The Cleveland Cavaliers finished as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in nearly a decade. However, after sweeping the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat in round one, they were quickly eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the second round, a major disappointment that Koby Altman addressed.

Altman acknowledged, “Nobody anticipated us to be the No. 1 seed or to achieve 64 wins. Given our performance, we have now set the standard for Finals appearances. Everyone now sees us as potential champions, and we need to embrace this challenge moving forward.”

A critical turning point in their playoff journey was a key moment in Game 2 against the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ point guard, managed a free throw rebound before scoring a decisive three-pointer that led to Indiana’s narrow win.

Altman stated, “To reach the next level, Evan Mobley, who was recently named Defensive Player of the Year and made his first All-Star appearance, has to elevate his game further. He averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds this season, but we need even more engagement from him in the playoffs.”

The Cavaliers, who previously missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, are looking to build on their recent success and push deeper into the postseason.