The 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers are now officially the 13th NBA team since 2000 to start a season 7-0. The 2022-23 Milwaukee Bucks were the last team to begin a season with seven straight wins.
Cleveland Cavaliers are one win away from matching their best start in franchise history
Milwaukee in 2022-23 went on to finish 58-24 (.707) at the top of the Eastern Conference. However, during the 2023 NBA playoffs, the Bucks were bounced in five games against an eighth-seeded Miami Heat squad.
The 7-0 Cavaliers are now one win away from matching their best start in franchise history. Cleveland won its first eight games in 1976-77. This means the Cavs never won seven straight to begin a season even with LeBron James.
Offensively, the Cavaliers are firing on all cylinders. Through their first four games, they scored a franchise record 494 points, surpassing the franchise’s previous scoring total record through four games to begin a season (480 points in 1992-93).
Cleveland is the 13th team since 2000 to start a season 7-0. 🔥
🔗 https://t.co/TGTs7hc35c pic.twitter.com/PG2ALHzKuQ
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) November 3, 2024
Pace could help explain why the Cavs are playing exceptionally well right now. In the NBA, pace refers to the number of possessions a team has per game. Last season, Cleveland ranked 22nd overall in the league.
Under J.B. Bickerstaff, the offense fell below average at the mid-point of the season. While injuries were a notable factor, the advanced metric speaks for itself. The Cavs still averaged fewer combined possessions per 48 minutes (per game) than other playoff teams.
Now fast forward a year under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. The Cavaliers seem to be a completely different team. Cleveland currently ranks 11th in the league in pace. Although that isn’t top 10, it’s a step in the right direction when compared to last season.
Three NBA teams this century won a championship after starting 7-0: 2001-02 Lakers, 2007-08 Celtics, and 2008-09 Lakers
The 2018-19 Bucks also started off 7-0 before ending their season with an East-best 60-22 (.732) record. In the postseason, Milwaukee that campaign lost in six games to the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors.
Other teams to begin a season with seven consecutive victories include the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, 2013-14 Indiana Pacers, 2010-11 New Orleans Hornets, and 2010-11 Los Angeles Lakers.
More importantly, three teams this century did in fact go on to win the NBA championship after starting 7-0: the 2001-02 Lakers, 2007-08 Boston Celtics, and 2008-09 Lakers.
The 2001-02 Lakers ended their season 58-24 (.707) under coach Phil Jackson, while the 2007-08 Celtics concluded their campaign 66-16 (.805) under coach Doc Rivers.
The 2008-09 Lakers went 65-17 (.793) as well.
