For almost a month, the Cleveland Cavaliers did not know what it was like to lose. Until toppled by the Boston Celtics in a close game, they’d set a franchise record-setting 15-0 start to the season.

The Cavs are seriously good. This is how the team ignited their hot start and why it means that Donovan Mitchell et al are title contenders. Let’s dive in.

The Cavs Can Beat Boston

The NBA is about matchups, about doing it in the playoffs. To win the title, you must beat the best teams in the NBA in a gruelling series. The Cavs may have started 15-0, but remained underdogs against the defending champion Celtics in their last match-up.

Fox Sports ranks the Cavs as the 6th favorite to win the championship, while ESPN places them 5th. Bookmakers have ranked them as high as 4th place signalling a strong belief in their potential to claim the the title. This underscores how far the Cavs have come and why their striking start is no fluke.

And sure enough, the Celtics beat the Cavs in their first confrontation of the season, thus failing their first big test. Many pundits were quick to write them off, as early-season wonders, nothing more.

But on December 1, the Cavs showed they have what it takes to challenge Boston head-to-head. In a huge fourth quarter, where they outscored the Celtics 43-27, the Cavs came from behind to seal the victory. Donovan Mitchell, or as they said ‘Dynamite Donovan!’, was the key to the win, going berserk for 20 points in the final 12 minutes of the game.

With that performance, he’s underlined a truth that can no longer be denied: he’s elite. With him at the helm, the Cavs have the firepower to attack the Celtics, having a real shot in a 7-game series.

Donovan Mitchell is an Elite Player

Mitchell has had plenty of detractors during his time in the NBA, but the last few seasons should have set the record straight once and for all. Donovan Mitchell is a tier 1 player in the NBA, especially this season so far.

He already has 5 All-Star appearances under his belt. He’s made the All-NBA Second Team, and there is every chance he’ll level up this season. And when you check the latest NBA odds, above Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.

Overall, his game has very few flaws. He’s an elite scorer, has significantly improved his defensive game, and is an underrated passer. Even though most NBA fans agree he’s a solid player, he’s underrated.

Jeff Teague puts it this way: he’s just as good as Anthony Edwards, he’s just not as talkative. He’s a head-down, get-the-job-done kind of player. If he leads the Cavs to the top of the Eastern Conference, he deserves serious MVP consideration.

Cleveland Now Has Different Gears

To win in the NBA, you need to have different weapons and distinct gears you can switch to depending on what the game is asking from you. This season, the Cavs have expanded from one-dimensional play.

Kenny Atkinson puts it this way: big and spread lineups, two different animals, both necessary. With Allen and Mobley, two bigs, it’s difficult to get an offense moving, yet Atkinson has managed to find the formula in a transition setup. The result is a +9.9 net rating.

With a spread lineup, the Cavs offer something similar to what the Celtics and OKC are doing. The offense consists of spacing the floor effectively, movement to generate high-percentage threes, and driving lanes built around the big delivering rim pressure.

Atkinson has also dialed down the reliance on the pick-and-roll offense, which can often be easily countered through the physical defensive play elite teams employ. Offensively, the Cavs are far more refined than previous iterations, and now have systems that can be used in both the regular season and playoffs, something they were missing under JB Bickerstaff.

On the defensive end, the Cavs are still running smoothly, just like in previous seasons. They’ve improved on their already stellar setup, containing star players like LeBron James and Jalen Brunson by employing the versatile Dean Wade as the primary defender.

For smaller guards, the Cavs can send Isaac Okoro to contain the opposition’s offense. He had the primary assignment against Dame Lillard, and performed very well. Having this kind of defensive flexibility means it’s very difficult to attack the Cavaliers in a series matchup.

The Cavs Just Need to Stay Healthy

The biggest threat to the Cavaliers is not external, but whether they can stay healthy. In recent years, availability has been a big issue for the franchise.

That’s why the team has put a special emphasis on health management, with Dean Wade and Darius Garland being of particular concern. Wade missed a lot of time last season, and Garland has a reputation for being injury-prone.

The Cavs have mitigated injury risks by building in-depth, but NBA rosters are thin, and missing key players can have a big impact. For Cleveland to mount a serious challenge against Boston, they’ll need to have their full arsenal available.

By Chris Bates