How seriously should we take this undefeated start from the Cavaliers?

How seriously should we take this undefeated start from the Cavaliers?

Now that we are roughly two weeks into the 2024-25 NBA Season, only two teams atop their respective conferences are undefeated. One of those teams is the Oklahoma City Thunder, the overwhelming favorite to make it out of the Western Conference, even without Isaiah Hartenstein for the first two months of the season.

The other? The Cleveland Cavaliers, just like you expected. Yes, those same Cavaliers that were rumored to potentially break up their backcourt and possibly their frontcourt after a five-game exit in the East semis last year. Not the Boston Celtics; not the New York Knicks; not the Orlando Magic, Vendetta’s team, whose best player is sidelined; not the Philadelphia 76ers or Milwaukee Bucks, who are a combined 2-11. It’s the Cavaliers.

In fact, it’s the second 8-0 start in franchise history–the other being in 1976-77, who started 16-4 before hitting a wall and finished 43-49.

Are the Cavaliers for real? Are they contenders? I don’t know if they’re official title contenders, but this eight-game sample, while small, is nothing to scoff at.

Through eight games, they have five wins by double figures, including two by 20-plus points. Four of their last five wins were against playoff teams last year. With new head coach Kenny Atkinson manning the sideline, the Cavaliers have the fourth-most efficient offense with the sixth-best defense–headed by a double-big duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Speaking of their frontcourt, nobody has benefitted more than Mobley with Atkinson. The former No. 2 overall pick has shown more shot creation and looks as comfortable with his handle in the halfcourt and in traffic than he ever has. He looks empowered and free, even though he’s in a similar context than he was last year.

He’s averaging 17.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 53.8 percent shooting and 40.0 from 3-point range on low volume. Oh, and he’s coupled that with elite interior defense, posting 3.2 stocks per 75 possessions.

Garland is playing as well as he ever has since Donovan Mitchell‘s arrival, especially after missing over a month with a fractured jaw last year (losing 12 lbs). He’s averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 assists on a career-best 44.8 percent shooting from 3-point range on career volume, hoisting nearly half of his field goal attempts from 3-point range.

Cleveland has a collection of complementary threats with Dean Wade, Caris LeVert, sharpshooter Sam Merrill, Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang to place alongside their top-4. That’s not counting Max Strus, who has yet to suit up due to injury. I still want to see them add at least another point-of-attack defender and rotational big. There are also more than 70 games left. But I think it might be time to start taking this team seriously as a second-tier East team–behind Boston, the obvious favorite.

Atkinson has made a world of difference, and this group has never seemed more connected than they are right now. There’s no telling how deep this team can go if Mitchell, Mobley, Garland and Allen are remain healthy. Given the track record, that’s a steep ask.

They spread teams out more than they did under J.B. Bickerstaff, and Mobley’s added versatility has a ton to do with that. It’s not perfect, but it looks as good as one could’ve hoped for through this early portion of the season. I’m throwing all my chips in — they’re still not better than Boston — but they’ve caught my attention from this point on.

Now let’s see how much they cool off–when they do–because that happens to every team over an 82-game season. Most importantly, their response could dictate the fate of their season.

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