The Cleveland Cavaliers are tearing the house down this season. But, not everyone is sold on their shot at the ring.
Former NBA player turned sports analyst, Kendrick Perkins just threw a wrench into the hype train. He went on to question whether their small backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland can hold up when things get serious in the postseason. And honestly, after the upset the Magic pulled on the Cavaliers, he has a point.
Perkins Raises Concerns Over Cavaliers’ Backcourt Size
On ESPN’s NBA Countdown, Perkins pointed directly at Garland as a defensive liability, suggesting the Cavaliers might face the same struggles that Stephen Curry once did in the playoffs.
When asked about the upset alert in playoffs, Perkins responded, “I’m going with the Cavs, but I have concerns about their small backcourt,” Perkins said. “Especially Darius Garland. I think he’s going to go through those same problems that Steph Curry went through. In the postseason, they’re going to search him out.”
"I have concerns about their small backcourt when it comes down to the postseason."@kendrickperkins on why the Cavs could be on upset alert in playoffs 👀 pic.twitter.com/3UTin0c3Qt
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 17, 2025
Perkins highlighted how teams could hunt Garland in pick-and-roll situations, exposing him against bigger, more physical guards. He also pointed out that the Cavaliers are statistically eight points worse on defense when Garland is on the floor. For a team with championship aspirations, that’s a red flag.
Can Team Chemistry Carry Cavaliers Through?
While Perkins is sounding the alarm, not everyone agrees with his take. Fellow ESPN analyst Tim Legler pushed back.
Arguing about the Cavaliers’ chemistry, Tim said: “That’s very shortsighted on your part Perk, it is man. Here’s why here’s why, it’s a valid point about Darius Garland, yeah they addressed it.” He further added, “And you look at their defensive numbers since they acquired DeAndre Hunter it’s different he is the guy that is going to deal with a lot of these
matchups.”
Yes, Garland is undersized, but so was Curry, and we all saw how that turned out. The Cavs’ defense, led by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, has been one of the most dominant units in the league.
Add in Donovan Mitchell leading from the front along with the team’s ability to adjust on the go, and there’s reason to believe Cleveland can make a deep run despite their size concerns.
But, the tough 108-103 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday? That does raise some eyebrows.
The Cavaliers’ 16-game winning streak was crushed. Also, exposing potential weaknesses against teams with bigger, more physical lineups. Even with a 13-point lead at one stage, the Magic rallied back and snatched the game on the Cavs’ home turf.
With the playoffs around the corner, the big question remains: Will the Cavaliers’ chemistry be enough to outshine their defensive flaws? Or will opposing teams follow Perkins’ blueprint and expose their backcourt when it matters most?