The Cleveland Cavaliers finished 2024 just the way they began the season. Extending their streak to eight wins in a row, they hardly broke a sweat to beat the Los Angeles Lakers. Both sides competed, but the Cavs’ brand of basketball has been exceptional. Their league-best record now stands at 29-4. For a franchise that hasn’t had such title aspirations since the LeBron James era, it’s a sign of good things. But for Donovan Mitchell, the build-up hardly matters.

The former Jazz guard was once again the architect behind the Cavaliers’ thwarting of the Purple and Gold. His distance shooting played an integral role in the result. Likewise, with the Cavaliers slowly looking like the best team during this patch, the media was curious to know how the franchise star felt about their regular season exploits.

Surprisingly, the amount of wins Cleveland accumulates over the six months doesn’t matter. Ultimately, the perennial MVP candidate is only concerned with getting 16 wins when it matters the most. “We haven’t won [a championship]. We’re playing great basketball, but it really doesn’t mean much,“ he said about their 29-4 record.

For a player eight years in and recognized as someone capable of being the championship centerstone, Mitchell’s standards aren’t a surprise. And while the ‘real season’ will begin in November, every win in the regular season adds confidence. Tonight, although the Lakers put together a great offensive performance against the defensively sounds Cavs, they lost by 12.

Not only did the Cavaliers limit them to a poor three-point shooting performance, but their offensive tactics proved superior. The ‘Spida’ led the way with 26 points, including six threes. However, four other Cavaliers scored in double-digits, virtually oppressing the Lakers with their multiple outlets. Center Jarrett Allen also had one of his best games of the season contributing 27 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

Donovan Mitchell & Co. power the Cavaliers’ title aspirations through teamwork

In the previous season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have always been a powerhouse in the East. However, they did seem to lack some togetherness. It opened up the conversation about Mitchell and Darius Garland’s inability to co-exist. Often, it had to be the one or the other for the ‘Buckeye State’. But not this year.

This season, Cleveland, under new coach Kenny Atkinson, has become an interdependent unit that thrives due to their teamwork. A core of his ideologies is the concept of teamwork. In the current campaign, Donovan Mitchell doesn’t have to have a scoring explosion for the team to win.

Furthermore, he and Garland look like a stellar backcourt tandem, breathing life into the team. Then they have the advantage of size, with Allen securing the paint and Evan Mobley using his versatility on both ends to lead the defense. The reason behind their successful defense, though, is also the willingness of everybody to make an effort.

‘The 216’ are posting their best defensive rating since Donovan Mitchell joined three seasons ago. Additionally, Atkinson has also managed to hide a player like Garland’s defensive shortcomings by making him the focal point of the offense. Garland connects the various attack points, averaging the best offensive rating of all the Cleveland starters.

Hence, this season, the ‘City of Champions’ is far more impressive than the past two seasons. They will most likely post their best record since Donovan Mitchell’s arrival. And with the way they’re playing, their style looks to be one that will also prevail during the playoffs.

Now legit title contenders, do you think the Cavaliers are on the path to winning the chip this season? Let us know your views in the comments below.