One year after finishing with the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are emerging as a serious title contender again.
With a 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks, the Cavaliers have now won 13 out of their last 15 games, tying them with the Knicks in the standings. Despite Donovan Mitchell having an off night (5-of-18 shooting), the Cavaliers put on a strong defensive display in the third quarter for a clear win.
Improved Cavaliers Achieving Success on Both Ends
In the last 15 games, the Cavaliers boast the best offense in the NBA. Although they’re not the top outside-shooting team, they rank second in effective field-goal percentage, true shooting percentage, and they face fewer blocked shots than all but two teams.
Quality shot selection is key to their success. The addition of James Harden and Dennis Schroder, along with the departure of Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter, has helped the Cavaliers improve their ball movement. A notable change has been the decision to start Dean Wade as the small forward. In Tuesday’s game, he shot 3-of-5 from three-point range, recorded eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, along with three assists.