The Cleveland Cavaliers had a historic start to the 2024-2025 season, winning 15 straight games before losing to the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics. This is the second-best start to an NBA season, behind only the 2016 Golden State Warriors.

We often ask the question: “How much impact does a coach have on a team?” The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown us the answer to start this season. They’ve been a surprise to most people because they haven’t made any significant changes to their roster other than changing their head coach. While their previous head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, is also having a good season with the Detroit Pistons, Kenny Atkinson has done a phenomenal job with the Cavs. The team is currently ranked number one in offensive rating, narrowly ahead of the Celtics and Knicks.

Over the past few seasons, many people have gotten impatient with the Cavs, saying that their ceiling is capped and that they’ll always be a “mid” team. Some argued that Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell couldn’t coexist, or that Jarrett Allen needed to be traded to build around Evan Mobley. I never understood these arguments as these are all hard-playing, smart basketball players and are still growing. Kenny Atkinson has shown us not only can they coexist but how effective they can be together.

One of Atkinson’s successes so far is enabling Evan Mobley. Last season, the Cavs’ offense relied heavily on Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland with the ball in their hands. This season, Mobley is getting more touches in the lane and is being given the chance to create for himself. A key stat that accompanies this improvement is the increase in corner three-point attempts. The Cavs are averaging 10.5 corner threes per game this season, compared to 9.5 last season. This is significant not only because players like Dean Wade and Georges Niang are taking these shots, but also because Mitchell and Garland are frequently flashing to the corners and finding open looks off cuts and pin-downs. This opens up space for Evan Mobley to dominate in the paint. It is also important to notice, they’ve done all of this without one of their best wing shooters, Max Strus, who has missed the entire run so far.

Kenny Atkinson has repeatedly emphasized the importance of cutting in their offense, saying, “Cutting opens up space, it creates vacuums and opens up driving lanes. It will be a big emphasis for us.” The Cavs don’t throw a lot of passes, they rank 28th in the league in total passes per game with 265, but they are first in pass-to-assist ratio at 10.7. This shows how effective their cuts and ball movement have been. A great example of this was their November 8th game against the Warriors, where the Cavs scored 136 points as a team despite Donovan Mitchell scoring only 12. This demonstrates how well their offense generates open looks for everyone without relying too heavily on one player.

Defensively, the Cavs have always been one of the stronger teams in the league. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are mobile and switchable big men who can anchor a defense. With their offense clicking, they seem even more motivated on the defensive end, making them a well-rounded and dangerous team.

It’s remarkable that the Cavs’ offense has gone from 18th in the league last season to first this season, especially without any major roster additions. This has allowed them to start the season 15-0. Historically, the other five teams to start 14-0 or better all went to the Finals. While it’s too early to say whether the Cavs are serious contenders, especially with strong competition from teams like the Celtics in the East and the Thunder in the West, it’s undeniable that they’ve been one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. This is all setting up for one of the more anticipated playoffs in recent seasons.

The Cavaliers’ 15-0 Run: A Historic Start Fueled by Coaching Brilliance

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