Danny Cunningham here, the host of the daily Locked On Cavs podcast, with your daily Locked On Cavs newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Cavs and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Should the Cleveland Cavaliers Chase 70+ Wins This Season?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a historic start, boasting a 31-4 record through their first 35 games. This puts them on pace for an astounding 73 wins, which would tie the all-time regular season record set by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. But should the Cavs be actively pursuing this milestone?
While the temptation to chase history is understandable, I believe the Cavaliers shouldn’t make 70+ wins their primary focus. The team’s success so far stems from their excellent process and well-rounded roster, not from overexerting themselves to secure victories. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has done a masterful job managing minutes, with no player averaging more than 32 minutes per game.
This approach contrasts sharply with other high-win teams of the past. The 73-win Warriors had their stars playing 34-35 minutes nightly, while last year’s 64-win Celtics saw Jayson Tatum logging nearly 36 minutes per game. The Cavs’ current strategy keeps the team fresh and reduces the risk of burnout come playoff time.
That said, the Cavaliers shouldn’t be content with just 50-something wins either. A realistic target should be in the 63-67 win range, which would still place them among the NBA’s all-time great regular season teams. Achieving this without sacrificing their current balanced approach would be ideal.
Evan Mobley’s Three-Point Evolution
A key factor in the Cavs’ recent success has been Evan Mobley’s improved three-point shooting. Over the last 14 games, Mobley has attempted 3.9 threes per game, connecting on an impressive 48% of them. This newfound range has opened up the floor for Cleveland’s offense, creating more space for his teammates to operate.
Mobley’s willingness to keep shooting, even on off nights, demonstrates his growing confidence. This development could be crucial in matchups against smaller lineups, as it allows the Cavs to maintain their size advantage without sacrificing spacing.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Cavaliers’ historic season, tune into the Locked On Cavs podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Cavs Podcast:
• Analysis of the upcoming Cavs vs. Thunder matchup
• The Cavaliers’ impressive offensive and defensive ratings over the last 15 games
• How Mobley’s three-point shooting impacts Cleveland’s lineup versatility
Have we already seen a Finals preview to start 2025?
Jan 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball over Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter at Paycom Center. | Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
It’s just one game, I whisper to myself, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander launches a three with lofty clearance over Jrue Holiday.
It’s just one game, I say, shaking my head as if to clear it when Isaiah Joe on a fastbreak flings the ball around Sam Hauser in hot pursuit, giving Hauser a ring of Saturn in basketball form for a split second, to Aaron Wiggins, shadowing them, for a tidy pop-up shot.
It’s just one game, I say, voice rising, whenGilgeous-Alexander pins the ball, barely out of Tatum’s hand, against the backboard for a block and then, immediately at the other end, lobs it to Isaiah Hartenstein for a dunk.
Sunday’s match between the Thunder and Celtics was just one game, and it’s only just January, but the contest showed what could very believably be a Finals preview. It also showed how OKC can aim to beat Boston in a series.
The Celtics are a machine, and like a machine, they are mechanical. Their dominance comes through the intuitive, expert understanding of what they are good at and how to deploy it, and what they are good at is launching threes. In Sunday’s game, the Celtics took 46 3-pointers. While they only made nine of them (for comparison, the Thunder were 16-of-38 from three), Boston is still shooting the most from deep in the league — sometimes as any as 20 more than their opponents over the course of a game.
The teams that are seeing success in recent wins over the Celtics aren’t necessarily attempting to limit Boston’s three-point attempts. With so many players capable of shooting the three ball it’s a futile effort and expends a lot of wasted energy. What they are doing, and what the Thunder did, is find ways to momentarily jam the machines.
The Thunder moved the ball more, they pressured Boston in the midrange and under the basket, they looked for any gap in the machine’s cogs they could wedge themselves into. Boston used to be way more susceptible to flustering, they abhorred a team that played a messy, gritty, or in any way abrasive style. It’s why the Heat have been so good at beating them in the postseason, because those Miami teams stopped at nothing to make things miserable and didn’t mind playing knee deep in the muck.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis Max Strus’s addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers could be pivotal. His shooting prowess might make the team nearly unbeatable alongside Jarrett Allen’s defense. Explore how Strus fits into their dynamics. (Fear the Sword)
Analysis Evan Mobley’s development is being undervalued by national media. Despite his impactful performances, there’s a discrepancy in how his growth is judged, potentially affecting All-Star considerations. (Fear the Sword)
Fans Darius Garland believes the Cleveland Cavaliers deserve greater national recognition. His call for more spotlight underscores the team’s impressive yet underappreciated performance. (Sports Illustrated)
Rumor With the trade deadline approaching, the NBA trade block heats up. Several top targets are being eyed for potential deals, which could impact the Cavaliers. (Bleacher Report)
Ranking Recent years have seen impactful trades reshaping the NBA landscape. A ranking of the top five trades highlights significant moves, influencing teams like the Cavaliers. (Bleacher Report)
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz guard Brice Sensabaugh (28) is interviewed by Seg Media reporter, Lauren Green following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images | Russell Lansford/Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
One of the most intriguing developments on Sunday came from the Utah Jazz, where rookie Brice Sensabaugh has suddenly burst onto the scene with a scoring explosion.
Sensabaugh dropped 27 points against the Orlando Magic, following up a 34-point performance in his previous outing. That’s a staggering 61 points over two games for a player who had been largely off the fantasy radar. His usage rate has skyrocketed to over 30% in these contests, and he’s been scorching hot from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 17 three-point attempts.
However, before we rush to add Sensabaugh in all leagues, it’s crucial to examine the context of his breakout. The Jazz were missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. This opened up a significant opportunity for Sensabaugh to showcase his scoring prowess.
The sustainability of Sensabaugh’s production is questionable. His three-point shooting percentage is bound to regress, and when the Jazz get healthier, his minutes and usage are likely to decrease. That said, he’s shown enough to warrant consideration as a streaming option in deeper leagues, particularly when Utah is shorthanded.
Click the button below for more insights, including another Thunder player to keep an eye on for your fantasy roster.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
Another Cavalanche! The Cavs pushed their winning streak to 10 games on Sunday night with a win over the Charlotte Hornets. How long can the winning streak go?
West Coast Dominance Cleveland went out west and swept through the Nuggets, Warriors, Lakers and Mavericks, beating them all by 10 or more points. What was so impressive about that road trip?
Don’t Go Chasing Records Now The Cavs are currently on pace to win 73 games. Should that be the goal for the season?
