NBA analyst points to Cavs’ defense as lingering concern

Cavaliers NBA News NBA Rumors The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals this season, but questions remain about whether they can take the next step toward a championship. Looking back at his preseason predictions, ESPN’s Zach Kram noted that Cleveland’s defense slipped noticeably during the 2025-26 campaign. Kram predicted the Cavs would finish with a below-average defense. While they technically finished 15th in defensive rating — barely above league average — he viewed the forecast as largely accurate after the Cavs took a step backward on that end of the floor. The decline was particularly notable given that Cleveland ranked...