The Knicks are NBA Champions… so what do the Cavaliers need to do to dethrone them next season?
The New York Knicks are the champions, which means every contender in the Eastern Conference is now asking the same question: how do you beat them four times in seven games? The Cavaliers learned the hard way in the Eastern Conference Finals that talent alone isn’t enough. Cleveland has stars in Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley, but the Knicks exposed questions about the Cavs’ toughness, wing depth, physicality, and ability to consistently create offense when playoff defenses tighten up. That’s why this offseason feels so important. Is internal growth enough, or does Cleveland need to make a significant move to close the gap?
The bigger question may be whether the Cavaliers need more talent or a different identity. Do they need another high-level wing? More shooting? More toughness? Another player who thrives in the physical style that defines playoff basketball? The Knicks didn’t just win the championship—they set the standard for the East. Now the Cavs have to decide whether they’re one adjustment away or one major move away from getting back into the title conversation. That answer could define the entire direction of the franchise heading into next season.
Subscribe and ring the bell for the latest talk about the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Cavaliers and Ohio State Buckeyes: https://bit.ly/ucss_subscribe
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ultclesports
Watch live on YouTube 11 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays on YouTube and WKYC+ on your Roku and Fire TV apps!
The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show is your daily source of the best conversation about the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Cavaliers and Ohio State Buckeyes, as well as sports throughout Northeast Ohio. Produced by Mike Lucas, Anthony Antonelli, and Earl Mauldin. Hosted by Jay Crawford, Adam the Bull, G Bush, Jason Lloyd, and Tyvis Powell.
Cavs glaring issue is leaderhip. I see no clear leadership.
You have to do more than just score to be a top 10 player
Turning KAT into the point forward changed everything
Sadly Cavs will not only have to go up against the champs but possibly Indiana and a healthy Boston with Gianis possibly or Miami. Also if you get swept in the ecf does that still count as a achievement or do you have to win a game first
stop asking for the Cavs to lean into playing big. you said, "they have 2 seven footers." Jarrett Allen is 6'9 on a good day and gets beat around by other bigs in the league. Likewise, Mobley does NOT play like a true big. Sure, 2/4 of the Cavs best players are forwards, but neither of them are creators, and neither of them really play their position well. The answer is not for the Cavs to repeat JB's strategy to "play big." Championship teams all have one thing in common–looooong wings that can shoot/defend. Cavs don't have a single excellent wing guy that fits the pattern of every single championship team in the past 10 years.
The number one lesson, is the star player takes 100M less to sign other great players.
Trade JA for herb jone and sediq bey. Try to go get Robert Williams from Portland
Lesson for Cavs: don't get swept!!
Thank You Mikey Keep the Bigs In together for least 30 Mins
Cavs need to get in the gym and shoot free throws this summer first. Then they need to work on passing so they stop turning the ball over. Coach needs to get better. And we need to take a big swing as well if we want to dethrone the champs.
Lessons that the Cavs have learned from the Knicks is to continue to get Bullied year end and year out as long as Allen and Mobley are on the Cavs.
I was saying the people who slept best on Saturday outside of Knicks fans was CLE fans 🤣
New York will still be good next year… Boston will be better… Indiana will be better… Cavs are going nowhere
Who is our scrappy dude everyone that wins now has that scrappy guy that’s essential to their starting 5
Analytically the spurs won the series 4-1
The Cavs will have to play in the paint to win a championship. Mobley has to have more paint touches than perimeter touches.
Cavs players are to cute out there and they try and finesse everything all the time. You gotta get down and dirty if you want to be a champion and this group is not committed to the defensive end first and until they change mindset they never gonna reach that next level.
One main lesson the Cavs can learn from the Knicks is about not giving up. This Cavs team will be the butt of every joke this time again next year if they bring everyone back
Not giving the Knicks credit is a real trend I’m seeing here, it’s like just because the fans are annoying don’t give them any credit. You’re not a credible analyst if you think that.
Smh
Cavs glaring issue… THEY'RE SOFT AF! End of story
Did Dustin just say, “Jason, you’re the basketball expert”?
Got to use tomlin as energy guy and stop drafting the stash overseas players draft a player thats gone play right away okc and spurs
do it utah does it
Remember when Dan Gilbert barely won one title with LeBron James in 12 years, then made him leave twice? Me either. Let’s just continue to hide from the truth.
Mike, Jason… I can’t take you two seriously until you address the elephant in the room. We wouldn’t even be in this fetal position if it weren’t for Dan Gilbert.
Can't ….WIN……with Fox……….lesson one. Detroit ….NOT…….mentioned here…….they will be heard next year……….not the knicks…………………