Story by
8 reasons for the Cavs' historic 8-0 record to start the 2024-25 NBA season | Nate Ulrich
- Story by
- 8 reasons for the Cavs' historic 8-0 record to start the 2024-25 NBA season | Nate Ulrich
(This column was updated to add new information.)
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers matched their best start to a season by improving to 8-0 with Monday night's 116-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse .
Advertisement
The Cavs are undefeated through eight games for the first time since the 1976-77 season, and they'll have a chance to set a franchise record Wednesday night at the New Orleans Pelicans . A record of 9-0 would be unprecedented for Cleveland .
Here are eight reasons for the scorching start:
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) talks to coach Kenny Atkinson during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 30, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
1. New Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson gets buy-in
A honeymoon phase for coach Kenny Atkinson is not surprising, yet no one envisioned it being historically good. He is off to the best start ever for a new Cavs coach, and he's one of just four coaches in NBA history to go 8-0 in a first season with a team. Monty Williams (Pelicans, 2010-11), Flip Saunders ( Detroit Pistons , 2005-06) and Larry Brown ( Denver Nuggets , 1976-77) are the others.
Advertisement
When a new coach takes control, there is a natural adjustment period as he incorporates his schemes and philosophies. The Cavs are learning Atkinson and vice versa, but they're simultaneously winning. He has received instant buy-in from the players.
"Nobody on this team is stubborn," small forward Isaac Okoro said. "We all want to learn. We all want to get better. We all want to get to the Finals, have a championship. So when Kenny came in, we were ears open, ready to learn, knowing that he's a great offensive coach."
Atkinson is encouraged by the Cavs' collective confidence and camaraderie, a benefit of inheriting a roster virtually identical to the one the Cleveland had last season when it advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals before falling 4-1 to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics . He likes the mental toughness his team showed during a stretch of eight games in 13 days.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 2, 2024, in Cleveland.
2. The new Cleveland Cavaliers offense is working
Atkinson's offense has been a noticeable upgrade from what the Cavs had been running in previous seasons under the guidance of his predecessor, coach J.B. Bickerstaff .
Advertisement
Cavs players took to it right away. Atkinson observed them implementing the spacing prioritized in his system during open gyms this past summer. Increased pace, ball movement and 3-point shooting are other areas of emphasis they have embraced.
Atkinson isn't satisfied, though. He wants improved offensive rebounding and off-ball screening. He doesn't want to rely heavily on pick-and-roll because physical defense in the postseason can shut it down to a large degree. Creating good offense no longer appears to be an uphill battle like it was at times in previous seasons.
The Cavs rank second in the NBA in both points per game (122.3) and offensive rating (121 points per 100 possessions).
"The thing with basketball, when you touch the ball, you're having fun," center Jarrett Allen said. "And this offense, everybody touches the ball. Everybody feels like they're contributing."
Advertisement
More on Kenny Atkinson: New Cavs coach is a 'high energy' hoops addict, his former Golden State Warriors boss Steve Kerr says
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and forward Evan Mobley (4) celebrate during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
3. The Cavaliers are doubling down on defense
Bickerstaff gave the Cavs an excellent defensive blueprint during his four-plus seasons as their coach, and Atkinson has stressed the importance of maintaining it. The Cavs have tallied 10 or more steals in six of their eight games.
"We're getting stops, we're turning teams over, we're playing with pace, we're getting in transition and we're getting easy baskets," Okoro said.
Atkinson estimated 60% of his first training camp with the Cavs focused on defense.
Advertisement
"That's been our identity this past four years that I've been here, so I feel like that shouldn't change … with a new coach," forward Evan Mobley said. "[Atkinson has] done a great job with definitely keeping that an emphasis and keeping us up to par on the defensive end."
The Cavs are tied for eighth in the NBA in fewest points allowed per game (109.1) and rank fifth in defensive rating (108.3).
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
4. The Cavs have a healthy core four
The "core four" formed by guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland , Allen and Mobley has been healthy. Each of them missed time last season with multiple injuries.
Advertisement
Mitchell leads the Cavs with 23.1 points per game on 48.3% shooting from the field (40.3% on 3-pointers). He's followed by Garland (20.5, 52.5%, 44.8% on 3s), Mobley (17.6, 53.8%, 40% on 3s) and Allen (15, 68.6%, no 3s attempted).
Allen is the leading rebounder (11.6 per game), and Mobley (8.1) is next. Other team-high averages of note are held by Garland (6.5 assists), Mobley (1.8 blocked shots) and Mitchell (1.5 steals).
Although the "core four" has been healthy, other Cavs have dealt with injuries.
Starting small forward Max Strus suffered a sprained ankle before the season began is expected to be sidelined for at least four more weeks. His replacement in the starting lineup, Dean Wade , missed Monday's game with an illness, and key backup guard Caris LeVert has been sidelined the past two games with right knee soreness. Okoro started at small forward Monday.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) brings the ball up court against Washington Wizards center Alexandre Sarr (20) on Oct. 26, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
5. Cavs forward Evan Mobley continues to develop
Mobley is being used differently by Atkinson because the Cavs know unlocking the 7-footer's offensive potential is necessary for their championship aspirations to become realistic.
Advertisement
Mobley has been ordered to handle the ball more, push it down the court in transition and shoot more 3-pointers.
"When you look at bigs in this league, it's just evolved, right?" Atkinson said. "Your traditional big, you're just putting him down on the block or playing playing him in pick-and-roll all the time. [Mobley] is more of a hybrid, kind of a wing big."
More on Evan Mobley: Cavaliers believe young big man can break out in Kenny Atkinson's offense
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) during the second half Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
6. Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell continues to lead
Mitchell's "calm confidence" has been a guiding light for the Cavs, Atkinson said. If you saw his game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left Saturday in Milwaukee, you know it came after the play nearly broke down twice. He's the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week for a reason.
Advertisement
But immediately after Mitchell's heroic moment, he shouted out Okoro for diving to secure an offensive rebound and call timeout with 1:25 remaining. Mitchell contended he would not have had a chance to hit a clutch shot in the waning moments if not for Okoro's hustle. Mitchell empowering his supporting cast continues to be a pertinent theme.
"That's just who Donovan is. He's selfless," Okoro said. "He always wants to give credit to everybody else but himself. But he's the leader of his team. I mean, he's the engine. He starts us. So having a guy like that just gives us confidence. He's always willing to pass the ball up, willing to do the little things for us, too. So it gives guys like me, Caris, Dean, role guys, it just give us more confidence."
Mitchell explained a group effort allowing the Cavs to prevail in a variety of ways is what stands out to him amid the 8-0 start.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) celebrates with forward Dean Wade during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 30, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
7. Cavs role players step up, especially with Max Strus injured
LeVert has been vital off the bench , averaging 12 points on 61.4% shooting from the floor (52.4% on 3s), 4.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1 steal.
Advertisement
Rounding out the 10 players who have received significant time in Atkinson's rotation are point guard Ty Jerome (9.4 points per game), guard Sam Merrill (7.8), Wade (6.9), forward Georges Niang (5.8) and Okoro (5).
More on Cavs depth: Cleveland Cavaliers bench being led by Caris LeVert and Ty Jerome
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates with forward Isaac Okoro (35) during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
8. Cavs receive some breaks early in their 2024-25 schedule
This isn't meant as a knock on what the Cavs have accomplished at this stage, but they have received some notable breaks with the schedule through the first eight games.
They beat the Toronto Raptors (2-6), Pistons (3-5) and Washington Wizards (2-4) before passing a tough test on the road against the New York Knicks (3-3).
Advertisement
Then they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (4-3), Orlando Magic (3-5) and the Bucks (1-6) twice.
Like the Cavs, the Knicks, Lakers, Magic and Bucks were playoff teams last season.
Still, the Cavs faced the Magic without Orlando's best player, All-Star forward Paolo Banchero (torn right oblique), and they had their Monday rematch against the Bucks without Milwaukee's top player, eight-time All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (strained right adductor). The Magic and Bucks missing those players would be akin to the Cavs missing Mitchell.
The bottom line is good teams routinely take care of business against inferior opponents. Cleveland has made a habit of it so far.
Advertisement
And the scheduling conversation can't be had without giving the Cavs credit for twice winning the second game of a back-to-back on the road. It happened at Washington on Oct. 26 and at Milwaukee on Saturday.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 8 reasons Cavs have tied franchise record with 8-0 start this season
