Cavaliers push through adversity to jump in standings and into title contention
Cleveland has overtaken Milwaukee for the No. 2 spot in the East by achieving a 14-1 record since Jan. 3.
• Download the NBA App >
CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell surveyed the crowd surrounding him like he was dissecting a trapping defense.
Backed up against a wall inside the locker room Monday night following the Cavaliers’ sixth straight win, a 136-110 rout of the Sacramento Kings, the All-Star guard couldn’t help but notice the growing number of media members hanging around him and his teammates lately.
“It’s insane,” stated Mitchell. “Not intending to disrespect any of you, but many were not present when we hit rock bottom.”
The Cavs have flipped the script on a season that seemed destined for failure.
Since Dec. 16, Cleveland has achieved an NBA-best record of 19-4. This unexpected success began a day following the team’s announcement that Darius Garland, the starting point guard with a broken jaw, and forward Evan Mobley, who underwent knee surgery, would be indefinitely absent due to injuries. These two players, central to the team, were sidelined for six weeks.
Everything has changed for the Cavs, both internally and externally, since then.
Talk of Coach J.B. Bickerstaff potentially getting fired has subsided, making way for conversations about his potential Coach of the Year nomination. Similarly, the chatter about Mitchell’s long-term future in Cleveland has shifted to focus on present circumstances. Questions are arising about whether the current Cavaliers, performing at a level unseen since the LeBron James era, could be genuine title contenders in 2024.
Donovan Mitchell is propelling the Cavaliers up the East standings at a rapid pace. What could be the potential peak for Cleveland?
It all occurred swiftly and unpredictably. However, not for everyone.
The Cavs have always held the belief that their skills are on par with the top teams in the league, it’s just that it has taken them a bit more time to uncover it.
What’s happened is that Cleveland has become a more dynamic, deeper team than anticipated.
“Mitchell, who is establishing an MVP case with his outstanding all-around season, said, “Everyone has stepped up when their number was called. We’ve observed this in training camp and during the summer workouts. The main challenge was just trying to bring it together as a team.”
Cleveland has surpassed Milwaukee for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference by achieving a 14-1 record since Jan. 3. Their next three games will be on the road, starting in Washington on Wednesday.
The team’s rapid and remarkable ascent is still overshadowed by the need to make up for last year’s playoff failure (an intense first round defeat by the New York Knicks). However, that reckoning is still a future concern.
“Before our team made 23 3-pointers and outpaced a fast-paced Sacramento team, we first and foremost understood each other as we started practicing together,” said Bickerstaff. “Now, there’s a clear image of our gameplay, our strengths. As we play Cavs basketball, the roles are now clear for everyone to see and for players to adapt to.”
Oddly, the Cavs only uncovered their offensive identity after Garland and Mobley were injured.
Without their combined contribution of 36 points per game, the playmaking of Garland and Mobley’s dual-threat capabilities, it became crucial to improve ball movement. Additionally, like many other teams in the league, the Cavs, who brought in shooters Max Strus and Georges Niang during the offseason, are trying for more 3-pointers (37 per game) and successfully making more of them (13.4).
“This is wonderful. We’re playing superb basketball, yet my primary concern, and our collective concern, is how we maintain this momentum? How do we continue to improve?” – Donovan Mitchell
Due to his team being short-handed, Bickerstaff, previously criticized for his rotations, was compelled to utilize reserves such as Craig Porter Jr. and Sam Merrill. Both have since thrived, garnering more trust and playing time.
Bickerstaff will reluctantly expand his rotation for the time being, though it will tighten in the postseason.
“He expressed his dislike for the number 10,” he said. “He prefers nine, but there are 10 guys who have merited it.”
The Cavs have been creeping into the championship conversation as their victories have accumulated, with only one loss since Jan. 1 to Milwaukee by 10 points. This successful streak has also led to praise for Bickerstaff.
“J.B. is not acknowledged sufficiently,” stated Mike Brown, coach of the Kings. “They encountered some early obstacles, which I always see as a positive. It’s because overcoming those difficulties with your team implies a genuine possibility of success. They are proving to everyone that they are authentic and capable of surmounting any challenge they face.”
Naturally, having Mitchell take the lead is beneficial.
The 27-year-old has fulfilled all the expectations the Cavs had when they acquired him in a trade in September 2022. He is currently averaging 28.2 points and has set career records in assists (6.4), rebounds (5.4), and steals (1.9). Mitchell consistently delivers crucial plays when required.
He dunked the ball on Monday by tossing it off the backboard to himself.
Although Mitchell is optimistic about Cleveland’s rise, he isn’t overreacting to it just yet.
“He remarked, “It’s satisfactory, however, it’s only February. Our aim is to persist in playing as we’ve been. The most crucial aspect is to operate as a unit. The key is to remain together and ensure our unity.”
“This is fantastic. We’re playing exceptional basketball, yet the most important consideration for both myself and our team is, how do we maintain this? How do we improve further?”
