The Cleveland Cavaliers are the
hottest team in the Eastern Conference, winning 14 of their last 15 games. The Cavs are
currently 32-16, which is their best record through 48 games in
five years.
With Monday night’s win over the
Sacramento Kings, the Cavaliers have climbed past the Milwaukee
Bucks for second place in the Eastern Conference standings and
first place in the Central Division. They are now just five games
behind the Boston Celtics for first in the East.
This is somewhat uncharted
territory for ‘The Land’ as they have not been on any kind of
streak like this before. Since 2024 began, they have the league’s
best record at 15-2 to surpass the franchise record for the best
start to a calendar year. LeBron James’ 2008, 2010 and 2016
Cavaliers teams previously held the record with 12-3
marks.
Two of those James-led teams
lost to the Finals-bound Celtics (2008 and 2010) while the 2016
squad won it all, which bodes well for this version of the
Cavaliers with championship aspirations.
Their next 10 games to close out
February include six teams below .500 and two games against a
Philadelphia 76ers team without reigning MVP Joel Embiid, meaning
this hot streak could continue. Their upcoming schedule is
at Washington, at Brooklyn,
at Toronto, vs. Philadelphia, vs. Chicago, vs. Orlando, at
Phildelphia, at Washington, vs. Dallas and at Chicago.
The key to Cleveland’s hot
streak has been their main cog, Donovan Mitchell. Recently named to
his fifth straight All-Star Game, the 6-foot-3 guard
is averaging 28.2 points, 6.4
assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game this season.
The superb Mitchell has been willing the Cavs to win.
What’s more impressive is that Mitchell started this hot streak
without fellow centerpieces Darius Garland and Evan Mobley in the
lineup (although they have since returned from
injuries).
Now, with Garland and Mobley
back in the fold, the Cavaliers are even more lethal offensively
and defensively as they look to contend in the Eastern
Conference. Mobley’s return
has been impactful for Cleveland as they are tied for the best
defense in the league in 2024, having a defensive rating of 105.4
along with the new-look New York Knicks.
The Cavaliers also filled a big
need in the offseason by adding shooters Max Strus and Georges
Niang in free agency. In last year’s playoffs, they were exposed by
the Knicks as they lacked outside shooting to complement Mitchell
and Garland’s drives and pick-and-roll actions with non-shooting
big men Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
This season, the Cavs’ offseason
signing of Strus has been huge, with the 6-foot-6 wing providing
the necessary spacing. Strus was immediately inserted into the
starting lineup over mainstays Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro and it
has done wonders for Cleveland.
Off the bench, Niang also
provides the same threat from outside in certain situations. The
Cavs also rewarded Sam Merrill with some playing time, and he’s
been balling and shooting the ball at a high clip as of late,
helping the team go on this amazing run.
Speaking of LeVert and Okoro,
both wings have made noticeable improvements from last season with
each playing a specified role suited to their strengths. LeVert
comes in as a secondary playmaker and shotmaker to ease the burden
on Garland and Mitchell, while Okoro plays lockdown defense on the
opponent’s best perimeter player as well as providing timely cuts
to the rim and knocking down the occasional
three-pointer.
Moreover, head coach
J.B. Bickerstaff
has found his ideal rotation now
that they’re fully healthy again. Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley
and Allen are the team’s usual starting five, and then off the
bench comes Dean Wade, Okoro and LeVert. The Cavs always leave one
big on the floor at all times (either Mobley or Allen) when the
bench players come in while Garland and Mitchell’s minutes get
staggered in the middle of quarters. Niang and Merrill are their
ninth and 10th men, providing a deep bench whenever they need extra
shooting on the floor or when Strus struggles from
outside.
Now, the Cavaliers will try to
finish the season strong and hope that their regular-season success
will translate to the postseason.
