Cavs vs. Hornets Preview: Three Things to Watch as Cleveland Looks to Find Its Groove
The Cleveland Cavaliers escaped with a win over the Washington Wizards in their last outing - but just barely. Now they turn their attention to the Charlotte Hornets, a team still searching for its identity.
On paper, this should be a game where Cleveland flexes its muscle. But as we’ve seen this season, nothing comes easy for this squad unless they make it so.
Here are three things to keep an eye on as the Cavs take the floor today.
1. Charlotte’s Growing Pains
Let’s be honest: the Hornets are in the middle of a rebuild, and it shows.
They’ve got some intriguing young talent - LaMelo Ball continues to flash All-Star potential, and rookie Kon Knueppel brings some excitement to the mix - but the team as a whole is still trying to figure out how to put it all together. Charlotte ranks near the bottom of the league in just about every major category: 23rd in net rating, 19th in offensive rating, and 24th in defensive rating.
That’s not a formula for winning basketball.
The Hornets struggle to get stops, and they don’t have the kind of offensive firepower to keep up in shootouts. They lack a true rim protector, and their perimeter defense leaves a lot to be desired - two things that could open the door for the Cavaliers to finally find some rhythm offensively.
Cleveland should have the edge in talent, experience, and execution. But the key word there is should.
The Cavs haven’t exactly made a habit of putting away the teams they’re supposed to beat. That needs to change - and games like this are where it starts.
2. Donovan Mitchell Can’t Do It Alone
Donovan Mitchell reminded everyone exactly who he is on Friday night, dropping 48 points in a performance that was equal parts electric and exhausting. He carried the Cavs across the finish line, but the fact that it took that kind of effort to beat the league’s worst team is… less than ideal.
Mitchell is a superstar. That’s not up for debate.
But the Cavs can’t afford to lean on him like this every night, especially in the regular season. It’s not sustainable, and more importantly, it’s not necessary - at least, it shouldn’t be.
Cleveland needs more from the supporting cast. Whether it’s Darius Garland finding his rhythm, Evan Mobley asserting himself offensively, or someone stepping up off the bench, the Cavs have to find ways to generate offense that don’t involve Mitchell going full superhero mode.
The good news? Charlotte’s defense offers a great opportunity for others to get going. If this isn’t the night for someone else to step up, then when?
3. Will the Real Cavaliers Please Stand Up?
This has become the defining question of the Cavs’ season: Which version of this team is going to show up?
Too often, Cleveland has looked like a team going through the motions - slow starts, careless turnovers, missed defensive rotations, and stretches of play that lack urgency. It’s not about talent. It’s about focus, effort, and execution - the little things that separate good teams from great ones.
The Cavs have the pieces to be a top-tier team in the East. But until they bring consistent energy and attention to detail, they’re going to keep finding themselves in dogfights against teams they should be beating handily.
This game is another chance to clean things up. To play with purpose. To set the tone early and never let up.
If the Cavs bring the right mindset, they should walk out with a win. But if they sleepwalk through another one, the Hornets are more than capable of making things uncomfortable.
Bottom Line: This is a “handle your business” kind of game for Cleveland. The Hornets aren’t pushovers, but they’re also not a team the Cavs should be struggling with. Play with energy, share the scoring load, and lock in defensively - and this could be the kind of game that helps the Cavs turn a corner.