The Cavaliers should shut down Darius Garland until the All-Star Game

Darius Garland should just take the next nine days off.

Darius Garland is dealing with a back injury that has kept him out of a bunch of games lately. It’s not a major injury but the limitation in play is doing done to make sure it remains a minimal injury. Right now the Cleveland Cavaliers are in a good place, having gotten new player Caris LeVert, and other newish acquisitions Rajon Rondo looking good in the minutes he’s given.

The Cavs can survive until after the All-Star break without Garland playing, especially if it means making sure he doesn’t take any more damage. It’s an injury he can play through and play well through, notice his incredible shooting night against the Spurs recently for proof.

Yet, if you run him too hard with the injury it’ll only get worse and if it gets worse then you may find yourself in a bit more trouble than you originally thought possible. The Cavs can’t afford to lose Garland for long-stretches, not this close to the playoffs, and resting him is a wise idea.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a perfect stretch of games to rest Darius Garland

Garland’s absence will be missed, no doubt, but the club has the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Atlanta Hawks all up next. The Pacers and Hawks are terrible and the 76ers just gutted their team to add a bloated contract.

This isn’t exactly a stretch of games the Cavs need Garland for. Start Rondo, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Lauri Markkanen, while using LeVert and Kevin Love as your two guys off the bench and let the team do its thing.

It’s the perfect opportunity to get Garland some scheduled rest, as the Pacers are depleted, the Hawks are done and the 76ers have to retool their entire offense to fit in James Harden. There is no better opportunity for the Cavs to beat the 76ers than right now.

Schedule his return for after the All-Star break, and just hope, that Garland plays minimal minutes in the actual game itself.