LeBron James is lengthy gone, however the Cleveland Cavaliers are as soon as once more wanting like an NBA championship contender. The Cavs moved to 10-0 on the younger season after blasting the Golden State Warriors on Friday evening in a showdown of former rivals who’ve reinvented themselves to grow to be elite as soon as once more. Cleveland is now the 14th group in league historical past to begin a season with ten straight wins, and nothing about it looks like a fluke.
The Cavs received 99 video games over the earlier two common seasons, however have been carried out in rapidly within the playoffs due to scoring troubles. Cleveland didn’t make any massive roster adjustments over the offseason, however changed head coach JB Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson. To this point, Atkinson is getting higher outcomes (and higher well being) out of the identical group.
The Cavs are No. 1 in offensive effectivity with a scorching 122.7 factors per 100 possessions. The protection is No. 8 within the league by forcing turnovers, defending the rim with a twin-towers entrance court docket, and cleansing the defensive glass. Cleveland solely ranks No. 16 in three-point price (proportion of discipline aim makes an attempt coming from three) however once they shoot, they don’t miss. The Cavs’ 42.7 % three-point proportion is one of the best within the NBA by a mile.
The final time an NBA group opened the season 10-0 was the 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors that went on to win a document 73 video games earlier than falling to James’ Cavs within the NBA Finals. Of the 13 groups to ever start a season with 10 straight wins, 10 of them have reached a minimum of the convention finals, and three of them turned NBA champions.
Right here’s the total record of the longest undefeated begins in NBA historical past.
The longest undefeated begins in NBA historical past, now together with the Cavs
- 2015-16 Warriors: 24-0 (misplaced in Finals)
- 1993-94 Rockets: 15-0 (NBA champions)
- 2002-03 Mavericks: 14-0 (misplaced in convention finals)
- 1957-58 Celtics: 14-0 (misplaced Finals)
- 1996-97 Bulls: 12-0 (NBA champions)
- 1982-83 SuperSonics: 12-0 (misplaced in first spherical)
- 1997-98 Lakers: 11-0 (misplaced in convention finals)
- 1997-98 Hawks: 11-0 (misplaced in first spherical)
- 1990-91 Path Blazers: 11-0 (misplaced in convention finals)
- 1964-65 Celtics: 11-0 (NBA champions)
- 2000-01 76ers: 10-0 (misplaced in Finals)
- 1993-94 SuperSonics: 10-0 (misplaced in first spherical)
- 1972-73 Celtics: 10-0 (misplaced in convention finals)
- 2024-25 Cavaliers: 10-0 (lively)
What does the Cavs’ upcoming schedule wanting like?
How lengthy can Cleveland’s season-opening profitable streak go? There are plenty of winnable video games on the upcoming schedule. Listed here are the Cavs’ subsequent opponents:
- Nov. 9 vs. Brooklyn Nets
- Nov. 11 @ Chicago Bulls
- Nov. 13 @ Philadelphia 76ers
- Nov. 15 vs. Chicago Bulls
- Nov. 17 vs Charlotte Hornets
- Nov. 19 @ Boston Celtics
- Nov. 20 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Are the Cavs truly a championship contender?
If I used to be re-ranking the NBA proper now, I’d put Cleveland because the third or fourth greatest group within the league behind the reigning champion Celtics and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The Phoenix Suns additionally need to be included in Cleveland’s tier, and I’d have put the Warriors there earlier than they obtained blown out by the Cavs.
Cleveland has 4 All-Star caliber gamers within the beginning lineup who are actually taking part in collectively for the third straight season. Donovan Mitchell is Cleveland’s main man, however his minutes and scoring manufacturing are each down this yr because the Cavs transfer to a extra egalitarian system. His backcourt mate Darius Garland seems phenomenal after struggling final season with a damaged jaw. Garland is capturing the quilt off the ball (48 % from three on 7.5 makes an attempt per sport), and likewise offers the Cavs one other gifted ball handler and playmaker.
The priority for the Mitchell/Garland backcourt has all the time been its dimension points in playoff matchups. It stays to be seen how that may play out, however having two gifted 7-footers behind them positive is good.
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are a uncommon twin-towers look in right now’s NBA. Allen is a basic rim curler/rim protector at middle who finishes performs on each ends. Mobley is taking a giant leap in his fourth professional season as a extra versatile offensive participant, and that’s serving to Cleveland’s offense go. Mobley is getting extra on-ball reps to begin this season, and appears extra snug taking part in by means of contact. The previous No. 3 total choose has all the time been extraordinarily gifted, and now he’s lastly going from prospect to participant on the offensive finish. Cleveland actually might have three All-Stars this yr.
The Cavs’ position gamers deserve reward, too. Caris LeVert and Ty Jerome have been unconscious from three. Isaac Okoro is a lockdown defender on the wing who seems extra snug capturing from the surface up to now. Dean Wade is a flexible ahead on each ends, and Sam Merrill is a quick-trigger shooter who defenses have to pay full consideration to.
The East nonetheless runs by means of the Celtics, however Cleveland seems like the plain second-best group within the convention up to now.
