The Cleveland Cavaliers have gotten off to an incredible start to the 2024-25 season, although they seem to have been hitting the brakes as of late. The Cavs have lost two of their past three games, including a demolition at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night — an uncharacteristically poor performance in a season full of signs that they might be on their way to contending for a championship.
At this point, the Cavs may simply be going through some midseason blues, which is part of an 82-game regular-season grind. Regardless, they will not want to get used to this kind of malaise, with Charles Barkley imploring them to get back to being at their best — which means that Jarrett Allen is going to have to play a central role in getting them right back on track.
“I’ve said it for years, the key to the Cavs is Jarrett Allen. He is one of the best underrated big men in the league,” Barkley said on TNT’s Inside the NBA.
Barkley, however, believes that Allen has more room to assert himself as a bigger weapon for the Cavs, as he has the athletic gifts and the strength to be a dominant big man in the association.
“But he’s a passive guy. This kid, if he had a motor, he’s just a really nice guy. He don’t have that dawg in him. I want to see him and Evan Mobley dominate,” Barkley added.
As Ernie Johnson said on Inside the NBA, the Cavs have a 22-2 record this season when Allen puts up 12 or more points — a testament to how impactful he can be when he makes his presence felt on the hardwood. The Cavs have a rare advantage every night; they can play big without sacrificing skill, and in the current NBA, that combo is killer.
Cavs look to get back on the winning track
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cavs are now tied with the Thunder for the best record in the association, with both teams being at 34-6 after the turn of events on Thursday night. Their run as a “hunted” team is not anywhere close to ending. Their next few games will be coming against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets — with two of those games coming on the road.
Donovan Mitchell will have to bounce back from his poor outing against the Thunder. It’s a major concern that he struggled in both games against Oklahoma City, but knowing Mitchell and his capabilities, he should be able to bounce back from here.
