Well I was all geared up to write a column about how the Cleveland Cavaliers were poised to win the NBA title this year but then Steph Curry had a record-setting performance in the Warriors’ overtime win over the Trailblazers on Tuesday night and that definitely gave me time to reflect again.
Prior to Monday night, I thought the Cavaliers had all the makings of a champion this season, considering how they have been playing in the final month of the season and the playoffs. Even though Golden State looks impressive I still feel the Cavaliers are on the right track to win their first NBA title.
Wow. I just heard every Cleveland fan scoff at me because those fans never, and I mean never, talk about winning the title after the numerous heartbreaking losses they have endured despite being the favorite.
But unlike Cleveland fans, which I am not, I am going to be overly optimistic for them so when I am wrong they can all tell me at once, “I told you so.”
Growing up in San Antonio, I grew up a Spurs fans. Prior to our success in the Duncan era, the Spurs were much like the Cleveland teams, close but not quite enough. I remember the Game 7 conference final loss to the Washington Bullets in 1978 after being up in the series three games to one. Then in 1982, we lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games in the Western Conference finals.
And who can forget Hakeem Olajuwon shattering our dreams in 1995 when he dominated David Robinson to oust us in six games in the Western Conference finals.
The Spurs finally broke through in 1999 and to be honest I was just happy to see us going to the finals. After we won, followed by four more titles, I admit I have become a tad spoiled but I will never forget the tough losses prior to us being contenders each year.
My belief they are going to win is based on a number of factors and the first one is the one most closely tied to the Spurs: teamwork.
LeBron James has really molded this team into a champion and I think he has finally convinced his teammates that if they want to hoist the Larry O’Brien award this year, they need to do this as a team. James is leading the way by example. Like Curry, James knows winning in the playoffs is a total team effort, something the Cavaliers fans found out last year when the burden of winning was put on King James’ shoulders and once again that did not work.
James had an admirable performance in last year’s series but you could see the frustration set in as Golden State generated offense from a number of weapons. Sure, Curry was the main weapon but remember it was Andre Iguodala who was named Finals MVP.
I’m sure James has imparted his wisdom from five previous trips to the NBA finals on the rest of the team and they are finally listening.
The Cavaliers are playing the type of basketball that most expected when Kevin Love came to the team and that has been seen in the team’s first and second round playoff sweeps. In the playoffs, Love is getting the job done on the boards, averaging 12.9 rebounds per game. His average during the season was 9.9.
But more than Love’s contributions in the rebounding is the play of Kyrie Irving. Like him or hate him, Irving is a huge talent but he has always had a shoot-first, pass-second mentality. And as a point guard you can win some games some of the times but you will never win all the games in the playoffs any time if you do not distribute the rock.
Interestingly enough, Irving is leading the team in scoring during the playoffs with a 24.4 scoring average but he is also averaging 5.5 assists per game.
Also, players like J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson and the rest of the players have accepted their roles.
Perhaps the most important thing is the Cavalier players finally looks like they are comfortable with each other and having fun.
I understand that the Cavaliers’ playoff opponents are not quite up to the talent that is displayed in the West but what they have done to this point has been pretty impressive.
With these sweeps, the Cavs are getting some much needed rest and will play a Heat or Raptors team that will be quite spent by the time it arrives in Cleveland.
If the Cavaliers can continue this trend and keep playing team ball and dispatch their Eastern Conference final opponent without too much fanfare, they will be facing a Western Conference finalist who will have to endure some tough basketball in its finals.
The road will not be easy for the Cavaliers but if they continue what they have established in the first two rounds of the playoffs they can win it all. However, this is Cleveland and there is the Curry factor but I hope come finals time that I don’t have to hear, “I told you so.”
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