Cavs 2022-2023 Season Preview

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Cleveland-

The Cleveland Cavaliers 2022-2023 season will begin on October 19th north of the border in Toronto against the Raptors. The Raptors are expected to be a top 7 team in the Eastern Conference. So this will be a good test for a young Cavs team in the season opener.

Offseason

Cleveland has had arguably the most exciting offseason in franchise history that didn’t involve LeBron James. The Cavs brought in Donovan Mitchell, signed Ricky Rubio and Robin Lopez, as well as re-signed Darius Garland to a contract extension. That’s quite a haul for Koby Altman and Mike Gansey. They’ve constructed a young core that features Donovan Mitchell as the elder statesman of the group at age 26. It reminds me of the once young core the Oklahoma City Thunder put together years ago. The one that featured Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka. Amazing to think those guys played together for any length of time and didn’t win a championship.

Expectations

There is a potential downside to what the Cavs have done. By essentially pushing all their chips to the center of the table so-to-speak, they’ve created naturally lofty expectations. As Cavs legend Austin Carr has said many times over the years: “pressure will burst a pipe.” Does this mean inevitable failure? Of course not. But it does mean this young Cavs team will have to overcome expectations in a loaded Eastern Conference. Donovan Mitchell has been on many big stages in his young career, which will help, but the rest of the Core 4 have only experienced 2 play-in tournament losses. What do they do? Learn on the job. That’s the only solution. Frankly, I’m not a big fan of putting high expectations on any young team whether it be the Cavs or Guardians. Young teams have to get to the dance and lose to get back and make a deep run. There are exceptions of course, but that’s usually how it works.

Eastern Conference prediction

The Cavs are also trying to come of age in an Eastern Conference that is loaded. It’s really an exciting time to be a basketball fan. I’ve done a lot of research with different sports books and came to a consensus prediction for the Eastern Conference standings based on odds, and it looks like this:

 

1. Boston
2. Milwaukee
3. Brooklyn
4. Philadelphia
5. Miami
6. Cleveland
7. Toronto
8. Chicago
9. Atlanta
10. New York

 

I’m not saying I agree with this list’s accuracy, just that this is what the betting odds are. I think Brooklyn and Miami should swap positions. Toronto being a 7 seed is unsteady and Atlanta could really surprise some people. I would be more inclined to have Atlanta at 7 and Toronto at 9. As for the Cavs, they could finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th in my opinion. Barring catastrophic injuries on teams ahead of them, I can’t see the Cavs being top 2. But they’re too talented to drop below 6th. I think a huge step forward for this season would be Cleveland avoiding the play-in tournament, which I still despise every bit of. Legitimately get into the playoffs and I call the season a win no matter what happens.

New brand of ball

The Cavs match-up well with the big dogs in the east. Those of you who watched the Cavs last year won’t see the same brand of basketball this season. Last year Cleveland started 3 7-footers in Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Lauri Markkanen. Highly unconventional, but it worked, and the Cavs became a match-up nightmare. Well, Markkanen was shipped to Utah in the Donovan Mitchell trade, Allen and Mobley remain starters with potentially Caris LeVert manning the Small Forward position. Garland and Mitchell are undersized in the backcourt, so this is a much different looking team. The lack of size relative to what we saw last year doesn’t at all mean the Cavs are any worse. They’re simply different. They’ve become ultra-athletic, more dynamic, more play making, and thank goodness will not have to rely on Darius Garland to initiate all the offense. That was something that sunk Cleveland last year. Garland was the last man standing after injuries derailed the Cavs. Garland was asked to create all the offense for himself and his teammates. That’s just too much. Enter Donovan Mitchell and eventually Ricky Rubio and Garland doesn’t have as much on his plate.

Defenders

 

I know, the defense, right? That’s been the talk of those worried about the Cavs’ small backcourt. I’m not worried. Yes, Garland and Mitchell are undersized…but Mobley and Allen aren’t. The Cleveland backcourt just has to be pesky and get in the way. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are supreme defenders and will make up for any shortcomings in the backcourt. I do worry about foul trouble for the Bigs, but I trust the skills of Mobley and Allen to stay out of foul trouble.

 

There’s not going to be a lot of stability in the Eastern Conference. That is, you’re not going to have a team go wire to wire in first place. I think the top 5 spots will be constantly changing up until the last day of the season. Everyone is too evenly matched. The only thing the Cavs can’t have is an extended losing streak. If they can stay somewhat steady throughout the year, they’ll be there in the top 6 at the end. Beat the teams you’re supposed to and play toe-to-toe with the top teams in the conference.

 

My Eastern Conference Prediction:

 

1. Milwaukee
2. Boston
3. Philadelphia
4. Miami
5. Cleveland
6. Brooklyn
7. Atlanta
8. Toronto
9. Chicago
10. New York

 

In my scenario the Cavs avoid the play-in tournament and draw the Nets in round 1. They may even crack 50 wins, although I think around 47-48 is where they’ll end up.

 

Predictions aside, enjoy this. The Cavs are going to be a fun young team that will only get better.