Story by
'Starting to be real': Cavaliers have NBA's No. 1 offense thanks to hot shooting start
- Story by
- 'Starting to be real': Cavaliers have NBA's No. 1 offense thanks to hot shooting start
CLEVELAND — A few games into the season, new Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said his players were probably shooting a bit over their heads, to the point that such a torrid run wouldn't realistically be sustainable.
It's about time to acknowledge the Cavs' blisteringly hot shooting pace is becoming the norm rather than an aberration.
Advertisement
The Cavaliers became the first team in the league to reach the 20-win mark with a 126-114 victory of the Denver Nuggets Thursday night. It was yet another 120-plus-point performance in which Cleveland overwhelmed Denver by shooting nearly 50 percent from 3-point range.
Atkinson and the Cavs didn't want to get too far ahead of themselves only a handful of games into the season to the point of just expecting to shoot like they were when they opened on a 15-game winning streak. But now they're more than a quarter of the way in, and they aren't slowing down.
"Starting to be real," Atkinson said Thursday night. "This deep into the season, you have to respect our shooting. … We're generating good shots. Shot quality, I think we're one or two in the league."
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell celebrates his fourth-quarter 3-pointer against the Boston Celtics, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell , Darius Garland lead Cavs offense to top spot in NBA
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland have been a relentless tandem. Jarrett Allen 's shot attempts are down, but he's remained one of the most efficient players in the league. Evan Mobley has been utilized in more effective ways. Caris LeVert has been tremendous off the bench and is probably the front runner for Sixth Man of the Year. Ty Jerome has been great off the bench as well. Dean Wade has given the Cavs another element.
Advertisement
On and on, the Cavs have overpowered opponents and have the league's No. 1 offense at 121.8 points per game.
Only one team in the NBA is shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. Only one team is shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range.
In both categories, it's the Cavs.
Mitchell doesn't simply see it as a streak of hot shooting. It's a byproduct of the spacing Atkinson's offense has brought to Cleveland, and how the roster has fit into that system.
"I think what also helps are the actions, the spacing, the way we're moving, our pace," Mitchell said. "That's not predictable. You never know where each guy is going to be. I think that's what really helps. … We have a lot of guys that can shoot the ball really well, but we also have guys that can get into the paint and create, so now you're able to mix both of those things. It's tough to guard."
Advertisement
Max Strus progressing in return to Cavaliers starting lineup
And it's worth mentioning they've done all of this without Max Strus , a sharp-shooter who was brought in last year specifically to give these numbers — now the best in the league — a boost. Once Strus returns and plays his first games under Atkinson, the Cavs are viewing it as a midseason acquisition, and a major one at that.
"We were talking about that with the staff the other day, man, you get some new blood and obviously a guy that's been a starter in this league and you're kind of like, wow, it's like we signed a starting player," Atkinson said, while also saying he'll need to figure out how to get everyone enough minutes. "What a great problem for me."
The Cavs are on fire. Even they thought the blaze would have died down a bit by now, but it's still burning. And Strus' return will add even more fuel as the Cavaliers try to further establish their identity as the league's top offense.
Advertisement
For now, they're finally ready to acknowledge this hot streak by a team of shooters in a new offense might be real.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers own NBA's No. 1 offense thanks to sharp shooting
