal, with the likes of Nance, Dellavedova, Hartenstein, Taurean Prince and rising Dean Wade playing key roles off coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s bench.
And it appears the Cavs (19-32) are getting somewhere closer to reaching that goal.
