With a 13-0 record, the Cleveland Cavaliers could be entering the discussion of who could realistically win this summer’s NBA championship.
Although their roster looks a lot like the one they had last season, they’re a vastly improved team, especially on offense, where they’re playing at a much faster pace and a lot more efficient compared to last season.
On 92.3 The Fan, Jonathan Peterlin gave Cavs executive Koby Altman credit for sticking with the team’s core rather than breaking it up.
“At some point, we’ve got to acknowledge Koby Altman didn’t budge. He could’ve changed it up. He decided not to,” said Peterlin.
"At some point, we've got to acknowledge Koby Altman didn't budge. He could've changed it up. He decided not to." @JPeterlin tells @NickWilsonSays #Cavs president Koby Altman deserves some of the credit https://t.co/htiNk1yKGN pic.twitter.com/HV1XV33p5d
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 14, 2024
After Cleveland was routed in five games by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs, there were rumors that they were going to break up their talented backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Garland had a down year and underperformed in the playoffs, and there had been plenty of talk that Mitchell wanted to head to the New York Knicks and go back home (he was born in suburban Westchester County).
But Mitchell instead agreed to an extension, and Garland has responded by shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 44.9 percent from 3-point range to start this season.
The one move that was made during the offseason was to fire then-head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and replace him with Kenny Atkinson, and it has paid off big-time on offense.
The Cavs are leading the NBA in points per game, field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage, and they’re second in offensive rating.
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