With an 11-0 record, the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking mighty to start the 2024-25 NBA season, and the big change for them has been offense.
In the past, they played at one of the slowest paces in the league and were a mediocre or below-average offensive team, but this season is a much different story.
As an X (formerly Twitter) post from CavsMuse shows, they’re leading everyone in points per game, field-goal percentage, 3-point accuracy and offensive rating.
Cavs’ team stat rankings this season:
Points Per Game: 122.7 (1st in NBA)
Assists Per Game: 28.7 (5th)
Field Goal Percentage: 52.8% (1st)
Three Point Percentage: 42.2% (1st)
Steals Per Game: 9.5 (4th)
Net Rating: 12.1 (2nd)
Offensive Rating: 122.0 (1st)Thoughts?#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/eg1pTynSL9
— CavsMuse (11-0) (@CavsMuse) November 11, 2024
Lots of credit has to go to new head coach Kenny Atkinson, who has loosened the reins on what has been a promising group of young players for the last few years.
Cleveland is looking to run as much as they ever have — they rank fourth in fast-break points per game — and they’re seemingly making the most of their youth and athleticism.
In particular, starting point guard Darius Garland has benefitted from this new emphasis on up-tempo basketball.
His numbers, particularly his shooting percentages, were down last season, but through 11 games this year, he’s averaging 20.5 points and 6.6 assists a game while shooting 53.8 percent overall and 47.5 percent from 3-point range.
Big man Evan Mobley has also seemingly stepped up his offensive game with 18.4 points per game, which is nearly three points higher than his average last season.
On the other end, Cleveland still ranks ninth in defensive rating, and as if to prove they’re a different team this year, they blasted the Golden State Warriors, who are off to a hot start themselves, 136-117 on Friday.
Just days from now, they will have a chance to make a major statement when they visit the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Nov. 19 in group play for the Emirates NBA Cup.
NEXT: Analyst Says People Need To Start Paying Attention To The Cavs
