Best and worst-case scenarios for Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs

Heading into the 2022-23 regular season, the expectations were well-known for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They had to make the playoffs. Cleveland encountered a few bumps in the road, but this was a largely successful regular season.

Newly-acquired guard Donovan Mitchell, whose arrival came via trade from the Utah Jazz in the past offseason, was magnificent for the Cavaliers. He averaged a career-high 28.3 points per game, which was 7th-best in the league.

Cleveland’s defense was also superb, as they finished with a defensive rating of 110.6, which was the best in the league.

The Cavs defense was anchored by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in contested shots per game among all players. Mobley also was tied with three other players for most contested three-point attempts per game throughout the regular season.

Cleveland’s big men also did a great job protecting the rim, as Mobley blocked 119 shots, while Allen had 84 rejections. With the presence of those two near the basket, it enabled the Cavaliers team defense and players such as Isaac Okoro to be more aggressive on the perimeter, and the Cavs were disruptive off-ball as well, which paid dividends.

As for Mobley’s overall efforts, he was better as the season wore on. He elevated his game down the final stretch of the regular season, too, averaging 18 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game in March.

While Cleveland reaching the playoffs this season was an exciting accomplishment, there is pressure on the team to perform. Let’s first examine the best-case scenario for Cleveland in the 2023 postseason, before getting into the worst-case scenario, on the flip side.