From Richfield to Rocket Arena: What October History Says…

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 25

Cleveland's franchise began with 15 straight losses in 1970, so a 1-1 start is no crisis by its own history. The real questions are about the stars, the money and the defense.

Cavaliers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Is a 1-1 start anything to worry about for this franchise?

Not by Cleveland's own measure. The Cavaliers opened life in 1970 with 15 straight losses, and the first winning season came in 1976, when Dick Snyder's shot with four seconds left decided Game 7 against Washington. This team lost at Philadelphia, then beat Brooklyn. The record is fine. The louder complaint is the power rankings, where Cleveland slid from ninth to 22nd in a week.

What do past October 25 games say about Cleveland openers?

The Cavs are 4-2 in the six games on file for this date. They beat the Knicks 117-88 in 2016, Denver 99-87 on the road in 2021, Detroit 113-101 in 2024 and Indiana 118-100 in 1980. The losses came at the Lakers in 1970 and at the Knicks in 1975. The 2024 team went 15-0 that November before Boston stopped it.

Why does Mitchell's uniform quote land so hard in Cleveland?

Because this city has watched its star leave. LeBron James went to Miami in 2010, and the Cavs lost 26 straight, the third-longest streak in league history. He left again in 2018. Hoops Rumors carried Mitchell's October 21 line, "I Don't Ever Want To Wear Another Uniform." It also reported that Cleveland was in "consideration" for James in free agency; nothing in that report says a deal was close.

Can a $209.0M roster get back to the level of the 1989 and 1992 teams?

Those Mark Price, Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance teams won 57 games in 1988-89 and 1991-92. This group sits over the $200.4M tax line, with Mitchell and Mobley at $50.1M each. It came in off a 52-30 season, sixth in offense and 15th in defense. Two games project to 41-41, which proves nothing, but the defense is the part that has to move.

The verdictOne loss and one narrow win settle nothing in a franchise that has survived much worse starts. The defense has to catch up to the payroll.

When did the Cavaliers win their first NBA championship?

In 2016, when they came back from a 3-1 deficit against Golden State. They were the first team to do that in the Finals.

How did the Cavaliers start their first season?

They joined the league in 1970 as an expansion team and opened with 15 straight losses. Their first winning season came in 1976.

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.