2025-26 season preview: Three reasons the Cavs will make the Finals ... and three they won't

Three reasons why the Cavaliers will advance to the NBA Finals This whole season is about getting to the NBA Finals. Nothing short of that will suffice. No more flaming out in the second round. They haven't been able to get past the Eastern Conference semifinals. It's time to kick down that barrier and make it to the NBA Finals. With injuries to several major stars in the East, Cleveland's opportunity is this year. They have one of the deepest rosters in the league. Coach Kenny Atkinson likes using a 10-man rotation. He'll need to use a 14-man rotation to play all the talent he has on his bench. It's going to be nearly impossible to find minutes for everyone. Youngsters like Jaylon Tyson, Tyrese Proctor and Craig Porter Jr. are going to be hard-pressed to find playing time on this deep bench. If Evan Mobley is ready to take the next step toward stardom, it's time for him to step up. If he believes he can be an MVP candidate, he'll have to score a lot more points. When was the last MVP that averaged 18.6 points (his total from last year). He might not be ready to average 25 points a game, a season like that would be needed. Three reasons why the Cavs won't get to the NBA Finals The Cavs are still viewed as being soft by some critics. It comes to a head in the playoffs when the officials allow teams to get overly aggressive. Cleveland has several finesse players but very few that are tough as nails. We'll see whether it will become a problem in the postseason. Starters Max Strus and Darius Garland are expected to miss the start of the season because of injuries. Strus is coming off foot surgery and won't be available until around December. Garland had toe surgery and might not miss as much time as people have predicted. Both are integral parts of the team and needed in the worst way. This continues to be a weak rebounding team, especially on the defensive end. Both of their starting bigs, Mobley and Jarrett Allen, are good rebounders but not great. Defensive rebounds prevent second-chance points by the opposition. It's a major sticking point for Atkinson and it should remain a key focal point.