By winning their first 15 games of the season, the Cavaliers had the second best start in NBA history. In front of them, there is only the Warriors of 2015-16 (24 victories in a row). Irony of history: Cleveland's explosion this year is very reminiscent of Golden State's explosion a decade ago.
New coach, new philosophy, new success
After a lackluster elimination in the conference semi-finals last season, the Cavaliers decided to change their coach, firing JB Bickerstaff to bring in Kenny Atkinson. Cleveland executives felt like the team – for all its talent – was stagnating under Bickerstaff and that a new voice was needed to maximize the Darius Garland – Donovan Mitchell – Evan Mobley – Jarrett Allen quartet. Result: after 15 games this season, Cleveland has still not lost and has a record of 15 wins – 0 losses.
Ten years earlier, after an elimination in the first round of the 2014 Playoffs, the Warriors also decided to change their coach, firing Mark Jackson to bring in Steve Kerr. Golden State leaders had the impression that the team – despite all its talent – was stagnating under Jackson and that a new voice was needed to maximize the collective carried by the Splash Brothers Stephen Curry – Klay Thompson. Result: after 15 games that season, Golden State had a record of 13 wins and 2 losses, a record that even went up to 21-2 before a third loss.
Whether in Cleveland today or Golden State a decade ago, the change of coach has transformed a solid and competitive team into a real war machine.
Like Steve Kerr ten years ago, Kenny Atkinson inherited a team with very solid defensive foundations, but whose great offensive talent was not really exploited to its true value. The Warriors under Mark Jackson were too predictable, the Cavs under JB Bickerstaff were stepping on each other, and a new playing philosophy was needed to allow the collective to shine on both sides of the field. Just by changing coaches, Cleveland went from 16th to the best NBA attack, while maintaining its defensive solidity (7th). In 2014-15, the Warriors went from 12th to 2nd offense, while having the best NBA defense.
The Cavs’ “Warrioresque” game
Before arriving on the Cavaliers bench, Kenny Atkinson was Steve Kerr's assistant at Golden State for three years, from 2021 to 2024. During these three years, the former Nets coach discovered the Warriors culture and philosophy game allowing Golden State – champion for the fourth time in 2022 – to reach the top of the NBA.
During the Warriors dynasty, and in particular during the first years (2014-16), the game played by Golden State was built on several pillars: spacing obviously with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but also the movement of the ball, the constant movement of players without the ball, and a very high pace of play (1st in pace in 2015, 2nd in 2016). These are principles which are – in themselves – quite basic, but which the Warriors mastered better than anyone thanks in particular to the unique threat represented by the Splash Brothers.
Ten years later, it was Cleveland who took inspiration.
“I think we really have to take these Cleveland Cavaliers seriously, and I'll tell you why,” Warriors star Draymond Green said recently. “They move the ball so fast, it’s crazy! My head was spinning because it was going so fast. I really like this team.”
A crucial member of Golden State's success, Draymond almost had the impression of facing the Warriors of the great era when the Cavaliers exploded the Dubs in early November (136-117), Cleveland scoring no less than 83 points in… the first half -time.
In this famous meeting against the Warriors, the Cavaliers perhaps showed their best Basketball of the whole season: a ball that circulates with magnificent fluidity, it draws 3-pointers without hesitation, it runs as soon as possible, it moves without the ball, it plays quickly in transition but also on half-court, in short, what's going on!
“We have incredible chemistry. The players understand each other incredibly well. They respect each other and it’s wonderful to see. We have our scorers but we also have good passers, good connectors. We know how to pass the ball, we make quick decisions. I loved what Draymond said the other day. The ball is moving, it’s ‘Warrioresque’ and it’s great to see.” –Kenny Atkinson
Best offensive efficiency in the NBA (122.1 points per 100 possessions), seventh in the League (only 24th last year), 1st in 3-point shooting (41.9%) and in the Top 5 in the number of 3-pointers scored per game (15.5), the Cavaliers are Warriors Basketball. And the rest of the League has so far failed to slow them down.
Like Golden State ten years ago, the Cavs can today rely on a formidable backcourt in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. It's not quite the same style as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but it hurts just as bad.
Like Golden State ten years ago, the Cavs can also rely on a position 4 in full evolution with Evan Mobley. He's not quite the same style as Draymond Green, but his versatility and defense often make the difference.
Like Golden State ten years ago, the Cavs can also rely on a defensive pivot, a very good finisher and capable of passing the ball well like Jarrett Allen. It's not quite the same style as Andrew Bogut, but it's just as important to his team's success.
As you can see, the similarities in the game between the Cavaliers of 2024 and the Warriors of ten years ago are numerous. But it doesn't stop there.
Strength in Numbers
One of the Cavaliers' great strengths at the start of the season is their roster depth and bench production.
Of course, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are the headliners in Cleveland. Certainly, the rise of Evan Mobley partly explains Cleveland's success. And of course, Jarrett Allen remains a defensive pillar for the Cavs. However, it has been two games since Kenny Atkinson's five has not been at full strength and it has not been seen at all. No Mobley against Chicago? No problem, victory of 18 points with Georges Niang joining the starters to score 14 points. No Mitchell against Charlotte? No problem, victory of 14 points with Ty Jerome who scored 24 units with 8 assists in the starting suit. We also remember that the Cavs have been evolving since the start of the season without their starting winger Max Strus, replaced first by Dean Wade then Isaac Okoro. And these two do the job!
Over the first 15 games this season, the Cavaliers are seventh in the NBA in the number of points scored by the bench (38.6) but above all, they are third in terms of efficiency with a net rating (difference between offensive and defensive efficiency ) of +5.3. The duo Ty Jerome – Caris LeVert particularly boosts the second unit, without forgetting Niang or the sniper Sam Merrill. All this to say that Kenny Atkinson has real solutions and a lot of possibilities for adaptation depending on the scenario of a meeting or the match-up proposed by the opponent. And it takes pressure off the team's best players, with Mitchell being the most used player with just 31 minutes per night.
Before the Warriors became a feared superteam that booked five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, Steve Kerr preached a mentality that became a rallying cry: Strength in Numbers.@ramonashelburne has the story: pic.twitter.com/MzdgXgwmz9
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) https://twitter.com/malika_andrews/status/1456715167669137408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This depth of squad, these players of the second unit who step-up to help swing the matches, this collective solidity which exists between the stars of the team and the role players, it clearly recalls the Warriors of 2014-15 . The latter symbolized all this so much that they had a dedicated slogan: “Strength in Numbers”.
Strength in Numbers.
Behind the huge banderillas of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, behind the defense and grandiose versatility of Draymond Green, there was an army of role players who made the Warriors almost untouchable. Andrew Bogut shone with his ability to protect the rim and pass the ball from the pivot position. Andre Iguodala had transformed into one of the best sixth men in the NBA. Young Harrison Barnes brought an athletic dimension to the wing. And with all that, Golden State had real soldiers like the miraculous Shaun Livingston, the former All-Star David Lee, but also Marreese Speights, Leandro Barbosa and Festus Ezeli.
It is partly thanks to Strength in Numbers that these Warriors won 67 games during the 2014-15 regular season, before going for the first title of their dynasty in the Playoffs that followed. As a symbol, it was Andre Iguodala who was elected MVP of the NBA Finals in 2015. The following year, the Dubs won 73 games including 24 to start the season, two records that still stand.
The only team in NBA history to win more than 15 straight games to start a season were the 2015-16 @warriors who opened the season at 24-0! pic.twitter.com/Wr9GxjTZym
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) https://twitter.com/NBAHistory/status/1858642415495582185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The future will tell us if the Kenny Atkinson version of the Cavaliers is capable of having the same success as the Warriors of the time. But know that all teams that started a season with 15 wins in 15 games reached at least the NBA Finals. Shall we meet in June?
