The Cleveland Cavaliers are aiming for their best start to a season in nearly fifty years when they play the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
After defeating the Orlando Magic 120-109 on Friday, the Cavaliers head into their second game in a row with a perfect 6-0 record, their best since the 2016-17 season when LeBron James helped the team start 6-0.
A win would bring the Cavaliers just one game away from matching the franchise record of 8-0, set back in the 1976-77 season under coach Bill Fitch with players Austin Carr and Campy Russell.
Last season, Cleveland was one of the top defensive teams, but they have also improved their offense under new coach Kenny Atkinson.
The Cavaliers have scored over 130 points four times in the 2023-24 season, and they have already done it three times this season. Atkinson’s team is shooting an impressive 53.3 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from three-point range.
Guards Darius Garland (25 points in 29 minutes) and Donovan Mitchell (22 points in 22 minutes) led the scoring against Orlando, despite both facing foul issues, while forward Evan Mobley achieved a double-double.
“(We’re) extremely confident,” Mitchell said. “But at the end of the day, it’s just a six-game stretch. “It’s always great to learn through wins rather than losses, but for us it’s (about) continuing to form good habits and be who we are.”
The Bucks, who had one more win than the Cavaliers last season, are struggling right now. They have lost their last four games, including a tough 122-99 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.
Milwaukee struggled with their shooting, hitting only 9 out of 42 three-pointers, and they were out-rebounded 56-38. Most concerning is their defense, which allowed too many easy baskets.
“The defensive transition was still awful tonight, and that’s on me,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Too many times they ran behind us. That just can’t happen.
“Everything is on me until we get it right. We’ve got to fix this. It’s (about) discipline. Period. And at some point there has to be consequences for it.”
Rivers mentioned he needs to do better. “Again, I keep going back to me. If there’s something they’re not hearing, that I’m telling them, then I’ve got to do a better job.”
Star player Giannis Antetokounmpo kept up his high level of play, scoring 37 points on 17-of-22 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds. However, Damian Lillard, his teammate, had a rough game.
He scored just four points, making only 1 of 12 shots, while his opponent, Ja Morant, recorded a triple-double. Lillard and other starters Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince missed 18 of their 19 attempts from three-point range.
The Bucks will need Lillard to bounce back from his rare off night in Memphis, especially since they still lack a solid third scoring option, which is made worse by Khris Middleton’s ankle injury.
No player on the Bucks other than Antetokounmpo or Lillard has scored more than 16 points this season. The bigger problem, though, is on defense.
“Defensively, it’s all about effort,” Antetokounmpo said. “Right now, at times there’s effort and at times there is not. If there’s no effort, you’re going to be horrible.”
