One of the biggest surprises to the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season so far has been the play of the Cleveland Cavaliers. At 17 wins and 12 losses, the Cavs are currently in fourth place in the East and have won eight of their last 10 games. Yes folks, the Cavaliers are finding ways to win basketball games on a consistent basis without LeBron James for the first time in 24 years.
So how is Cleveland winning games? Well, they may not have a superstar on their roster, but they are getting consistent production from several players. In fact eight Cavaliers are averaging in the double digits in scoring after 29 games.
Darius Garland leads the Cavaliers attack at the moment with 18.9 points per game. His best game over this 10-game stretch came on December 3, when he scored 32 points, had 10 assists, and was a very impressive +29 in a 116-101 win over the Washington Wizards. In fact in the last 10 games, Garland has been a +147, and has had four double-doubles.
You would expect the Cavaliers to beat the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves, which they have been able to accomplish. However, they have also beaten some very reputable clubs including the Miami Heat twice, the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, and Chicago Bulls. Those aforementioned clubs that the Cavaliers have been able to beat, are a combined 14 games above .500. On Tuesday, the Cavaliers beat the Heat 105-94.
In the three seasons in the post-LeBron Era Part II, the Cavaliers were definite pushovers. They had a record of 60 wins and 159 losses in the the three seasons from 2018 to 2021. Now their youth movement is coming into shape, and a playoff spot for Cleveland this season is a definite possibility.
