The Cavaliers Deserve to Be on Your Radar
thoroughly dominated by the Knicks in last year’s first round that the stench has lingered through now. Nobody wants to be fooled by the Cavs again. Can they score when it counts? Do Mobley and Allen fit together? How concerned should we be that the real starting five—Mitchell, Garland, Strus, Mobley and Allen—has only a 1.7 net rating in 265 minutes together?
I think it’s time to throw that caution to the wind. This is not the same Cleveland team. It’s deeper, thanks to additions like Strus and Georges Niang. And the time spent without Garland and Mobley could prove to be very valuable experience, not only for the players who thrived without them, but for the coaching staff to get a different look at the team. The Cavs now have an optionality that last season’s team lacked, and that can pay big dividends in the postseason.
Of course, it remains to be seen when push comes to shove if J.B. Bickerstaff will be willing to break up his star players in high-stakes moments based on regular-season lineup data. But that’s not a good enough reason to doubt a team that’s been every bit as good if not outright better than those widely considered to be championship material. For anyone talking about title contenders, the Cavs belong in the conversation.
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