Cavaliers Striving To Be Better In This Critical Spot

The Cleveland Cavaliers admit they must be better on the defensive end of the floor.

Oct 26, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) grabs a rebound against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images / Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers remain the best team in basketball in terms of record with their 17-1 start to the season. However, Cleveland must improve in one critical spot: establishing a consistent defensive game plan.

This was a consistent message from the players and the Cavaliers' head coach following Sunday night's victory over the Toronto Raptors.

"We can be better. We got complacent. I think we allowed them to push the pace. They got too many easy buckets. For us to be the team we want to be, I kind of got on the guys a little bit, including myself. I was like, 'We got to be better on a continuous basis. On a nightly basis. We have to be better," said Donovan Mitchell.

“We know we have the ability to be a top-five defense, and I think we’re just not pursuing it like we should.”

Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome and Kenny Atkinson point out one of the #Cavs rare shortcomings and what needs to be done to remedy two issues on that end. pic.twitter.com/FOzZHb4FLO

— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) November 25, 2024

Kenny Atkinson identified fouling as one area the Cavaliers must be better at moving forward.

"Good, except for the fouling. And I don't think it was the referee's fault. We're like 27th in the league on fouling on drives. I kept telling the guys during timeouts, 'We've got to get our hands out of there.' We reach too much. A little undisciplined there. So, it's an issue right now. But we've got to address it," said the Cavaliers head coach.

Jarrett Allen echoed what Mitchell and Atkinson had to say about their defense.

"I think we've been complacent," said JA. "We know that we have Evan and I behind the guards to help them and bail them out, and I'm not blaming it on the guards. Evan and I have been following as well. We know we have the ability to be a to have a top-five defense, and I think we're just not pursuing it like we should."

Nov 24, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cleveland is currently ninth in the NBA with a defensive rating of 110.9. However, they have the potential to be even better.

Cleaning up when their opponent drives to the basket and improving their three-point defense will help the Cavaliers reach the top-five defense status Allen talks about.