The Cleveland Cavaliers’ slow climb back to relevancy

PORTLAND, OREGON – JANUARY 07: Darius Garland # 10, Cedi Osman # 16, Jarrett Allen # 31, and Evan Mobley # 4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walk back to the court after a timeout
during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 07, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

It’s been a long time coming for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In 2018, Cleveland finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, marched through the East, and went on to face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the Warriors were the better team, and the Cavs lost in a four-game sweep. Soon after, LeBron James announced that his time in Cleveland was up yet again, as he headed to California to play for LA Lakers.

It was clear that the 2019 season was going to be tough for Clevland since they didn’t have LeBron to lean on. It was a harsh and embarrassing season, as they dropped all the way down to 14th in the East, winning only 19 of their 63 games. Could it get worse?

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ slow climb back to relevancy

Yes. In the 2019-20 season, Cleveland ended up 15th in the East with a 19-46 record. It was clear that they were struggling without LeBron even three years after his departure from the team. They got a little better in the 2020-2021 season, finishing 13th in the east, but it was clear there was still work to do.

When LeBron left, Cleveland had to learn how to play without dumping the ball off to him every possession. Not only that but many of their players followed LeBron, either leaving Cleveland for another team or deciding to retire. This meant they had to rebuild a whole new team.

They drafted Collen Sexton in the 2018 NBA Draft with the eighth pick, and in 2019, they snagged Darius Garland in with the fifth pick. Over time, they managed to swindle other quality pieces like Jarrett Allen, Cedi Osman, Issac Okoro, Dean Wade, and Evan Mobley, who was the third overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. They make some extremely savvy moves that worked out well.

Selecting Mobley and pairing him alongside Allen on the team helped them offensively, but where it really helped them was on defense. Josh Poloha of WFNy described it perfectly.

“Cleveland had one of the worst defenses in the league for years. The addition of Mobley, paired with the tall-ball lineup and with Jarrett Allen turning into one of the best rim protectors in the league has now made the Cavaliers one of the best defensive teams in the league.”

Currently, the Cavaliers sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference. However, their record (35-23) is tied with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are third in the East.

Cleveland’s next game is Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons, who are 13th in the East. The Cavaliers are missing their star player Garland due to back issues, says ESPN. Regardless, it should (in theory) be an easy win for Cleveland.

LeBron James may be gone, but the Cavs are thriving.