2022 was a standout year for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it also didn’t bring any true team success. Ultimately, the Cavs missed the playoffs, traded their 2024 first-round pick for a player they subsequently buried by trading for Donovan Mitchell, and their strong start to the 2022-23 season doesn’t necessarily translate into success during the second half of the season.
So let’s cast our gazes ahead to the year 2023. The year begins with the Cavs in a great position in the Eastern Conference, with the league’s best defense and a top-5 net rating leaguewide. Let’s make some bold predictions for next season that may not look so bold once they all come to pass.
Bold Prediction No. 1: The Cleveland Cavaliers will host a playoff series this year.
The Cavaliers are currently in the position to host a first-round series in the NBA Playoffs come April, but that’s not a done deal. Last season they rose into the top 3 in the East in January before injuries broke them down and they ended up in eighth. The Cavs are in fourth place right now but are just a few games out of the Play-In Tournament.
Nonetheless, this team has a lot more staying power than last year’s team did. They are deeper and better positioned to weather injuries, and they are a better team overall so there is more margin for error. If Donovan Mitchell misses time, Darius Garland can pop off for 50 points. If Jarrett Allen is out, Evan Mobley is better equipped to step up at the rim.
There are five really good teams in the East, so it’s not necessarily a disappointment if the Cavs land at fifth, but the prediction here is that they finish fourth or better and host at least one series in their return to the NBA Playoffs.