Per most analysts, the Cleveland Cavaliers started the season as a playoff-hopeful team with a second-round ceiling.
Fast forward to today, and they’ve shown that no team can look past them.
That’s why they’re getting every team’s best effort night in and night out.
It surely looked that way a couple of games ago when they held on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies.
Despite the win, second-round rookie Jaylen Wells made life difficult for Donovan Mitchell with his physical defense and three-level scoring.
That’s why Mitchell tipped his hat to Wells and praised him for making a name for himself so quickly (via Spencer Davies):
“For a second-round rookie [to face] guys like myself, Dame, Book, Ant, Steph, he’s on the [scouting] report. That’s a lot of respect to him. He’s kind of made himself a staple over there,” he said.
Donovan Mitchell with a ton of praise of Jaylen Wells: “For a second-round rookie [to face] guys like myself, Dame, Book, Ant, Steph, he's on the [scouting] report. That's a lot of respect to him. He's kind of made himself a staple over there.”
Exclusive feature on Wells below👇 pic.twitter.com/31Vb6j2MU9
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) February 25, 2025
Wells emerged out of left field to become a steady contributor to Taylor Jenkins’s team.
He made the most of several injuries to showcase his skills, and he’s now become a starter.
The Grizzlies have the second-best record in the Western Conference right now, and as such, they’re one of the biggest candidates to come out and make it to the NBA Finals.
Should that be the case, the Cavs could have their hands full with their physicality, provided they also come out of the Eastern Conference.
Even so, unlike other years, this Cavs team has proven to be more willing to get into an old-school, more physical type of game.
Of course, that’s not the way they play, but they’re not shying away from contact, trash-talk, and confrontation like they may have done in years past.
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