Jason Tatum’s Achilles injury has a ripple effect on the Celtics franchise
Jason Tatum had surgery to secure his ruptured Achilles. USA Today Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt explains the impact of the Celtic Star injury.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ran into two problems in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The Indiana Pacers are alone and don’t shorten the series’ victory over the 4-1 series cab. As the season progresses, well-coached Pacers have improved and are playing solid basketball in the playoffs.
The injury was on the other side, and the Cavaliers were unable to get enough healthy players on the court for enough games to give them a better chance. All-star Darius Garland, All-star and defensive player of the year Evan Mobley and Key Reserve de Andre Hunter all suffered injuries to the match against Indiana and missed three Game 2 innings.
The Cavaliers and their fans have been disappointed and certainly left the 2025 playoffs, wondering what the playoffs would have if the cab got healthy.
You need a measured approach to know what you need to do in the offseason. This is how ownership of Basketball Operations president Coby Altman and general manager Mike Gandhi navigate the offseason.
This isn’t Cleveland’s “reevaluating the direction of the team” summer. The Cavaliers had one of the best seasons in franchise history, going 64-18. This was the second-best record in franchise history and the best non-LeBron James regular season.
In Kenny Atkinson’s first season with the team – he was selected as NBA Coach of the Year – the Cavs are No. 1 offensively, scoring 121 points, defending 8th, allowing 111.8 points and allowing the third-best net rating with a plus 9.2.
Cleveland’s Core 4 – Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Garland, Mobley – and the fifth starter Max Strath have all been signed through at least 2026-27, with Isakuo Coro, Hunter and Dean Wade signing next season. It’s a great place.
Yes, there’s a fair amount of money invested in that roster, and the Cavs will be the tax paying team next season. That means Altman and Gansey have to work hard to fill in spots around the edges where they can help the Cavs.
Atkinson cut several minutes with Donovan, Garland, Allen and Strath during the regular season.
Cavs were unlucky at the wrong time. A great season and unfortunate event should not change the trajectory designed by the front office. The idea is to compete for the title against that core 4 for at least a few seasons, and what happened in the playoffs won’t change that.
