What team did Mike Fartillo coach in the 1994-95 NBA season?

The story behind the answer

Mike Fartillo—apparently a misspelling of Mike Fratello—coached the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1994–95 NBA season. Fratello had become Cleveland’s head coach in 1993 and guided the team through the entire 1994–95 campaign.

The Cavaliers finished 43–39 and reached the playoffs as the fourth-place team in the Central Division. Their defense was especially strong: Cleveland allowed only 89.8 points per game, the best defensive mark in the NBA that season. The team included prominent players such as Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, and Tyrone Hill.

The Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference first round. Fratello remained Cleveland’s coach for several more seasons and became known for emphasizing disciplined, defense-first basketball. The team is often simply called the “Cavs,” but “Cleveland Cavaliers” is the formal franchise name.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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