Cleveland Cavaliers: How long can this winning streak realistically continue
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing fantastic basketball, winning their last eleven straight, but how long can they realistically continue their streak?
After a questionable 5-7 start to the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost their feared appearance. However, after winning twelve of their last thirteen, this team look to be recapturing the Eastern Conference yet again.
With that said, how long will the Cavaliers be able to continue their streak? To gauge that, let’s take a brief look at how their schedule looks in their next couple games.
The Cavaliers next five games come against the Bulls, Kings, Pacers, 76ers, and Hawks in respective order. They are 3-1 against those teams with wins over the 76ers, Bulls, and Hawks, and a nail-biting loss to the Hawks before their prior to their win streak. Those teams are a combined 40-71. The schedule up through their next five games doesn’t look too difficult. Their matchup with Philadelphia could pose a challenge if the Cavaliers do not come out and put Philly in their place, and the matchup against the Indiana Pacers, who have been surprisingly consistently playing well this season, should come down to the wire.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
It isn’t until after those games that the Cavaliers will start to face arduous opponents on a consistent basis. After the Cavaliers meeting with Atlanta, they face the Jazz then Lakers. Following that game, when the Cavaliers would hopefully have won 18 straight, is where the fun starts to begin.
The Cavs have to play away at Washington on the 17th, away at Milwaukee on the 19th, and away at Golden State on Christmas. If the Cavaliers streak somehow survives, it would be at an impressive 21. However, last season, they were a combined 2-3 away against those teams. If the Cavaliers continue to play the way they have been, it shouldn’t be terribly difficult to continue their streak up until those games.
So, what does it mean to “continue to play the way they have been?” I’m glad you asked.
It’s all in the defense for Cleveland. Throughout their first twelve games, the Cavaliers gave up over 110 points in ten straight games, following their 2-0 start. For the season, the Cavs have mustered a defensive rating of 108.3 which is actually 25th in the NBA after a historically bad start. Somehow, someway the Cleveland Cavaliers flipped the switch in November.
Winning ten straight requires defense, and it has been the pinnacle of Cleveland’s tirade through November. With a defensive rating of 103.0 and a net rating of 9.9 over the course of their last eleven games, it is clear that when Cleveland defends, they win.
Must Read: Potential Tyronn Lue replacements for the Cleveland Cavaliers to consider
Moving forward, the Cavaliers should have no trouble until their Christmas day matchup in Golden State as long as they continue to ramp up their defensive intensity.