The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t come into this season expecting turbulence. After a dominant 64-win campaign in 2024-25, the expectation was clear: pick up where they left off and make another run at the top of the Eastern Conference.
But the 2025-26 season has been anything but smooth sailing. The losses have already piled up beyond last year’s total, and the Cavs have spent much of the season trying to rediscover the rhythm that once made them look like a juggernaut.
Now, though, there’s a shift in the air. Cleveland is riding a win streak that feels less like a fluke and more like a team finally remembering who it is.
The ball movement is crisper. The defense is locked in.
And while they’re not back to full strength yet, they’re starting to look like a team that could be dangerous come spring.
Donovan Mitchell, the face of the franchise and emotional barometer of this group, isn’t getting caught up in the buzz. After their latest win on Monday - a game where Cleveland held its opponent under 100 points - Mitchell kept the focus on the bigger picture.
"We held them to under 100 points, that’s big time from us as a group. I’m not even worried about the win streak.
Let’s find a way to get better each day. It’s time we handled our business.
We dug a big hole for ourselves," Mitchell said.
That’s the kind of leadership you want from your star - grounded, forward-looking, and unwilling to let a few wins distract from the work still ahead.
The Eastern Conference hasn’t exactly unfolded the way many predicted. The Cavaliers and Knicks were pegged as the two teams to beat, but both have stumbled through unexpected losing streaks. Now, they’re neck-and-neck in the standings, sitting fourth and fifth, respectively - a far cry from the top-tier dominance they were forecasted to deliver.
Still, between the two, Cleveland seems to be trending in the right direction. The recent stretch of strong play isn’t just about wins - it’s about how they’re winning.
The Cavaliers are beginning to look comfortable in their sets again, executing with the kind of cohesion that defined last season’s success. And with key players gradually returning to full health, that chemistry should only improve.
There’s no denying the hole they’ve had to climb out of. But the climb has revealed something important: this team still has a ceiling that few in the East can match. The standings might not reflect it yet, but when Cleveland is locked in - when Mitchell is leading, the defense is engaged, and the supporting cast is clicking - they’re a problem for anyone.
The road back to contender status won’t be easy. The teams above them are no slouches, and the East is deep with talent.
But the Cavaliers have the kind of top-end potential that makes them a threat when it matters most. If this current surge is a sign of things to come, Cleveland could be peaking at just the right time.
For now, it’s about staying the course. One game at a time.
One day better. And if Mitchell and company can keep this momentum rolling, don’t be surprised if they’re right back in the thick of the title conversation before long.