CLEVELAND — The 2025 portion of the 2025-26 season was an ugly stretch for the Cavaliers, who are still trying to shift out of first gear in prep for the playoffs.
The Cavs entered a New Year’s Eve game with the Phoenix Suns at 18-16 and fighting to leave behind any danger of needing the play-in tournament in the new year. It has been a rough enough stretch that Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson sought council from the Guardians after their improbable run to the postseason last September.
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With plenty for the Cavs to still figure out within their own locker room, here are their New Year’s resolutions with an eye on a crucial playoff run on the horizon.
Cavaliers injury report must be shortened
The No. 1 item on the checklist might be simply to stay out of the trainer’s room.
Last year, the Cavs were among the NBA’s least-injured teams during the regular season. That has entirely flipped in 2025-26, and it has led to a disjointed first 32 games of the season.
Darius Garland missed the beginning of the season and remained limited for a time after that. Max Strus has yet to make his season debut. Evan Mobley missed a few weeks. Jarrett Allen, too. Sam Merrill is just returning but is playing through some ailments. The list goes on (and on, and on).
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It’s been a common theme around the NBA, so the Cavs certainly aren’t alone there. Particularly looking at calf and Achilles injuries, the modern style of play has opened up discussions as to whether it’s sustainable given the sheer volume of injuries around the league.
Regardless, the Cavaliers haven’t had much of a chance to find their stride with not only the number of injuries, but that it’s caused players to shift in and out of the rotation, rarely allowing for much continuity from game to game. The Cavs have yet to play a single minute of basketball with all of their key members in the rotation active.
It doesn’t mean that when (or if) the Cavs reach full strength, they’ll be fine. But if they don’t at least have a shot to see how they’re operating with everyone available, it could lead to a much more difficult road in a playoff setting.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) blocks out San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) on Dec. 29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
Cavs need to rediscover their defensive identity
The Cavs’ 64-win season in Atkinson’s debut in Cleveland was primarily centered around an offense that reached a next level, or two. But they held their own defensively, especially inside with Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Allen anchoring the paint.
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The Cavs’ defensive standard has slipped to start this season. Entering Dec. 31, they ranked 14th in the NBA with a 114.1 defensive rating.
Cleveland hasn’t been outside the top eight in the league in defensive rating since 2020-21, when they won 22 games. Beginning with last season and going backward to 2021-22, the Cavs had ranked eighth, seventh, first and fifth in defensive rating. Mobley and Allen both missing time has certainly contributed to that, but it has been among the most glaring issues on the roster.
Although the offense hasn’t been quite as stellar as last year, a defense that had been a regular member of the league’s top eight has slipped back to the middle of the pack. And the Cavs are learning that they can’t simply shoot teams out of the building every night.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) shoots a 3-pointer as Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie defends Dec. 31, 2025, in Cleveland.
Cavs need to find a balance with 3-point shooting
Speaking of trying to shoot teams out of the building, another item on the Cavs’ New Year’s resolution list is to figure out their attack behind the 3-point line.
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The Cavs’ rate of 3-pointers has been a common point of discussion this season. Although they always want to shoot 3s if an open look exists, there might be a point when taking that many 3s won’t always be sustainable, especially in an evolving, grinding best-of-7 series in the playoffs. Atkinson has also discussed the offense maybe not looking for transition 3s quite as often.
The Cavs are going to be a 3-heavy team no matter what, at least to some extent. Donovan Mitchell and Garland are going to get their attempts. The team has encouraged Mobley to fire whenever ready. Merrill and others off the bench have the 3-point line as their main source of contribution.
But if the Cavs don’t improve their efficiency, something might have to adjust.
Entering Dec. 31, only two teams in the league were attempting at least 43 3-pointers per game: the Golden State Warriors and the Cavs (43.3). Although that isn’t a problem in itself, it is when Cleveland is 21st in 3-point percentage (34.9).
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Being in top two in attempts but in the bottom third in shooting percentage isn’t a math equation the Cavs can make work.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers resolutions include injury luck, defensive identity