First off, this season has been incredible. While many of us excepted this team to be better than they were last season, I feel like we all had a little skepticism in our hearts. I mean, it’s been since the 2000-2001 season that the Cleveland Cavaliers have won at least 13 games at the 23-game mark without LeBron James on the roster. What’s even more remarkable is the fact that the Cavs have won this many games while rolling out eight different starting lineups in the first 23 games due to a plethora of injuries.
Not to mention, they are currently on a 4-game win streak after routing the Washington Wizards. A streak in which they have beaten teams by an average margin of 18 points; one of which was a 26-point blowout win in Miami that marked the first time the Cavs have beaten the Heat on the road since the 2009-10 season when LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Antawn Jamison were leading the team.
Needless to say, I’m excited.
While this resurgence has made it easier to watch games, it has also made it more difficult to make a list like this one. There are so many players on this team that constantly make their case for the “best player on the team” in any given game. For me, this list changes every week.
However, I think I’m finally settling in on my top five players for the Cavaliers through 23 games.
(Quick disclaimer, I’m leaving Collin Sexton off of this list.)