Sometimes, it takes just a small tweak to change an entire team around.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made no big moves in the offseason.
If anything, they doubled down on their commitment to the player they already had there, signing Donovan Mitchell to a contract extension.
Even so, Kenny Atkinson’s arrival has been a blessing for this franchise.
Their new coach has them running and gunning on offense, and their defense hasn’t regressed from the J.B. Bickerstaff days, either.
That’s why Cleveland sports insider Daryl Ruiter is so high on this team.
Talking on 92.3 The Fan, he raved about the new-look Cavaliers, not only because of how they’re playing but also because of how they carry themselves.
"They are good enough. They are deep enough. Having been around and in locker rooms for the better part of the last three decades, there is such a thing as a vibe." @RuiterWrongFAN and @RealDCunningham talk about the #Cavs 11-0 start and the upside this team has shown, already pic.twitter.com/P85JjrhPZd
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 11, 2024
He believes the locker room vibes are great, which can take a team far.
The Cavaliers know that their undefeated streak will end at some point; it’s simply not realistic to expect to go 82-0 for an entire season.
Then again, they’re pushing to win an NBA championship, and they seem to believe in themselves and one another strongly enough to play as hard as championship-caliber teams do.
The Cavaliers have been up and down over the past couple of years.
They are a playoff team but not good enough to be a championship contender.
It’s still early in the season, and a lot could go wrong.
But for now, the eye test and the numbers show that this is the best team in basketball.
NEXT: Kenny Atkinson Gets Honest About Being Fired From Nets
