The Cavaliers have come roaring into March in command of the Eastern Conference, eclipsing 50 wins on the season. But racking up wins isn't the team's only focus. Ideastream Public Media's sports commentator Terry Pluto discusses how the Cavs are preparing for what they hope will be a deep postseason run.
鈥淭he Cavs' best season ever was 2009 (when) they were 66-16,鈥� Pluto said. 鈥淭he Cavs, with 21 games to go, can easily, if they keep playing as they have, win more games than that team ever did.鈥�
Pluto added that the Cavs did not reach the NBA Finals in 2009.
鈥淚 think that team kind of push it hard to win all those games,鈥� he said.
Pluto said the approach is different this year under first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson.
鈥淚 look at minutes played,鈥� Pluto said. 鈥淭hey're not pushing their guys that hard. To make this work where you're trying to win a lot of games but not play your starters a lot of minutes, you need a good bench.鈥�
Pluto said team president Koby Altman described it as wanting to give Atkinson more tools for his toolbox.
Their stars on the bench have been Ty Jerome and lately, De鈥橝ndre Hunter, who was acquired from Atlanta at the NBA trade deadline.
鈥淭hey go back to the University of Virginia together on a team that won the national title," Pluto said. "So, they're good friends to begin with. Sec