The Cavs are 5-0 for the first time since 2016 after a 134-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wed, Oct. 30.
In 2016, the Cavs went 5-0 to start out the year and later on went to win the NBA Finals in a seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors. The beginning of this season is drawing similar parallels.
The 2016 team featured the dynamic trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and LeBron James leading the way for the team with expectations high and a new head coach in Tyronn Lue. The Cavs have similar playmakers on their current roster for this season Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
While some might say that Mitchell, Allen, Garland and Mobley could not possibly compare to the likes of Irving, Love and James, the new group is proving to be a dynamic force and it’s showing on the basketball court. Kenny Atkinson is also a new head coach brought on to the team this season.
Donovan Mitchell currently leads the team in PPG, averaging 23.8 points per game. Jarrett Allen currently leads the team in rebounds per game with 11 and is also first in the NBA in field goal percentage, shooting 79.1 percent from the field. Darius Garland leads the team in assists per game with 6.0 per game and Evan Mobley leads the team in steals with 2.0 per game.
These statistics are similar to that of the 2016 team, in which Lebron and Kyrie controlled most of the statistical headlines throughout the majority of the season, not just the first five games. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley seem to be the dominant forces for the Cavs this season, putting up Kyrie-like and Lebron-like numbers to start out the season. Mobley is currently averaging 19.2 points per game.
Lebron averaged 22.8 points per game through the first five games of the 2016 season and Kyrie averaged 26 points per game through the first five games. Both of those statistics leveled out as the season went on, but they proved to be indicators of things to come for the team.
If the Cavs can keep their potent scoring up this season, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be considered a contender for the NBA Finals. The Cavs are currently averaging 125.6 points per game, putting them only behind the Boston Celtics for the crown in the association.
The 2024 Cavs will draw even more similar parellels to the 2016 team if they get a win tonight against the Orlando Magic at RocketMortgage Fieldhouse at seven p.m, as the 2016 team started out the season 6-0 before losing their first game to the Atlanta Hawks.
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