As the playoffs rapidly approach this year, the Cleveland Cavaliers have overcome tumultuous odds in the face on constant doubt and dissent.
It has not been all sunshine and glory for the Cavaliers this season. They have battled injuries throughout the entire season but have willed themselves to the third seed in the Eastern Conference. While they still have a lot to prove in the playoffs, Cleveland looks much more prepared for the road ahead compared to where they stood last season.
Following a short-lived post season run against the New York Knicks, the Cavs entered the 2023-24 regular season with numerous expectations and doubts regarding their long-term chance for success in the league. Their young core of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were unproven and went quiet in the playoffs. Donovan Mitchell refused to commit to stay in Cleveland this offseason. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff was viewed as an underwhelming offensive coach. These were only the tip of the iceberg.
Cavaliers are not done proving themselves
Some of these questions and concerns remain. The Cavs are not a dynasty team and need to take the next step before the opposition respects or fears them. Still, the Cavaliers have taken the challenge and proven themselves in a multitude of ways already this regular season amid the doubt. It will take time and postseason success to silence every detractor, but the Cavaliers are on their way toward establishing themselves as a determined force in the East.
Both individually and as a team, Cleveland has proven a handful of worn out and tiresome misconceptions wrong this season. In the playoffs and coming offseason, they will have another opportunity to set a new standard for success in the Cavaliers organization going forward.
Misconception No. 1 - "J.B. Bickerstaff cannot run a good offense"
When Evan Mobley and Darius Garland were sidelined with lengthy injuries in December, the Cavaliers were forced to reinvent their entire offensive approach in the middle of a rocky start to the season. With a 13-12 record at the time of the injury announcements, the Cavs rallied and catapulted second seed in the conference by the time Mobley and Garland returned.
Donovan Mitchell took leadership for the squad and made his teammates better with every possession. He flashed incredible playmaking and found tremendous chemistry along the way with Jarrett Allen. While Mitchell's efforts set the tone for the Cavs, none of their mid-season success would have happened if not for the drastic changes to the offense Bickerstaff made in a moment's notice.
Throughout January, the Cavs had the fourth most three-pointers attempted per game (40) and offensive rating (121.3). Cleveland also had the league's second best defensive rating (106.1) in that span. Bickerstaff integrated a fast-paced gameplan with endless off-ball movement to open up chances for movement shooters. His efforts created an entirely new look for the Cavs and unlocked Sam Merrill who became one of the best shooters in the Association this year.
Last season and postseason, the Cavs employed a highly predictable and stagnant offense. If a high pick-and-roll did not immediately provide an easy shot, the Cavaliers often looked confused and lost. They would rinse and repeat the high PnR system until either they scored or jacked up a contested shot at the end of the shot clock. In Bickerstaff's new system, Cleveland confidently found playmaking from everybody on the court, giving Allen the ball at the elbow to facilitate. Max Strus found his opportunities in dribble hand-offs followed by a timely bounce pass into the paint for the screener.
Despite his shortcomings last year, Bickerstaff has overcome every negative narrative in his offensive mindset. He has made confusing rotation choices this year still, but the Cavs would be far below where they sit now without Bickerstaff's coaching and leadership.
Misconception No. 2 - "Donovan Mitchell is a bad defender"
In the 2017 NBA Draft, Donovan Mitchell was viewed as a defensive specialist guard, standing at an undersized 6-foot 2-inches with a massive 6-foot 10-inches wingspan. His offense, ironically, was seen as his weak spot with a lot of room for growth. In his seventh season, the league's perspective on Mitchell has entirely changed. The offensive dynamo has shown little to no defensive impact for the majority of his NBA tenure.
Many onlookers have entirely forgotten about Mitchell's defensive capabilities. When he ran the offense in Utah, he was the only true scorer on the roster. By the end of the game, he had no energy left to play defense. It also becomes all too tempting to slack off on defense with an defensive anchor such as Rudy Gobert winning numerous Defensive Player of the Year awards behind you.
When the Cavaliers paired Mitchell with Darius Garland, the undersized backcourt's lack of defense was immediately an area of concern. It seemingly justified the cries for Mitchell to have ended up in New York, where somehow the defensive liability of Jalen Brunson would have not been a problem for whatever reason. In his second season with the Cavs, Mitchell is proving this agenda wrong. While he is not an All-Defense guy, he is tied for fourth-highest average steals per game (1.8) and is posting an above average defensive impact with a 0.35 D-LEBRON score, per BBall-Index (subscription required).
His overall defense is still his weakest skillset, but Mitchell has gone from a net-negative defender in his earlier seasons to a sneakily productive perimeter guard. He has also posted a career high in defensive rebounds (4.5) per game, helping the Cavs end possessions after forcing a tough shot. His athletic leaping ability and long arms have made their impression this season, helping the Cavaliers earn the third best defensive rating (110.8) this season.
Misconception No. 3 - "Cleveland's frontcourt duo cannot coexist"
The Cavs faced plenty of due criticism earned from their embarrassing performance in last year's playoffs. Both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen failed to show up and handle the physicality the Knicks brought, leading to a 47-rebound deficit over the course of the gentleman's sweep. With two versatile seven-foot big men in the starting lineup, Cleveland's apathetic rebounding was unacceptable, and critics began calling for the divorce of Allen and Mobley.
In truth, the critiques were warranted. The Cavaliers underperformed, and neither Mobley nor Allen looked good on the boards. This season, the pairing has looked much improved physically, though Mobley's injury has slowed down their development together. Through 553 minutes together, the two-man lineup of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen has a defensive rating of 106.7 and 2.4 net rating.
They still struggle rebounding shots at times, only grabbing 72 percent of available defensive rebounds when on the court together. Overall, though, both Mobley and Allen are averaging a double-double in points and rebounds, and Mobley is individually career-high 10.2 rebounds alongside 15.6 points per game.
While Mobley's uncharacteristic injury woes this season have halted any third-year jump he might have had, he has shown flashes of offensive growth and floor spacing. If he continues to develop a confident three-point shot, there will be no questions surrounding the frontcourt fit. They have already grown beyond numerous critiques when both are healthy, suggesting patience will yield tremendous results in the end.
Misconception No. 4 - "Max Strus will fall of outside of the Heat Culture"
Under the leadership of the league's best modern head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat have built a gritty culture that has led to the rise of a myriad of undervalued role players and undrafted prospects. In last year's Finals run, the Miami Heat found significant contributions from two former G-League players, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent. The former joined the Cavaliers this summer on a 4-year deal worth $64 million via sign-and-trade.
Many praised the Strus signing, viewing his volume shooting as a major addition to Cleveland's wing depth. When rating every team's offseason moves, The Athletic gave the Cavs a B+ for their efforts. The latter of the two former Heat players, Gabe Vincent, has not been as impactful since leaving the Miami system for the Los Angeles Lakers. Granted, injuries have derailed Vincent's season, but a fall off after leaving Miami is not unheard of.
Given Strus' set role as a 3-and-D wing on the Heat, the potential for a drop off when joining the Cavs was not out of the question. Instead, Strus has evolved his game from shooting and defending to an all-around option on both ends of the court. Strus is averaging career highs across the board and has become one of Cleveland's better passers in the pick-and-roll. He has also established himself as as a tough rebounder and defender.
Misconception No. 5 - "Isaac Okoro is a bust"
The term "draft bust" is thrown around a lot, and the Cavaliers are no stranger to making the wrong selection over the years. The latest name added to the list of potential Cavaliers busts was none other than Isaac Okoro. The wing defender had little to no impact offensively and repeatedly fell in and out of the starting lineup. Cleveland's 2020 fifth-overall selection of Auburn prospect Isaac Okoro has been criticized over the last few seasons, rightfully so in many ways, but Okoro is putting all these critiques to rest with a breakout season.
Okoro's defensive prowess has never been in question, and still he has taken it to an even higher level, forcing elite guards and forwards into dramatically poor scoring nights whenever they face off. Offensively, Okoro has shown unbelievable growth in his fourth season. His baseline cuts to the rim have wreaked havoc on opponents his entire career, and his expanded shooting range has opened up more chances to make highlights off a slick move after a shot fake and drive.
After three seasons of subpar shooting, Okoro was constantly in trade rumors. He was a formidable defender, but the Cavaliers had leap frogged his offensive development when they acquired Donovan Mitchell in 2022. There was little time to spend waiting for Okoro to find his shot, and it seemed like his Cleveland tenure was going to be cut short. Now, as he enters restricted free agency, his impeccable defense and 39.9-percent three ball has every former critic (including me) eating their words.
Okoro is not suddenly a perennial All-Star or All-NBA candidate. He should be in the conversation for the All-Defense team, and he is no doubt a priority to bring back to Cleveland this offseason when he enters restricted free agency.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still an unproven team, but they have put together another tremendous regular season and look primed for an improved playoff push this season. From Bickerstaff's growth as an offensive mind to Okoro's leap, the Cavs and their fans should be excited to witness what the newest era of Cavaliers basketball can do in the postseason.