Despite securing the number one overall seed in the Eastern Conference this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers went out in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second year in a row.
After such a disappointing close to the season, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman Is fully aware that the expectations heading into next season will be much different.
“I think we can all agree that coming into the season, no one predicted us to be [the] No. 1 seed. I don’t think anyone had 64 wins. Because we were so good we re-created the expectation of Finals,” he said.
“I think everyone in here saw potential champions, which is a new space for us.
“We re-created the expectation and now we have to live with that. I think it’s a space we want to live in and take that into the playoffs next year, knowing we’re going to have to change that narrative, knowing that we have get over the hump.”
Altman also touched on the importance of star forward Evan Mobley maximizing his potential.
“We’re going to go as a franchise as Evan is going to go. And we’ve had that conversation with Evan,” Altman said. “In the playoffs, we need more. We need more than 13 field goal attempts per game — that’s new for Evan.
“There’s another jump. And so to that point, Kenny’s going to be able to implement his offseason program, which we’re very excited about. And we’re going to see some internal growth there, and we think we have one of the best big men in the game in Evan Mobley.”
It’s hard to imagine the Cavs’ current core surviving another offseason if next year doesn’t yield better results.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.