Cavs: We’ll know if Cleveland is for real a quarter of the way in

The Cavs find themselves 4-2 to start the season but it’s still far too early to form expectations of this team, despite the strong start.

The Cavs are off to a great start and it’s in large part to the defensive mindset that J.B. Bickerstaff has brought to the team. The team has taken on a gritty identity that has translated with stats. Andre Drummond is leading the league in rebounding and is top five in blocks, while Larry Nance Jr. is leading the league in steals as well. Collin Sexton has proven to be the offensive catalyst that makes this teamwork, as he’s in the top ten in points-per-game.

The only problem is, with such a long season, it’s hard to know if this team is for real. After all, we see hot starts all the time, and even more this year, we’re seeing slow starts. Not by the Cavs, but by the powerhouses in both conferences. Unlike in years past the NBA (and other leagues) didn’t have an offseason worth talking about so not everyone is going to be their best.

Is what we’re seeing from the Cavs a sign of things to come or a flash in the pan that has been made possible due to the better teams in the league needing to get their new pieces to fit correctly. It’s entirely possible the Cavs are for real and will be able to deliver on the hopes of last year’s push for the playoffs.

It’s also possible that this team is one bad two-week stretch away from shattering the hopes of thousands of fans.

A good rule of thumb is a quarter of the season. This year, that’s 18 games. If after 18 games you can say your team is among the best, or at least competitive with everyone, then you can form a logical and clear expectation for the rest of the season.

Right now that expectation is playoffs, we’ll see where we are in 12 more games.