Despite the rise of the New York Knicks, who made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 20 years, the Cleveland Cavs are still the conference favorites heading into 2025-26. While the Cavs are expected to win the East for many, the same was said before last year’s playoffs, where injuries to Cleveland’s core derailed its run toward the Finals. Will the upcoming season be the year Cleveland returns to the Eastern Conference Finals?
For most, the Knicks are the only team standing in the way of a projected deep playoff run for the Cavs. Although few have any team in the Eastern Conference as their favorites to win the NBA Finals, Cleveland is favored to represent the East in an NBA offseason survey, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
“While no one was picked to win the title out of the East, virtually everyone struggled to come up with a team they felt good enough about to come out of the conference,” Bontemps wrote. “For some, it was because they felt the Knicks and Cavs were evenly matched. Some went with New York because of its toughness and depth, while others went with Cleveland because of its perceived higher top-end talent and better defensive versatility, led by reigning DPOY Evan Mobley.”
Mobley, one of three Cavs All-Stars and the team’s defensive anchor, is entering only his third NBA season. After Cleveland’s 15-0 start last season, the second-best start in league history, the Cavs topped the Eastern Conference throughout 2024-25. Cleveland also went on a 16-game win streak from February to March before injuries plagued its postseason run.
Garland sprained his toe in the Cavs’ opening-round series, forcing him to miss games in the second-round series against the Indiana Pacers, where Mobley sprained his left ankle and De’Andre Hunter dislocated his right thumb in Game 1. Garland, Mobley, and Hunter were all ruled out for Game 2. Then, Mitchell suffered an ankle sprain in Game 4 before the Pacers eliminated Cleveland, 4-1, in Game 5, to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Koby Altman reveals why Cavs training camp will be in Florida
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The Cavs training camp returns to Florida this year. It was the host of last year’s camp and after such a successful regular season, Cavs GM Koby Altman wanted the same approach for 2025-26. Altman explained why he thinks the facility is ideal ahead of the upcoming season, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
“Returning to IMG Academy is a testament to the tremendous experience we had there last year,” Altman said. “The overall engagement, both at the Bradenton facility and throughout the community, was an invaluable part of our preparations.”
Cavs training camp begins in late September.
