Early into training camp, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that All-Star big man Jarrett Allen would be sidelined for two weeks with a bone bruise in his left ankle. Once those two weeks came and went, Allen would be reevaluated, and the Cavs would have a clearer understanding of whether or not he'd be able to play in Cleveland's season opener against the Brooklyn Nets.
Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn't seem optimistic about Allen's availability with days to go until the Cavs head to Brooklyn. While everyone else outside Ricky Rubio and Dean Wade were able to practice on Monday, Allen was limited according to Bickerstaff. Allen could only do individual work with assistant coaches and could not participate in full-contact drills or activities with his teammates.
Bickerstaff said that for Allen to play, he would have to be a full participant in practice so that the team would understand where he's at conditioning-wise before the season opener and make sure Allen can safely play without aggravating an already tricky injury.
“We want to do the right thing by Jarrett,” Bickerstaff said on Thursday. ‘Want to make sure that when he’s back he’s back for the long term and we’re not having to bring him back, take him out and bring him back again.”
When asked if he expects Allen to practice on Tuesday, Bickerstaff said, “We'll see.” Allen has not played on the court for the Cavs since last year in the season-ending loss to the New York Knicks in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. In the five-game series, Allen averaged 9.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in 38.2 minutes per game, a stark contrast from his regular season averages of 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in 32.6 minutes per game.
Allen Anticipation
Even when Allen returns to the floor, it'll take time for him to reach in-game shape before he can play at his expected level any night. Bickerstaff expressed concern when the injury news first broke that maintaining conditioning while only being able to stand on one foot would be paramount for Allen's success.
“He’s ramping himself up and doing more and more every day,” Bickerstaff said when asked about Allen’s timeline.
Allen's status will likely be on a day-by-day basis as things advance. If he cannot play on Wednesday night in Brooklyn, Evan Mobley or Damian Jones will be Cleveland's starting center to open up the regular season. The Cavs will likely ask more of Dean Wade and Georges Niang as plug-and-play options alongside Mobley and Jones in certain lineups against the Nets.
Not having Jarrett Allen to open the season in Brooklyn would be a huge blow for Cleveland, considering the Nets have an impressive big-man rotation headlined by Nic Claxton. The Nets also have plenty of size to crash the glass at forward as well between Ben Simmons, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, so it'll be a battle on the boards for the Cavs against the Nets.
Considering that last season ended due to a lack of controlling second-chance opportunities, it'll probably be a point of emphasis for Cleveland. Without Allen, the battle on the boards will be much more difficult for a Cavs team that wants to move past last season's sudden and unexpected ending.
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