From Pretty to Gritty: The Cavaliers Are Starting to Find Their Edge
CLEVELAND - A year ago, the Cavaliers dazzled with their offensive firepower. They were a "pretty" team-smooth, skilled, and statistically dominant. But if Cleveland wants to be more than just a regular-season highlight reel, if they want to make noise when the lights are brightest, they’ve got to trade some of that finesse for fight.
That’s been the message behind the Cavs’ evolving identity this season. And it’s starting to show.
Let’s rewind for a second. The 2024-25 Cavaliers were a juggernaut on offense.
They led the league in scoring at 122 points per game, ranked second in field goal percentage (49%), and third in three-point shooting (38%). Their offensive rating?
Second-best since the league started tracking the stat in 1973. That’s not just good-that’s historically efficient.
New head coach Kenny Atkinson came in with a clear vision: turn the Cavs into a modern offensive powerhouse, much like the Boston Celtics team that won the 2024 NBA title. The Celtics led the league in three-point attempts, and Atkinson wanted to bring that same pace-and-space philosophy to Cleveland.
It made sense. The Cavs had the shooters, the scorers, and the spacing.
And under former coach J.B. Bickerstaff, it was the offense-not the defense-that came up short in the postseason.
But that team? It’s gone.
Darius Garland, once the engine of Cleveland’s offense, has been battling toe injuries on both feet. He’s in and out of the lineup, and when he does play, he’s struggled defensively.
His offensive rhythm was just starting to come back before yet another toe injury set him back. Right now, it’s fair to wonder whether Garland’s long-term role might be as a spark plug off the bench-an instant-offense guy who doesn’t have to carry the burden of defending opposing starting guards every night.
It’s not ideal for a max-contract player, but this isn’t about contracts anymore. It’s about chemistry, rotations, and finding the right mix.
Last year, the Cavs had Ty Jerome in that bench scorer role. He left for Memphis in free agency and hasn’t played yet due to a calf injury. De’Andre Hunter was brought in to help fill that void, but his inconsistency has been a challenge.
Still, despite the setbacks, the Cavs are 25-20 and have won 8 of their last 12. Injuries?
They’ve had plenty. Wednesday’s win in Charlotte marked their 24th different starting lineup of the season.
For comparison, they used only 23 all of last year.
And yet, there are signs this team is turning a corner.
When the Cavs are winning, they’re doing it by controlling the paint and dominating the glass. That’s not just a stat-it’s a mindset. It’s grit.
Young players like Jaylon Tyson, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, and Craig Porter Jr. are bringing energy, defense, and toughness to the rotation. Tyrese Proctor is now joining that group.
These aren’t just fill-ins-they’re tone-setters. They’re helping the Cavs rediscover an identity that’s less about style and more about substance.
Evan Mobley is starting to look like himself again. Not the version trying to prove he can score at all three levels, but the Defensive Player of the Year-caliber Mobley who anchors the paint and alters the game without needing to light up the scoreboard. When Mobley is locked in defensively, the Cavs take on a different edge.
The numbers back it up. Cleveland has been consistently winning the rebounding battle.
They dominated the glass in back-to-back wins in Philadelphia and crushed Charlotte 60-47 on the boards Wednesday night. Even in Monday’s ugly 136-104 loss to Oklahoma City, they outrebounded the Thunder 54-38 and outscored them in the paint 48-42.
Of course, OKC is a different animal. They’re the defending champs for a reason-relentless on defense, fluid on offense, and built to suffocate teams like Cleveland.
They held the Cavs to 37% shooting while hitting 54% of their own shots. That’s what elite looks like.
Oklahoma City leads the league in defense this season, just as they did last year. According to Stat Muse, they also boast the top four individual defenders in the league.
The only Cavalier in the top 25? Evan Mobley, at No.
But the loss that really stung came earlier this month-a 123-112 home defeat to Utah on January 12. The Cavs were flat.
They got outworked on the boards 50-30 and looked like a team that forgot what it takes to win. Utah hasn’t won a game since.
That one should leave a mark.
Still, there’s reason for optimism.
Donovan Mitchell has been sensational-this is arguably his best season since arriving in Cleveland. But he can’t do it alone.
And the Cavs’ record without Garland (12-7) compared to with him (13-13) tells a story. Garland isn’t himself, and the team has had to adjust.
One of the most underrated pieces? Sam Merrill.
The Cavs are 16-8 when he plays, 9-12 when he doesn’t. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective.
Atkinson is pushing for a more physical brand of basketball, and the young guys are answering the call. Porter, Tomlin, and Tyson are earning their minutes.
Tyson is now starting. Porter, listed at just 6-foot-1, has been called “my 6-foot-2 power forward” by Atkinson-and it’s not just a joke.
He’s blocking shots from seven-footers like Charlotte’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and bringing a fearless attitude every time he steps on the court.
Larry Nance Jr. is finally healthy, and his presence on the boards and on defense is another boost. As for Tomlin, there’s a little bit of Dennis Rodman in him-raw, relentless, and disruptive. He’s not there yet, but the energy is real.
Last season, the Cavs won with skill. This season, they’ll need to win with grit.
If they want to avoid the play-in tournament and lock in a top-six seed in the East, they’ll have to embrace the grind. Not every game will be pretty.
Some will look like Wednesday’s 94-87 slugfest over Charlotte-and that’s OK.
The Hornets came into that game with the NBA’s best offensive rating over their previous 10 games. The Cavs shut them down. That’s the kind of defense Cleveland is capable of playing, even if their overall ranking sits at 15th.
The blueprint is there. Put the right players on the court.
Lean into the physicality. Let the young guys bring the edge.
The Cavs are no longer the high-flying, three-point bombing team they were a year ago-and that’s fine.
This version of the Cavaliers might not be as pretty. But if they keep trending in this direction, they just might be built for the fight that’s coming.