How have the Cavs started this season so hot?
The Cleveland Cavaliers could not have asked for a better start to the 2024 season. The team is 5-0 with a point differential of +91. This makes them the 8th team of all time to achieve this to start the season. What else do the previous Seven teams have in common? Six of them went on to make the NBA Finals. There is still a lot to be seen in this NBA season but let’s examine what has led to the Cavs’ blistering start.
Front Court Efficiency
Let’s start with the frontcourt. Jarrett Allen is on pace for the best year of his career. He is averaging a career-high 17.8 points and 11 rebounds a game. The most impressive stat this year has been his efficiency, amassing only nine missed shots on his way to 89 points. Allen has benefitted from the spacing created by strong shooting we will examine later on, but his impact in the paint has been immense.
Staying in the front court, 4th-year star Evan Mobley has been shining in his increased role through five games. Mobley is averaging over 19 points a game and shooting 50% from long range thus far. More importantly, under Atkinson’s new offense, Mobley has become a main feature. The Cavs, in part, hired Atkinson due to his vision of Mobley having a higher usage rate and becoming more of a ball-handling big man. Think Giannis or Sabonis here. Donavon Mitchell has even commented on this transition offense saying “Whoever gets it, we’re gone” in his postgame interview after the win against LA. Evan Mobley’s continuing to improve at handling the ball and creating his own shot will be paramount to this season’s success.
All-Star Back Court
Switching gears to the backcourt. Darius Garland is looking like the All-Star he is. In addition to his clutch scoring to close out the New York Knicks, he has been shooting 45% from three and facilitating the ball at a sustainable level. Both he and Donovan Mitchell currently maintain a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Donovan Mitchell is still Donovan Mitchell. There is not much to say about him that has not already been said. Spida is still the motor for this team. They go as he goes and that has been clear since he joined the team. Resigning this offseason showed that he saw what this team could do, and they seem to be paying him back tenfold with the on court performance.
Can They Stay This Hot?
The Cavs are currently the hottest shooting team in the NBA. They are shooting a league-high 54% from the field and 41% from three. Compare that to last year they shot 48% from the field and 36% from three. With a roster that has not changed much the biggest change has been the offense and pace of play. Under Bickerstaff, the Cavs had a bottom-10 pace each year. So far this year they have the 7th highest pace in the NBA.
It has only been five games but the start to the Kenny Atkinson era could not have gotten off to a better start. The shot selection, distribution and execution are currently on another level. In fact, the offense has been so good that I did not even mention the fact that the Cavs have the best defensive rating in the association as well. The schedule toughens up a bit in November. Let’s see if the Cavs can continue to let the NBA know.
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