The best team in the NBA will be without its best defensive stopper for at least two weeks.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro suffered a sprained right shoulder during the third quarter of Monday’s 130-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. An MRI exam on Wednesday confirmed a right AC joint sprain. depending on the team.
Okoro, who will soon turn 24, is considered one of the best defensive players on the team. That could be a factor, as the Cavaliers will face stars like Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Stephen Curry and LeBron James in upcoming games.
“It gives you a great comfort level to have that guy that you can put someone with, whether it’s Trae Young, so whether it’s a point guard or we can say, ‘Hey, go to guard Jayson Tatum tonight,'” the Cavaliers head coach Kenny. atkinson, via Cleveland.com.
“Isaac can defend four, he can also change to five because he is very strong,” he added. “We can use this guy as our Swiss Army knife.” It can protect anyone. “It’s been fantastic for us.”
While Okoro averages 6.6 points per game, he has consistently been a good three-point shooter and has improved that part of his game this season. The fifth-year veteran is shooting 49% (30 of 61) from long range this season.
“With Isaac out, we have to continue to take our physicality to another level,” Donovan Mitchell said. Ethan Sands, from Cleveland’s Plain Trader. “He’s a guy who’s made shots and teams want to leave him. Obviously you miss him on the defensive end, but offensively, he’s been playing phenomenal for us.”
The Cavaliers say Okoro will be reevaluated in two weeks. He re-signed with Cleveland during the offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $38 million contract.
Meanwhile, Cleveland could get a key player back while Okoro is out. Max Strus, who has not yet played this season due to an ankle injury, is close to returning. Last season, Strus averaged a career-high 12.2 points and shot 35% on three-pointers.