The Cavaliers clinched a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday with a 112-107 win over the Heat (Twitter link). Even if Cleveland loses all of its remaining 20 games, the club would be guaranteed a playoff spot.
While the Cavs were projected to be a playoff team in the East this season, no one expected them to be quite this good. As Joe Vardon of The Athletic writes, their 52-10 record is the best in franchise history through 62 games and they’re one of two teams in NBA history to register three separate winning streaks of at least 12 games in a single season, joining the 2006/07 Mavericks.
The Cavaliers, who have held the East’s No. 1 seed since October 30, opened the season with 15 consecutive wins. They also won 12 in a row from December 13 to January 9 and are currently riding another 12-game winning streak, which they’ll look to extend on Friday in Charlotte.
“Everything’s kind of gone our way, right?” head coach Kenny Atkinson said on Wednesday. “We have great talent, great continuity, great togetherness. … There’s luck when you do that. There has to be because it’s so hard to win in the NBA. It’s special. It’s really special. We know what we’re going to be judged on, but we enjoy this.”
Although the Cavaliers are now assured of a playoff spot, they’ve maintained the same message all season after being eliminated in the second round of the 2024 postseason: their goal is a championship, not just regular season success.
“This was an expectation,” Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell said of clinching a playoff spot, per Vardon. “Is it great that we did it in March? Yeah, but this is the bare minimum for us.”
Playoffs was a given basically clinched in January. The 1st seed is the real thing and once that happens they need to maintain focus.
Also shows how weak the east is again compared to the west. (Overall, not just the top teams)
If you think Cleveland and Boston are weak you don’t know hoops
Solid coaching staff has turned Cleveland around very fast.
Solid GM work has turned the team around very fast.
Getting a legit suoerstar, drafting potential superstars, trading for more valuable talent, rim protection, 3D wings, 3pt specialists, etc.
Atkinson’s been great, but the CAVS have been on a steady rise even before he got there.
Of course, any team will be judged in the playoffs, how deep they get.
Not comprehending the phrase “overall, not just the top teams” I see.
What it means is that the east is strong on top but has about 10 garbage teams on the bottom. Heck they have about 4-5 teams below .500 that are going to make the playoffs at this point.
If you think that’s strong, you don’t know hoops.
Cavaliers core hasn’t been here that long. They are still growing as a team imo. Hunter is a big piece to add to this team. Coach Atkinson has also added a lot to this team. I’m not a betting man. I see Cavs and Celtics as best teams in NBA. In a seven game series I see Cavs. Donovan is the difference to me. Nobody can hold him. Should be a great series.
Knicks bench is an issue. With Mitch and TJ. Knicks will be tough for Celtics. Cavs have an easier road.