CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs built their identity around stifling defense over the past few seasons, but eleven games into the 2025-26 campaign, that foundation is showing significant cracks.

What’s happening isn’t simply a matter of effort or execution — it’s a fundamental personnel reality that’s forcing the team to reckon with who they actually are, rather than who they’ve been.

The addition of De’Andre Hunter, acquired via trade to provide two-way wing play, has highlighted this defensive identity crisis. While Hunter brings valuable on-ball defensive skills, his off-ball awareness has been problematic — an issue that was apparent during Monday’s loss to Miami, particularly on the game’s final possession.

“That has been the knock on De’Andre throughout the course of his NBA career,” e

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