Top 5 reasons why Cleveland Cavaliers can win Emirates NBA Cup
The Emirates NBA Cup, formerly the NBA In-Season Tournament, is underway and teams will look to go all out to fight for the ultimate regular season prize. Last year, the Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural tournament after beating the Indiana Pacers. LeBron James became the first-ever Cup MVP and each player on the roster won $500,000.
This time around, many are curious to know which team could win the NBA Cup. While the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, are one of the favorites to win the competition, the Cleveland Cavaliers are also a logical pick.
Here's a closer look at five reasons why Cleveland could win the Emirates NBA Cup this season.
5 reasons why Cleveland Cavaliers can win the Emirates NBA Cup
#1. They have the best win-loss record in the NBA
As of the time of this writing, the Cavaliers are the best team in the NBA. The Cavs (12-0) are undefeated and have taken out strong teams like the Golden State Warriors with ease. With that kind of momentum by their side, the chances of them moving forward with their winning streak are high.
Given how the Emirate NBA Cup is a tournament within the regular season, their season performance could play a huge factor in advancing to the Cup's finals.
#2. Cleveland's chemistry is top-notch
Looking at the Cavs' current roster, Donovan Mitchell is the only star to consistently be named an All-Star each season. Darius Garland was selected as an All-Star back in the 2021-22 season but was never able to replicate the same result in the following seasons.
Nevertheless, despite only having one true star in their roster, Cleveland is playing like a well-oiled machine. After 12 games of the 2024-25 season, six Cavs players are averaging double-figures: Donovan Mitchell (23.7 points), Darius Garland (20.2 ppg), Evan Mobley (18.1 ppg), Jarrett Allen (13.5 ppg), Caris LeVert (12.0 ppg) and Ty Jerome (10.2 ppg).
#3. The Cavs rarely commit turnovers
In a basketball game, turnovers are usually what breaks a team. Committing many turnovers results in their opponents taking advantage of gaining more possessions.
Fortunately for Cleveland, it is among the top teams to commit the least turnovers in a game. Based on the first 12 games, the Cavs only averaged 13.0 turnovers per game, ranking fifth among teams that have the lowest turnover ratio.
#4. Cleveland is a well-balanced team
Throughout the 2024-25 season, one thing worth noting about the Cleveland Cavaliers is that they're an all-around team. They have the best offensive rating in the league (121.3) and are ninth in defensive rating (109.9).
Given the versatility of their roster, the Cavs seemingly have everything covered. If they need to get buckets, they can rely on almost anyone. If they need to secure some defensive stops, they have several options to rely on. Furthermore, players can pull off what the team needs at a consistent level.
#5. Motivation to bring home another trophy to Cleveland
While the NBA Cup perhaps doesn't share the same importance as the playoffs, winning the regular season tournament still comes with its rewards. The last time the Cavs won was when LeBron James fulfilled his promise and brought home the city and the franchise's first-ever NBA title in 2016.
With that in mind, winning the regular season tournament for the city of Cleveland could serve as motivation for the Cavaliers to push for a title win this season.
How do you think the Cleveland Cavaliers will fare in the Emirates NBA Cup this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.