The Cleveland Cavaliers are searching for consistency, the Orlando Magic are riding Desmond Bane’s scoring streak, and the Sacramento Kings will face Denver without Zach LaVine.
Cleveland Cavaliers
A year ago, Cleveland opened 21-4. Twenty-five games into the current campaign, the club sits at 14-11 and is still trying to recapture the flow that carried it through most of 2024-25.
Much of the discussion centers on reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley. League scouts and executives offered varied views on his ceiling, according to multiple reports:
- An assistant general manager told ESPN that dominant big men typically rely on guards to supply the ball, adding that Mobley does not need to be “Tim Duncan” to lift the team.
- A Western Conference GM said both player and club must push for greater offensive assertiveness.
- A rival assistant coach labeled Mobley “skilled but not nasty,” calling him a solid piece rather than a dominant one.
With center Jarrett Allen sidelined, head coach Kenny Atkinson has asked Mobley to operate closer to the basket. Improved free-throw accuracy remains a goal; the third-year forward is shooting a career-low 63 percent from the line.
Cleveland continues to rank among the league’s top perimeter-shooting teams, though shot selection has fluctuated. The staff believes deeper post catches and more paint touches for Mobley could stabilize the offense. Internally, there is confidence the group will settle once injuries clear and roles solidify.
Orlando Magic
Desmond Bane’s aggressive approach is setting the tone in Orlando. The guard poured in 37 points Tuesday—his third 37-point effort in six games—and said the Magic returned to their “smash-mouth” identity on both ends of the floor.
Bane will earn a bonus for reaching the NBA Cup semifinals but joked he “lost $35,000” after being fined for throwing the ball at OG Anunoby on Sunday, adding that he needs to “get it back somehow.”
Sacramento Kings
The Kings will be without Zach LaVine on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets due to soreness in his right thumb. Dennis Schröder is listed as doubtful with a strained right hip flexor, the team announced.
Source: Hoops Wire
