NBA – 15 matches, 15 victories: Should we take the Cleveland Cavaliers (very) seriously?

And fifteen. The series continues and History is in progress. By beating the Charlotte Hornets (128-114) on Sunday evening, the Cleveland Cavaliers achieved a fifteenth success in a row to start the season. Enough to propel them quite clearly to the top of the league after a month of competition. A rare performance since only four teams have already made such a spectacular start since the creation of the league. The Washington Capitols, the Houston Rockets and, more recently, the Golden State Warriors (who have won 24 in a row). All these teams have one thing in common: they then played in the NBA finals at the end of the season.

If the Cavs have appeared as outsiders in the East since their good fourth place in 2022, they are not a priori announced favorites for the title. Can their historic start, the second best of all time, be enough to make this group status? This rather breathtaking series of victories is not down to luck. Not with such a sample. Especially since Cleveland did not, for example, benefit from an easy schedule or the absence of several opposing superstars. In these fifteen victories there are some truly convincing successes. They dominated the Warriors head and shoulders. They destroyed the Lakers. Gained the upper hand over the Knicks, direct competitors. They also won twice against the Bucks, both close matches.

The Ohio franchise excels on both ends of the floor and has the second best point differential per 100 possessions: +11.5, just behind the Thunder (+11.7). It has the most prolific attack in the championship with 122 points scored (on 100 possessions again) and the seventh best defense with 110.7 conceded. We must now continue throughout the season but the teams which appear in the top-10 both in attack and defense are generally equipped to go far in the playoffs.

However, the squad has not really changed since last season, when the Cavaliers exited in the second round without really worrying the Celtics. So what could have changed? The arrival of Kenny Atkinson on the bench, in place of JB Bickerstaff, constitutes a major turning point. The new coach manages to develop together profiles that are not always complementary with two backs who need the ball (Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland) and two circle protectors (Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen). He brought creativity to the Cavs’ offensive construction. It plays faster, more collective with more ball circulation, more offensive responsibilities for young Mobley and above all more dangers. It just makes them less predictable.

A new style which largely explains Cleveland’s offensive cards. 122 points scored over 100 possessions is unheard of in a season. But there is reason to believe that Garland and his teammates will not always be as effective. They are extremely adept at shooting at the moment. 52% success in the field, including 42% at three points. Very far ahead of all the other teams. The skill is partly justified by the better quality of the attempts, because more movements and therefore more spaces, but some players probably overperform, at least a little. Mitchell is at 42% in 9 attempts behind the arc while he has never reached 40% in his career. Garland is at 45%, again by far his best career performance. Ditto for Caris LeVert with his 45% or the replacement Ty Jerome who is squarely at 54%. It will be regulated.

But very skillful teams in the regular season sometimes plateau in the playoffs. The Thunder, first in the West in 2024 and finally eliminated in the Conference semi-finals, is the best recent example. Except that the game is different from April. Possessions are slower. More effective defenses. The shooters then have less time to draw and the percentages drop. This small margin less is what can make the difference between a candidate for the title and a very strong team.

There have been other franchises that have dominated their Conference by relying on a strong system like the Cavaliers do now. The 2015 Hawks for example, swept in the Conference finals by LeBron James (who then played in… Cleveland). With Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs have a true superstar but it’s not completely a coincidence that he has never won two series in a row. He too has his limits. Just like his backcourt partner Darius Garland. In addition, in the playoffs, players sometimes tend to trust less in collective principles and rely more often on isolations to create differences.

Whatever happens, Cleveland has already hit hard at the start of the season. Everything that follows until April can almost already be considered a bonus. It is in the playoffs that this team will come to the fore once again. But it can clearly claim a Conference final by having the label of second best team in the East. Above all, with the foundations falling into place, the Cavaliers have reason to believe in a truly interesting future around Mobley and company. Even without a trophy at the end next June.