By: Christian Pagan
Sound the alarms, the Cleveland Cavaliers have started their season perfect and just might be the best team in the NBA. The Cavs became the eighth team in NBA history to win their first 12 games, defeating the Chicago Bulls, 119-113.
On the list of longest winning streaks to start an NBA season, the Cavs sit behind the 1957-1958 Boston Celtics and the 2002-2003 Dallas Mavericks, who both started their NBA seasons 14-0.
The 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors hold the record for longest winning streak to start an NBA season, starting 24-0. That same Warriors squad went 73-9 and finished with the best regular season record in NBA history.
This historical team then blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Life comes at you quick, as arguably one of the best NBA teams in history didn’t win a championship. Kevin Durant then ruined everything by signing with the Warriors in the offseason, still upsets me to this day.
Besides the point, we’re here to talk about the 2024-2025 Cavs, who are off to their best start in franchise history. It’s crazy because LeBron James’ best start with the Cavs was 6-0.
If you remember during the offseason, there were so many question marks surrounding this team after losing to the eventual-champion Boston Celtics in five games in the second round of the playoffs. Would Donovan Mitchell stay? Do you trade Darius Garland? Why has Evan Mobley’s development stalled? Is JB Bickerstaff the problem?
When you’re unsure with your team’s future, what do you usually do? Fire the coach. The Cavs fired head coach JB Bickerstaff and replaced him with former Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson. The Cavs ultimately decided to keep the core four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The Cavs would then open up the checkbook and complete the following deals:
– Signed Donovan Mitchell to a 3yr-$150M extension to keep him through the 2028-2029 season.
– Signed Evan Mobley to a rookie-max 5yr-$224M extension to keep him through the 2029-2030 season.
– Signed Jarrett Allen to a 3yr-$91M extension to keep him through the 2028-2029 season.
– Signed Issac Okoro to a 3yr-$38M extension to keep him through the 2026-2027 season.
It’s pretty clear the Cavs believe in the talent they currently have and felt they needed new direction under a new coach. But why are the Cavs having the success they are having?
Working On Both Ends of the Court:
The first thing that strikes my eyes is the Cavs offense. 12 games in, the Cavs lead the NBA in scoring and shooting, averaging 122.4 points per game, shooting 52% from the floor, and 41% from beyond the arch. The Cavs are also second in the league in points differential, at +12.0.
On the other end of the court, the defense is effective, limiting opponents to 110.4 points per game so far. Having Evan Mobley (6’11) and Jarrett Allen (6’9) in the frontcourt really limits opponents to attack the paint. We saw the Cavs exhibit a really good defense last year, allowing 110.2 points per game, which finished seventh in the NBA.
The Roster is Pretty Darn Good:
I mentioned it earlier in the article that the Cavs believe in the talent they currently have on the roster. Star SG Donovan Mitchell is doing his thing, averaging 24 points, 3 boards, and 4 assists so far, shooting 46% from the floor. The team revolves around Donovan Mitchell and if the Cavs want to achieve a deep-postseason run, it starts with Mitchell.
Alongside Mitchell, we’re seeing the Darius Garland we’re used to seeing, averaging 20 points and 7 assists so far. Last year, Garland arguably had his worst season since his sophomore year campaign in 2020-2021.
During last season, Garland suffered a broken jaw, which he saw himself lose 12 pounds. Garland said he lost the joy for basketball last year, but he’s rediscovered it this year. And I believe him because he’s shooting 53% from the floor and 46% from deep this year, which would smash career highs.
In the paint, Evan Mobley is starting to show glimpses of the potential we’ve all been expecting. So far, he’s averaging a career best 18 points per game, alongside 9 boards, 2 blocks, and a steal. Evan Mobley has the characteristics to be a superstar in the future, being compared to Giannis Antetokounmpo by coach Atkinson. Mobley is already one of the best defenders in the league, it’s only a matter of time before the 23 year-old unlocks his full potential.
Next to him in the paint, Jarrett Allen, known for his defense and rim protection, is averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds per game. Allen played in 77 games last year, but missed the Cavs’ final eight playoff games with a rib injury. Jarrett Allen brings a lot of value to this Cavs team and serves as a critical defensive anchor.
We can’t forget sixth man Caris LaVert is averaging 12 points and 5 assists so far. Guard Ty Jerome is averaging 10.2 points per game off the bench, his best since 2020-2021. The Cavs are also without guard Max Strus due to an ankle injury. He should return near the end of November/early December. Strus averaged 12 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists last year in 70 games. It’ll be interesting to see what Atkinson does with Strus, as they found rhythm during his absence.
Closing Out Games:
One of the most important factors in any sport is to close out a game, and the Cavs have been doing just that. The Cavs found themselves trailing in the 3rd quarter in six games so far, and each time, they’ve clawed back and finished the game on top.
In those games, each player of the core-four has had their clutch moment(s). The most important thing in my opinion is to not solely rely on one player during crunch time. The Cavs have shown multiple players can rise to the occasion when asked to.
It’s very unlikely the Cavs break the Warriors record for longest streak to start a season, but we should enjoy the start the Cavs have had under Kenny Atkinson. To be fair, I don’t think anyone expected this start from the Cavs. They’re showing that they’re a fun team to watch and hold a lot of promise.
After seeing the Guardians being eliminated in the ALCS and watching the dysfunctional Browns, Cleveland fans should be excited and have high hopes for the Cavaliers this year.