- The Cleveland Cavaliers had a fantastic regular season, going 64-18 and winning the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
- The Cavaliers rolled through Miami in the first round in historic fashion.
- But the Cavaliers, riddled with injuries, lost in five games to Indiana in the second round and now look towards the future.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had high hopes heading into the playoffs. Their 64 wins were the second-most in team history, and they locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference well before the playoffs. The Cavaliers then dismantled Miami in a historic first-round beating.
But injuries hit Cleveland at the worst time, and they were eliminated in five games by Indiana in the second. Now, the Cavaliers have to wonder what the future odds, and bettors wonder what their odds will be next season.
Cleveland Stars Hit by Injuries Against Pacers
Cleveland’s season ended with a 114-105 loss to Indiana at home on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers just couldn’t keep up with Indiana’s pace and physicality.
Donovan Mitchell was hampered by a bad ankle throughout the series, but did his best to try to keep Cleveland in the series. Mitchell averaged 34.2 points in five games, but shot just 42.4% from the field, and 24.5% from three-point land. Darius Garland was slowed by a toe injury, and missed the first two games of the series. Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley missed Game 2 with an ailing ankle, and De’Andre Hunter was out of Games 2 and 3 with a bad thumb.
However, the Cavaliers won’t look for excuses. Coach of the Year Kenny Atkinson tried to make as many adjustments as he could, but it’s tough when four of your top five players are battling injuries. It didn’t help that upcoming free agent Ty Jerome played terribly in the series. Max Strus and Jarrett Allen tried to lift the Cavs, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough.
Where Will the Cavs Land in the NBA Title Odds Next Season?
Of course, the season isn’t over yet, so we won’t know what the Cavaliers’ NBA title odds are for a few weeks. But it’ll certainly be interesting to see how the NBA betting sites price them. The Cavaliers have won 51, 48, and 64 games since Mitchell was traded to Cleveland in September 2022. But the Cavs have a first-round, and two second-round exits, to show for it.
The Cavaliers thought they could get over the hump by replacing J.B. Bickerstaff (who finished second to Atkinson in COTY voting for a great job in Detroit) with Atkinson. Nevertheless, the Cavs got bit by the injury bug at the wrong time.
The Eastern Conference odds will look much different next season. Boston will be without Jayson Tatum after he had surgery for a ruptured Achilles, which could lead to a roster overhaul. The Giannis Antetokounmpo next team odds are heating up, and Milwaukee could move on from their two-time MVP. Detroit, Orlando, and Miami could be in the market for big moves. Will the Cavs stand pat, or try to improve their roster?
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