Eight straight for the boys up north, ladies and gentlemen. This is the first time we've seen the Toronto Raptors embark on this long of a winning stretch, since back in the 2021-22 campaign, when they logged eight in a row from January 29 to February 10 of that year. Of course, at that time, the Raptors were just getting a taste of their soon to be crowned ROTY, Scottie Barnes, and still revelling in a core that featured Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., and OG Anunoby.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been fined $100,000 by the NBA for violating the league's player participation policy for sitting both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley for the team's Nov. 12 game on the road against the Miami Heat. Both players were classified as star players by the league's policy, which was adopted prior to the 2023-24 season to curtail load management and promote participation in the NBA's regular season.
ON THE THIRD day of training camp, the Cleveland Cavaliers took a break from the basketball court. It was Oct. 2, a humid, 87-degree afternoon in Bradenton, Florida, where the Cavs were hosting camp at IMG Academy, a multisport facility that coach Kenny Atkinson compared to an Olympic village. Atkinson aimed to create a training camp that focused on more than basketball, breaking up the monotony that can form during a long season.
However, with a depleted Cavs squad, it became more a matter of handling Mobley and supporting pieces like De'Andre Hunter and Jaylon Tyson. While the Cavaliers' size might lead some to believe they would outclass Toronto, it was worth noting that the Cavs have been struggling with rebounding too, ranking in the bottom five league-wide ( averaging 40.7) alongside the Raptors (who are averaging 38.0).
The Knicks are stocked with talent but also are laden with expectations with fans desperate for the team to make the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Knicks could take a minute or two to adjust to coach Mike Brown's fast-paced offense, but as long as Jalen Brunson remains healthy, they have a solid chance of coming out of the East.
The Miami Heat could surprisingly offer an unexpected lifeline to the Cleveland Cavaliers after it was reported that their noted sharp-shooting wing Max Strus is expected to miss 3-4 months with an injury. If the Cavs wanted a cheap replacement, they should look no further than Simone Fontecchio as a potential trade target. And the Heat should be willing to oblige.