5 unexpected takeaways from the Cavs’ first week

Cavs’ first week: Two-way team dominance

Last season the Cleveland Cavaliers were an incredibly strong defensive team, a top-3 squad before Jarrett Allen missed the last fifth of the season (they ended up slipping to seventh). The combination of Allen and Evan Mobley inside was the bedrock for a versatile and smothering defensive fortification.

It’s therefore no big surprise that the Cavs are once again a top-tier unit on that end of the court. They are currently second in defensive rating, behind only the impossibly dominant Milwaukee Bucks. Their 102.6 rating is two points better than the third-place Phoenix Suns. They have succeeded by running teams off of the 3-point line, walling off the paint and forcing them into low-percentage mid-range attempts.

What’s the surprise is how good the Cavs have been on offense. Donovan Mitchell has been resplendent running the point in Darius Garland’s absence, Cedi Osman and Kevin Love have been excellent off the bench. Caris LeVert has shot well from deep, and Robin Lopez is doing Captain Hook things.

The Cavs are eighth in offensive rating after finishing 20th a year ago, and that is almost entirely without Garland and including a game against the Toronto Raptors. It has led to an overall net rating of +12.7, right at the very top of the league. If the Cavs maintain a top-10 ranking in both offense and defense, they will be set up for success during not only the regular season but the playoffs as well.