Atkinson gives encouraging injury updates on Max Strus and Emoni Bates
The Cavaliers could be getting some reinforcements.
The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t had their default starting lineup from last season at all this regular season. Max Strus has missed every game so far with an ankle injury. According to head coach Kenny Atkinson, he’s making progress.
“Man, he’s getting closer,” Atkinson said before Thursday’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets. “I don’t have a date for you yet. I know he’s done a little contact, which is progress, but [we’re] still waiting.”
Strus practicing with contact is encouraging and could mean he could be back soon. His return could make it difficult for Atkinson to find minutes for everyone in the rotation. That, however, is a situation he would welcome.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Atkinson said. “Sometimes at this juncture of the season, it’s good to have an injection of energy.”
Strus should fit with what Atkinson wants to do on offense, however, there will be a process in getting him back into the flow. That’s especially true since Atkinson hasn’t coached this group yet when they’ve been at full strength.
“It’s like we signed a starting player to our team,” Atkinson said about what it’s going to be like adding Strus back to the team. “And so now we’re gonna have to figure out what that integration looks like? What the progression is that’s not just what we’re doing tactically. It’s, a discussion with our performance team [about] what the minute build-up is going to look like.”
Emoni Bates also hasn’t taken the court yet for either the Cavs or the Cleveland Charge this season. He too is making progress.
“He’s progressing,” Atkinson said. “I watched him work out the other day. He wasn’t [doing] contact [work], but moving [he’s] moving at full speed.”