Cavs Receive High Marks Nationally For Banner Season At Halfway Point

So, yes, they got an “A” from ESPN in the outlet’s midseason report card.

The Cavs were projected to win somewhere around 48 games. They’re on pace to win closer to 64 or 65. At 36-7, they’re tied for the league’s best record.

In short, it’s been a remarkable, inspiring season. So an “A” for the Cavaliers? Well, how could you possibly justify giving them anything else?

“Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, they’ve answered any doubts about how their starters fit together and demonstrated as much depth as nearly any team,” wrote ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. “Cleveland could have three All-Stars for just the second time since 1993 in Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.”

Personally, I think Jarrett Allen belongs in that All-Star conversation, too.

Anyway, Pelton went on to list how each team could improve. He had a hard time coming up with anything for the Cavs, and rightfully so. They’ve been missing Mobley, Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro to injuries over the past few games, and they still look like they belong in the title-contender conversation.

Still, Pelton had to come up with something on how they could improve.

“It’s hard to ask much more of the Cavaliers, but it would be nice to see wing Isaac Okoro get healthy and back on track,” Pelton wrote. “Okoro shot 1-of-17 on 3s during a five game-stretch earlier this month before returning to the sideline because of an AC joint sprain in his shooting shoulder.”

The Cavs return to action on Friday with a road game against the Philadelphia 76ers. They return home Saturday to face the Houston Rockets.

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