The 2014–15 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 45th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season was marked by the publicity the team received by signing free agent forward LeBron James and trading for forward Kevin Love. These All-Star players, added with All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, were dubbed nationally as the "Big Three".[1] With these acquisitions, this formed a new superteam of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love in the East.[2][3][4][5][6]
| 2014–15 Cleveland Cavaliers season | |
|---|---|
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
| Head coach | David Blatt |
| General manager | David Griffin |
| Owner(s) | Dan Gilbert |
| Arena | Quicken Loans Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 53–29 (.646) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 2nd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Warriors 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | |
| Radio | |
A sub-.500 team the previous four seasons, the Cavaliers won the Central division with a 53–29 record. After a slow 19–20 start, including a stretch of 2–10 in 12 games, a number of trades turned the season around, and they finished 34–9 the rest of the way. Despite losing key players to injuries, their run continued deep in the NBA Playoffs, starting with a sweep of the Boston Celtics in four games in the first round, then defeating the Chicago Bulls in six games in the Semi-finals, before sweeping the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in four games in the conference finals, making it to the NBA Finals, their second appearance since 2007. However, the Cavaliers' season ended with a 2–4 series loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, who won their fourth NBA championship, their first NBA Championship in 40 years.
Offseason
editIn July 2014, LeBron James signed with the Cavaliers and Kevin Love was acquired through a 3-team trade in August. With these acquisitions, this formed a new superteam of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love in the East.[7][8][9][10][11]
Draft picks
edit| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team |
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| 1 | 1 | Andrew Wiggins | SG/SF |  Canada
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Kansas |
| 2 | 33 | Joe Harris | SG |  United States
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Virginia |
Roster
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Roster |
Roster Notes
editCenter Anderson Varejão played 26 games (his last game being on December 23, 2014) but missed the majority of the season and the playoffs due to tearing his left Achilles tendon. He underwent successful surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on December 26, 2014.[12][13]
Preseason
editRegular season
editStandings
edit| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Cleveland Cavaliers | 53 | 29 | .646 | – | 31–10 | 22–19 | 11–5 | 82 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 50 | 32 | .610 | 3.0 | 27–14 | 23–18 | 8–8 | 82 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 12.0 | 23–18 | 18–23 | 7–9 | 82 |
| Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 15.0 | 23–18 | 15–26 | 8–8 | 82 |
| Detroit Pistons | 32 | 50 | .390 | 21.0 | 18–23 | 14–27 | 6–10 | 82 |
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c-Atlanta Hawks * | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y-Cleveland Cavaliers * | 53 | 29 | .646 | 7.0 | 82 |
| 3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 50 | 32 | .610 | 10.0 | 82 |
| 4 | y-Toronto Raptors * | 49 | 33 | .598 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x-Washington Wizards | 46 | 36 | .561 | 14.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 19.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x-Boston Celtics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 20.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x-Brooklyn Nets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Miami Heat | 37 | 45 | .451 | 23.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Charlotte Hornets | 33 | 49 | .402 | 27.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Detroit Pistons | 32 | 50 | .390 | 28.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Orlando Magic | 25 | 57 | .305 | 35.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 18 | 64 | .220 | 42.0 | 82 |
| 15 | New York Knicks | 17 | 65 | .207 | 43.0 | 82 |
Game log
edit| 2014–15 game log Total: 53–29 (home: 31–10; road: 22–19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 1–1 (home: 0–1; road: 1–0)
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November
: 7–6 (home: 5–3; road: 2–3)
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December
: 10–7 (home: 6–3; road: 4–4)
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January: 11–6 (home: 6–2; road: 5–4)
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February: 8–3 (home: 5–0; road: 3–3)
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March
: 11–4 (home: 5–0; road: 6–4)
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April
: 5–2 (home: 4–1; road: 1–1)
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| 2014–15 season schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Detailed records
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Playoffs
edit| 2015 playoff game log Total: 14–6 (home: 7–3; road: 7–3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
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Eastern Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
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| 2015 playoff schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Player statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Summer League
edit| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Bennett | 4 | 4 | 29.8 | .426 | .250 | .600 | 7.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 13.3 |
| Will Cherry | 5 | 2 | 25.2 | .251 | .235 | .714 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 12.8 |
| Jack Cooley | 5 | 4 | 16.0 | .615 | .000 | .500 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 7.4 |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 3 | 3 | 32.0 | .435 | .273 | .800 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 11.7 |
| Shane Edwards | 5 | 0 | 14.8 | .647 | .000 | .824 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 7.2 |
| Carrick Felix | 5 | 1 | 14.2 | .471 | .444 | .667 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 4.4 |
| Jayson Granger | 4 | 0 | 9.3 | .364 | .200 | .000 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| Steven Gray | 4 | 0 | 13.3 | .375 | .313 | .600 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6.5 |
| Joe Harris | 4 | 4 | 24.8 | .391 | .400 | .818 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 7.8 |
| Scotty Hopson | 1 | 1 | 14.0 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.0 |
| Sergey Karasev | 1 | 1 | 34.0 | .444 | .500 | .500 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 11.0 |
| Alex Kirk | 5 | 1 | 15.4 | .524 | .000 | .667 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 5.2 |
| Dwight Powell | 3 | 1 | 11.3 | .500 | .000 | 1.000 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.0 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 4 | 4 | 30.0 | .405 | .154 | .703 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 15.5 |
| Totals | — | — | 200 | .469 | .272 | .725 | 35.8 | 12.0 | 5.8 | 3.6 | 84.6 |
Preseason
edit| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lou Amundson | 5 | 0 | 6.7 | .300 | .000 | .000 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 6 | 3 | 27.2 | .433 | .294 | .000 | 3.0 | 4.33 | 0 67 | 0.0 | 5.17 |
| Shane Edwards | 5 | 0 | 6.5 | .200 | .000 | 1.000 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Joe Harris | 5 | 0 | 17.5 | .364 | .381 | 1.000 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 7.4 |
| Brendan Haywood | 3 | 1 | 10.2 | .400 | .000 | 1.000 | 2.33 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 1.00 | 3.67 |
| Kyrie Irving | 3 | 2 | 27.3 | .538 | .455 | 1.000 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 19.5 |
| LeBron James | 5 | 4 | 22.6 | .486 | .462 | .750 | 3.25 | 4.75 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 14.25 |
| James Jones | 3 | 0 | 9.5 | .500 | .600 | 1.000 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.00 |
| Alex Kirk | 4 | 0 | 15.4 | .412 | .000 | 1.000 | 3.0 | 0.25 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 5.5 |
| Kevin Love | 5 | 4 | 21.8 | .571 | .588 | .772 | 6.5 | 2.25 | 0.25 | 0.0 | 15.75 |
| Shawn Marion | 5 | 1 | 20.1 | .333 | .000 | .750 | 4.75 | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.5 | 5.00 |
| Mike Miller | 6 | 0 | 14.2 | .263 | .188 | 1.000 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
| A. J. Price | 5 | 0 | 13.5 | .517 | .421 | .750 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.2 |
| Tristan Thompson | 5 | 2 | 25.1 | .588 | .000 | .789 | 10.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 13.75 |
| Anderson Varejao | 5 | 3 | 20.9 | .542 | .000 | .700 | 7.25 | 1.25 | 1.5 | 0.25 | 8.25 |
| Dion Waiters | 6 | 5 | 27.1 | .426 | .385 | .800 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 15.2 |
Regular season
edit| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 69 | 69 | 36.1 | .488 | .354 | .710 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 25.3 |
| Kyrie Irving | 75 | 75 | 36.4 | .468 | .415 | .863 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| Kevin Love | 75 | 75 | 33.8 | .434 | .367 | .804 | 9.7 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 16.4 |
| J. R. Smith | 46 | 45 | 31.8 | .425 | .390 | .818 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 12.7 |
| Timofey Mozgov | 46 | 45 | 25.0 | .590 | .000 | .787 | 6.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 10.6 |
| Dion Waiters | 33 | 3 | 23.8 | .404 | .256 | .783 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 10.5 |
| Anderson Varejao | 26 | 26 | 24.5 | .555 | .000 | .733 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 9.8 |
| Tristan Thompson | 82 | 15 | 26.8 | .547 | .000 | .641 | 8.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 8.5 |
| Iman Shumpert | 38 | 1 | 24.2 | .410 | .338 | .667 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 7.2 |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 67 | 13 | 20.6 | .362 | .407 | .763 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0 | 4.8 |
| Shawn Marion | 57 | 24 | 19.3 | .446 | .261 | .765 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.8 |
| James Jones | 57 | 2 | 11.7 | .368 | .360 | .848 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 4.4 |
| Joe Harris | 51 | 1 | 9.7 | .400 | .369 | .600 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0 | 2.7 |
| Kendrick Perkins | 17 | 0 | 9.8 | .488 | .000 | .500 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.6 |
| Mike Miller | 52 | 15 | 13.5 | .325 | .327 | .750 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.1 |
| A.J. Price | 11 | 0 | 7.9 | .265 | .000 | .667 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0 | 2.0 |
| Will Cherry | 8 | 0 | 8.6 | .263 | .222 | .500 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.9 |
| Brendan Haywood | 22 | 1 | 5.4 | .467 | .000 | .538 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.6 |
| Lou Amundson | 12 | 0 | 6.6 | .333 | .000 | .600 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.9 |
| Alex Kirk | 5 | 0 | 2.8 | .250 | .000 | 1.000 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 |
Records
edit- On March 12, Kyrie Irving set a Cavaliers franchise record with 57 points in an overtime victory against the San Antonio Spurs. It was also the first time in Gregg Popovich's coaching career that an opposing player has scored 50 points against his team.
- On May 24, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to put up 37+ points, 18+ rebounds, and 13+ assists in a playoff game. He achieved the feat in an overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
- On May 26, LeBron James and James Jones became the first players to reach five consecutive NBA Finals since several Boston Celtics accomplished the feat in 1966. James and Jones are the first to do so with two teams (also with the Miami Heat).
References
edit- ^ Big Three even bigger - Fox Sports.com
- ^ Brett Pollakoff (July 17, 2014). "Report: LeBron James has reached out to Kevin Love to express interest in him playing for Cavaliers". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Kurt Helin (August 23, 2014). "It's done: Kevin Love traded to Cavaliers, Andrew Wiggins headed to Minnesota in three-team deal". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Michael Lee (October 16, 2014). "LeBron James's latest super team more about the game than the show". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Chris Fedor (August 26, 2014). "A phone call from LeBron James helped bring Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers". Cleveland.com. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Kevin Spain (August 26, 2014). "Kevin Love says call from LeBron helped make decision". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Brett Pollakoff (July 17, 2014). "Report: LeBron James has reached out to Kevin Love to express interest in him playing for Cavaliers". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Kurt Helin (August 23, 2014). "It's done: Kevin Love traded to Cavaliers, Andrew Wiggins headed to Minnesota in three-team deal". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Michael Lee (October 16, 2014). "LeBron James's latest super team more about the game than the show". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Chris Fedor (August 26, 2014). "A phone call from LeBron James helped bring Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers". Cleveland.com. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Kevin Spain (August 26, 2014). "Kevin Love says call from LeBron helped make decision". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "Cavaliers' Varejao out for season with torn tendon". Deseret News. December 24, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Sean Highkin (December 26, 2014). "Anderson Varejao undergoes surgery for torn Achilles, out for the season". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
External links
edit
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