The secret to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ incredible defensive stretch

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent win streak flipped a dreadful season into something positive. Their key to success can be summed up in one word: defense.

In the waning seconds of a 116-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, four Cleveland Cavaliers players cleared the lane for LeBron James. Isolated on Dillon Brooks, James powerfully dribbled towards the rim, careening off his defender before laying in the ball.

He flexed, then shoulder shimmied towards a crowd of hysterical Cavs fans. LeBron was having fun. The Cavs are finally having fun. But then again, everything is fun during an 11-game winning streak.

In Cleveland, winning is usually synonymous with scoring. LeBron and company led the Eastern Conference in points per game last season with one of the league’s most electrifying offenses. They launched 3s with reckless abandon, dominating games with their star power.

It’s a trend during King James’ reign. The Cavs have finished top two in points per game each year during LeBron’s second stint with the team.

But during their defiant, 11-game march through the league, the Cavaliers’ defense has reigned supreme. It’s stifling opposing teams, regardless of who is on the floor. Prior to the win against Memphis, Cleveland’s defense ranked seventh in points per possession since Nov. 10, a span of 10 games.

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What’s the secret? One word: effort. The Cavs are playing more aggressive, applying tighter pressure and closing out on their opponents better. Defenders are flying across the floor, wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. Following a recent win, Kevin Love nodded towards an increased effort by everybody.

“We knew something had to change,” he told NBA.com after the triumph. “We’re still not where we need to be, and you can see that.”

The Cavs’ beat reporters are noticing a difference, too. Writers rave about their improved intensity. There is just a sense of passion and dedication that wasn’t on the defensive end earlier in the year. The Cavs’ effort has led to more missed shots, as the team is fifth in defensive rebounds during the win steak.

On the topic of effort, Cleveland players are finally sprinting back on defense, limiting their opponents’ transition points. It might be the biggest change in the squad’s overall defensive prowess, which is crucial considering the Cavaliers lack sufficient size to body-up big man in the frontcourt. So, they must dominate the transition game.

A couple stats help tell the tale. During their 11-game winning streak, Cleveland is only allowing 8.4 fast break points per contest. That’s fourth-best in the NBA. Prior to the streak, the Cavs were 12th in the NBA in fast break points allowed.

They’re also doing it without their defensive catalyst, Tristan Thompson, which means, apart from limiting transition points, the Cavs’ wings are being forced to play out of position.

We know that’s easy for LeBron, and maybe even Jae Crowder. But Love and backup small forward, Jeff Green (yes, the Jeff Green who is on his fourth team since 2015) , have excelled while playing out of position.

Take this play from Green in the first half of the Cavs win against Memphis.

The Grizz were looking for a quick bucket down low from big man Marc Gasol. Apparently out of position, Green swoops in from the weak side. He swats the pass away into the hands of Kyle Korver.

Not losing himself in the moment, Green gallops past Gasol and finishes the play with a slam. He stuck with the play and never gave up. He gave the most effort.

The sequence is the Cavs’ turnaround in a nutshell. Their seventh or eighth-best player outmaneuvers the opposing team’s MVP not with a flashy crossover dribble that leads to a slam or a fade away 3-pointer, but a deflection and dunk.

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One month ago, that’s likely an easy inside bucket for Gasol. But the Cavs, albeit undersized, are playing with defensive fire and swagger. Now they are no longer hemorrhaging easy hoops, and opposing teams must work for their buckets.

There’s reason to be skeptical. The Cavaliers’ cupcake schedule would make any subpar defense look formidable. Take their recent six-game stretch, which started with the floundering Brooklyn Nets, a team looking for even a particle of progress.

Then the Charlotte Hornets, a squad attempting to paddle above water with an overperforming Jeremy Lamb as its second best player.

The Philadelphia 76ers win was solid, but the young Sixers are still looking for their identity. The Miami Heat are a better defensive squad than offensive, while the Atlanta Hawks are bottom-dwellers and the Grizzlies were enduring a 10-game skid.

In the five-game stretch before that, only the Detroit Pistons appear to be only legitimate threat to play in late May. In total, only three of the Cavaliers’ last eight opponents are above the .500 mark.

Things don’t really get tougher for the Cavs until after Christmas. So if the defense plays well, the Cavs may be able to keep this streak alive until a holiday bout with the Golden State Warriors.

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Keeping history in mind, that’s a big if with Cleveland. But as Vince Lombardi once said, “The achievements of an organization are the results of a combined effort of each individual.” If the Cavs keep putting forth effort, achievement will come.