Entering the 2026 playoffs healthy and prepared for a grueling challenge each round will be a defining factor of the Cavs' potential success. In all three recent playoff runs, Cleveland's durability falls apart near instantaneously. In the 2024 playoffs, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell were hurt before the season's end, and Garland has faced two consecutive seasons with anomolous injuries sidelining him for extended periods.
In fact, Garland has been the Cavaliers star most negatively affected by injuries in the postseason. Most recently, a serious toe sprain forced the All-Star point guard to undergo offseason surgery, a procedure that will keep him from the rotation to start the season.