Confidence meter for the Cavs' season opener

The season starts on Wednesday. It's a good time for Fear the sword staff to do a temperature check on where we think things stand for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The exercise is simple. We voted on a scale of 1 to 10 how much confidence we have in the following five categories and why we think that way.

Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

Front office

Personnel coordination: 7.1

Twitter (X) poll grade: b

Previous vote: 6.75

Keeping the core together was a risk. It would have been easier to justify moving Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen in the summer than not doing so based on Cleveland's midseason performance last year and their playoff results. Instead, Koby Altman and Co. decided to keep the group together and focus on internal improvements with a new head coach.

We'll see if this strategy pays off. There is two years of playoff data that suggests this is not a good fit core. At the same time, the same could have been said about the pairing of Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown, who came together at various points in recent seasons before breaking out a year after adopting a different style under a new head coach.

I'm not saying that's going to happen in Cleveland. But there's reason to believe there's more to come from this core than what we've seen the last two seasons, even if they don't have the ceiling that Boston had. It's easy to overlook the value of continuity. — Jackson Flickinger

Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images

Coaching staff

Personnel vote: 8.6

Twitter (X) poll grade: b

Previous vote: 8.75

The Cavs have confidence in Kenny Atkinson's hands. It's up to him to iron out the wrinkles in this squad and justify the longer existence of the core four.

There is no doubt that this group can win a number of regular season games. They have the eighth-most wins in the NBA since 2022 and even advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season. Still, it feels like Cleveland's ceiling won't rise much higher in the postseason until their offensive production matches their elite defense. They have consistently struggled to achieve comparable points with other competitors in the league.

This is where Atkinson and his crew come into play. Atkinson's job is to break old habits and develop modern playing styles. That includes an influx of three-point shooting, a faster pace of play and a focus on developing Evan Mobley as a cornerstone of this team's long-term success.

Atkinson has a tall task ahead of him – and he'll likely receive more blame than recognition along the way. But at this point there is reason to believe he is the right man for the job. — Tony Pesta

Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images

Starting lineup

Personnel vote: 7.6

Twitter (X) poll grade: A

Previous vote: 7

The Cavs had planned to rebuild the starting lineup from last season with their starters plus Max Strus, but that already went down in flames. Strus will be out for at least six weeks with an ankle sprain he suffered during practice in Chicago, a blow before the regular season has even begun. Strus is an important part of the starting lineup, but not as important as the core four. However, the ankles are sensitive and Strus has suffered such injuries in the past.

Dean Wade stepping in would be ideal as he offers the mix of size, shooting and defense the Cavs crave. However, Wade also has an injury history. Isaac Okoro or Caris LeVert may also need to step in in the next few months, continuing the revolving door at small forward that has been rotating since 2018 when a certain individual left for Los Angeles.

But the most important players for the Cavs' starting lineup are Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. With a new offensive scheme, better health and positive signs of Mobley becoming more aggressive, the ceiling for starters is high. As we saw last season, the team can still be very good even with core injuries. — Mike Anguilano

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

bank

Staff vote: 6.25

Twitter (X) poll grade: C

Previous vote: 3.25

I am the dissenting, positive voice among my colleagues and I understand why. The substitutes are flawed and frustrating at times. Dean Wade doesn't shoot. Isaac Okoro cannot make the most of his offensive abilities. Outside of his shooting, Sam Merrill is limited. Georges Niang is not a good defender or rebounder. Caris LeVert is Caris LeVert. And so forth.

This all obscures how well the bench fits the core of this team, which is what really matters. The bench's fit with the core is why the Cavs were better overall with LeVert and Wade on the court than without. That's why the offense was improved with Niang and the defense with Okoro. This resulted in the Cavaliers' top two lineups logging over 150 possessions last season, including two or more bench players. That's also why the Cavs were able to be as productive as they were when Garland and Mobley missed large portions of last season.

A bank's goal is not to score the most points. Instead, it serves to complement the starters and centerpieces. The Cavs reserves do this exceptionally well, even if they don't have any players who aren't impressive in a vacuum. The bank deserves much more respect than what it gets. — Flickinger

Photos by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Overall outlook

Staff vote: 8.5

Twitter (X) poll grade: b

Previous vote: 6.75

The Cavaliers are in an Eastern Conference arms race with many teams pushing for the title. The Cavaliers decided to stay playful and decided on a coaching change as a big step. The bet the front office has made on the core and supporting cast could help them early as teams like the Knicks and 76ers have reshuffled their personnel to compete with the defending champion Celtics.

While other teams work to break through, the Cavaliers can rely on the talent that has now played together for entire seasons. The ceiling has always been high for this team and they have only scratched the surface of what they are capable of. There are a lot of variables at play in the East, so keeping the band together for now is the best move.

If Mobley takes a leap on offense, Garland returns to form, and Michell's health recovers, this Cavaliers team has the potential to compete with the Celtics. The Cavaliers had good-to-great teams in the regular season, but failed once postseason basketball hit. If Atkinson can elevate the offense, the Cavaliers' ceiling will rise from a great regular-season team to a title contender. — Corey Walsh