The Cleveland Cavaliers were not supposed to get off to such a hot start. Their early-season schedule was brutal, a gauntlet of teams where all but one made the playoffs last season and should expect to do so again. Once they lost what looked like the two “easiest” games to fall to 0-2, losses to Memphis and Charlotte, they seemed doomed for a brutal start.
Then came the upset win over the Atlanta Hawks, and two more defensively dominant victories against the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers to start their West Coast road trip. Suddenly the Cavs aren’t staring down the barrel of an 0-7 start, but are 3-2 with optimism going into a Pacific Division back-to-back this weekend.
A daunting opening schedule hasn’t killed the Cavs, who are 3-2 heading into a weekend back-to-back.
The Los Angeles Lakers are up first, a team itself reeling from a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 2-3 record that could easily be 0-5. LeBron James is questionable after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Then Saturday the defending Western Conference champions come up, the Phoenix Suns, who are themselves scuffling to start the year with a 1-3 record and one of the league’s worst point differentials.
The Cavs aren’t hoping for a miracle here; they’re coming in expecting to compete and at least split the games. This is a young group that is suddenly confident in their abilities and in their determination. They work hard and they finally have enough talent to affect the game on both ends. In order to do that, here are 3 keys to sweeping their last two games and finishing a perfect 4-0 West trip.