The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their incredible start to the season on Monday night, extending their winning streak to 12 to begin the 2024-25 campaign thanks to a 119-113 win over the Chicago Bulls. They were already off to their best start in franchise history that not even the great LeBron James-led teams of yore weren’t able to achieve, and at this point, there seems to be no stopping the Cavs’ ascent into the league’s true title-contending tier.
Understandably, the Cavs’ top brass couldn’t be any happier in how the team has performed thus far through the first few weeks of the season. It may be early days, but there is reason to celebrate, and indeed, team owner Dan Gilbert cherished the continuation of his beloved team’s undefeated start.
“12-0. #LetEmKnow LFG!” Gilbert wrote on his official account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Over the past two seasons, the Cavs have established themselves as a surefire playoff team in the Eastern Conference, thanks in large part to their blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell. But the Cavs were merely early-playoff round fodder, exiting the postseason in the first round in 2023 and then barely making a dent after reaching the second round in 2024.
It is simply incredible how much-improved the Cavs have been under the coaching of Kenny Atkinson. JB Bickerstaff raised the floor of the team and helped in the development of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, but Atkinson has taken the team to new heights with the new system he has in place, and Gilbert has to be very pleased in the decision of his team’s brain trust to make such a change.
The Cavs, however, will have to deal with being one of the “hunted” teams in the association. Teams will be gunning for them as they look to hand Cleveland its first loss of the season. But thus far, they have remained mentally strong, although some of their next few games may pose what could be their toughest test of the campaign just yet.
Cavs are halfway through the best start in NBA history
At 12-0, the Cavs are exactly at the halfway mark of the best start in NBA history. Back in the 2015-16 season, the Golden State Warriors began the season by going 24 games unbeaten before they fell prey to the Milwaukee Bucks in a barnburner of a game on the second night of a back-to-back.
Given the Cavs’ form, they can reasonably head into their NBA Cup matchup against the Boston Celtics next Tuesday with a 15-0 record. They will be facing an out-of-form Philadelphia 76ers team that could still be missing Joel Embiid since they will be on the second night of a back-to-back, and then they’ll have games against the Charlotte Hornets and then the Bulls before they take on the Celtics.
That contest against the Celtics should be an interesting watch, but even if they win that game, it will take a lot for them to extend their winning streak past 15 games. Following the Celtics game, which is on the road, they will be traveling back home to host the New Orleans Pelicans on a back-to-back. The good news is that the Pelicans will be playing on consecutive nights as well, so that should at least even up the rest battle.
