The job isn’t done.
Although the Cleveland Cavaliers have had an unforgettable 2024-25 regular season so far, they still have some work to do before the playoffs arrive.
The Cavs are on pace to cruise to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Locking that up should be an obvious goal, and barring a major collapse, they should be able to do so without any trouble.
They’re also in a battle with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top record in the NBA this season. As of this writing, both teams have identical 56-12 records. Whichever team comes out ahead would have home-court advantage in a hypothetical NBA Finals matchup between the two squads. As such, finishing ahead of OKC is another box Cleveland should look to check.
But what are some other goals fans can set for the team with just 14 games remaining in the regular season? Let’s take a look.
3. Get Donovan Mitchell out of his miniature slump
Cavs star Donovan Mitchell has been as critical as anyone to Cleveland’s success this season, but he’s had a forgettable March so far.
This month, he has appeared in six games, missing some time due to rest and a groin issue. When he’s been on the floor, it hasn’t been very pretty, a rare occurrence for him.
In his six appearances this month, he has averaged 22.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game — decent averages that become far less attractive when you realize he has shot 34.2 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from deep during the span.
The slump is likely nothing to worry about, but he does need to put an end to it sooner rather than later. If it was going to happen at some point, maybe it’s better that it’s happening now instead of closer to the playoffs (or even during the postseason).
Mitchell has a bit less than a month left in the regular season to get his rhythm back, which should be plenty of time.
2. Break the franchise record for wins
Until recently, a number of fans were likely eyeing 70 wins as a goal this season. Some may still be holding out hope, but since the Cavs have lost two games in a row, they’d now need to win 14 straight games to finish the regular season with a 70-12 record.
That idea is less ridiculous when you consider the fact that Cleveland has had two winning streaks longer than that this season, but still, 70 wins is going to be tough at this point.
A more reasonable goal might be to break the franchise record for wins. Whether the team actually cares about this may be a different conversation, but it’s certainly a piece of history that fans will monitor.
The 2008-09 Cavs own the title for most wins in franchise history. They went 66-16, good for a winning percentage of .805, and then they made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals before being eliminated.
The 2024-25 Cavs currently have a winning percentage of .824, the highest in a season in franchise history. They’re on pace to finish with 68 wins. As long as they stay the course, they should indeed be able to make history by surpassing the 2008-09 team.
When the playoffs roll around, the current group will look to make an even deeper run than the 2008-09 squad.
1. Don’t fall asleep at the wheel
Being a dominant regular-season team has its challenges.
Even before the Cavs officially clinched a playoff spot earlier this month, they knew for a while that they were going to have a seat at the table.
And even now, with 14 games remaining, they likely realize that the Boston Celtics aren’t going to catch them for the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.
So how do you maintain a sense of urgency? You don’t want to be sleepy when the postseason arrives. As soon as the Cavs begin their first playoff series, they need to be ready for war. They can’t let teams believe that they can compete with them.
With under one month left in the regular season, can the team maintain a high level of intensity? Doing so can be made easier when there are goals you can keep in mind along the way, such as setting the franchise record for wins.
But all season long, the Cavs haven’t seemed too worried about those types of achievements, instead keeping their focus on one thing: being the last team standing.
If that’s what has gotten them this far, then maybe that’s all the motivation they need to keep their foot on the pedal.