<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-jarrett-allen-playoff-x-factor');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Jarrett Allen is the ultimate X-factor in championship pursuit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Cavs-news-Jarrett-Allen-is-the-ultimate-X-factor-in-championship-pursuit.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Jarrett Allen is the ultimate X-factor in championship pursuit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T14:43:04-07:00">April 3rd, 2:43pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T14:43:04-07:00">April 3rd, 2:43pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cleveland Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen doesn’t always get the headlines. He doesn’t have the flash of Darius Garland or the star billing of Donovan Mitchell. He isn’t a rising phenom like Evan Mobley. But amid Cleveland’s playoff push, Allen has been the steadying force. He’s become a relentless presence that keeps the Cavs from unraveling when things get tough.</p><p>Against the New York Knicks, he once again proved his worth. Allen eclipsed 20 points for the third time in four gameWhy Cavs’ Jarrett Allen is the ultimate X-factor in championship pursuits, finishing with 21 on an absurd 10-of-11 shooting. His energy and aggressiveness were lifelines for a sluggish Cavs squad, especially in a lethargic first half. When the Cavs needed a jolt, he provided it, overwhelming New York with his rim-running and interior dominance. By the time the final buzzer sounded, it was clear: this was the version of Jarrett Allen the Cavs need if they hope to make a deep postseason run.</p><p>The defining moment of the night came in the fourth quarter. Allen stepped into the passing lane, extended his seemingly endless wingspan, and poked the ball free from Karl-Anthony Towns. With no one between him and the basket, Allen took a few dribbles, soared to the rim, and threw down a monstrous one-handed dunk that sent Rocket Arena into a frenzy.</p><p>“I wanted to look like ‘Bron, trying to bring it back,” Allen joked afterward. “I looked at the replay, nothing close.”</p><p>Maybe not. But in that moment, Allen accomplished something even LeBron James never did. He became the first Cavs player in history, and just the ninth player in NBA history, to record back-to-back games with at least 10 field goals made while shooting 90% or better from the field.</p><p>Just days earlier, he had torched the Los Angeles Clippers for 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting, routinely outmuscling and outmaneuvering their seven-foot bruiser Ivica Zubac. Against the Knicks, he followed it up with another masterclass in efficiency, scoring 13 of his 21 points in the second half while anchoring Cleveland’s defense.</p><h2><b>Jarrett Allen has been the Cavs’ unsung hero</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jarrett-Allen-dunk-Cavs-v-Knicks.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Allen’s impact often goes unnoticed because of Cleveland’s depth. He shares the frontcourt with Mobley, a rising star in his own right. When the Cavaliers acquired De’Andre Hunter, Allen even saw his minutes shrink, with Atkinson often opting for a smaller closing lineup. But when the Cavs hit a rough patch, losing four straight games, Allen emerged as the one pulling them out of the slump.</p><p>Since the beginning of March, he has averaged 15.5 points while shooting an absurd 71.8% from the field. He has racked up seven double-doubles and six 20-point games. And he has done it all while being Cleveland’s defensive anchor, a rim protector who erases mistakes and turns defense into offense.</p><p>That impact was evident against New York. Late in the game, Towns appeared to have a free lane for a dunk. However, Allen closed the gap, met him at the summit, and swatted the ball away with one hand. As he crashed to the floor, he wagged his finger back and forth, a Dikembe Mutombo-esque rejection that sent his teammates sprinting across the baseline to help him up.</p><p>“He’s kind of the unsung hero on this team,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said of Allen. “Everybody loves him. He’s probably the most beloved guy on the team.”</p><p>Allen’s underspoken, ethical approach to basketball has given Cleveland a spark, especially whenever things are tight. With less than a handful of games to go until the playoffs start, the Cavs will need Allen and his heroics to bring comfort whenever the team is feeling uncomfortable.</p><p>“It’s what we play for,” Allen said. “For me, it’s just another time to showcase what I can do. I feel like every year I’ve had something happen to me in the playoffs, whether it’s getting hurt or, yeah, always getting hurt. I’m ready to showcase what I have.”</p><h2><b>Jarrett Allen can flip the script on his playoff history</b></h2><p>Allen’s postseason history has been complicated. Two years ago, he struggled against the Knicks in the playoffs, later admitting that the lights were “too bright” for the Cavaliers. Last year, just as he was hitting his stride, he suffered a rib injury that sidelined him for the final eight games of Cleveland’s postseason run.</p><p>However, if Allen can carry this level of play into the playoffs, the Cavaliers become a much more dangerous team. With his combination of athleticism, defensive versatility, and elite efficiency around the rim, he gives Cleveland a unique advantage, especially against teams like Boston or Milwaukee, who rely on physicality inside.</p><p>“We can obviously win a championship — and I have no doubt that that’s who he will be,” Donovan Mitchell said. “I have no doubt he’ll be ready to go on a consistent basis. The way he has been playing, it’s just phenomenal. I’m happy to see it. We all know he’s going to be there for us for sure.”</p><p>When Allen is at his best, the Cavs have a real chance to make noise in the East. Allen’s ability to switch defensively, protect the rim, and serve as a safety valve for Cleveland’s guards makes him invaluable in the postseason. If he stays healthy, he could be the difference between another early exit and a legitimate run at the Finals.</p><p>“Every single year I’ve been here has been a stepping stone,” Allen said. “We’re trying to do something special, and hopefully we can do it. The city always remembers the 2016 championship, and I always joke with people, like, if you win a championship, you can go anywhere and not have to pay for a drink or something like that. They never forget. That’s something we want to bring to the city. That’s the joy that we want to bring.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Jarrett Allen is the ultimate X-factor in championship pursuit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-donovan-mitchell-new-role');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell embraces new role in relentless pursuit of a championship');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Donovan-Mitchell-embraces-new-role-in-relentless-pursuit-of-a-championship.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell embraces new role in relentless pursuit of a championship</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T09:48:28-07:00">April 3rd, 9:48am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T09:48:28-07:00">April 3rd, 9:48am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell used to think that scoring was everything. It’s not surprising—when you’re known as one of the NBA’s <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/advanced?CF=MIN*GE*15&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=-1&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" rel="noopener">most electric offensive threats</a>, pouring in points becomes second nature. But <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-priorities-60-win">something has changed this season for the Cavs superstar</a>. Something more profound and mature has taken hold, driven by one simple yet daunting goal: winning an NBA championship.</p><p>Mitchell keeps his personal goals on his cell phone—a constant reminder of what he wants to achieve. Other than winning a championship, one of those goals is more personal. Becoming a more complete player, starting with rebounding. In <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-playoff-preparations-test-knicks">Cleveland’s game against</a> the New York Knicks, he pulled down six boards—a step closer to his benchmark. But the numbers only tell part of the story.</p><p>“For years, I always thought you just scored,” Mitchell said after putting up 27 against New York. “I’m not gonna lie. Y’all have seen it in my play at times, especially early in my career. It’s all I knew. This was all new to me. Like, I didn’t expect to be Donovan Mitchell.”</p><p>The Cavs traded for Mitchell with one expectation: score and keep scoring. And he’s delivered, averaging over 25 points per game since arriving in Cleveland. Yet, as the Cavs pursue a title, they need more from their star than just buckets. Fortunately, Mitchell is embracing that challenge head-on.</p><h2><b>Leading the Cavs by example</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Donovan-Mitchell-celebrates-Cavs-Pregame.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In a recent matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, Mitchell’s impact transcended scoring. He ripped down 12 rebounds, helping to neutralize the bruising presence of Ivica Zubac, who had tormented Cleveland’s front line in a previous meeting. On another night, his three blocks sparked the Cavs during a sluggish stretch, showcasing his commitment to defense and effort plays that don’t always make the highlight reel.</p><p>Mitchell’s willingness to sacrifice his scoring instincts for hustle and defense marks a seismic shift in his approach. Long known for his offensive brilliance, he’s now making his presence felt on the boards and in the paint—areas once considered weak spots in his game. His athleticism and wingspan, combined with a newfound determination, are now being used to bolster Cleveland’s defensive identity.</p><p>“He’s leading it,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said when asked about Mitchell doing the little things. “He backs it up. He’s on the guys in the huddle, and there’s no question who our leader is. He’s leading by example right now, doing the dirty work.”</p><p>It’s a stark contrast from his earlier years, where defensive lapses often overshadowed his offensive heroics in the postseason. This time around, Mitchell seems to understand that championship basketball demands more than scoring explosions. It requires sacrifice, grit, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to secure a win.</p><h2><b>A mentor’s influence led to Donovan Mitchell’s evolution</b></h2><p>Mitchell’s transformation didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen alone. A key figure behind this evolution is associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, a mentor and motivator who knows Mitchell better than anyone in the league. Their bond was forged in Utah when Bryant was instrumental in shaping Mitchell’s early career. Now, reunited in Cleveland, Bryant has played a pivotal role in pushing Mitchell to expand his game.</p><p>“I got to give Johnnie a lot of credit in that (role change) too,” Mitchell said. “He was pretty much the first person to kind of bring it to me. Because as a head coach, you delegate to the other coaches and whatnot. So he was like, ‘Hey, this is what it’s going to look like’. And it wasn’t really a question.</p><p>“It wasn’t really like, ‘Hey, are you cool?’ That’s just the relationship we have. It’s more like, ‘Hey, this is what it’s going to be and this is what’s going to help take us to the next level.’ And I trust that guy with everything, man. That’s more than just a coach, that’s a brother, that’s family. That’s somebody that I trust with just life, let alone just basketball.”</p><p>Bryant’s tough love has been crucial. Whether it’s tearing into Mitchell at halftime for playing too casually or challenging him to make winning plays beyond just scoring, Bryant has been unafraid to confront his star. It’s the kind of accountability that Mitchell has not only accepted but embraced.</p><p>“There are times during the game where I hear him cuss me out and my teammates be like, ‘Bro, he’s tripping.’ I’m like, no, this is just Thursday,” Mitchell joked. “I appreciate that. I thrive off that and really thrive off coaching in that regard.”</p><h2><b>A Wine and Gold winner’s mindset</b></h2><p>As the playoffs loom, Mitchell knows that his scoring will still be crucial for the Cavs, especially against Eastern Conference powerhouses like the Boston Celtics. But his newfound versatility could be the difference between another early exit and a legitimate title run.</p><p>He’s learned that leadership isn’t just about putting up points. It’s about finding ways to impact the game in any way possible—whether that means crashing the boards, contesting shots, or motivating his teammates to give that extra effort.</p><p>“It’s a different approach,” Mitchell said. “It’s a different view on certain things, and that’s ultimately what a leader, and what a guy like myself, should do. Finding ways to impact winning. … How do I continue to help the team? Because when you help the team and we win, everything else kind of falls into place.”</p><p>Mitchell’s willingness to embrace this challenge not only shows growth but also signifies his desire to elevate Cleveland to new heights. The Cavs have seen firsthand what happens when Mitchell’s fire burns brightest—now they’re counting on it to light their path to a championship.</p><p>This version of Donovan Mitchell is different—more complete, more determined, and more focused on the ultimate goal. He’s not just trying to be a superstar anymore. He’s trying to be a champion.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell embraces new role in relentless pursuit of a championship

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cleveland-cavaliers-dream-nightmare-seeding-matchup-scenarios-2025-nba-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cleveland Cavaliers dream, nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2025 NBA Playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Cleveland-Cavaliers-dream-nightmare-seeding-matchup-scenarios-for-2025-NBA-Playoffs.jpg"></figure><h1>Cleveland Cavaliers dream, nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2025 NBA Playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T05:12:25-07:00">April 3rd, 5:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T05:12:25-07:00">April 3rd, 5:12am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/spencersee10" rel="facebook">Spencer See</a>Spencer See is a part-time writer at ClutchPoints focusing on the NBA, evergreen content and celebrity lifestyle. He is also a lifelong fan of LeBron James. In his free time, he either goes fishing or watches basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers turned some heads to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cavs-best-start-franchise-history-meaning">kick off the 2024-25 season by going on a historic 15-0 run</a>. While they failed to maintain their undefeated streak, it’s safe to say that they’re still the hottest team in the NBA. The Cavs are most likely headed to the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, especially after breaking through the 60-win mark.</p><p>While Cleveland is expected to make some noise in the playoffs, everyone knows that the postseason is a different animal compared to the regular season. As a result, it remains to be seen whether the Wine and Gold can translate their current success into the games that matter the most. But just like any NBA team, matchups can certainly play a major role in how far a team goes. For this piece, let’s take a look at the most ideal and worst matchups that the Cavs could possibly draw.</p><h2><b>Dream scenario: Bucks fall to the Play-In Tournament and face the Cavs in the first round</b></h2><p>The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference, especially after taking the NBA Cup earlier this year. However, their playoff pursuit just took a massive hit when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/damian-lillard-blood-clot-issue-wrench-giannis-bucks-future">Damian Lillard was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis</a>. As a result, the Bucks could possibly be without their secondary superstar for the rest of the season, potentially altering the playoff landscape.</p><p>Lillard’s absence puts Milwaukee in a tough spot. They’re currently hanging on in the sixth seed, which is the last automatic spot to the playoffs. Otherwise, the Bucks could be asking for trouble by going through the Play-In Tournament. And should they survive the Play-In, which could possibly include the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, and Atlanta Hawks, an early clash with the Cavaliers would seriously threaten their championship chances.</p><p>In the 2024-25 season, the Cavs swept the Bucks in four games. To make matters worse, Lillard was still with the Bucks when these games were played. Now without their elite point guard, Milwaukee will certainly have a glaring hole on their offensive end, putting more pressure on Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry the load. This should make it easier for the Cavaliers to get through their first round without much resistance.</p><p>The Bucks don’t exactly have the personnel to match up against the Cavs’ dangerous rotation, and their chances grew slimmer with Lillard out indefinitely. Moreover, Cleveland should be able to slow down Giannis when they parade the twin-tower combination of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.</p><h2><b>Nightmare scenario: Atlanta take the eighth seed to become Cleveland first round matchup</b></h2><p>If there’s a team that Cleveland should watch out for, it’d be the Atlanta Hawks. Make no mistake, the Cavs look like a team that contends against any team in the East in a seven-game series. However, the Hawks were one of the few teams that gave the best team in the East a run for their money.</p><p>In fact, they finished their season series 2-1 against the Wine and Gold. Personnel-wise, Atlanta still has a sharpshooting Trae Young, who’s supported by defensive ace Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and first-overall pick Zacharie Risacher. All of them could be threats against Cleveland should they meet in the postseason.</p><p>On the bright side for the Cavaliers, this isn’t the same Hawks squad they lost twice to earlier in the season. For starters, Atlanta was one of the busiest teams at the trade deadline. One of which saw them strike a deal with Cleveland, which saw them swap DeAndre Hunter for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and some draft picks. The addition of Hunter to the Cavs rotation has only magnified the team’s postseason chances.</p><p>But more importantly, the Hawks also lost Jalen Johnson to a shoulder injury in January, sidelining him for the rest of the year. It’s worth noting that the Cavs notched <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202501300CLE.html" rel="noopener">their lone victory</a> against the Hawks, 137-115 when Johnson was shut down. But while Atlanta isn’t as dangerous, they’re still a team that demands respect, especially once Young gets hot and their defense clicks.</p><p>Chances are good that the Cavaliers will draw the Hawks in the first round. Currently, Atlanta sits at the eighth seed with a 36-40 record. This gives them a twice-to-beat advantage should they fail to get past their first Play-In assignment. Although the Cavs are probably still expected to take care of them in the playoffs, it won’t be a walk in the park for the hottest team in the league.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cleveland Cavaliers dream, nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2025 NBA Playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-playoff-preparations-test-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ playoff preparations face test against undermanned Knicks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Clevelands-playoff-preparations-face-test-against-undermanned-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ playoff preparations face test against undermanned Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-02T12:59:25-07:00">April 2nd, 12:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-02T12:59:25-07:00">April 2nd, 12:59pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With just seven games left in the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves facing crucial questions as they <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705669/knicks-cavaliers" rel="noopener">prepare to host</a> the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena. It’s the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/knicks-vs-cavaliers-prediction-odds-pick-spread-4-2-2025">Cavs’ first game of April</a>. How this final stretch goes will define how prepared they are for the relentless demands of the playoffs.</p><p>Despite boasting a 60-15 record and sitting comfortably atop the Eastern Conference, head coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t interested in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-priorities-60-win">Cleveland cruising into the postseason</a>. His focus remains on finding the perfect balance between sharpening his core players and managing the health of a bench unit riddled with nagging injuries.</p><p>Ty Jerome will miss his fourth consecutive game due to left knee tendinitis. While the injury has kept the reserve guard out of action, Atkinson remains confident Jerome will return before the playoffs.</p><p>“This is not long-term,” Atkinson said. “I think we’re being conservative, which I’m a fan of. You’ll see him back. He definitely wants to get three or four games in. We want him to get in rhythm before (playoffs).”</p><p>Jerome’s absence is a notable setback. He’s been a critical contributor off the bench, averaging 12.2 points and 3.3 assists per game. His playmaking and scoring have been essential to Cleveland’s depth, and the Cavs need him healthy if they hope to make a deep postseason run.</p><h2><b>Another Cavs injury concern could open a window to new opportunities</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Donovan-Mitchell-drives-Cavs-Knicks.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The rotation puzzle becomes even more complex as Dean Wade’s availability remains uncertain. Wade, battling an illness that kept him out of shootaround, has been a reliable presence lately. The Cavs forward has played in 20 consecutive games and is averaging 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds.</p><p>If Wade is unable to play, it could be a blessing in disguise for Atkinson, who has been eager to explore a lineup featuring De’Andre Hunter alongside the Core Four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.</p><p>Since acquiring Hunter at the trade deadline, the Cavaliers have played him sparingly with the Core Four—just 30 minutes total. Atkinson is determined to evaluate this combination ahead of the postseason.</p><p>“[There’s] not enough [of a] sample [size]. I’d like to look at it more,” Atkinson said. “I know we don’t have a ton of games left. But I definitely want to look at that more. It’s something we talked about as a staff. … Hopefully we can squeeze that in as the playoffs approach here, sooner rather than later.”</p><h2><b>The Knicks are coming into this matchup undermanned</b></h2><p>The visiting Knicks arrive in Cleveland at 48-27, holding the third spot in the East after a win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night. However, New York is not at full strength. Jalen Brunson remains sidelined with an ankle injury, and Karl-Anthony Towns’ status is uncertain. The situation presents an opportunity for Cleveland to exploit a weakened Knicks squad while continuing to fine-tune its rotations.</p><p>The timing is critical for Cleveland, who has struggled through a grueling March schedule. Atkinson plans to start the postseason with a 10-man rotation—a luxury in the NBA—but that depth hinges on health and familiarity. The magic number to clinch home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs sits at four, and Cleveland aims to lock it up while rediscovering the dominance that carried them through the season.</p><p>The matchup against New York is far from a simple regular-season contest; it’s a chance to test lineups, gauge chemistry, and solidify a playoff identity. If Wade is unavailable, Atkinson can finally deploy Hunter with Cleveland’s stars and gather invaluable insights for his postseason strategy.</p><p>The Cavaliers know that if they are to fulfill their championship aspirations, now is the time to answer lingering questions and establish their best rotations. The clock is ticking, and every game counts. As they tip off against the Knicks, the Cavs’ postseason fate feels more connected to these final tests than ever before.</p><p>Whether or not Jerome and Wade can return to form in time for the playoffs, Atkinson’s tactical decisions could define Cleveland’s postseason journey. With a conference title in their sights, the Cavs can’t afford any missteps—not now, not when greatness is so close.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ playoff preparations face test against undermanned Knicks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-priorities-60-win');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson reveals true ‘priorities’ after 60-win admission');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kenny-Atkinson-reveals-true-priorities-after-60-win-admission.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson reveals true ‘priorities’ after 60-win admission</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-31T11:09:02-07:00">March 31st, 11:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-31T11:09:02-07:00">March 31st, 11:09am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers have soared to remarkable heights this season, achieving their 60th victory — a milestone reached only twice before in the franchise’s history. Yet, despite the celebratory moment, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson and his resilient squad are far from satisfied. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-calm-rebounding-win-clippers">Cleveland that regular-season success is only a precursor</a> to the real challenge: proving their mettle in the playoffs.</p><p>This latest triumph came in a spirited <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705647/clippers-cavaliers" rel="noopener">127-122 win</a> over the Los Angeles Clippers at Rocket Arena. It was fueled by both the fire of competition and a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinsonsspeech-ignite-clippers">fiery pregame pep talk from Atkinson</a>. Sensing his team’s recent fatigue and complacency, the coach delivered a speech that quickly morphed from lighthearted banter about Duke and the NCAA tournament to a sudden outburst that left players jolted and refocused.</p><p>“He came in talking about Duke and the Final Four and [expletive] and then threw the water bottle at the screen,” said a grinning Mitchell. “It was good. He came in lighthearted, and then out of nowhere he just flipped.</p><p>“I think it was great. It’s definitely needed, especially at this time of year, eight, seven games left. It’s easy to kind of coast your way through, but it was definitely something to get fired up about, and that’s why we appreciate him. He picks his spots and always does it the right way.”</p><h2><b>The Cavs are through the dog days of their regular season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Donovan-Mitchell-celebrates-Cavs-v-Clippers.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Cavs, who have endured a grueling March with 16 games in 29 days — including ten on the road — seemed to be dragging their feet lately, losing four straight and five of nine before this Clippers matchup. But on Sunday, Cleveland looked revitalized, leading by as much as 18 points and holding off multiple Clippers rallies to secure the win.</p><p>Despite reaching the 60-win milestone, an achievement that head coach Atkinson himself didn’t anticipate at the start of the season, the Cavs remain focused on a greater purpose.</p><p>“I didn’t expect 60 wins,” Atkinson admitted afterward. “My internal goal was to improve from last year. If it’s one win, great. If it’s two wins, great. That’s where my mind was. But for this team to take it to another level and kind of shatter it, that says a lot.</p><p>“And we’re not done.”</p><h2><b>Kenny Atkinson’s coaching philosophy has revolutionized the Cavs</b></h2><p>In many ways, the mindset reflects the influence of Atkinson, whose coaching philosophy balances intensity with calculated experimentation. Throughout March, the Cavs experimented with unusual lineups and rotations, giving young players like Craig Porter Jr. and new faces like Javonte Green some run to see how they could fit into potential playoff scenarios.</p><p>“We got more information,” Atkinson said with a big smile. “If you don’t do it, you never know. Then all of a sudden the playoffs come and we’re playing Indiana and we need to go small, you get real hesitant about actually doing it if you haven’t seen it. I’m also getting more information on our bench guys. Javonte, can he help us? Craig Porter, can he help us in the playoffs? There’s a lot of moving pieces.”</p><p>Yet, when the moment demanded a more conventional approach, Atkinson didn’t hesitate to adjust.</p><p>Against the Clippers, Mitchell and Mobley played 37 minutes each, while backup point guard Ty Jerome remained sidelined with knee tendinitis. The rotation tightened, and the Cavs leaned on their All-Star core to set the tone.</p><p>“I was just thinking, ‘Man, this is a playoff game — this is what the playoffs are going to be like and that group was rolling, stick with that group,‘” Atkinson said. “I think if it was game 42, I would have done the normal rotations, but I felt like they had to (win) this one for a lot of reasons.”</p><h2><b>The Cavs made it a team effort to defeat the Clippers</b></h2><p>The impact of Atkinson’s intense coaching was clear. The Cavs shared the ball seamlessly, recording 33 assists on 47 made shots. They knocked down 15 three-pointers and dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Clippers after being manhandled in previous outings. Allen, who was notably outplayed during the team’s West Coast road trip, bounced back with 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds.</p><p>It’s a reminder that success in the NBA is rarely linear. Atkinson, a seasoned coach with years of experience working alongside champions like Steve Kerr and Tyronn Lue, knows that tough stretches are inevitable.</p><p>“I think it is a natural thing,” added Mitchel. “You’re not going to play well all year. I think the timing of when it happened I think is kind of what raised a lot of people’s eyebrows. It’s natural. I think it was about time to kind of face some adversity. We’re definitely appreciative of it. The biggest thing is how do you respond, and how do we figure that out, and we continue to take those steps.”</p><h2><b>Cleveland is taking the next steps in its journey</b></h2><p>The Cavs’ journey has been marked by growth, adaptation, and resilience. These are all qualities that Atkinson and his players have embraced. Their focus on improvement over perfection has kept them grounded, even as they’ve piled up wins. With just seven regular-season games remaining, Cleveland holds a firm grip on the Eastern Conference’s top spot. However, despite their rank, that’s not their primary focus.</p><p>“We’re process-driven, but you hope the results come with how we’re doing things,” Atkinson explained. “I was thinking if we ended up losing because they started to come back, I wasn’t going to be devastated. I would have went in the locker room and said, ‘I loved our approach tonight, win, lose, or draw.’ It’s more me being level-headed about what kind of product we put on the floor, how we approach the game. Of course, you’d love for the result to come with all that.”</p><p>Even as accolades and expectations mount, the Cavs remain humble and hungry. It’s why they’ve thrived in a grueling schedule and why they continue to believe that the best is yet to come.</p><p>For Cleveland, 60 wins is more than just a number. It’s a testament to how far they’ve come. But the real reward lies ahead. As the playoffs loom, the Cavs are fully aware that history remembers champions, not just regular-season success. Atkinson and his players are determined to etch their names into that legacy, one hard-fought victory at a time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson reveals true ‘priorities’ after 60-win admission

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinsonsspeech-ignite-clippers');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Kenny Atkinson’s fiery Duke-inspired speech ignited Cavs over Clippers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kenny-Atkinsons-fiery-speech-ignites-Cleveland-over-Clippers.jpg"></figure><h1>How Kenny Atkinson’s fiery Duke-inspired speech ignited Cavs over Clippers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-31T10:26:22-07:00">March 31st, 10:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-31T10:26:22-07:00">March 31st, 10:26am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson won’t take credit for the Cavs’ stunning rise to the top of the Eastern Conference. He insists it’s about roster construction—praising the Koby Altman-led Cleveland front office for assembling a deep, versatile team. He points to continuity, with 13 of 14 full-time players returning from last year’s conference semifinal run. And, of course, he highlights player leadership, particularly from Donovan Mitchell.</p><p>But there’s an undeniable X-factor that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-calm-rebounding-win-clippers">has fueled Cleveland’s surge</a>: Atkinson himself. His ability to push the right buttons at the right time was on full display in the Cavs’ 127-122 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, one of their most complete performances in weeks.</p><p>Before the game, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-redemption-clippers">Atkinson sensed what anyone from the outside looking in could se</a>e. His team was exhausted, playing their third game in four nights. Their recent stretch had been unsteady, losing five of nine since their franchise-record 16-game win streak. A postseason-ready team was suddenly stumbling toward the finish line. That wasn’t acceptable.</p><p>So, Atkinson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ODp1myeSvk" rel="noopener">took matters into his own hands</a>.</p><h2><b>Kenny Atkinson’s rallying cry carried the Cavs against the Clippers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kenny-Atkinson-coaching-Cavs-Clippers.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Inside the Cavs’ locker room, Atkinson started his pregame speech lighthearted, chatting about Duke and the Final Four. And then, boom.</p><p>“He came in talking about Duke and the Final Four and [expletive] and then threw the water bottle at the screen,” said a grinning Mitchell. “It was good. He came in lighthearted, and then out of nowhere he just flipped.</p><p>“I think it was great. It’s definitely needed, especially at this time of year, eight, seven games left. It’s easy to kind of coast your way through, but it was definitely something to get fired up about, and that’s why we appreciate him. He picks his spots and always does it the right way.”</p><p>Cleveland center Jarrett Allen echoed the sentiment: “A very formal message from Kenny before the game with a lot of choice words that got us fired up.”</p><p>Evan Mobley noted that the speech wasn’t just about the words—it was Atkinson’s sheer energy. “You could definitely tell he was invested in this game,” Mobley said. “Everyone locked in after that speech and played our brand of basketball.”</p><p>Atkinson later claimed he didn’t even remember throwing the water bottle. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. Either way, the message landed and the Cavs responded on the court in kind against the visiting Clippers.</p><h2><b>Cleveland made a fiery statement of their own against Los Angeles</b></h2><p>From the opening tip, the Cavs responded to their coach’s fire. They jumped out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter and controlled the game nearly wire-to-wire. The Clippers, playing without Kawhi Leonard, battled back thanks to a 34-point explosion from Norman Powell. But when L.A. cut the deficit to a single point early in the third, Cleveland answered with a 16-2 run, restoring a comfortable cushion.</p><p>By the fourth quarter, the Cavs had built their lead back up to 18. Even when the Clippers made a late push, Atkinson’s team never broke.</p><p>Mitchell, who finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, made clutch plays in the final moments to keep Cleveland in control. Allen was dominant, tallying 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting while grabbing 12 rebounds. Mobley added 22 points and seven boards.</p><p>More importantly, the Cavs rediscovered their identity. They shared the ball, recording 33 assists on 47 made shots. They hit 15 threes, dominated the glass for the first time in two weeks, and played with an edge that had been missing in recent outings.</p><p>“We were more focused,” Atkinson said postgame. “[The] competition level was higher. Discipline was better. We talked before the game that it was time to get that to another level. I think that’s what we did.”</p><h2><b>The Cavs made history and still aren’t satisfied</b></h2><p>The victory marked Cleveland’s 60th of the season—only the third time in franchise history they’ve reached that milestone. Yet Atkinson wasn’t fixated on that number.</p><p>“I didn’t expect 60 wins,” Atkinson admitted afterward. “My internal goal was to improve from last year. If it’s one win, great. If it’s two wins, great. That’s where my mind was. But for this team to take it to another level and kind of shatter it, that says a lot.</p><p>“And we’re not done.”</p><p>With seven regular-season games remaining, the focus is shifting toward playoff readiness. Atkinson has made it clear that securing the No. 1 seed isn’t the top priority—playing the right way is.</p><p>“If I had priorities, I’d rather be playing well and have everybody healthy,” Atkinson said. “That’s the priority. Hopefully the first seed comes along with that. I think if we keep on the philosophy and mentality that we’re on right now, I think it’ll end up happening.”</p><p>Their win over Los Angeles gave Cleveland a 4.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics, making that top spot more secure. But the real takeaway was how the Cavs responded.</p><p>They had hit a rough patch. The grueling schedule, the increased competition, the mental and physical fatigue—it all took a toll. The March slump wasn’t about talent or ability. It was about execution, energy, and engagement. And Atkinson knew he had to snap them out of it before bad habits seeped into the playoffs.</p><p>All it took was fanning a spark into a roaring fire for the Cavs to respond.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Kenny Atkinson’s fiery Duke-inspired speech ignited Cavs over Clippers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-calm-rebounding-win-clippers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs calm concerns in gritty win over Clippers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cavs-news-Cleveland-calms-rebounding-doubts-in-gritty-win-over-Clippers.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs calm concerns in gritty win over Clippers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-31T09:11:27-07:00">March 31st, 9:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-31T09:11:27-07:00">March 31st, 9:11am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Sixty wins. A milestone only twice reached before in the history of the Cleveland Cavaliers. And while their path to victory this season has largely been paved by a high-octane offense, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-redemption-clippers">the Cavs’ latest triumph</a> over the Los Angeles Clippers <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705647/clippers-cavaliers" rel="noopener">wasn’t about dazzling shot-making</a>—it was about grit. It was about rebounding.</p><p>For the first time in weeks, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-frustrating-loss-to-pistons-exposes-deepening-flaws">Cleveland didn’t just survive on the glass</a>; they thrived. Their 45-44 rebounding edge may not seem like a dramatic improvement, but context is everything. The last time these teams met, the Cavs were embarrassed in the rebounding battle, 49-29, as Ivica Zubac single-handedly controlled the paint with 20 boards. That lopsided affair exposed Cleveland’s Achilles’ heel—a weakness that had haunted them throughout a brutal West Coast road trip.</p><p>The Cavs had been one of the league’s worst rebounding teams during their recent four-game losing streak. Even as they bounced back to win three straight, a glaring issue remained: their bigs, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, weren’t consistently securing rebounds. Their struggles culminated in a loss to the lowly Detroit Pistons, where the duo combined for a mere 10 rebounds.</p><p>But rebounding has never been just about Allen and Mobley. The real concern? Cleveland’s inability to clean the glass when playing smaller lineups. While the Cavs are serviceable with both bigs on the floor—ranking in the 65th percentile in rebounding rate—they plummet to the league’s basement when one of them sits.</p><p>That’s why this win over the Clippers was so significant. For once, Cleveland’s rebounding effort wasn’t solely reliant on their frontcourt. This time, it was an all-hands-on-deck approach—led by an unlikely source.</p><h2><b>Donovan Mitchell’s relentless effort sets the tone for the Cavs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Donovan-Mitchell-drives-Cavs-Clippers.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>When your best player embraces the dirty work, everyone else follows. Donovan Mitchell did exactly that, finishing with a season-high 12 rebounds. But it wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about intent. He chased down boards with the urgency of a player who knew exactly what was at stake.</p><p>On multiple possessions, Mitchell actively fought for position, outmuscling bigger opponents and refusing to let the Clippers gain extra possessions. Whether it was tracking his man into the paint, boxing out with precision, or making instinctive reads to cut off crashers, Mitchell played with the type of physicality the Cavs have been missing.</p><p>These weren’t empty-calorie rebounds; they were tone-setting moments. His presence on the glass provided Cleveland with something they had desperately lacked: a guard willing to do the dirty work.</p><h2><b>Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley respond to the challenge</b></h2><p>Of course, Mitchell’s efforts alone wouldn’t have been enough. Ultimately, the Cavs’ rebounding battles will always hinge on their two big men. And against the Clippers, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley rose to the occasion.</p><p>Allen, in particular, was far more aggressive. His 12 rebounds in 31 minutes helped neutralize Zubac, who managed 13 in 37 minutes. Allen’s mobility became a weapon, allowing him to maneuver around bigger bodies and make key plays. On one possession, he fought through the lane to snag an offensive board and earn two free throws. On another, he made a crucial defensive rebound to prevent James Harden from securing an extra possession.</p><p>Mobley, too, showed signs of growth. His added strength was evident as he battled Zubac for positioning, securing a critical rebound that would have been out of his reach in previous seasons. Though he finished with just seven rebounds, his impact went beyond the box score—his presence ensured that the Clippers didn’t feast on second-chance opportunities.</p><h2><b>The Cavs’ rebounding problem is still in need of a permanent solution</b></h2><p>Despite their success against the Clippers, Cleveland’s rebounding woes remain a looming concern. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has openly admitted as much. After their win over the Spurs last week, he jokingly mentioned calling Michigan State’s Tom Izzo for rebounding advice. But the truth is, this issue is no laughing matter.</p><p>The numbers are damning. Since the All-Star break, the Cavs have emphasized rebounding, incorporating video sessions and internal challenges to improve. Yet, they remain stagnant. In March alone, Cleveland ranked 26th in defensive rebound percentage (68.2%)—a troubling stat for a team that prides itself on defensive toughness.</p><p>Their inability to finish possessions has cost them dearly. Too often, opponents extend plays with second and third opportunities, nullifying Cleveland’s initial defensive effort. Atkinson has made it clear: no matter how strong the defensive scheme is, it’s all meaningless without securing the rebound.</p><p>With the playoffs looming, the stakes are only getting higher. The Eastern Conference is stacked with elite rebounders—Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Vucevic, and Karl-Anthony Towns, to name a few. If Cleveland doesn’t figure out a way to consistently control the glass, their championship aspirations could vanish in an avalanche of second-chance points.</p><p>The win over the Clippers was a step in the right direction. But it can’t be a one-off. If the Cavs want to make noise in the postseason, they need more performances like this—more team-wide commitment, more hustle, and more players willing to sacrifice for the greater good.</p><p>“You lose the possession game, that’s been a big theme for us,” Donovan Mitchell said after Friday’s loss in Detroit. “Those are some of the mental errors, some of the physical errors, and just upping our mental in that regard, and [it] hasn’t been every game, but it’s been some. So I think that [we] just gotta be better.”</p><p>The Cavs found an answer against the Clippers. Now, they must ensure it wasn’t just a temporary fix.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs calm concerns in gritty win over Clippers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/sneakers/new-balance-reveals-new-basketball-collab-with-la-lifestyle-brand-bricks-wood');   ga('set', 'title', 'New Balance reveals new basketball collab with LA lifestyle brand “Bricks & Wood”');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kevin-Trotman-New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-BBv3-Bricks-Wood.jpg"><figcaption>CP</figcaption></figure><h1>New Balance reveals new basketball collab with LA lifestyle brand “Bricks &amp; Wood”</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-30T18:01:48-07:00">March 30th, 6:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-30T18:02:24-07:00">March 30th, 6:02pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his free time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter and Instagram for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Over the last month <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/cavs-news-nba-all-star-darius-garland-relationship-donovan-mitchell-cavaliers-strong-start-new-balance">New Balance announced</a> their partnership with Bricks &amp; Wood last month, launching a brand new shoe in the process.</p><p>As part of New Balance’s collaboration with the L.A.-based lifestyle brand, NB officially <a href="https://newbalance.newsmarket.com/latest-news/new-balance-reveals-the-fresh-foam-bb-v3-ahead-of-nba-all-star-weekend/s/1d4d1d1d-64d7-4eaa-a241-9b14eed3fc6a">released the Fresh Foam BB v3</a> — the latest evolution to a staple shoe in the brand’s performance line. The black and yellow colorways of the Fresh Foam BB v3 are a nod to the last time the Bay Area hosted <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-adam-silver-admits-2025-all-star-game-failure">NBA All-Star weekend</a> back in 2000.</p><p>The updated Fresh Foam BB v3 is built for every area of the game, with dynamic materials focused on comfort, support and stability. An updated cushioned heel pocket provides a supportive lockdown fit and maximum comfort to keep athletes fresh through all four quarters. Additional colorways of the Fresh Foam BB v3 will retail for $130 starting in April and continue throughout the season.</p><p>ClutchPoints recently sat down with Kevin Trotman, New Balance’s product manager for both shoes, to break down how the collaboration came together, why it was important, and what’s in the future for New Balance.</p><p>_____________</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/New-Balance-Kevin-Trotman-holding-the-Fresh-Foam-BBv3-Bricks-Wood.jpg"><figcaption>New Balance’s Kevin Trotman holding the Fresh Foam BB v3 “Bricks &amp; Wood”</figcaption></figure><p><b>Tomer Azarly: Here with Kevin Trotman of New Balance at the Bricks &amp; Wood Activation at All-Star Weekend. First of all, what’s been your role in this New Balance—Bricks &amp; Wood collaboration?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> Yeah, absolutely! So I was the product manager on both shoes, and so basically my job was to communicate with not only Kacey [Lynch] with the design and what he wanted to do, but also with our internal partners in the factory to make sure that the shoe and the design that Kacey wanted to bring to life actually came to life. And so when it comes to pricing, a lot of the nuances of the product, I’m inputting all of that and I’m setting those targets and things of that nature.</p><p><b>Tomer Azarly: So how did this New Balance—Bricks &amp; Wood collaboration start?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> It was really birthed from really wanting to just kind of extend, grow, and amplify our partnership with Bricks &amp; Wood. And I think for us, making sure that knowing the brand is kind of doubling down on the basketball category and really making sure that we’re investing in the category, we wanted to have a presence at All-Star Weekend. We haven’t had a presence since 2020, so we wanted to make sure that we did it with a partner that made sense. And Bricks &amp; Wood being a California brand, a South Central L.A. brand, we thought it made sense.</p><p><b>Tomer Azarly: With regards to the history with Bricks &amp; Wood, where did that start and why did you say this year was the year we’re going to go with the yellow kind of Golden State-ish colorway? Like why was this the year?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> Yeah, so I mean the first part of your question just around Bricks &amp; Wood: I mean, I think from the inception and how the relationship really got started, we wanted to make sure that we had a presence in L.A. We didn’t have many partners at that point. This is back in 2020 when we initially started having conversations with them. And we didn’t have many L.A. partners, and so we wanted to make sure that we were covering our base with someone that felt authentic and also felt like we can coexist in the same space. And a lot of things that Kacey stands for, as a brand and as a man, is something that I think as a brand, we also stand for. So it really made sense for us to work together. And then for this, I think, you know, for the shoe, I think for the colorways, the black and yellow, it’s really kind of just paying homage to the Bay Area and the history there. And we wanted to make sure that when we were creating the product, it felt fresh, it felt new, and it felt like it had energy. And so that’s why this Fresh Foam BB v3 is bright yellow with small accents of black. We really wanted it to pop versus the 1000 to where it’s primarily black with some accents of yellow, just kind of creating that duality.</p><p><b>Tomer Azarly: So you said, I was told this is like the first shoe that has the Fresh Foam BB V3. Is that correct?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> Yes. So this is the updated version. Yeah. So this will be, so this is the exclusive first look at this new model that we’re launching within our category. So we’ll release more in-line colorways down the line. But this is the first look at the model itself.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Zach-LaVine-drives-to-the-basket-against-MIkal-Bridges-during-the-Knicks-Kings-game-wearing-the-New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-BBv3.jpg"><figcaption>Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><b>Tomer Azarly: Why was it important to go into like, you know, make a basketball show and go the athletic way? New Balance has a lot of great streetwear attire, but you guys have made big strides to become more of a sportswear.</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> For sure. Yeah. I mean, as a brand that’s rooted in running and athletics in general, we want to make sure that we are and we do have a presence in other categories besides running. And with basketball, there’s a lot of room for growth in basketball. And I think the state of where the category is as a whole, there’s a lot of opportunity. And we’re taking our swing and making sure that whatever we’re doing, it’s going to feel authentically us.</p><p><b>Tomer Azarly: What were some of the biggest updates in the Fresh Foam BB v3 that you guys kind of felt were needed or what made it in that?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> For sure, for sure. I would say initially and probably the biggest thing that is an update is we have a full-length plate under here, under the outsole, and it really gives a propulsive feeling. And then I would say the second part is these TPU shanks that are on the midsole on both sides for stability when you’re cutting laterally. So really having that lateral containment solve was one of the big things as well that we wanted to make an update on.</p><p><b>Tomer Azarly: What were some of the feedback you got, because I feel like a lot of shoes have to cut where they go in like that, but it’s also, like I haven’t seen a lot of these on both sides. What was some of the feedback you got from anyone who tested it, players, whatever, about those kind of things?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> Yeah, for sure. To be honest, the feedback was great. And I think one of the things about the Fresh From that’s pretty interesting is it’s super plush and it’s really, really soft. It has a really soft underfoot, given the Fresh From, obviously. But at the same time, with this TPU shank that we have, we didn’t get any feedback around it being too stiff or too hard, which is something that we were just making sure that we wanted to consider when going into creating a TPU shank to be on not just one side, but both sides. But yeah, the feedback was great around that.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/New-Balance-Bricks-Wood-Event.jpg"><figcaption>New Balance Bricks &amp; Wood Event</figcaption></figure><p><b>Tomer Azarly: So what can you tell us about what you guys have planned next?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> Yeah. I mean, there’s a lot of things. There’s a lot of things. What can I say that won’t get me in trouble haha?</p><p>I think as time goes on, you’re going to see a lot more models from the basketball category. We have about three right now, but you’re going to see us expand our line and you’re going to see us diversify the type of player that we’re targeting. So there’s going to be, there’s going to be some high profile shoes. There’ll be some low profile shoes. I think we just want to make sure that we have a plethora of offerings that still feel, again, still feels like us. But we can cover our bases in terms of who’s looking to grab basketball shoes from us.</p><p><b>Tomer Azarly: Now, this is obviously a final product. How many different drafts, versions, how many years? Like, walk me through that process? Was there one where you like, we think this is close, but it’s not exactly like it?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> For sure. Yeah. So with Performance Footwear, it’s a little different than Lifestyle Footwear, right? So there’s a lot of wear testing that goes into the process. So, for instance, a lifestyle shoe, if it’s a silhouette that is not particularly a made in USA shoe or a typical lifestyle shoe, if it’s a performance piece of footwear, there’s a lot of wear testing that goes into it. And so a typical lifespan in terms of the product creation process is probably around 24 months, so about two years from when we’re briefing in the actual product to when it’s going to be on shelf. And a lot of that again has to do with, 1. Wear testing. We’re not just wear testing, ‘does the shoe feel comfortable?’ It’s, ‘is this material going to last after hours and hours of pounding on a court,’ and that takes a bunch of testing and so there’s a lot that goes into performance footwear that doesn’t typically go into like our lifestyle shoes.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/New-Balance-Bricks-Woods-Fresh-Foam-BBv3.jpg"><figcaption>New Balance Bricks &amp; Woods Fresh Foam BB v3</figcaption></figure><p><b>Tomer Azarly: What was behind the name of the collaboration, ‘A Different Bounce.’ What was the inspiration behind that?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> So the name of the collection is ‘A Different Bounce,’ and that really was kind of birthed from the the on and off core duality of what the game of basketball brings and so Kacey Lynch, the owner of Bricks &amp; Wood, is a former basketball player. I was a former basketball player as well, and we both really connected on life after basketball and the idea that you can still have a hand in basketball without playing the game and so this is our take at that. So ‘A Different Bounce,’ is okay you might not be bouncing a ball up and down the court but I’m a product manager on basketball shoes so we’re still getting that fulfillment of the game, it’s just in a different way. I think that’s something that we really wanted to make sure that you know you had a basketball shoe but we also had a lifestyle shoe with it as well. That duality of ‘A Different Bounce,’ that’s kind of where things started.</p><p><b>Tomer Azarly: And then I heard you guys also held a community event as part of All-Star Weekend?</b></p><p><b>Kevin Trotman:</b> Yeah, so ahead of All-Star, we went to a Potrero Hill Recreation Center to partner with a bunch of middle school and high school kids in the local area, and we had them do drills, we had them play some games, and they had a photo booth where they could take their photo and make a trading card of themselves, but I think one of the best parts of the night was really that the post playing and sitting down and hearing Kacey speak. So Kacey took the kids through a workshop to where, it was really just asking them questions about how they felt about the state of the basketball culture, the state of culture in general, and then we got into some of the the topics that I was just speaking about with, ‘A Different Bounce.’ Of, ‘okay you may not make it to the league, but there’s still many ways that you can be involved in the game,’ and so a lot of those conversations were had last night and it was really great to see the kids start to open up about themselves and kind of where they see themselves in the state of culture in general. It was it was an important thing that I think, again, when you’re talking about having a community aspect that makes the collection feel whole, that was the personification of that.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

New Balance reveals new basketball collab with LA lifestyle brand “Bricks & Wood”

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-redemption-clippers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs seek redemption against Clippers to prove playoff readiness');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cavs-news-Cleveland-seeks-redemption-against-Clippers-to-prove-playoff-readiness.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs seek redemption against Clippers to prove playoff readiness</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-30T11:00:29-07:00">March 30th, 11:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-30T12:50:57-07:00">March 30th, 12:50pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves at a crossroads as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-revenge-clippers">Cleveland prepares to host</a> the Los Angeles Clippers in a high-stakes matinee rematch at Rocket Arena. With a 59-15 record, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-rotation-playoffs">Cavs are within reach of setting a new franchise benchmark</a> for regular-season dominance, just eight wins away from surpassing the 66-16 record set by the 2008-09 squad. Yet, the focus remains on playing their best basketball <a href="https://www.nba.com/standings" rel="noopener">when it matters most</a> in the playoffs.</p><p>The stakes are high, and the timing is crucial. Cleveland’s recent stretch of inconsistency has exposed cracks in their armor, highlighted by a frustrating 132-114 loss to the Clippers just two weeks ago.</p><p>In that contest, Los Angeles erased a first-half deficit by outscoring the Cavs by 18 points in the second half. The Clippers’ ability to dominate the glass, outrebounding Cleveland by 20, underscored one of the few areas of vulnerability for an otherwise elite Cavs defense.</p><h2><b>What to watch for when the Cavs host the Clippers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/James-Harden-drives-Cavs-v.-Clippers.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Cavs’ lineup continues to be a patchwork affair, with injuries forcing head coach Kenny Atkinson into constant experimentation. Ty Jerome’s lingering knee soreness has left Cleveland thin at ball-handling positions, while Max Strus, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-frustrating-loss-to-pistons-exposes-deepening-flaws">who missed Cleveland’s loss to Detroit</a>, is expected back in the starting lineup.</p><p>Meanwhile, Evan Mobley’s recent rest day against San Antonio offered Dean Wade a rare starting opportunity, but it also underscored the importance of preserving Cleveland’s defensive stalwart for the grueling stretch ahead. The return of Strus should bolster Cleveland’s spacing and shooting, but concerns remain over the team’s overall rhythm and cohesion.</p><p>With the playoffs looming, Cavs superstar Darius Garland has acknowledged the difficulty of fine-tuning rotations and identifying which combinations can thrive under postseason pressure.</p><p>“The main concern is trying to stay healthy, said Garland. “But we definitely want to win these games, so we have to lock back in offensively and defensively, just get back on the right track Sunday.”</p><h2><b>No Kawhi Leonard could spell rough seas</b></h2><p>Meanwhile, the Clippers enter this matchup riding a hot streak, having won eight of their last 10 games despite missing Kawhi Leonard due to a lingering knee injury.</p><p>Even without Leonard, the Clippers remain a formidable foe. James Harden continues to age gracefully, showcasing his brilliance as a scorer and facilitator, while Ivica Zubac’s interior presence has proven disruptive. Harden’s offensive creativity and Zubac’s tenacity on the boards make the Clippers a dangerous opponent, capable of punishing lapses in focus.</p><p>The Cavs cannot afford such lapses. Their recent wins against Utah, Portland, and San Antonio were closer than they needed to be, exposing a defense that has wavered in intensity.</p><p>Cleveland’s hallmark this season has been its defense, anchored by Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but the urgency to recapture that identity is evident. This game offers a chance for redemption, but also a reminder of the relentless challenges the postseason will bring.</p><h2><b>The Cavs have to win the battle on the boards</b></h2><p>For Cleveland, rebounding will be key. The Clippers punished them on the boards in their last meeting, and the Cavs cannot afford a repeat performance.</p><p>With Mobley and Allen shouldering the bulk of the rebounding load, guards and wings must crash the glass and win 50-50 battles. Limiting second-chance points will be vital, especially against a Clippers squad that thrives on extra possessions. The Cavs must outwork their opponent in the trenches if they are to reclaim their dominance.</p><p>Offensively, Cleveland needs to rediscover its fluidity. When the ball moves and decision-making is crisp, the Cavs can be a nightmare to defend. But when possessions become stagnant, isolation-heavy sets sap their efficiency. With Leonard absent, the Cavs should focus on exploiting matchups and emphasizing off-ball movement. Sunday’s game presents a perfect opportunity to fine-tune spacing and execution.</p><p>The regular season is a marathon, and Cleveland has endured its share of twists and turns. But as they approach the finish line, each step carries added weight.</p><p>This showdown is more than a chance for redemption. It’s a measuring stick. With a chance to reclaim momentum and solidify their identity, the Cavs can prove they’re built for the grind of postseason basketball. Beating the Clippers would not only erase the sting of their previous loss but also serve as a statement that this team is ready for the battles to come.</p><p>In the end, the Cavs’ path to greatness won’t be defined by setting records or piling up regular-season wins. It will be about rising to the occasion when the stakes are highest, finding strength in adversity, and playing their best basketball when it matters most. The road to a title is paved with challenges.</p><p>This game against the Clippers is just the next step.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs seek redemption against Clippers to prove playoff readiness

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-revenge-clippers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Undermanned Cavs aim for revenge against Clippers at home');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cavs-news-Cleveland-aims-for-revenge-against-Clippers-despite-being-undermanned.jpg"></figure><h1>Undermanned Cavs aim for revenge against Clippers at home</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-29T21:27:59-07:00">March 29th, 9:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-29T21:27:59-07:00">March 29th, 9:27pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers should have been a thrilling showdown <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705647/clippers-cavaliers" rel="noopener">between two playoff-bound teams</a> at Rocket Arena. Instead, the injury report has become the defining storyline. Both squads will be missing key contributors. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-news-kawhi-leonard-ivica-zubac-react-to-win-over-nba-best-cavs">Clippers must navigate life</a> without Kawhi Leonard. Meanwhile, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-frustrating-loss-to-pistons-exposes-deepening-flaws">Cavs are feeling the sting</a> of losing Ty Jerome, their sparkplug off the bench.</p><p>Cleveland’s last meeting with the Clippers ended in disappointment. In vintage form, Leonard torched the Cavs with 33 points on 12-of-19 shooting, leading LA to a convincing victory. His absence should make Cleveland’s path to victory smoother, but nothing is guaranteed, especially with Jerome also sidelined.</p><h2><b>Not having Ty Jerome available hurts the Cavs quite a bit</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Donovan-Mitchell-defends-Cavs-v-Clippers.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jerome’s importance to the Cavs cannot be overstated. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate has been electric all season, providing instant offense and a steady hand in the second unit. His ability to create his shot and knock down threes at a 43% clip has been a game-changer. Without him, Cleveland has struggled to generate bench scoring. With Jerome unavailable, it’s a problem that’s been magnified in their recent losses.</p><p>Adding to Cleveland’s concerns is the evolving nature of Jerome’s injury. What was initially listed as knee soreness has now been classified as knee tendinitis—a far more concerning development as the playoffs loom. The Cavs are hoping that a cautious approach will ensure he’s ready for the postseason. But his absence is already taking a toll.</p><p>The Cavs have been stumbling to the finish line in March. A month full of momentum and confidence is now concluding with inconsistency and uncertainty. They’ve managed a respectable 10-5 record. But their last two losses—particularly Cleveland’s recent letdown against the Detroit Pistons—have exposed their vulnerabilities. With only a handful of games left before the playoffs, a strong showing against the Clippers is crucial to regaining their rhythm.</p><h2><b>The Clippers are also dealing with issues</b></h2><p>Meanwhile, the Clippers are dealing with their challenges. Leonard’s absence has been a recurring theme this season. He has now missed 42 games compared to the 30 he has played. When on the court, Leonard has been a force, averaging 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting an efficient 49.4% from the field and 40.8% from beyond the arc.</p><p>The Clippers’ success is tied to his availability. When Leonard plays, they boast a 19-11 record, scoring 116.7 points per game. Without him, their record dips to 23-20, and their offensive production falls by nearly eight points per contest.</p><p>Despite this, LA has surged since the All-Star break, climbing into the top six of the Western Conference. They’ve won nine of their last eleven games and have positioned themselves well for the postseason. But their final stretch will be grueling. Three back-to-back sets remain on their schedule, and with Leonard yet to play both legs of a back-to-back this season, his availability for crucial games down the stretch is uncertain.</p><h2><b>Cleveland’s injury woes have a silver lining</b></h2><p>Cleveland is also shorthanded beyond Jerome. Jaylon Tyson is also listed as out, further depleting their depth. However, there is a silver lining: Max Strus, who missed the previous game due to ankle management, is expected to return. His presence will provide the floor spacing that Cleveland sorely lacked in their loss to Detroit.</p><p>While both teams are missing key players, the stakes remain high. The Clippers are fighting to maintain their playoff positioning in a brutal Western Conference. The Cavs, meanwhile, are desperate to right the ship and head into April with confidence. Sunday’s matinee isn’t just about who’s available—it’s about which team can adapt and execute in the face of adversity.</p><p>The Clippers have proven they can win without Leonard, but their margin for error shrinks considerably. The Cavs, on the other hand, need to prove they can overcome the absence of Jerome and take advantage of a weakened LA squad. With the postseason fast approaching, these final regular-season battles aren’t just about wins and losses—they’re about setting the tone for what’s to come.</p><p>A win on Sunday won’t erase Cleveland’s recent struggles, nor will it guarantee a smooth road ahead. But it would be a statement—a sign that, even in the face of adversity, this team is ready to fight. With or without their key players, both the Cavs and Clippers need this win. Now, it’s just a matter of who steps up to claim it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Undermanned Cavs aim for revenge against Clippers at home

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-frustrating-loss-to-pistons-exposes-deepening-flaws');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs’ frustrating loss to Pistons exposes deepening flaws');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cavs-news-Clevelands-frustrating-loss-to-Pistons-exposes-deepening-flaws.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs’ frustrating loss to Pistons exposes deepening flaws</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-29T20:54:27-07:00">March 29th, 8:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-29T20:54:27-07:00">March 29th, 8:54pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers entered Little Caesars Arena with history on their side, a 12-game win streak against the Detroit Pistons serving as their safety net. But on this particular matchup, history <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-vs-pistons-decide-winner-coach">meant nothing for the Cavs</a>. What unfolded was a stark reminder that past dominance does not guarantee present success.</p><p>Despite a late surge spearheaded by Donovan Mitchell’s fourth-quarter heroics, the Cavs <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705633/cavaliers-pistons" rel="noopener">fell 133-122 in a game</a> that exposed their mounting vulnerabilities as the season nears its climax. Mitchell’s 38-point explosion, including 22 in the final frame, wasn’t enough to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/cavaliers-vs-pistons-prediction-odds-pick-spread-3-28-2025">rescue Cleveland from a night riddled with turnovers</a>, rebounding woes, and defensive lapses.</p><p>The Pistons, missing their franchise cornerstone Cade Cunningham, looked like the hungrier team from the outset. They were physical, disciplined, and unrelenting. The Cavs, in contrast, seemed sluggish, out of sync, and ill-equipped to dictate the tempo. Head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t mince words when reflecting on the defeat.</p><p>“We were kind of on our heels,” Atkinson said. “The game plan was to take away the paint. Limit turnovers. Win the rebounding game. You give the instructions, and you either do it or don’t. We didn’t. They imposed their will. They imposed their identity. That’s why you come out with the L.”</p><h2><b>This wasn’t just another loss, it could be a warning sign for the Cavs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Donovan-Mitchell-dribbles-Cavs-v-Pistons.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It wasn’t just another loss. This was a warning sign. The Cavs have been grinding through a brutal March schedule, with non-stop travel, injuries, and a lack of true practice time slowly eroding their cohesion. They haven’t played consecutive games in the same city since late February, a taxing stretch that has left them gasping for consistency.</p><p>That lack of stability showed. Detroit entered the night boasting the NBA’s third-best defensive rating over the last 15 games, and their aggressive play backed up that statistic. They swarmed Cleveland’s ball handlers from the opening tip, pressing full court and disrupting passing lanes. The Cavs coughed up 15 turnovers, many of which led to transition buckets for Detroit. The Pistons feasted on those mistakes, outscoring Cleveland 25-5 in fast-break points.</p><p>“It’s going to be huge, especially coming down the stretch right into the playoffs because possessions matter so much,” Darius Garland said about limiting their turnovers. “Just taking care of the ball. Put that on me. Just take care of the ball. Just try to make the right reads. It’s going to be really important for us not to get sped up, just slow down a little bit and try to read [the game].”</p><h2><b>Rebounding plagued Cleveland once again</b></h2><p>The turnover issue was compounded by a familiar Achilles’ heel: rebounding. The Cavs have struggled all season to control the glass, ranking 25th in defensive rebound percentage in March. Against a young, aggressive Pistons squad, that deficiency was magnified. Detroit hauled in 16 offensive rebounds, leading to 24 second-chance points—backbreaking plays that continuously deflated any momentum Cleveland tried to build.</p><p>“When you turn it over to the other team, it’s probably the worst possible outcome,” Atkinson said. “Because they get out in transition, they usually have an advantage. You can’t stop them. I felt like we turned it over and it was a layup drill.</p><p>“I think the turnovers are a big thing. Their physicality caused a lot of it, their activity. But that’s playoff basketball. We’ve been excellent at not turning it over all year. But we haven’t been lately. Therefore, you lose the possession game. You lose the turnover game. And then, you lose the rebounding game. It’s tough to win in this league.”</p><h2><b>Donovan Mitchell almost did enough to save Cleveland</b></h2><p>The Cavs mounted a desperate comeback in the second half, clawing their way back from a 21-point deficit. Mitchell’s three-point barrage in the final minutes pulled Cleveland within two, 119-117, with just over three minutes left. But just as quickly as they found themselves within striking distance, they unraveled once again.</p><p>Ausar Thompson, a thorn in Cleveland’s side all night, sealed the game with a steal and a dunk. The highlight capped off a 12-1 Pistons run that extinguished any hope of a last-minute miracle.</p><p>Garland finished with 21 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. And around the margins, the absence of Max Strus and Ty Jerome left Cleveland thin. Outside of Mitchell and Garland, only two other Cavs managed to reach double figures.</p><h2><b>The Cavs need to mentally restart and refresh</b></h2><p>This loss wasn’t just about a snapped winning streak against a bottom-tier opponent. It was about a Cavs team, one with championship aspirations, revealing its most glaring weaknesses at the worst possible time.</p><p>“We’re not. Not at this point,” Atkinson said when asked if the team is playing to its standard. “But there’s still [eight] games left. I do trust our body of work, I trust the guys.</p><p>“I do think we need to get home and collect ourselves a little bit, sleep in our beds, and get back on our routine. Practice or have a shoot around. I think that’ll help too.”</p><p>With just eight games left in the regular season, the Cavs don’t have much time to get back on track. If this loss to Detroit was any indication, they’re not just fighting their opponents—they’re fighting themselves.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cavs’ frustrating loss to Pistons exposes deepening flaws

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-vs-pistons-decide-winner-coach');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cavs vs. Pistons could decide the winner of NBA Coach of the Year');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cavs-news-Cleveland-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Cavs vs. Pistons could decide the winner of NBA Coach of the Year</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-28T15:30:24-07:00">March 28th, 3:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-28T15:30:24-07:00">March 28th, 3:30pm</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For months, the NBA’s Coach of the Year race has boiled down to two men: Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson and Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Now, in a poetic twist, the Cavs and the Pistons <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705633/cavaliers-pistons" rel="noopener">collide in a game</a> that could tip the scales.</p><p>Both coaches have orchestrated remarkable turnarounds. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-cleveland-faces-pistons-without-two-contributors">Bickerstaff inherited a 14-win Pistons</a> squad stuck in a cycle of failure, transforming them into a playoff team with 41 wins and counting. Atkinson, meanwhile, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-kenny-atkinson-rotation-playoffs">took over an already strong Cavs team</a>, unlocking its offensive potential and guiding them to the NBA’s best record at 59-14.</p><p>So for either side, this showdown at Little Caesars Arena isn’t just about standings. It’s about validation, legacy, and perhaps the final argument in crowning the league’s top coach.</p><h2><b>One critical game between the Cavs and Pistons</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Darius-Garland-celebrates-Cavs-Pistons.jpg"><figcaption>David Reginek-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Bickerstaff’s impact in Detroit has been undeniable. Cade Cunningham has gone from an inefficient volume shooter to an All-NBA-caliber superstar. The Pistons, once rudderless, now boast a clear identity—tough, disciplined, and defensively sound. But with Cunningham (calf contusion) and Jaden Ivey (fibula fracture) both out, Detroit will have to rely on Dennis Schröder, Marcus Sasser, and Jalen Duren to break a 12-game losing streak against the Cavs.</p><p>Atkinson, on the other hand, has injected Golden State Warriors-inspired offensive creativity into Cleveland. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley have flourished under his guidance, with Mobley now the runaway favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. The Cavs have dominated the league with multiple double-digit winning streaks, including two of the top three this season at 15 and 16 games.</p><p>However, despite their dominance, fatigue for the Cavs is setting in. Fresh off a grueling five-game West Coast trip, Cleveland is running on fumes. A late-night flight, a quick turnaround against the Spurs, and another immediate trip to Detroit have tested their endurance.</p><p>If Cleveland wins, Atkinson’s case for Coach of the Year becomes nearly undeniable—first-year head coach, best record in the league, an offensive revolution. If Detroit pulls off the upset, Bickerstaff strengthens his argument as the mastermind behind one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in NBA history.</p><h2><b>What’s else at stake for Cleveland and Detroit?</b></h2><p>The Cavs, with a five-game magic number to clinch the No. 1 seed, want to slam the door on the East. The Pistons, meanwhile, locked in a tight battle for playoff positioning, are fighting to avoid slipping into a worse matchup.</p><p>Beyond that, a potential second-round postseason clash looms. If Detroit secures the fourth or fifth seed, this game could be a preview of an intense playoff battle, adding even more drama to the matchup. The NBA has a knack for drama, and this game could be its biggest regular-season statement yet.</p><p>Cavs vs. Pistons. Atkinson vs. Bickerstaff. Coach of the Year implications. Playoff positioning. Everything is on the table in this matchup between Cleveland and Detroit.</p><p>For Cleveland, it’s a test of endurance. Moreover, it’s a chance to solidify their standing as the league’s best. For Detroit, it’s a shot at legitimacy. It’s a statement that their turnaround is no fluke.</p><p>And for either team’s head coach, it’s the defining moment in a race that has captivated the league all season long. Let the fun begin.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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Cavaliers News: Get the latest Cleveland Cavaliers news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Cavaliers News

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