The Cavaliers are off to a 2-1 start, and after taking down a very stout Timberwolves team, it’s fair to say this is not the kind of opening stretch that sends anyone reaching for old franchise scars.
But the scars are there if you want them.
Cleveland’s history includes some truly rough openings, and the worst of the bunch came all the way back in the franchise’s first season. The 1970-71 Cavs didn’t get their first win until Nov. 12, 1970, after opening 0-15.
John Johnson, 26 years old and coming off an All-Star nod that season, was one of the main names in that inaugural roster, alongside Walt Wesley, Bingo Smith, and McCoy McLemore. Cleveland finally broke through by beating the Trail Blazers, with Wesley scoring 21 points.
The second win didn’t arrive until Dec. 6, and the team finished 15-67.
That remains the only time the Cavs have ever started a season with double-digit losses.
The next ugly opening came in 1984-85, when Cleveland dropped its first nine games. George Karl was in charge for his first head-coaching job in the league, and the team’s early struggles were a preview of a season that never found enough traction.
The Cavs ended up with the No. 16 offense and No. 15 defense, and even though they were only one game under .500 over the final 73, they still never came close to the playoffs. Their first win finally came on Nov. 15, 1984, a 102-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
World B. Free led the way with 18 points, and seven Cavs finished in double figures.
That was also the first year the team wore orange jerseys.
There’s another 0-7 start in the record book, but the 1995-96 team belongs on this list for a different reason. Mike Fratello’s Cavs were built on defense, and even though they couldn’t score much, they made life miserable for opponents.
They started 0-7 but still made the playoffs that season, then went 47-28 over their final 75 games. On Nov.
17, 1995, Cleveland got its first win of the year in a 114-82 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers. Dan Majerle scored 21 points, and Terrell Brandon added 19.
And then there’s the 2010-11 team, which didn’t start a season with a losing streak but still produced one of the worst runs in league history. The Cavs dropped 26 straight from Dec. 10, 2011, to Feb. 11, 2011, the longest skid in the NBA at the time.
It was the first post-LeBron James season, and it was a rough one. Mo Williams helped finally snap the streak.
So yes, 2-1 is fine. More than fine, actually.
With a strong starting five in place, things could definitely be a lot worse.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Keep Showing Why Early Deficits May Not Matter
The early-season pattern has been hard to miss for Cleveland: the Cavaliers keep finding themselves in trouble, and they keep climbing out. Against Washington, a shaky defensive first half left them chasing the Wizards before the game flipped after halftime, when Cleveland settled in and took control on the way to a 121-111 win. It was the Cavaliers third straight victory and a 3-1 start, another sign that this group can withstand an uneven opening stretch without letting it snowball.
Evan Mobley again gave Cleveland the kind of all-around night it has needed, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds while helping steady things on both ends. Peyton Watson added 22 points for the Cavaliers, part of an offense that eventually found enough rhythm to support the defensive turnaround. For a team still sorting out its best early-season version, the encouraging part is not just the record, but the way the Cavaliers keep responding when the first half goes sideways. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers May Have A New Closing Lineup Question Around Jarrett Allen
Evan Mobley keeps nudging the Cavaliers toward a different kind of late-game formula, one built less around size and more around flexibility. His defensive range and growing comfort as a three-point shooter have become central to Clevelands best lineups, especially when the Cavaliers want more spacing around him and a center who can cover ground instead of just hold the paint.
Jarrett Allens presence still matters, but the closing question becomes sharper when the game tightens and the opponent can pull Cleveland into space. Mobleys ability to guard multiple positions gives the Cavs a look that could fit better in certain playoff matchups, and that makes the decision around the final minutes more complicated than it used to be. [Read more 🡒]
AJ Dybantsa Puts Wizards Spotlight Squarely On Cavs Game
The Cavaliers will see a different version of Washington than the one that opened the season, with rookie AJ Dybantsa set to make his NBA debut in the matchup after sitting out the Wizards first four games with a left ankle sprain. Washington had been waiting on the young player since he was hurt in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans, and his return adds another layer to a game already shaped by the Wizards injury report.
Dybantsa has now been upgraded to available, giving Washington one more option as it heads into a meeting with Cleveland while dealing with several other absences. For the Cavs, it is the kind of early-season wrinkle that can change the feel of a scouting report in a hurry, especially when a lineup is still coming together around a rookies first taste of NBA action. [Read more 🡒]