The Cleveland Cavaliers were picked by many pundits to challenge the Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy. But no one predicted Cleveland would race out to a 22-4 start.
“It surprised me early,” LeBron James said after leading the Cavs to a 105-88 win over the Denver Nuggets Friday night. “But it’s not surprising anymore.”
The Cavaliers are outscoring their opponents by an NBA best 13.2 points per game.
Before the game James was asked to explain Cleveland’s early season success.
LeBron pointed to Delonte West’s contract extension, the Mo Williams trade, and “guys coming in hungry and wanting to take responsibility for the betterment of the team.”
“We’ve had a different mindset this season,” James said. “Everyone has picked up their level of play.”
That mindset has been apparent early in games as the Cavaliers have outscored their opponents in 19-of-26 first quarters this season by a total of 144 points. Cleveland is taking it to the opposition early and not letting up until the final buzzer sounds.
The Cavs are second in points allowed per 100 possessions (89.2 ppg) and defensive field goal percentage (42%). Shooting guard Delonte West and power forward Ben Wallace have long been considered good defenders, but it’s LeBron James’ commitment to the defensive end that has forged Cleveland’s defense.
James has always been an adequate on-ball defender, but struggled with helpside concepts and tended to lose focus and coast through early quarters. Those weaknesses appear to be behind him.
James held Carmelo Anthony to 13 points Friday night, eight below Anthony’s average. In their two meetings this season, James held Anthony to 15.5 ppg on 38.7% shooting. Over the last nine games, James has held starting small forwards to 11.4 ppg on 36% shooting.
Off-the-ball, James is playing “defensive quarterback” by calling out picks and barking out instructions. James is seventh in the league in steals and the Cavaliers are second in points off turnovers.
The Cavs are a disciplined ballclub. Their rotations are textbook, defenders rarely roam out of position and they contest every shot. Cleveland’s defense is predicated on keeping the ball out of the middle. Williams, West, and James are active on the perimeter and Wallace, Varejao and Ilgauskas have done an excellent job of protecting the basket. The Cavs are first in defensive field goal percentage in the paint.
With Mike Brown at the helm, the Cavaliers have never ranked lower than 14th in defensive efficiency. But it’s Cleveland’s offensive improvement that has transformed them into an elite team. The Cavs are first in points scored per 100 possessions (114.2).
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