The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to shock the league. After a surprising season and an offseason filled with quality moves, the team is poised to make a strong playoff push. Everyone is confident with what the team can accomplish with All-Star point guard Darius Garland setting the record straight on what the team wants to do this season.
In a recent sit-down conversation with the Varsity House Podcast, Garland gave his thoughts on the team, talking about how he believes the team can make the Eastern Conference Finals. That’d be quite the jump from last season, when the club was bounced after two play-in losses, but injuries had plenty to do with that, and the group is definitely trending up.
It’s rare to see a team this young and this locked in. The core of the roster is intact, they’ve found pieces to fill the nook and crannies, and have a head coach that has implemented a steady culture within the organization.
Making the ECF is no small task, however. It takes elite-level play on both offense and defense, as well as some luck. The NBA has as much parity as it’s ever had and over the last three seasons, as five different teams have made an ECF push.
So, what will it take for the Cavaliers to make their first push since the 2018 postseason? Aside from some seeding luck, there are two main components for the Cavs to make some real noise in the playoffs.
We’ll touch on the first next.
#1: Evan Mobley making a second-year jump
The biggest component rests on Evan Mobley and his potential second-year jump.
It’s safe to say that very few expected Mobley to have the rookie season that he did. At just 21 years old, Mobley has established himself as one of the best defenders in the league with an evolving offensive game.
The defense isn’t just “good” or “great” either, there’s real DPOY-potential that Mobley is certain to tap into.
The biggest thing for Mobley is how much of a jump he can make on the offensive end. He can play with his back to the basket, has real poise and is comfortable in the mid-range area, is seemingly improving on his three-point shot this offseason, and has great vision for a 6-foot-11 player.
I’ve been preaching for the Cavaliers to add shot creators whether it be through the draft or free agency, but it seems they are banking on Mobley’s progression to cover for offensive areas in which they are lacking.
Mobley projects to be the team’s second scoring option and a tertiary playmaker, all while providing world-class defense. I’m confident in his ability to comfortably provide all that and expect him to not only lead the way for the team in the playoffs but, become just a handful of second-year players to make an All-Star jump.
It won’t be all Mobley obviously as Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and others will be key components in the team’s success as well.
Looking more into what it takes to be a successful playoff team, you need those tough shot-makers for when things slow down and get tough. Teams make adjustments and the ones who are one-dimensional are often the ones who fail.
Luckily for the team, they have a guard who can take, and make, those tough shots, add another dimension to the offense, and pair well with Darius Garland. That leads to the second component I was referring to above.
#2: Collin Sexton’s re-emergence
Collin Sexton has been extended the qualifying offer, almost guaranteeing that he will be on the team next season, barring a trade. The issue currently is what will happen past this season as the two sides are yet to agree on an extension.
Contract talks aside, having Sexton on the team would add dribble penetration, gives the team another off-ball threat, and go-to scorer in clutch situations.
To me, the conversation on who should start between Sexton and Caris LeVert isn’t necessary as both will receive heavy minutes and likely see a lot of closing minutes for the team. If it has to be discussed, Sexton does fit better as a starter but he is coming off a major injury. How long will it be until he returns back to his previous form? Only time will tell.
Ultimately, the decision is up to Coach J.B Bickerstaff. At the moment, it’s reportedly likely that LeVert begins the season starting, but this is before training camp, and Bickerstaff will ultimately make the determination.
Regardless, the team will need all hands on deck when trying to make an ECF run, and having multiple 20-point scorers would surely help.
Sexton was a 24-point-per-game scorer in the 2020-21 season, gaining hype from the media and destroying the Brooklyn Nets with side-step threes.
A lot has to go right for this to come to fruition for the Cavaliers. They’ve proved a lot of people wrong before, so let’s see if they can do it again.