The Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the Eastern Conference last season, but they are hoping for so much more in 2025-26.
Writing for Bleacher Report, Greg Swartz gave the team a great grade for their title chances in the new season.
He stated that expectations are very high for the squad, but the Cavs should still be the favorites in the East.
“Cleveland Cavaliers: A,” Swartz wrote. “Winning 64 games and leading the NBA in offense was a nice start for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ young core a season ago, although now expectations are much higher. Anything less than a championship for this group will be a disappointment. Donovan Mitchell is at the peak of his powers and Evan Mobley is coming off an All-Star, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year season at age 23. The Cavs should be the favorites to come out of the East and the biggest challenger to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s dreams of a repeat.”
On paper, there is no reason to doubt this team.
Donovan Mitchell has become a hero in Cleveland, Evan Mobley just had the best season of his career, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen are committed and eager to grow, and the team is filled with multiple role players who are able to step up.
Plus, they have Kenny Atkinson as coach, and he’s been nothing but spectacular.
Despite all the pluses for this team, there are also minuses, and their postseason performances are the biggest ones.
The Cavs can’t seem to get it together in the playoffs, and last season was a prime example of that.
They had the strongest record in the East, held the best odds of reaching the Finals, and still feel painfully short.
This is obviously working against them and keeping fans on edge.
But the Cavaliers are well aware of their shortcomings, and they are putting together a plan to combat them.
If they can actually address their issues, they could be an A+ team capable of taking down anyone in their way.
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