The Cleveland Cavaliers are essentially the same team they were last season, at least personnel-wise.
They didn’t make a lot of moves in the offseason.
If anything, they just doubled down on their current core of players.
Nevertheless, Kenny Atkinson has them looking like an entirely different team.
He took their strong defensive identity from the J.B. Bickerstaff days and added a new layer of free-flowing offense that has the entire team buzzing.
As pointed out by KnicksMuse on X, the Cavs currently have the best offensive rating in the league.
NBA Offensive Rating Leaders:
122.4 β Cavs (11-0)
120.1 β Knicks (4-5)
120.1 β Warriors (8-2)
119.7 β Celtics (9-2)Itβs just a matter of time. pic.twitter.com/T81lbpa5cj
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) November 11, 2024
Atkinson has always been known for his creative offensive mind, and he’s everything this group of players needed at this point in their careers.
He has them cutting and slashing with a purpose.
The ball is always finding the open man, and it’s not an iso-heavy offense anymore.
Donovan Mitchell can now defer to his teammates; everybody is getting touches, spreading wealth, and getting into a rhythm.
One could make a case for the Cavaliers to have four All-Stars.
This team has the best record in the entire Association and has yet to lose a single game.
Needless to say, that will not go on for much longer, and they’re bound to lose at some point.
But for the first time since Donovan Mitchell arrived in town, this team looks like a legitimate threat to come out of the Eastern Conference and return to the NBA Finals.
NEXT: Analyst Has A Strong Belief About The Cavs This Season
