The Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in basketball right now.
There are plenty of things to back up that statement.
They’re top five in offensive efficiency and top ten in defensive efficiency.
They have the best record in the league – by a big margin – and they have the second-best net rating.
Nonetheless, even though we’re almost 50 wins into the season, some still refuse to give them credit.
Notably, that includes Chris Russo.
On Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take,” the controversial pundit refused to include the Cavs in his list of potential championship contenders.
.@stephenasmith is FURIOUS with @MadDogUnleashed for not including the Cavs as NBA title contenders 😳
"Have you watched the Cleveland Cavaliers this year?" 👀 pic.twitter.com/iKEKGTk4SS
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 26, 2025
Even despite the team’s record, numbers, and tape, he still doesn’t think they can get the job done against the top-ranked teams or when it matters the most.
Then again, this is just classic Russo, so his words must be taken with a grain of salt.
He rarely gives small-market teams any credit, and Cavs fans should be used to that by now.
The Cavs have won a franchise-best 15 games by at least 20 points this season, and that includes two wins by at least 40 points.
They’re just five wins away from securing a playoff berth, and we haven’t even reached March.
If those are not the signs of a contending team, chances are those who don’t think of them as a championship-caliber team won’t change their minds at any point for the remainder of the season.
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