The Land Before Time: Pregame Thoughts ahead of Cavs-Knicks

The Land Before Time: Cavs Pre-Game Thoughts

April 11, 2025 vs New York

Honestly, last night’s game was one of the most fun games of this Cavs season, in my opinion. The ending was dramatic. But the Cavs also reminded me of why we love this team, and why we as Clevelanders often find ourselves attracted to certain teams over others. It has me feeling great about where this team is at heading into the postseason, and it also has me wondering where this team ranks in the Cleveland sports pantheon.

Last night’s Cavs lineup played scrappy, energetic, and proved that the success the franchise has had this season is as much about the depth on the roster as it is about the stars. Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter looked like stars last night, and Sam Merrill returned to his stellar early season form. Even Craig Porter Jr provided liveliness and provided moments of great basketball. They lost the game, but did so in a way that no one expected made the fans proud.

That performance, combined with the camaraderie, fight, and brilliance we have witnessed all season long from the entire franchise (on and off the court), have me attempting to place this team in my pantheon of Cleveland sports teams. By teams, we are talking individual seasons from each of the franchises. Let’s give this a shot:

To me, the best Cleveland teams have been ones that have character, are gritty, and find success. Through their success, they inspire the city and bring an energy that otherwise doesn’t exist. By being scrappy, they embody the people of Cleveland and the spirit of enduring through tough times.  My favorite teams also have had character, which can take many forms but makes the identity of a group distinct.

The one limitation I must acknowledge here is that I am not old enough to properly evaluate teams from the distant past. However, being as this exercise is entirely fabricated and personal, you will have to deal with it. To that end, here are my top Cleveland teams:

1. 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers: Obvious, I know… They won a title and provided Cleveland its greatest moment in 54 years. These Cavs, however, were brash. They ran through the Eastern Conference playoffs like madmen, dropping a record number of three pointers against the Hawks and ending the hopes and dreams of that iteration of the Toronto Raptors. Those Cavs also had CHARACTERS. JR Smith was a lovable wild card. Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson were that season’s equivalent of this year’s Jerome and Hunter. Not to even mention Mo Williams, Matthew Dellavedova, and Timofey Mozgov. Legends!

2. 1995 Cleveland Indians: I was three years old in 1995 and could name pretty much the entire roster. I still can 30 years later. This team was the first team in the history of the American League to win 100 games in a season that had fewer than 154 games. They got a tough break in the World Series, where the umps provided a helping hand to the already stellar Braves pitching staff, making the 1995 Indians perhaps the best team in history to not win the title. This team was also brash, a quality not many Cleveland teams have ever been able to say. Personally, this team meant a lot too. My mom worked for Cleveland media at this time and worked the World Series, while my dad took 3-year-old me to attend the first World Series in Cleveland in both of our lifetimes.  In my personal nostalgia rankings, this team is probably number 1.

3. 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers: You may all feel free to call recency bias on this. I think this is a proper call though. They are the best Cavs team without Lebron on the roster. They thumped teams all season long and provided incredible comebacks. They play #EthicalHoops and demonstrate aspirational teamwork and support on a daily basis.  My only hope is that I have appreciated this team enough in the moment.

4. 2007 Cleveland Browns: This team might be on here just to include a Browns’ team, but I genuinely loved this team. While they failed to make the playoffs, they went 10-6 and had six Pro-Bowl selections. This was Joe Thomas’ rookie season. Derek Anderson might be my favorite Browns QB since the 1999 return. They went 2-0 against Baltimore, including an OT win thanks to a Phil Dawson field goal. 2007 was also the season of the “Blizzard Bowl,” where the Browns beat the Bills 8-0.

Honorable mentions: 2024 Cleveland Guardians, 2020 Cleveland Browns, 1948 Cleveland Indians, 2016 Cleveland Indians, 1980 Cleveland Browns

What are your favorite Cleveland teams of all-time?

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