Nearly 60 games through their 2024-25 regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers look as well-equipped as any team in the NBA to compete for a title this year. Cleveland’s record of 48-10 ranks tops in the entire league at the moment. The Oklahoma City Thunder are neck and neck with the Cavaliers but recently picked up their 11th loss of the campaign.
According to Cavaliers insider Chris Fedor, "nobody" within the Cavs organization will be satisfied with anything less than a championship this season. "They understand how special this group is," Fedor said of the Cavaliers. "They understand how special the things they have done to this point have been, but for them, it’s all about getting to the NBA Finals and winning a championship. And if they don’t, there’s nobody inside [the organization] who’s going to be happy, and they shouldn’t be, because like I said, the standard has been raised and rightfully so."
The Cavaliers have put together several winning streaks throughout the course of the long season and are riding one right now. After blowing out the Orlando Magic in a rematch of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, the Cavs are now winners of each of their last eight games. That’s tied with the Detroit Pistons for the longest active winning streak of any NBA team.
Cavs star Donovan Mitchell has been driving the bus on the offensive side of the ball, averaging a team-high 24.0 points per game with shooting splits of 45.5 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, other members of Cleveland’s core have provided invaluable contributions. Mitchell’s ability to produce consistently will be key if the Cavaliers want to fulfill their title hopes come June. Fortunately for the squad, he has a long history of elevATING his scoring game come playoff time, as his playoff career average stands at 28.1 points per game.
It isn’t just about Mitchell, though. Other stars like Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen also play significant roles. Recently, Allen was hesitant to discuss his injury after leading the team, but Mitchell stepped up to reaffirm confidence, stating, "He’s fine." The timing of Allen's injury is particularly concerning as Cleveland's roster gets back to full strength with forward Dean Wade's return after several weeks sidelined with injury.
This year, the Cavaliers’ hope for success lies not just with Mitchell's scoring prowess but also with contributions from the entire roster—especially during the playoff push. If there is any hope for Cleveland to compete at the highest level, the synergy among its key players and the depth of the bench will be pivotal. Fans are eager to gauge whether this iteration of their beloved team is built to win when it matters most.
With each game approaching the playoffs, the anticipation among fans grows as they watch their team absorb the pressure and rise to the occasion. The blend of talent, experience, and determination suggests the Cavaliers are more than just contenders; they might just be on the verge of becoming champions.