The Warriors, Rockets, Capitals, Mavericks and Celtics. These are the five franchises which did better than the Cavaliers, winners last night of their 12th victory in a row on the floor of the Bulls. It's the 6th best start in history, certainly still very far from the 24 consecutive successes of Stephen Curry's teammates in 2015, but it remains exceptional.
“It’s great to be part of history”recognizes Donovan Mitchell. “I never want to take these things for granted like we do in different ways. We achieve this by signing big gaps. We win after being behind. We win close games. And every night, it's someone different every night who takes charge. It’s always a collective effort.”
Increased pressure from match to match
Last night, the Cavaliers trailed by nine points in the 3rd quarter, before producing their effort thanks to the substitutes with Ty Jerome as the spearhead. “This group is determined,” likes Kenny Atkinson. “I think there were questions about this group, whether they could reach the next level, whether they could take the next step. That's why I think when you have that pressure, you focus even more. There's another level of focus, another level of attention, another level of detail that these guys are using to get us to 12-0 so far. »
In history, five of the seven teams to have started with 12 straight victories had reached the Finals. In 2015/16, the Warriors had the best record in history with 73 victories and 9 defeats. Before falling in the NBA final against the… Cavaliers.
Prepare for spring now
Like the Warriors of the time, the Cavaliers rely on the same group, but you also have to be able to withstand the pressure of being the hunted team, and maintain the same level. The upcoming schedule is rather lenient with a trip to the Sixers back-to-back, then the receptions of the Bulls and the Hornets.
“We are playing well, the atmosphere is good, but we have to continue to be this team”concludes Mitchell. “And that’s the message I gave to the guys in the locker room. It's great. We will find ourselves facing teams who will bring out their best game against us. We will be tested very soon, but will we continue? And I have no doubt about it, we will. Are we going to continue to be this team in January, February, March and April? I think the guys all feel it, but it's nice to enjoy those moments and stay humble. »
Best season starts in NBA history
- 24-0 — Golden State Warriors, 2015-2016 (loss in NBA Finals)
- 15-0 — Houston Rockets, 1993-1994 (NBA champions)
- 15-0 — Washington Capitols, 1948-1949 (loss in NBA Finals)
- 14-0 — Dallas Mavericks, 2002-2003 (loss in conference finals)
- 14-0 — Boston Celtics, 1957-1958 (loss in NBA Finals)
- 12-0 — Cleveland Cavaliers, 2024-2025
