We’re officially post All-Star break and teams have settled into their finalized rosters for the home stretch. In this week’s recap, two teams have carried exemplary play from before the break, and one team whose key acquisition has helped them flip a switch.
The Cavs went 3-0 over the past week to stretch their record to a blazing 47-10—which is on pace for a 67 win season. Such a mark would be a franchise record, eclipsing the 66-16 record the Cavs set during the 2009 season.
And while they don’t have the world-bending talent of a LeBron James on this team, this iteration possesses much better balance across the board.
Their game against the Knicks on Feb. 21 showcased this perfectly. The Cavs put a shellacking on the East’s 3-seed, dropping 142 points on 60.9% shooting from the floor and 51.4% from 3. They did this with their highest scorer, Donovan Mitchell, scoring 27 points—a low mark for the obscene final total.
It was the bench play that boosted their scoring, led by breakout guard Ty Jerome (19 points on 7-11 shooting) and recently acquired swingman De’Andre Hunter (16 points in just 19 minutes). The Cavs rank seventh in bench scoring, which when coupled with a starting lineup of Donovan Mitchell – Jarrett Allen – Darius Garland – Dean Wade – Evan Mobley, has propelled the Cavs to the second most efficient offense in league history (only trailing the Celtics).
Speaking of the Celtics, the reigning champs have won five in a row, going 2-0 over the week with wins over the 76ers and Knicks.
Firmly entrenched as the East’s 2-seed, the Celtics have ramped up their play in time for the home stretch. After a middling 11-9 stretch from Dec. 19 to Jan. 27, the Celtics have gone 9-1, posting the third best offensive rating (123.1) and fifth best defensive rating (110.2).
That balance is a recipe for success. Last year’s team finished tops in offense and third in defense, and the 2022 team which made the Finals finished seventh in offense and second in defense.
Leading sixth man of the year candidate Payton Pritchard continues to impress. His 28 points against the Sixers led the Celtics and is tied for second for his scoring high this year.
The Dubs were spiraling. On Feb. 6 they lost to the Lakers 112-120 to fall below .500 on the year (25-26). Then the next day, they made the call—Jimmy Butler headed to The Bay. The BIGFACE COFFEE owner inked a two year, $111 million dollar extension, and the Warriors finally grabbed their second star to play off Stephen Curry.
The Warriors have gone 5-1 since the trade, punctuated by two massive wins over the Kings and Mavericks to send them screaming coming out of the break. Winning each game by 24 points, the Warriors’ new roster is paying immediate dividends.
In the Feb. 23 matchup against the Mavericks, all five Warriors starters scored in double figures. Butler’s final slash line—18 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists—was unassuming for a $55 million a year man, but his presence was reflected in the final score. He finished a +28 on the game, second only to Brandin Podziemski, and his eight free throws were a team high.
Butler has a penchant for foul shooting—he ranks 26th all-time in free throw attempts per 100 possessions. And that is a skill the Warriors have been lacking. With all his scoring prowess, Steph Curry has never been a high volume free throw shooter, and as a team the Warriors rank 25th on the season. Butler’s presence will provide a massive boost in this area, one that is extremely valuable given the efficiency of free throws compared to other forms of offense.
Stay tuned for more NBA content, including midseason moves, contract updates, and more pieces about every team.
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