The Cleveland Cavaliers are still searching for the spark that made them one of the league’s most exciting teams last season. Back then, they were rattling off win streaks and looking like a serious force in the East.
This year? A different story.
Injuries have certainly played a role, but even when healthy, the Cavs haven’t quite looked like themselves.
In an effort to shake things up, Cleveland made a notable change to the starting lineup, pulling De’Andre Hunter and giving rookie Jaylon Tyson a shot with the first unit. Hunter had held down a starting role all season while Max Strus worked his way back from injury, but the production just wasn’t there.
In recent games, Hunter had been quiet offensively, posting several single-digit scoring nights. The coaching staff decided it was time for a new look.
The adjustment paid off early-at least briefly. Against the Chicago Bulls, the Cavs came out with energy, jumping out to a 28-16 lead in the first quarter.
Tyson brought a fresh dynamic, and the team looked like it might be turning a corner. But that momentum didn’t last.
The same issues that have plagued the Cavs throughout this season resurfaced, and the Bulls took control down the stretch, handing Cleveland a 127-111 loss.
That defeat dropped the Cavs to 15-13 on the season, placing them ninth in the Eastern Conference. It’s not panic time yet, but it’s clear this team is still trying to find its identity.
Donovan Mitchell, the team’s leader on and off the floor, isn’t about to let frustration derail the season.
“Just stick with it,” Mitchell said postgame. “Yes, it’s frustrating.
It sucks. But at the end of the day, what are you gonna do, feel bad?
You know what I mean? It’s December 17.
What are we gonna do, call it in right now? Keep going.
Keep doing it.”
Mitchell pointed to the team’s shooting struggles-not effort or scheme-as a key issue right now.
“We’re not making shots. It’s tough.
We’re getting great looks, and we have a lot of really, really good shooters. Sometimes, that’s just how it goes for a little bit.
That’s to no fault. Sometimes, you’re just in a rut.
You’ve kinda got to accept it.”
That kind of perspective matters. It’s a long season, and the Cavs have enough talent to weather this storm. The pieces are there-Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen-and once the roster gets healthy and the shots start falling, this is still a team capable of making noise in the East.
For now, though, it’s about grinding through the tough stretch, trusting the process, and letting the work speak for itself. The Cavaliers may not look like last year’s version just yet, but the fight is still in them.