Pregame Dribbles: Cavs Healthier And Back At It After A Few Days Off, Face Raptors At Home

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ home game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday (7:30 p.m. EST) …

1. Three days off and two with no practice. It was the break the Cavs needed after playing 17 games in 29 days to open the season.

2. In case you missed it, they won 16 of them.

3. Darius Garland and Sam Merrill are not on the injury report and are expected to play after a one-game absence. Merrill actually missed three of the last four with a sore ankle. Interestingly, he was forced to start in the one he did play (at Boston).

4. Isaac Okoro (ankle) has been upgraded to questionable. Caris LeVert (knee) and Dean Wade (ankle) remain out. Okoro was a full participant at practice. And this isn’t any inside information, but I’m starting to grow slightly concerned about LeVert’s knee. I’ve heard the injury is not anything too serious, though.

5. That said, as long as the Cavs have their Core Four, coach Kenny Atkinson is figuring out how to get the best out of the players around them. He’s actually been doing it no matter who’s on the court.

6. While on the topic of injuries, the Raptors (4-12) will be without Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, Immanuel Quickley, and a few others.

7. Meanwhile back in Cleveland, Atkinson said Max Strus (ankle) is progressing toward a season debut, but is “still a ways away.” My wild guess is that Strus will be back sometime around the middle of next month. But the emphasis there is on “wild guess.”

8. Wade is probably close. He was doing some light shooting after practice on Saturday.

9. Overall, spirits were high and things seemed downright fun after practice, per my best friend John Sabol of Fox 8. It was pretty clear the Cavaliers enjoyed some downtime. Or at least, as much downtime as you get during an NBA season.

10. Jarrett Allen spoke extensively about where the Cavaliers are today and where he thinks he can go. We have that full post here.

11. The Cavs should make easy work of the struggling and rebuilding Raptors. But this is an NBA team and it’s a team that always plays hard. There are no off nights. (Unless you’re playing what’s left of the Pelicans.)

12. Finally, the latest episode of Full Court Cleveland is out. You can watch it regularly on FanDuel Sports Network, or the full thing on YouTube right here. Talk to you after the game.