The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the best team in the Eastern Conference this season.
There was a big stretch during which they were also the best team in the league overall, but that might no longer be the case after they dropped four games in a row.
The Cavs bounced back with a big win over the Utah Jazz, but given how the Jazz have fared this season, it wasn’t that impressive.
That’s why Patrick Beverley has some doubts about this team.
Do we believe in the Cavs? pic.twitter.com/PcmgUjL8ct
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) March 24, 2025
Talking on his podcast, he argued that no one was afraid of the Cavs, and they wouldn’t be as good in the playoffs.
He claimed to love Darius Garland and thought that he could be a deciding factor in the postseason.
However, if he’s not locked in and doesn’t take defense seriously, they will be in trouble.
The same goes for Donovan Mitchell.
Beverley claimed that the offense will sell tickets, but the defense will win championships.
More than that, he thinks that the Cavs will be in a lot of trouble if Mitchell freelances on defense and just relies on Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to challenge everything at the rim.
That will get the bigs into foul trouble.
Beverley wants to see the Cavs guards taking some pride in defense and being physical on that end of the floor.
That could help turn around the narrative of this team being soft, and it might be more than enough to make them a little more intimidating during a seven-game series.
NEXT: Stats Show How Cavs' Starters Dominated On Sunday
