Jarrett Allen and the Cleveland Cavaliers took a big step in the 2023-24 NBA season when, for the first time since LeBron James left the Cavs in 2018, they managed to make it back to the NBA Playoffs. This season, Cleveland is once again viewed as among the chief contenders for at least the Eastern Conference title.
For Allen, the Cavs are only getting started.
“That’s the plan, the stuff doesn’t happen overnight for us,” Allen said when asked about whether Cleveland is on track to finish deeper in the postseason than it did a season ago, per Sam Yip of HoopsHype. “We know that we have a long journey to get there, but we see the seeds being planted, we see our growth, we see that we’re gonna have something special here.”
Cleveland is being fueled by its desire to completely rinse off the bitter taste of an early exit from the playoffs last season when the Cavs were upset in the first round by the New York Knicks, as they were eliminated in only five games.
And with Donovan Mitchell still in the fold and surrounded by a talented cast of support players, a group that now also features Max Strus and Georges Niang, the confidence remains high within the team that it will be more successful this season.
The Cavs had a slow start to the 2023-24 campaign, losing three of their first four games and four of their first five, but they have seemingly found their footing at last, as they are on a three-game win streak — a stretch that includes a 121-109 statement victory over the reigning NBA champions Denver Nuggets at home last Sunday.