The Cavs have received eight straight video games and are going for his or her ninth in a row once they go to the Boston Celtics Friday evening. It is their third lengthy profitable streak this season. They began the season 15-0 earlier than dropping Nov. 19, additionally in Boston. Then in December, the Cavs went on a 12-game win streak, profitable the primary 10 video games by double digits, earlier than dropping a recreation to the Indiana Pacers.
Solely three groups have matched Cleveland’s feat of stringing collectively three eight-game profitable streaks in a season previously decade: The 2017-18 Houston Rockets, the 2020-21 Utah Jazz and the 2021-22 Phoenix Suns. All put collectively dominant stretches, however none made the NBA Finals.
The 2017-18 Rockets received the closest, taking 3-2 lead within the Western Convention finals and main by 15 factors in Sport 7 earlier than falling quick. The Rockets’ longest win streak was 17 video games, which helped them end with a 65-17 report and home-court benefit for the playoffs. However Chris Paul received injured and the group missed 27 consecutive three-pointers within the deciding recreation.
The 2020-21 Utah Jazz have been red-hot early within the season, stringing collectively profitable streaks of 11 and 9 video games in a 20-1 stretch early. However within the second spherical of the playoffs, the Jazz misplaced Mike Conley to damage and the group’s protection collapsed in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 2021-22 Phoenix Suns had an 18-game win streak and completed with the perfect report in franchise historical past, 64-18. One other Chris Paul group, this one had CP3 on the court docket once they dropped the ultimate two video games of the collection by a mixed 60 factors to the Dallas Mavericks, dropping Sport 7 at house, 123-90.
It might be the character of groups that go on lengthy profitable streaks. To place collectively a number of streaks, a group must have depth, each to cowl for stars having off nights and to make the most of different groups’ benches. Groups which are top-heavy with stars are susceptible to at least one participant’s damage or fatigue — there’s solely been one LeBron James group to win greater than 15 straight video games. The 2012-13 Miami Warmth, who had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, received 27 straight with a really deep roster.
The Cavaliers are related. 4 of their starters have made All-Star groups earlier than, they usually have six gamers averaging double-digits factors, with Max Strus just under that with 8.8 factors per recreation. However within the playoffs, with extra days off, shorter rotations and longer business breaks, it is usually the group with the perfect particular person participant that wins.
Donovan Mitchell and Even Mobley every have the potential to be that participant. However can they play higher than Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown 4 occasions in seven video games?
