It may well be too early in the season to contend that the Cavaliers will be among the handful of bona fide contenders for the hardware. After all, they’re just a tenth into their 2024-25 campaign, and eight games do not 82 make. That said, there have shown more than enough to back up the claim that they’re for real. They’re certainly better than their immediate past selves, never mind that they did little to tweak a roster pundits believed had to be shored up in the offseason. Instead, they opted for a coaching change that, even this early, has made them look like geniuses.
Indeed, newly installed bench tactician Kenny Atkinson has worked wonders on the Cavaliers’ offense. Resolving to hit the ground running, he chucked their backcourt-heavy predilections in favor of more egalitarian sets that have made them far less predictable. More importantly, they have translated their faster pace into efficient point production. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland remain instigators, but have happily ceded usage in favor of supposed liabilities Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Meanwhile, erstwhile starter Caris LeVert has figured well as a reserve, with less touches but relatively better output.
To be fair, the Cavaliers are due for some regression. As the rest of the league becomes more familiar with their improved style of play, and as opponents get to prepare for effective counters, they will find themselves bereft of the element of surprise that has helped them through their 8-0 start. The flipside, of course, is that the confidence they continue to build will translate to precise execution even under pressure. Repetitions beget success, especially in the crunch.
For the Cavaliers, consistency will be the determinants of their lasting power. They have upped their three-point attempts significantly, but have been so judicious as to likewise hike up their percentages. And because their defense has remained stout, they boast of a point differential that is well in the double digits. They’re having fun to boot — proud of a run the wine and gold haven’t seen in nearly half a century, but cognizant of the fact that they’re merely laying the groundwork for the real work that lies ahead.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.