The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently the 4th team in the East with a strong 23-14 record.
They are behind only the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks, and hot on the heels of the Bucks.
The Cavs have been having the season they promised fans when Donovan Mitchell was acquired in the summer.
It is clear to see that they have one of the best rosters in the league and head coach JB Bickerstaff is proud of it.
“We are the best defense in the league.”
– Coach Bickerstaff pic.twitter.com/KZVXpEu4ad
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) January 2, 2023
He’s so proud, in fact, that he told the press that his team beats all others when it comes to defense.
“We are the best defense in the league,” Bickerstaff said following the Cavs’ latest win against the Chicago Bulls.
It’s good that Bickerstaff believes in his squad so much but there are some people taking issue with his claim.
They point to the fact that statistically, they have the fourth-best defensive rating in the league, behind the Celtics, Nets, and Denver Nuggets.
Additionally, the Cavs lost three in a row prior to their close victory over the Bulls.
That doesn’t look like the team with the best defense in the NBA.
But Bickerstaff isn’t too far off because the Cavaliers have quietly become a defensive powerhouse.
This is due to multiple players, especially big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Mobley has come out swinging, just as he did last season during his rookie year.
And Allen has been working even better with Mobley this season.
But attention also needs to be paid to other guys like Kevin Love, Darius Garland, and Mitchell too.
Everyone is focused on Bickerstaff’s plan for playing better defense and it’s showing.
They might not be the very best but they sure are good.
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