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.
Cavs Crushed by Thunder: Defensive Woes and Lessons Learned
The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a surprising and devastating loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, falling 134-114 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggests. As someone who’s covered the Cavs extensively, I didn’t see this coming, and I doubt many fans did either.
The Thunder played what might be the most complete game I’ve seen from any NBA team this season. They looked like a desperate team fighting for their playoff lives, despite it being a mid-January contest. Their intensity and focus were unmatched, and they dominated every facet of the game.
While it’s tempting to sound the alarms after such a lopsided defeat, especially on national TV, I don’t believe this single game is cause for panic. However, there are concerning trends that extend beyond this matchup.
Defensive Struggles
The most glaring issue for the Cavs is their recent defensive performance. In their last 10 games, Cleveland ranks 22nd in defensive rating. For a team with championship aspirations and defensive stalwarts like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, this is simply not good enough.
The Cavs struggled in both man and zone coverage against OKC, unable to find any defensive rhythm. This continues a worrying trend that began in late December. Despite going 8-2 in their last 10 games, the team’s defensive rating of 115 during this stretch is far from championship-caliber.
Donovan Mitchell’s Matchup Woes
Another point of concern is Donovan Mitchell’s struggles against the Thunder, particularly when matched up with Lu Dort. Mitchell scored just 8 points on 3-of-15 shooting in limited minutes. While it’s important to note he didn’t play in the fourth quarter due to the blowout, this continues a pattern of difficulty against Dort’s defense.
Looking Ahead
The key now is how the Cavs respond to this humbling defeat. Great teams use losses like this as motivation to improve and come back stronger. With upcoming games against tough opponents like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns, Cleveland has an immediate opportunity to right the ship and show their resilience.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Cavs’ performance against the Thunder, tune into the Locked On Cavs podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Cavs Podcast:
• Darius Garland’s strong performance as a bright spot
• Evan Mobley’s struggles against OKC’s physical defense
• The importance of the Cavs’ response in upcoming games
Jan 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the rest of the NBA season could just be various instances spent listening to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go WOOOO to varying decibels and degrees of excitement? It would be, to borrow from a master gone too soon, Lynchian.
If not that, then to watch the Thunder and Cavaliers play each other, over and over, until April 13th. I suspect we still wouldn’t have our fill of these two teams but don’t fret, we’d have a riveting seven game series. Each game a competitive and tight feast for the eyes.
To really get an understanding of how, though relentless pressuring and seamless switching, the Thunder have run away with the first overall defensive rating. That even against a team like Cleveland who pride themselves on the way they’re able to take care of the ball, and their communication skills, OKC can pluck the ball out of the hands of an opponent on a fastbreak, a drive, as if they were walking right up to a kid and taking candy from their hands.
Of course, this all makes it sound like watching these two teams in perpetuity is going to look heavily lopsided for the Thunder. The matchup last night was a wallop for the West, for sure, but Cleveland showed why they’ve been coolly leading the East and the entire league. Rainbow threes from Mitchell, light lobs over the heads of every Thunder player — just then upturned to watch — between Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, and fadeaway shots from the corner care of Max Strus.
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 The Cavaliers received a reality check in their recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, underscoring the need for strategic adjustments and enhanced team cohesion. (Sports Illustrated)
Ranking The Cavaliers’ position in the NBA power rankings has fluctuated following a challenging week, reflecting recent performances against formidable opponents. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Basketball News Roundup: The Tanking In Utah
Jan 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale/Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers are taking tanking to a whole new level. The Jazz have been sitting players like John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler for various reasons. While I understand the incentives for tanking, the odds of getting the number one pick are not high. The NBA has been cracking down on teams resting healthy players, but these two franchises seem to be pushing the boundaries.
As a fantasy analyst, I’ve been advising people to avoid high picks from these teams due to the risk of shutdowns and reduced playing time. It’s frustrating to see this level of blatant tanking, especially when it impacts fantasy basketball managers.
The Memphis Grizzlies are another team to watch, with Ja Morant constantly appearing on the injury report. While they’re not tanking like Utah and Portland, Morant’s frequent injuries are concerning for fantasy managers.
In other news, Donte DiVincenzo is out with a toe sprain for the Knicks, which could lead to increased minutes for Mike Conley. However, I wouldn’t rush to add Conley in most leagues.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
Friday Five The five minutes on the five biggest Cavs topics of the week.
Crushed by OKC Cleveland went in to OKC on Thursday night suffered its worst defeat of the season. How much is there to be concerned by?
Bounce Back! After the Cavs saw their winning streak snapped on Sunday night by the Pacers they went in to Indy and got a win! How important was that response?
