The Cavs record against teams that made the playoffs last season, 1-1.
The Cavs record on the road, 2-1.
The Cavs record at home, 4-0.
The Cavs record against opponents above .500 this season is 1-1, while they are 5-0 against sub .500 teams.
A lot of this could be summed up with saying “It’s too early to take anything away,” but the trends that are sticking out are that the Cavs get out to slow starts and have yet to beat an opponent that would be considered a legitimate championship contender at this point.
As for the slow starts, even LeBron acknowledges they need to do better out of the gate, but he told reporters after Sunday’s win against Indiana, “I’d rather be a better second half team than a better first half team.”
What it all boils down to in my mind is, yes, the Cavs are beating the teams they are supposed to beat, even though some of the games are a bit closer than you would like, and yes, it’s early in the season, but let’s not overrate this team based on a seven-game stretch against less than stellar opponents.
What I’m looking forward to is the next stretch of games against some tougher teams.
The Cavs wrap up their four-game homestand Tuesday night against the 4-2 Utah Jazz, who have surprised many, but have some good young talent and are a team that is trending upward.
Then Cleveland hits the road to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, the 4-3 Bucks in Milwaukee, and the 5-1 Detroit Pistons at the Palace. The Cavs follow that up with home games against Milwaukee, the first-place Atlanta Hawks, and the 3-4 Orlando Magic.
If we look ahead at the next ten games on Cleveland’s schedule, six of their next ten opponents are above .500 on the season. So by the end of November, whatever the Cavs record is will be a much better indication of how good this team is, not only because there will be more games played, but because of the quality of opponent they are facing.
The 6 and 1 start for the Cavaliers is the best record through the first 7 games of any season LeBron has played in Cleveland.
The last time a Cavaliers team started 6-1 was the 1988-89 season with Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Craig Ehlo and Ron Harper. 27 years ago. The team started 7-1. That team went on to finish 57-25 and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 3 games to 2. “The Shot.”
The 2011-2012 Miami Heat started 8-1, and that is the best record of any team LeBron has been on in his career to start the season.
So if the Cavs win against Utah Tuesday night, it will tie the franchise record for best start to a season (7-1).
If they make it eight in a row against the Knicks Friday night at Madison Square Garden, it will be the best start to a season in Cavaliers franchise history, and tie LeBron’s personal best record to start a season (8-1).
If the Cavs can make it a nine-game win streak against Milwaukee, it will be the best record of LeBron James’ career to start a season (9-1).
As always with LeBron in town, there is plenty of reason to watch Cavaliers basketball.
Hopefully this time next week, history will have been made.
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