Cavs don’t seem to care, but 70-win season remains within reach

Tuesday was yet another chapter in a story that has become all too familiar for the Cavaliers this season. Missing key pieces — Donovan Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, and Ty Jerome — they found themselves trailing by as many as 18 points in the third quarter.

But, true to form, Cleveland turned on the jets in the fourth, surging past the Nets for a 109-104 win, continuing their streak of dominance.

With that victory, the Cavaliers tied their season-opening record with 15 consecutive wins. They may not have the championship pedigree of Boston or the statistical dominance of Oklahoma City, but one thing is clear: when it’s crunch time, they know how to win.

That ability has put them in striking distance of a truly rare achievement: 70 wins in a single season. As of March 11, the Cavs are 55-10, with 17 games remaining. In short, the impossible doesn’t seem so impossible anymore.

Of course, achieving 70 wins is a monumental feat. Only two teams have ever pulled it off: the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who set the standard with 72 wins, and the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who went a mind-boggling 73-9 before falling in the Finals to (as you know) the Cavs. But as impressive as those teams were, their paths to 70 weren’t entirely coincidental.

The Bulls, for instance, had Michael Jordan — arguably the greatest player of all time –leading the charge. Add in the dynamic duo of Scottie Pippen and the acquisition of Dennis Rodman, and you have the recipe for an unstoppable force.

However, the NBA in 1995 was still adjusting to expansion, leaving room for the Bulls to dominate a watered-down league. Meanwhile, the Warriors in 2016 benefited from having the NBA’s best shooting team at a time when the value of the 3-pointer was just beginning to be fully appreciated.

Golden State’s “Splash Brothers” trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green played in near-perfect health, and with the San Antonio Spurs hot on their tail, they couldn’t afford to rest stars down the stretch.

But here’s where the story gets interesting: despite the long odds, Cleveland’s 70-win chase isn’t out of the question.

With 15 straight wins under their belt, the Cavs are within striking distance, needing to win 15 of their final 17 games to reach 70. While they may not have the same star-studded lineup or historical context of those Bulls or Warriors teams, their combination of clutch play and consistency gives them a legitimate shot.

Meanwhile, coach Kenny Atkinson insisted that his team isn’t focused on, or even “talking about” win streaks. They truly do seem to be taking each game as it comes.

“We don’t talk about the streak,” Atkinson said just before tipoff Tuesday. “That’s not our (priority). We just keep hammering the principles that will lead to our success. So, that’s where we are.”

Here’s why the Cavs might pursue 70: The team has effectively locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their lead over the Thunder for the best record in the NBA is slim — about two games — but it’s enough to push the Cavs to keep winning if they want to maintain home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

And the schedule down the stretch is favorable. After facing the Grizzlies on Friday, they won’t face another top-five team until April, with matchups against the Knicks, Pacers, and Clippers. These games are winnable, and they would add up quickly if Cleveland continues its hot streak.

That said, health will be the key. As seen on Tuesday, the Cavaliers can still win without their full roster, but their most important players are still dealing with minor injuries.

Mitchell is battling groin soreness, and Hunter is dealing with an illness. But none of these injuries are expected to sideline players for long stretches, and if health holds, Cleveland will be favored in most of its remaining games.

The Cavaliers also face a critical decision on how hard to push for 70 wins. If they reach the final stretch with fewer than 12 losses, it could come down to how badly their opponents need the wins.

The Pacers, who are currently battling for a top-four seed in the East, may go all-out when they face Cleveland. The Knicks, while safe in the standings, may decide to rest players if they clinch the No. 3 seed. As LeBron James proved in 2016, sometimes it’s better to take your foot off the gas just a bit to avoid overexertion before the postseason.

The Cavaliers’ remarkable run has already cemented their place in history, but the prospect of reaching 70 wins has become a very real possibility.

If they go 15-2 down the stretch, they’ll join an exclusive club. It’s probably not real likely when you consider several factors — the need to rest players, clinching the top seed in the East, etc. But for the first time in years, it doesn’t feel impossible. And that, in itself, is something to keep an eye on.

“This team’s not letting up,” Atkinson said. “They continue to push it.”