From 2018/19 through 2020/21, the Cavaliers held a 60-159 record, a 27.4% win percentage, the worst in the league over those three seasons.
However, in year four of the post-LeBron James rebuild, things are looking bright in Cleveland. Despite having one of the most difficult schedules and losing Collin Sexton for the season after meniscus surgery, the Cavs are 13-11, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference.
After ranking between 25th and 30th in both offensive and defensive rating every season from 2018-21, the Cavs are now 19th in the league in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating. East Rookie of the Month Evan Mobley, who missed four games with an elbow sprain, looks like a future star, according to Jazz coach Quin Snyder, as relayed by Kelsey Russo of The Athletic.
“He’s gonna be a star in this league really soon,” Snyder said. “He’s having star-quality games already. I think his versatility makes him. It’s a rare combination of size, length, quickness and skill.”
Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen have formed a dynamic pick-and-roll combination; both were nominees for Player of the Month honors in the East. Wing Cedi Osman has played well when healthy, shooting 42.9% from three. Ricky Rubio has thrived as a veteran leader for the young team, serving as a mentor to Garland and providing heady play on both ends. Sign-and-trade acquisition Lauri Markkanen, never known for defense, has bought into coach J.B. Bickerstaff‘s system and is competing hard defensively.
That’s the most impressive thing when watching Cleveland — the way in which all its players have bought into the system. The Cavs play hard every game, which you don’t see very often in a league with a long, 82-game season. Even during the team’s five-game losing streak in November, when it was very shorthanded, the healthy players were giving full effort.
Prior to the season, we ran our annual Over/Unders polls, and 50.5% of our readers predicted the Cavaliers to be under 26.5 wins. They’re already halfway to 26 wins through 24 games, so the over seems like a very safe bet at this point. However, the East is surprisingly deep this season; only three games separate the fourth seed (Miami, 14-10) from the 12th (Toronto, 11-13).
We want to know what you think. Will the Cavs make the Play-In Tournament? Make the playoffs outright as a top-six seed? Or be out of the playoff picture completely?
Vote in our pool, then head to the comment section to share your two cents!
If Raptors and Cavs make playoffs, then the following 4 teams would play lottery
Celtics
76ers
Hawks
Knicks
When Mobley & Allen are on the floor together, CLE is an elite defensive team (almost regardless of who the other 3 guys are). If those two stay healthy, a top 10 finish is a given. I think it’s hard for a team that’s used to losing to make a huge jump (into the top 6) in the standings in a single year, but I wouldn’t count them out.
This is a very random poll, but hey I don’t mind talking about the Cavs lol. So here are so stats that might help you make your poll decision.
1st in strength of schedule played so far
11th in standings, 7th in East
2nd in least points allowed
3rd in defensive rating
8th in plus/minus
4th in assist %
8th in rebound %
7th in offensive rebounding
1st in least amount of fouls per game
Man do I love this Cavs team!
Really so 24 gms in. And it’s all turned for Cavs. Who will they beat out. Pistons, Magic, who else. Pacers and Raptors are not this bad. They will get going. Those are the two teams they will compete with. Cavs are better off with one more lottery pick. So why the rush now. The East is deep. Do not be fooled by these records now. The cream will rise to top. Of all the bottom 7 teams from last year. Only the Pacers and Raptors might drop down. Top 10 teams in East will all be over .500. I doubt Cavs will be. Cavs were (22-50) last yr.
link to google.com;;
@Knickerbocker
No one is chanting “championship or bust”. But this team, with Allen, Mobley, Rubio and even Markkanen are a tough match. They’ve beaten good teams and have been competitive with the Nets, Suns and others with close games they ultimately lost. They are far from an easy win. I don’t necessarily want them to trade future assets at the deadline in efforts to make a playoff run but if they are in it, then I might hold on to Rubio and maybe Love depending on the cost/return and his importance to the team at the time. I want this team to feel like the organization wants to win now.
So let me get this straight, Cavs are only better than Pistons and Magic (etc), Cavs should tank now for one more lottery pick even though they are playing extremely well, and because Cavs were 22-50 last year the Cavs won’t be over .500 this year (even though we have the hardest strength of schedule so far and have a great record to show for it)??
You always have really strong opinions about the Cavs that are interesting to say the least… “Mobley is only a center”, etc… let me guess, the Knicks are still much better than the Cavs even though we destroyed you in the Garden by 17…
Here here!
Sexland why are you always crying when people have a negative take on the Cavs? Who cares people crap on all teams. Lol grow a pair bro. Your team is winning enjoy it while it lasts.
Lol aren’t you that one Pistons fan who absolutely flipped when I said Hayes wasn’t a good player last year? Pretty sure you commented on my all my posts for weeks telling me how bad my team was lol. So your “grow a pair” and “always crying” comment means nothing to me, especially when it’s coming from someone like yourself who threw a big tantrum about your own team.
Lol not hardly. Anyway hope the Cavs do not fall back into the early Lottery as they seem to always do. Good luck ;)
This team’s different, we’ll be fine.
Russo is a homer and a hack. She spoon-fed Snyder the words in her question so that Snyder would answer with his Mobley cheerleading quote.