One theme that has stood out about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ struggles in the postseason over the last three seasons has been toughness.
In 2023, the New York Knicks boat-raced them because of their overwhelming physical advantage over the Cavaliers. In 2025 against the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland didn’t have the mental toughness needed to finish games.
That was something the Cavs acknowledged all offseason, and during this season. They know that they need to make that mental push to get to the next level. Talent in the NBA is not the only thing that wins championships.