The Cleveland Cavaliers are facing a ton of pressure. They were upset by the Knicks, despite having homecourt in the first round of the playoffs last season. Cleveland has to make a run if they hope to keep Donovan Mitchell. The five-time All-Star has one season plus a player option remaining on his contract. He is extension-eligible this summer. If Mitchell refuses to sign, the Cavs must explore his trade market.
Cleveland is in the top three in the Eastern Conference and battling the Bucks for the second seed. They have three All-Stars and a future one in Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers upgraded their talent from last season, but can the franchise win a playoff series for the first time since LeBron James departed? If not, more changes are on the horizon.
Their roster has multiple flaws that could sink them in the postseason. The Knicks proved it in 2023. Where is Cleveland weak, and can the Cavs plug those holes when the games matter most?
5. Lack of experience
Mitchell has led his team to the playoffs for six straight years from 2018 to 2023, but they have never advanced beyond the second round. Several of the Cavaliers' rotation pieces just have last season’s first-round exit under their belts. Max Strus reached the NBA Finals in 2023 and the conference finals in 2022 with the Miami Heat. Adding his experience was key, but it is only one player.
Sam Merrill and Tristan Thompson have both won championships, but neither will play a significant role in the playoffs. Thompson is serving his 25-game suspension, and Merrill has been in and out of the rotation.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' lack of playoff experience could bite them, especially in a series against the Heat or Bucks, who have made multiple deep playoff runs. It is not just their times in the moment. The Cavs have some on-court flaws too.
4. Pace
The Cavaliers were dominated on the glass by the Knicks last year, but Cleveland is middle of the pack in rebounding. New York is better and used that advantage in the series. The Cavs will struggle on the boards against larger teams. Matchups matter in the playoffs, and Cleveland’s slow pace could haunt them in other matchups.
The Cavs are 24th in the NBA in pace this season. The Heat, Magic, Knicks, and defending champion Nuggets rank below them, but the Pacers and Bucks are in the top ten. Cleveland lost to Indiana in their only two meetings so far. They split their four contests against the Bucks, but Milwaukee could be a different team in the playoffs.
Can the Cavaliers slow down the Pacers if they draw them in the first round? Tyrese Haliburton will be making plays all over the floor, which could lead to a shocking upset. If Indiana comes out of the Play-In Tournament and takes out the second-seeded Cavs in the first round, there will be heartbreak in Cleveland. It would force some significant changes.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a ton of talent but will be a matchup-dependent team in the playoffs. They must play to their strengths and not allow the opposition to exploit their weaknesses like their slow pace or lack of size in the backcourt.
3. Undersized backcourt
The Cavaliers have an All-Star duo in their backcourt. Their talent is unquestionable, but can Cleveland win a championship with a 6’1 point guard and a 6’3 shooting guard? This narrative is nothing new. Many were asking the question when the Cavs traded for Donovan Mitchell in 2022. It only got louder (subscription required) after the franchise excelled with Darius Garland sidelined earlier this season.
Mitchell is an elite scorer who has netted 30-plus in 20 of his 45 career playoff contests. He will raise his game in the postseason, but have the Cavaliers built a roster around him to contend for a title?
Who guards Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson, Damian Lillard, or Tyrese Maxey? Those are just some of the point guards Cleveland will face if they make a deep postseason run. The Cavs cannot hide both Mitchell and Garland on lesser threats. Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, or Max Strus will likely take on the opposition’s top scorer, but that often leaves a ball-handler for one of the Cavaliers stars in the backcourt.
The Blazers made the conference finals with Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Trae Young lifted the Hawks to the conference finals in 2021. Winning it all is another mountain to climb, but the Cavs can make a deep run. They need several things to fall into place, including one that has not been in their favor this season.
2. Health
It has been a rough go for the Cavaliers this season. With 64 games in the books, only one of their four best players has appeared in more than 47 contests. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley have played in 40 or fewer. It has been a struggle keeping their Big 4 on the floor and has forced head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to constantly change things up.
Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Garland, and Mobley have played just 22 games together so far this season. Mitchell and Mobley are currently sidelined with injuries and the quartet may play fewer than 30 together before the postseason.
The Cavs have relied on their depth to be near the top of the Eastern Conference, but how many players do they trust in the playoffs? Playing Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, or Craig Porter Jr. for extended minutes in the postseason could be a recipe for disaster.
Mitchell and Mobley have just over one month to get healthy. Both should be back and fully ramped up, but the Cleveland Cavaliers need to avoid the injury bug. Their starting five has already missed 76 games and counting. Without any member of that group, it will likely be a quick exit for the second consecutive year.
1. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen pairing
Space and 3-point shooting are crucial in the NBA. The Celtics have the best record in the league and make the most 3-pointers per game. The Thunder currently have the second-best record and the highest 3-point percentage. All the top teams are spreading out the defense and making them pay.
Cleveland is using a different approach. They have an elite defense with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but neither player can space the floor. No other team is attempting to have two non-shooting big men share the frontcourt. Allen does not take triples, and Mobley makes 0.3 per game. The Cavs have a 107.6 defensive rating with their two big men on the floor this season, which would lead the NBA. Can they generate enough offense to make that pairing work?
The game slows down in the playoffs as the defense ratchets up. Every bit of space matters more. Adding Max Strus was massive, but the Cavaliers will still struggle to create open looks with two non-shooters out there. Coach Bickerstaff can stagger their minutes, but the Cavs may be best with Allen or Mobley on the bench in crunch time.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the talent to make a deep playoff run, but will their flaws catch up to them? They did last season, and the pressure is on if the franchise plans to keep this group together. Stay tuned to see how the Cavs handle the moment.