The Cleveland Cavaliers had one of the best regular-season campaigns of the decade in the 2024-25 season. They started the year with a huge unbeaten run of 15 consecutive wins, which was only the fourth time that happened.
They finished the season with a 64-18 record, which is a stark contrast to this season, as they already have 17 losses by the January 5th mark. The Cavaliers are struggling this season, which has been a bad run for the fans. Despite that, their opponents still believe in their potential to come back.
Carlisle believes the Cavaliers can bounce back
As one of the coaches of the Cavaliers' rivals, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has a good perspective on the Cavs. The Pacers are one of the worst teams in the league this season, having suffered numerous injuries.
He has seen the Cavaliers grow over the years as one of their primary rivals. From an outside perspective, it is fair to say that the Cavaliers are struggling, but as a coach who always observes the Cavs, Carlisle is optimistic about his opponent's chances.
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Despite head coach Kenny Atkinson struggling with the current iteration of the Cavaliers, they have shown some potential as of late. They lost to the Detroit Pistons, but they were on a three-game winning streak before that.
Carlisle is optimistic that the Cavaliers can return to their form, as they have tons of potential moving forward. The perspective on the Cavaliers looks bleak at the moment, but the talent on their roster is undeniable.
"I believe they’re setting themselves up as one of the more dangerous teams in the entire league. The start has been, there’s no way you’re gonna match last year’s start. It’s impossible. I mean, no one has won 15 games in a row to start a season," Carlisle said before the Pacers' game against the Cavaliers
"This year, like most teams, they’ve dealt with their share of injuries and roster upheaval with that kind of stuff."
As long as the Cavaliers are working toward a goal, they could surprise people. They have a good core group of players with their quartet of All-Star-level players. However, they need to get healthier, as the core four cannot carry the team on their own.
Max Strus' injury has been a significant blow for this team, as he provided so much for the Cavaliers. He will be sidelined for a long while, so the rest of the team must step up, so they can meet the NBA community's expectations while living up to Carlisle's positive outlook on a rival.
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