The Cavaliers have found their identity
After the estate won on the Spurs floorThe Cavaliers used Dec. 31 to end the Suns’ streak, and a frustrated crowd at Rockets Arena could see the team regain its defensive foundation from last season. Under the boards, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen locked down access to the circle, but also hindered access to the width. In the attack, there were exchanges and sharing of the ball. The result: Evan Mobley left 2025 with a big smile on his face.
“Honestly, we have fun on the pitch. It’s very different,” he failed after the game. “Everyone plays with energy. We play fast, defend hard and transform defense into offense. That’s Cavs basketball!”
In the middle of the disaster ten days agoCleveland is doing better even if the winning streak is thin. But the road is there, and Kenny Atkinson has kept his promise: he plays on merit and draws from his rotation without regard for resume. To start the final quarter, he lined up Jaylon Tyson, Craig Porter Jr. and Nae’Quan Tomlin to back up Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell.
“These are very difficult decisions” he recognized before the game. “Sometimes you have to take each player aside so that everyone understands that it’s not personal. Sometimes you finish matches, sometimes you don’t. This is essential for group cohesion.”
What also gives confidence is that we were able to respond to the Suns’ comeback attempts, which Kenny Atkinson regards as “toughest team in the entire NBA”. “At the beginning of the season, faced with adversity, we collapsed” remembers Evan Mobley. “In the last matches, we continue to play in the same way. We start with energy and save it, whether it goes in our favor or not. We have to continue like this.”
The next test is Friday against the Nuggets, a team without four starters. Beware of overconfidence…
2026-01-01 17:05:00
