The Land Before Time: Pregame Thoughts ahead of Cavs vs Spurs

The Land Before Time: Cavs Pre-Game Thoughts

April 4, 2025 vs San Antonio

“Games aren’t played on paper.” There is a myriad of cliches that are used to get the point across that stats don’t determine championships in sports, and these cliches are true. Having the best stats doesn’t guarantee a title. Stats may be a great indicator of general probabilities of winning a title, but the correlation is not 1:1. That is what makes sports fun and exhilarating. It is what makes betting an exciting endeavor. It is what makes predictions a bit of a pseudoscience. Most importantly, it is what makes keen, well-rounded insights crucial.

Statistics often struggle to tell the full story. For instance, in Wednesday night’s game against the Knicks, Isaac Okoro shot 1-6 on three pointers and had a modest 11 points in 23 minutes. However, that fails to represent the phenomenal impact he made on the game. Despite his poor three-point shooting, he put together a +13 performance, fourth best on the Cavs in the game. He closed the game for the Cavs, making an impact on both ends of the court.

On the defensive end, his disruption and energy caused OG Anunoby to cool off, scoring just 4 points in the second half after having 19 in the first half. On the offensive end, Okoro has become more dynamic than the corner-three shooter he has been in the past. Within Kenny Atkinson’s new offense, Okoro has become a genuine playmaker. This season, he ranks in the 100th percentile in screening talent and in the 97th percentile in passing efficiency.  All said, Ice should be a staple in the Cavs rotation come playoff time.

Statistics have other shortfalls too. There are no statistics that properly capture the chemistry, leadership, and other intangibles that impact team success. If there were, I believe the Cavs would likely rank at the top of the NBA in all of these categories. Look at the Cavs’ pregame antics on Wednesday as an example. As the team geared up for a matchup with the 3rd-seeded Knicks in a nationally televised game on ESPN, they used part of their shoot-around to see how many balls they could pile up in the hoop without them falling. It was funny, it was relatable, but it also portrayed a team unbothered by pressure.

Then there’s Donovan Mitchell. Sure, his statistics have dropped since the All-Star break. His on-court decision making has also been inconsistent. He may be back on track now, but for a while there Cavs fans (including us) were pleading for him to put together four consistent quarters.  What we missed in all of that was the incredible leadership Mitchell displayed in spite of his struggles. He took accountability. He kept cheerleading for his teammates. And he displayed resiliency and focus on the task ahead.

On Brian Windhorst’s Hoop Collective podcast this week, Windhorst, Tim MacMahon, and Tim Bontemps all gave plaudits to Mitchell for his leadership. In fact, all three said it was a big reason they kept him on their first-team All-NBA ballot in Bontemps’ straw poll, in spite of the drop in his stats.

The Cavs may win a title this season, or they may not. A million different factors can impact that. But right now, this team is showing that they have a lot of the elements of an all-time team, both in the stat sheet and in the locker room.

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