Dribbles: Cavs wrap up regular season, and now, how they’ll be judged awaits

April 13, 2025

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 126-118 double-overtime home loss to the Indiana Pacers in the regular-season finale on Sunday. …

1. Well, that’s a wrap. And what a present it was. This Cavaliers’ season has been like few others.

2. At 64-18, the Cavs finished with the second-best mark in team history. Not a soul projected it, either. That’s what makes it so great. Entering the year, everyone was talking about the Celtics and the Knicks, the 76ers, and even Magic, Pacers, and Heat.

3. The Cavs? They were one of three teams that didn’t sign anyone to a standard contract last offseason. Nor did they make a trade. All they did was hire coach Kenny Atkinson. So most people had them pegged to finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the East.

4. Now, of course, they’re being doubted again. But all that matters is they are entering the playoffs with the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage in any East series they play.

5. On Sunday, every regular rotation player rested. With the exception of Jarrett Allen, who played one minute, took one shot (a 3-pointer), and reached his goal of starting in all 82 games.

6. The next time we see the Cavs, we’ll see them all — Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Max Strus and Allen. Oh, and top reserves such as Ty Jerome, De’Andre Hunter, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and Sam Merrill. Other than Allen, not a single one suited up Sunday.

7. That will be for Game 1 of the playoffs, next Sunday (Easter), at Rocket Arena. The opponent and time are TBD. The Cavs know that will be the start of how this season is judged.

8. But hey man, so far, so really good. This is a regular season that will go down in franchise lore.

9. Atkinson on that very topic: “Thrilled for the guys. They thought they could be better (than last year) and thought they could get to the next level. That’s where it starts.”

10. Atkinson repeatedly used the word “hungry,” saying that determination from the players is something he saw “when I got here.” He cited Mitchell as the spokesperson. “Donovan is always saying, ‘We haven’t done anything yet,'” Atkinson said. “But he’s saying it with humility. He’s not screaming from the mountaintop.”

11. While the aforementioned are the main men, some of those who played Sunday showed they might be worth a postseason look. And that comes straight from Atkinson. The list includes rookie Jaylon Tyson (31 points) and veteran Tristan Thompson (a whopping 20 rebounds), depending on matchups.

12. The Cavs will take Monday off, then get back at it, preparing for the so-called second season. They won’t know their opponent until Friday, when someone wins a play-in game and winds up with the eighth and final seed.

13. That means Cleveland will have a week with no games. And the first-round opponent will arrive after playing two games, and receiving just one day off.

14. Atkinson with the final word: “I think we’re in a great place. We’re healthy, that’s the most important thing. You guys have been asking about it all year — what about the playoffs? It’s here. … I feel like we’re in a good place physically and mentally.”