Cavs Get Their Rhythm Back as Key Returns Restore Balance and Identity
Right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers are finally starting to look like the team they were built to be. Not because every problem has suddenly been solved, but because the roster is no longer being held together by emergency fixes. Just days ago, Cleveland was scraping by with barely enough bodies, even flying in a player from the G League simply to fill out the bench. That stretch of survival basketball is slowly fading, and what’s replacing it is something far more familiar: structure, spacing, and purpose.
into the matchup against Charlotte, three important returns were welcomed back into the lineup. Donovan Mitchell, Craig Porter Jr., and Sam Merrill were all cleared to play, leaving only a handful of names still on the injury report. That shift matters more than it might look on paper. For weeks, the Cavs have been forced into lineups built out of necessity rather than intention, and it showed in the way games were being played.
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Interestingly, the most impactful return may not be Mitchell, even though his presence always changes the floor instantly. It’s Sam Merrill. His absence since mid-November quietly reshaped Cleveland’s offense in all the wrong ways. Spacing tightened, off-ball movement slowed, and possessions too often ended with stagnant, contested shots. What Merrill brings isn’t just shooting; it’s gravity. Defenses are forced to stay honest when he’s on the floor, lanes open up, and better players are given more room to operate.
That impact happens even when Merrill never touches the ball. His constant movement, smart cuts, and willingness to relocate force defenders to communicate and react. During his absence, the offense was often caught waiting for something to happen. With him back, possessions are more likely to be created instead of hoped for.
On the defensive end, his value has been underrated. He competes, talks, and is usually in the right spot. For a team that has spent recent weeks emphasizing accountability and film study, that kind of reliability helps glue lineups together.
Mitchell’s return brings its own storyline. Darius Garland just poured in 35 points while carrying the offense without him, showing the aggressive version of himself the Cavs desperately need. How that rhythm blends with Mitchell back on the floor will be something to watch closely. Meanwhile, Porter’s return restores downhill pressure and paint touches, something Cleveland sorely missed as too many possessions died on the perimeter.
What health ultimately restores is choice. Roles can make sense again. Rotations can be adjusted by design, not desperation. The Cavs aren’t fully whole yet, but stability has returned. After weeks of patchwork basketball, that alone feels like real progress.
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