Carmelo Anthony Feels the Cavaliers are in a Do-or-Die Year

The Eastern Conference took a hit because Jayson Tatum is not with the Boston Celtics due to an Achilles injury. At the same time, NBA finalists the Indiana Pacers are also struggling without their star, Tyrese Haliburton, who is dealing with an Achilles injury.

Now, the pressure is on the Cavaliers and Knicks since they are the top two teams in the conference. It will be challenging, but they have the talent and coaching to step up and prove themselves.

Anthony Believes the 2025-26 Season is a Do-or-Die Year for Cleveland

After a few years of standout basketball, Cleveland is now under pressure to perform. With Mitchell as their star player, they always have a go-to guy they can rely on.

Mobley has also become an All-Star, earning the Defensive Player of the Year award in the 2024-25 season. This is the fourth year with this core group of players, and it is time for them to step up and prove themselves at the highest level.

As a close observer, Anthony thinks this will be a huge year for the Cavaliers. This is their best chance to compete for a title because the Celtics and Pacers are not in the picture.

"Cleveland is do-or-die. You won 64 games last year, you've hit the same wall three times. You can't get over the wall. You don't hit that same wall without making adjustments," Anthony said about the Cavaliers on his 7 PM in Brooklyn show.

"They've seen you get punked by Indy. That is what's going on. You've come into this offseason, reading and hearing everything. You see what's going on. Mental toughness, where's our mental toughness... The tweaks are the mentality."

Anthony Sees Elite Potential In Mobley

While Mitchell is the go-to guy, Mobley is gradually becoming the most important player on the team. He was already superb on defense, which is proven by his DPOY award.

Mobley also averaged 18.5 points per game in the 2024-25 season, indicating improvement as an offensive player. Anthony thinks that if he adds a three-point shot to his game, he might become the clear number one guy in Cleveland.

"He has to take that next step. If Mobley gets that three-ball down, he’ll be unstoppable. My thing about Mobley is, is he tough enough to go through this and want that? Does he really do he want that from a toughness standpoint? Do Cleveland want it from a toughness stand," Anthony continued on his show.

That opportunity could arise in the 2025-26 season, as the Cavs look to stand out in the East. The Knicks are the biggest threat to their season, but they have better continuity with the team and the coaching staff compared to the Knicks' brand-new coaches.

If Mobley can stand out and prove he is the top dog, the Cavaliers could be competing for the title. It will be tough to win against the Western Conference's representatives, but reaching the NBA Finals is already a step up for Cleveland and their goals.