The Cavaliers started the 2024-25 season 15-0 under new head coach Kenny Atkinson and, from the beginning to the end of the regular season, were never not in first place in the Eastern Conference. Twenty-four games into Atkinson’s second season, the Cavs are caught between panicking and deluding t hemselves into believing everything is hunky-dory. The Cavaliers fell to 13-10 in a listless performance on Dec. 3 while losing, 122-110,  to the 9-13 Portland Trail Blazers, who one night earlier lost a hard-fought game in Toronto, 121-118. Portland should have been the fatigued team, but it was the Cavaliers that were outrebounded, 54-45, and it was the Cavaliers that shot 25 percent (13 of 52) from three-point range. Donovan Mitchell made just three of 13 three-point attempts. Related Articles Donovan Mitchell scores 28 points as Cavaliers beat Spurs, 130-117 NBA fines Cavaliers $250,000 for resting All-Star Darius Garland in a nationally televised game Cavaliers lose fourth in their last five, 122-110, to Trail Blazers Donovan Mitchell scores 43 points to lead Cavaliers to 135-119 win over Pacers Celtics hold off Cavaliers’ late charge, 117-115 Two nights later, the Cavs trailed the Spurs, 62-54, at halftime, and then outscored their visitors, 66-45, in the second half to pull away and win, 130-117. The two games 48 hours apart illustrate the inconsistency that has dogged the Cavs the first six weeks of the season. Despite beating the Spurs, the Cavs awoke Dec. 6 in eighth place in the East at 14-10. The Cavs didn’t lose for the 10th time last season until the Celtics beat them, 112-105, in Cleveland on Feb. 4. The Cavs were 40-9 before that loss and then won their next 16 games. Some things are different this year. Max Strus had offseason foot surgery and has yet to play a game. Jarrett Allen proudly played every game last season, but he has been sidelined with a finger injury in seven of the last eight games. Darius Garland is trying to find his rhythm after missing the first seven games recovering from offseason toe surgery. He has played in eight games and been inactive for eight games since returning to the lineup. Sam Merrill has missed eight straight games with a right-hand injury. “We have to be better on all accounts,” Mitchell said, reflecting on the early part of the season. “One through 15 (the entire roster), we have to be better. “This isn’t last year. Teams are going to be coming for us. We have some guys out. It’s going to be mentally taxing, physically taxing. We’ve done it. That’s what’s frustrating. Right now, we’re not where we need to be. It’s December. We have time. But at some time, as a collective, we have to do it.” Atkinson is not shrugging off the slow start, nor is he thrilled with the way the Cavs are playing. He hinted at a grand plan unfolding that will make them better in the playoffs. Despite their phenomenal regular season success, they were bounced by the Pacers in five games of the conference semifinals last May. “Different lineups, we’re juggling a lot of pieces right now,” Atkinson said. “People are kind of out of their slots. We’re going to have some ups and downs playing a lot of young guys. “I’m not disappointed in the guys. I’m not down on the guys. My job is to understand the big picture and have perspective. I’m not going to go into details of what that perspective is. We just have some things we’re dealing with. I kind of knew coming into the season there would be some struggles.” The Cavs were 34-7 at Rocket Arena last season. They have already lost five home games (9-5) this season. They are 5-5 on the road. I didn’t know that … until I read my Snapple bottle cap. Hens do not need a rooster to lay an egg, but only an egg fertilized by a rooster will hatch into a chick…Heat, not sunlight, ripens tomatoes…Approximately 10 million bricks were used to build the Empire State Building. Construction began in 1930 and was completed in 1931. At the time the 102-story structure was the tallest building in the world…The sun is 93 million miles from Earth. It is the closest star to Earth…Fresh apples float because 25 percent of their volume is air…Panda Bears eat up to 16 hours a day. ...read more read less