The Cavs Are Off To A Hot Start

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the hottest team in the NBA, starting the 2024-2025 season with
an impressive 7-0 record. This past Saturday, the Cavs overcame the Milwaukee Bucks despite
strong performances from Milwaukee’s stars. Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly recorded a
triple-double, and Damian Lillard hit ten three-pointers in what was likely his best game in a
Bucks uniform to date—yet they still fell short against this young, up-and-coming Cavaliers
group.

The Cavs embody the “stay the course” philosophy, showing that continuity matters in the NBA.
They recently secured Donovan Mitchell’s future with the team, as he committed to Cleveland
by signing a three-year max extension instead of seeking a trade to a big-market team. They
also extended Jarrett Allen on a three-year, $91 million contract, bringing his guaranteed total to
$131 million over the next five seasons. Evan Mobley, too, received a substantial extension this
summer with a max rookie contract worth $224 million over five seasons. Darius Garland had
already signed his own extension the previous season, solidifying Cleveland’s commitment to
this core and their willingness to invest in a Finals run without LeBron James—arguably the
greatest player to ever play—on the roster.

This offseason, Cleveland moved on from J.B. Bickerstaff, who now coaches their division rival,
the Detroit Pistons. They brought in Kenny Atkinson to “modernize the offense” while
maintaining the strong defensive identity they’ve established over the past three seasons. The
Cavaliers have ranked no lower than sixth in the league in defensive rating during that time,
proving themselves a force to be reckoned with on that side of the ball. During their 7-0 start this
season, the Cavs have established themselves as one of the league’s top teams, beginning the
year with the second-best offensive rating and a top-five defensive rating.

This team could argue for having a top-five backcourt and frontcourt with the immense talent
among their personnel. However, the one gap in this roster may be a reliable 3-and-D wing—a
role crucial to the success of many NBA teams today. The Boston Celtics, for example, won the
championship last season thanks to their versatile wings, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown,
along with a roster packed with shooters and defenders. Boston currently holds the top offensive
rating in the league, and the Cavs are aiming to replicate a similar level of success. While they
currently have some uncertainty at the small forward position, players like Isaac Okoro and
Dean Wade have been filling in, as former Miami Heat shooter Max Strus has been sidelined
with a sprained ankle sustained before the season opener.

Despite this setback, I see it as a positive for the team, as it provides opportunities for players
who might not have had them otherwise due to Max’s unfortunate injury. Fortunately, he’s
expected to be out for only six weeks rather than a major portion of the season, giving the team
a chance to integrate Max Strus as they progress and work toward securing a top seed in the
Eastern Conference.

Tonight, they face off for the second time against a seemingly desperate Milwaukee Bucks team
looking to turn their season around before it’s too late.