The Cleveland Cavaliers, last season's Eastern Conference contenders, are struggling at 15-14 through 29 games, hampered by injuries and poor shooting. Coach Kenny Atkinson's job security is under discussion, though no changes are imminent. With key players sidelined, the team hopes health returns will spark a turnaround.
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the 2024-25 NBA season with high expectations after a franchise-record 15-0 start and 64 wins the previous year, positioning them as favorites to claim the Eastern Conference. However, more than a third into the campaign, they sit seventh in the East at 15-14, having lost four of their last five games, including back-to-back defeats to the Chicago Bulls and a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Their only recent win came by four points against the Washington Wizards.
Injuries have plagued the core roster. Point guard Darius Garland has appeared in just 13 of 29 games, center Jarrett Allen in 18, while last season's Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley is sidelined with a calf injury expected to keep him out 2-4 weeks. Donovan Mitchell, the team's consistent performer, missed Friday's loss to the Bulls due to illness, forcing coach Kenny Atkinson to deploy his 15th different starting lineup: Garland, Allen, Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson, and Tyrese Proctor. Guard Max Strus has yet to play this season because of a foot injury.
Atkinson remains optimistic, drawing inspiration from the Cleveland Guardians' MLB turnaround last summer, when they overcame a 15.5-game deficit to win the Central Division. "This is just part of pro sports," Atkinson said. "It's hard to win in professional sports. And we go through the dip. You gotta manage it. You got to trust your group. I don't think there's ever a point you're like, 'Forget it, this is a disaster.'"
Statistically, the Cavs have regressed sharply. They rank 11th in offensive rating (down from first) and 18th in effective field-goal percentage, while their 33.9% three-point shooting is the league's fourth-worst despite second-most attempts. Defensively, they've slipped to 14th in rating. The loss of shooters like Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Ty Jerome, and Isaac Okoro has hurt, leaving the rotation reliant on inconsistent marksmen such as DeAndre Hunter (30.3% from three) and Lonzo Ball (25.5%).
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports Atkinson's seat "is starting to get a little warm," with league conversations noting his job security amid eight losses in the last 11 games. Yet, no firing is imminent; the focus is on health, including the return of sharpshooter Sam Merrill after 14 missed games and Mobley by mid-January. As the NBA's most expensive team at $231.1 million—$22 million over the second apron—with limited trade assets, drastic moves seem unlikely. Owner Dan Gilbert is reportedly unhappy, but the Cavs' +1.7 point differential ranks 13th, offering hope if Garland (who scored 35 points with six threes in the latest loss) and others regain form.
