Are the Cavaliers emerging as the dominant force in the East?

The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to dominate the NBA, extending their winning streak to 11 games with a 139-117 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. This marks their third double-digit winning streak of the 2024-25 season, making them just the fourth team in NBA history to achieve this feat.

Cleveland became the first team this season to reach 50 wins after defeating Portland in an overtime thriller on Saturday. The Cavs are just the 12th team in NBA history to notch 50 wins in their first 60 games, and the first since the Golden State Warriors in 2016-17.

During the current streak (which includes double-digit victories over Minnesota, New York and Orlando), the Cavs erased a 22-point deficit to defeat the reigning NBA champs in Boston.  It was a crucial measuring stick for coach Kenny Atkinson and his Cavs’ squad, evening the season series at two games apiece. The Celtics were the last team to beat the Cavs (Feb. 4), handing Cleveland just its fourth home loss of the season.

The Cavs remain laser-focused on securing the top overall seed for the postseason. They understand the value of home-court advantage in a seven-game series, especially after last year’s first-round battle with the Magic, where the home team won every game.

This is not the same Cavs team we saw in 2023-24. Under Atkinson’s leadership, the entire roster is fully committed to putting winning above everything else.

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tar guard Donovan Mitchell has firmly positioned himself as a strong contender for Kia MVP honors. Evan Mobley is making a legitimate push for his first Defensive Player of the Year award in just his fourth season. Meanwhile, Ty Jerome and newly acquired forward-guard De’Andre Hunter are both in the running for Sixth Man of the Year.

The Cavs’

offense

continues to lead the league, and they’re doing it with a collective effort. Their 139 points against Chicago marked the 18th time they’ve scored 130 or more this season, the best mark in the NBA.

 

But Cleveland is more than just an offensive powerhouse—they also boast the league’s seventh-best defensive rating. Their ability to play complementary basketball sets them apart.

Depth has also become a strength for the Cavaliers. Hunter is proving to be a shrewd deadline addition who can provide instant offense off the bench and  Jerome is in the midst of the best season of his career.

The Celtics are still the reigning champs until proven otherwise, but the Cavaliers are determined to show the East now runs through Cleveland.