Charles Barkley says he can’t wait to see Cavs when they’re fully healthy

Love it or hate it, NBA legend Charles Barkley will give you his opinion. And that’s a good thing, considering Barkley is paid to be an analyst on TNT’s award-winning Inside the NBA studio show.

Well, the Cavaliers just happened to appear on TNT on Tuesday night. They were vastly undermanned, missing the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro. 

Yet they raced to a 12-point halftime lead, before taking the Philadelphia 76ers’ best shot and pulling out a 122-119 win in overtime on the road. (Related dribbles.)

Barkley, of course, gave his thoughts on the Cavs as he watched them beat his former team on the road. Those thoughts were fairly positive.

For starters, Barkley told the TNT audience that the Cavs have the most talent in the Eastern Conference outside of his top three of the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Sixers. He implied they’re pretty close to those three, too.

“They have two guards (Mitchell and Darius Garland) that are All-Stars,” Barkley said at halftime of Tuesday’s game. “Would love to see them if they get healthy.”

Good health, injuries, and everything in between — none of it has impacted the Cavs (8-6) a whole lot lately. They’ve won four straight, six of eight and are coming off their most impressive victory of the year entering Wednesday’s home game vs. the Miami Heat.

Interestingly, Barkley didn’t mention the Heat, who just happened to advance to the Finals out of the East last season. But that was last year, this is this year, and Barkley is right. If the Cavs eventually can be fortunate enough to have all their key players in uniform at the same time … well, he may love to see them, but the rest of the NBA may not.

A team effort for the @cavs to pick up their second In-Season Tournament W! 💪

Garland: 32 PTS | 5 REB | 8 AST
Allen: 26 PTS | 13 REB | 3 AST
Strus: 20 PTS | 5 REB | 6 AST pic.twitter.com/4WJ22siSdy

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) November 22, 2023