There’s a really positive energy surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers at the moment.
After a huge offseason for the organization, Cleveland is just a few weeks away from its season opener, and fans can’t wait.
Training camp opened for the squad on Sept. 27, so the Cavs are just starting to get their footing.
However, star guard Darius Garland recently made one thing very clear: The vibes are “immaculate” so far at camp.
When asked today about the vibes early on in camp, #Cavs All-Star Darius Garland called the vibes “immaculate.”
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) September 28, 2022
It seemed pretty obvious that the Cavaliers were a tight-knit group last season, and based on Garland’s comment above, it seems like the 2022-23 Cavs are going to be another close team.
Strong Culture
Culture matters in sports, and teams that are close often have an advantage over teams that are not.
Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has done a really nice job of building a strong culture with his squad, which makes Cleveland a really easy team to root for.
After LeBron James‘ second departure from Cleveland, the Cavs were truly in a rough spot, and they suffered through three consecutive miserable seasons as a result.
They went 19-63, 19-46, and 22-50 in the three seasons immediately following James’ exit.
But piece by piece, Koby Altman and the rest of Cleveland’s front office were able to rebuild, and with Bickerstaff’s help, the rebuilding stage unofficially ended last season.
The Cavs went 44-38 in the 2021-22 campaign and made the play-in tournament, and they almost certainly would have earned a playoff bid if not for an unfortunate series of injuries.
While the winning season was nice, it was just as important that Cleveland’s players showed belief in each other and helped the team culture become something special.
Big Season Ahead For Garland And Company
Cavs fans are surely happy to hear that Garland is enjoying training camp so far.
Darius Garland: “I love Cleveland. Cleveland is home for me.” #Cavs pic.twitter.com/FdnXGFoFG4
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) September 26, 2022
The 22-year-old is entering his fourth season in the NBA, and he’s coming off of a career year.
In the 2021-22 campaign, Garland took a massive leap forward and earned his first All-Star selection.
The youngster averaged 21.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
He was asked to carry a huge load as a result of some of Cleveland’s injuries, and he did an admirable job of answering the call.
Now that Donovan Mitchell is in the mix for the Cavs, the hope is certainly that Garland’s workload will decrease a bit.
While Garland will undoubtedly still play a big role and be one of Cleveland’s most important players, Mitchell’s presence gives the Cavs two players that are capable of being No. 1 options.
That’s a major luxury, and it will benefit the squad in more ways than one.
Looking Ahead
The Cavs’ 2022-23 season opener is getting closer.
The team will begin its season on Oct. 19 against the Toronto Raptors on the road.
After that game, the Cavaliers will travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bulls before heading home to Cleveland for their home opener against the Washington Wizards.
Although training camp is still in its early stages, the season will be here in the blink of an eye.
