The Cleveland Cavaliers opened the season because the favorites to return out of the East, and oddsmakers nonetheless think about them, as they nonetheless have the second-highest odds, simply trailing behind the Knicks. Nonetheless, in case you’ve watched the Cavs in any respect this yr, they haven’t appeared the a part of an NBA Finals contender.
As of in the present day, Cleveland is sitting within the play-in recreation because the seven seed within the East and path the Detroit Pistons by 5.5 video games. They’ve the Twelfth-best level differential within the NBA, tenth in web ranking, tenth in offensive ranking, and eleventh in defensive ranking.
The stats match the attention take a look at: the Cavs have felt very common and have wanted to lean on Donovan Mitchell excess of in seasons prior. Final night time’s 17-point come-from-behind win towards the lowly Wizards was a end result of all the issues dealing with the Cavs at this level within the season.
Mitchell wanted to play hero ball to beat the worst staff within the league, scoring 24 factors within the 4th quarter. The bench solely mustered 13 factors, and Darius Garland continued his early-season struggles with an unsightly 0/11 recreation from behind the arc. Most significantly, the hassle stays an enormous downside. Exterior of Mitchell and Evan Mobley, the staff appeared extremely flat. Even Jaylon Tyson didn’t appear to be taking part in at his regular high-energy stage.
Cleveland has been one of many extra injured groups within the league this yr, with Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, and some others lacking important time.
It’s onerous to actually choose how this staff will carry out in April, however the effort we’re seeing up to now is disappointing, to say the least. Kenny Atkinson has been very vocal concerning the lack of effort proven on a night-to-night foundation, and Donovan Mitchell was probably the most animated I’ve ever seen him throughout final night time’s comeback. He’s appeared very pissed off in a Cleveland staff he’s guess on to take him to not less than a convention finals, a degree he’s by no means reached at this level in his profession.
This early-season adversity could also be what the Cavs want. Over the previous few years, the Cavs have peaked method too early within the season and fallen aside within the playoffs. May this be the yr that the Cavs surge after the All-Star break as an alternative of their typical late winter swoon?
Hopefully, because the yr goes on, the hassle points can be fastened by a wholesome 10-man rotation, however what’s going to flip round is the three-point scoring. Exterior of Mitchell, the capturing has been method under profession averages, and that’s one thing that usually ranges out over the course of a season.
3PT Taking pictures Proportion 2024 vs 2025:
Donovan Mitchell: 36.8% → 39.4%
Evan Mobley: 37% → 35.2%
Darius Garland: 40.1% → 26%
De’Andre Hunter: 40.5% → 31%
Dean Wade: 36.0% → 28.9%
Lonzo Ball: 34.4% → 26.3%
Larry Nance Jr.: 44.7% → 30.3%
For lots of the veterans on this roster, you need to anticipate some form of return to the imply on three-point capturing. Additionally, getting Sam Merrill and Max Strus again into the lineup ought to assist the Cavs, as they’ve wanted to rely closely on Jaylon Tyson to hit threes constantly. He’s knocking them down at a forty five% clip, which has been big for Cleveland, however I’m unsure that’s one thing that may final at that top a charge over the course of the yr.
One other lacking piece that has been vastly wanted is Jarrett Allen.
Mobley has been tasked with much more motion at middle this yr, and I simply suppose he’s higher suited on the 4. After a Defensive Participant of the Yr win in 2024, I consider it has been confirmed that he performs higher with a middle behind him. Having a middle permits him to drift extra on protection and stray away from guarding probably the most bodily participant on the ground. Having Allen again full-time must also assist with some rebounding woes plaguing the Cavs.
I’m not out on this iteration of the Cavs, particularly since we haven’t seen this roster at near full power this yr. What I’ll say: betting on the Cavs to win the East at +350 appears like horrible worth, as many groups within the East have taken important strides this yr. With the Cavs firmly above the second apron, I’m unsure there can be many strikes they’ll make to vary issues, so hopefully getting wholesome can proper the ship in Cleveland.
