MILWAUKEE — The season has been nothing short of remarkable for the Cleveland Cavaliers, currently leading the NBA with their impressive performances backed by depth in their roster. Coach Kenny Atkinson firmly believes in the importance of this depth, emphasizing it as the key aspect allowing his team to achieve several long winning streaks this year.
After securing their 14th consecutive victory with a 112-100 triumph against the Milwaukee Bucks, Atkinson credited the Cavaliers’ deep bench, saying, “We go 13 deep. I think you wear people down that way.” However, Atkinson also contends that amidst the wealth of talent, there should be more recognition of a potential MVP candidate on his team.
The coach was posed with a question regarding the Cavaliers’ ability to deliver a stellar season despite not having a player projected to be in the top echelons of the MVP voting. Most of the MVP spotlight has been on Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic. In defense of his team, Atkinson advocated for Donovan Mitchell, the six-time All-Star guard, who is averaging 24.4 points per game while shooting a career-high 38.8% from beyond the arc.
Atkinson praised Mitchell and argued for his MVP candidacy, stating, “Best team, best player on best team.” Thanks to Mitchell’s contributions, the Cavaliers have experienced three substantial winning streaks, including a 15-game stretch to start the season and another 12-game streak from mid-December to early January.
During their latest 14-game surge, the Cavaliers have continually topped 110 points, a feat matched only by the Boston Celtics during their championship-winning 1985-86 season. However, the team remains focused on maintaining their winning momentum, as expressed by All-Star forward/center Evan Mobley: “We’re just trying to keep stacking wins.”
Cleveland’s depth shined in their recent victory against Milwaukee, with Mitchell having an off-night shooting 4 of 15, yet eight other players scored nine or more points. Max Strus, who matched his season high with 17 points, highlighted the danger posed by the team’s flexibility, stating, “Anybody could step up and help us win a game.”
With a strong lead in the Eastern Conference and overall in the NBA, the Cavaliers are gearing up for the playoffs. Despite their regular-season prowess, their challenge lies in translating this success into postseason triumphs, a hurdle they could not overcome last year after a second-round exit against Boston.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers acknowledged the Cavaliers as legitimate championship contenders, drawing contrasts with past teams whose regular-season success did not translate into playoff dominance. He recognized the comprehensive talent within Cleveland’s ranks, asserting, “They have all the parts.”
Still driven by their lack of deep playoff experience, the Cavaliers are determined to maintain their edge and intensity. Atkinson stressed the importance of continued improvement and playoff readiness: “We can’t be on cruise control. We’ve got to keep improving, keep our playoff focus.”
