Cavs Update - November 21st, 2022

 

The Cavs are sitting at 3rd in the East with 21% of the season completed, owners of an 11-6 record. The Cavs hit their first slump of the season recently, losing 5 straight games before turning in 3 wins to get back on track.

I think it's been really good for the Cavs to get brought back to earth with those 5 games - the high confidence needed to be tempered with a little realism as the data regressed a little closer to whatever the ultimate mean will be. The Cavs have had a taste of how high they can fly, and have also been made to bite the dust pretty hard. 

One development has been the increased confidence and scoring ability shown by Darius Garland. He's not afraid to take over even with a player of Mitchell's caliber on the floor at the same time. As this pair continues to learn how to work together, they will become a more lethal combination as either one can take over the game on any given night. 

Jarrett Allen has put up great numbers like a 20-rebound showing against the Clippers, and good old Cedi Osman just put up 23 points off the bench against the Hawks. There's a lot to like here, and Bickerstaff has a great set of players to work with, players who seem committed to him and bought into his leadership. Bickerstaff obviously loves what he does, calling his line of work the best job on the planet. It's fun to see this team continue to grow and improve, even as their Eastern Conference rivals do the same.

In my mind, Boston and Milwaukee are currently on a different level, but the Cavs are currently leading the charge amongst their Eastern Conference rivals. Player development, injuries, and team chemistry will determine how things shake out come playoff time. For now, the Cavs need to keep their heads down, put in the work, and spend every day trying to get a little better as they seek to stack up wins and position themselves as well as possible for a playoff run.