The Cavaliers are Gearing Up for the NBA's "Second Season"

But that’s where things went off the rails, as Tyrese Haliburton and the red-hot Pacers ousted Cleveland in five frustrating games, taking all three meetings at Rocket Arena and holding the Cavs under 30 percent from three-point range in four of the five contests. 

This season’s Cavaliers took an entirely different route to the postseason, fighting their way to 52 wins and utilizing 41 different starting lineups to get there. Following a 17-point loss to the Rockets just after Christmas, the Wine & Gold were 17-16. But Cleveland turned its season completely around from there – closing the season at 34-14 after December 29, the fifth-best mark in the league over that stretch – going 19-8 on the road. Over their last 37 games heading into the playoffs, the Cavs went 27-10. 

“This is what we signed up for,” said Atkinson. “There’s pressure in this job – pressure on coaches, pressure on players. I’ve always been so locked in on the process, and kind of doubling-down on that, and I believe the results take care of themselves. When the game comes and the crowd gets going, sure there’s pressure. But that’s also what you welcome. Pressure is exciting. When you’re at this level and competing at this level and competing against top teams in the league, it excites you. So, sure, there’s pressure. But there’s an excitement that goes with that. And that’s the fun part of this business.”

Toronto tasted most its success early. After dropping four of their first five games, the Raptors won 13 of their next 14 – with the three wins over Cleveland included in that stretch. But they cooled off as the season progressed and closed the campaign with a 14-13 mark after the All-Star Break. 

And aside from topping Cleveland in the three-game season series, the Raptors struggled mightily against the East’s top teams – going 1-2 against Detroit, 0-4 against Boston and dropping all five games against New York by an average of 19.6 points per game. 

But Toronto won when it mattered most, winning three of its final four to end the season and squeezing past Atlanta for the five-seed, setting up another postseason meeting with the Cavaliers. 

Just like the three head-to-head meetings earlier this season, the previous playoff matchups between these two combatants is ancient history – although Toronto will certainly have an axe to grind, seeking revenge against a franchise that has absolutely dominated them over the years. 

On their way to the 2016 title, the Cavaliers knocked out Toronto in six games – and that was actually as good as it would get for Canada’s national team. In 2017, Cleveland steamrolled the Raptors in four games and did the same the following year. All told, the Wine & Gold have won 10 straight playoff games against Toronto by an average of 18.6 points per. 

But that was then and this is now. And as Cleveland found out last spring, anything can happen when the tournament tips off. 

The Cavaliers have been through the good and the bad over the past three postseasons. They fell in five in a First Round meeting against the Knicks in 2023, fell to Boston in the East Semis in five games after getting past the Magic in seven in 2024, and saw the Pacers – who eventually represented in the Conference in last year’s Finals in 2025. 

“I think this is one of the best groups going into (the postseason),” said Evan Mobley, who’s been through each of the previous three playoff runs. “A lot of talent, a lot of guys locked in and focused. A lot of guys with playoff experience, as well. We’re still pretty young. I think we’re in a great spot, overall.”

When the NBA’s “second season” officially tips off this weekend, the Wine & Gold will look to make a deeper push, attempting to reach the Conference Finals (and beyond) for the first time since the LeBron James era. And it all begins on Saturday afternoon at Rocket Arena. 

After 82 hard-fought regular season games, the rubber finally hits the road this weekend – and on Wednesday in Independence the Cavaliers wrapped up their first practice in preparation for a First Round rumble with the Raptors. 

The Cavs team that’ll suit up on Saturday afternoon is vastly different than the one Toronto swept in three games before Thanksgiving. Four months is an eternity in NBA time, and the Wine & Gold reloaded at the Trade Deadline, closing the campaign with a 21-9 mark after adding James Harden, Dennis Schröder, and Keon Ellis in early February. 

In those three matchups – each of which Cleveland fell by double-digits – the Cavs were without Darius Garland. Lonzo Ball was 6-for-22 from the floor as the starting point guard in two of those losses, and Sam Merrill struggled on 4-of-11 shooting in the third. The Raptors are unlikely to see those numbers from the trio the Cavs acquired at the Deadline. 

“Guys are working right now; putting in the work, individually and as a unit,” said Harden, following Wednesday’s workout. “We watched film today. We got after it a little bit today. But guys continue to put the work in, so we’re headed in the right direction and making sure we take care of what’s in front of us."

The Cavs also shot just 28 percent from long-range and averaged 25 assists per in those three games. In the 30 games since the arrival of Harden, Schroder and Ellis, Cleveland has shot 36 percent from deep and averaged 28 assists. 

Kenny Atkinson’s squad enters the postseason on a different trajectory than they did a season ago. Last year, the Cavs came into the playoffs as the East’s top seed after piling up 64 regular season wins, then promptly smushed Miami in four lopsided meetings, winning by an average of 30.5 points, shooting 52 percent from the floor, 44 percent from beyond the arc.