In all honesty, I really don’t know which of these options to choose. I can see good arguments for all three.
** breadcrumbs just because I’m curious as to whether that’s a typo or my new word for the day; and, if typo, what the heck it’s a typo OF **
I voted “somebody else will probably win the East”, partially out of a genuine belief in the Celtics’ and Raptors’ ability to threaten the Cavs, and partially out of Cavs-Warriors fatigue. I’ve seen Cavs teams fail to make the Finals despite brilliant performances by Lebron before, like in 2009. The roster is old, and full of one-way players like Kevin Love and Isaiah Thomas. Success in the NBA playoffs comes from having both a great offense and a great defense, and I think the Cavs fall short of that test, even though they have the greatest player of all time, still in his late prime, on their roster.
The Cavaliers as it stands would absolutely be destroyed by Boston and calling them even money against Toronto is very generous.
People can get hurt, stuff can change, who knows, but the Cavaliers aren’t what they were.
Kyrie Irving is healthy. Isaiah Thomas is not. James watches the Finals at home.
At the level they’ve been playing, Celtics beat the Cavs in 5 or 6. But LeBron (and presumably the other veteran Cavs) know how to turn it up in the playoffs, and the Celtics don’t really have that experience as a team (except Kyrie, and that’s not enough). Look at the way the Celtics keep making games close that should be easy Celtics wins; I think they’re going to get behind in the playoffs and not be able to make the run to catch up. I give the Cavs the edge at the moment (60-40 maybe?). But assuming no major changes, don’t give them much hope for 2019 playoffs when the Celtics have one more year of playoff experience.
I think back all the way to one year ago when we had a very similar conversation about the Cavs. Recall, they were not the #1 seed in the East last year. But I think it’s fair to say the Cavs are not the favorite at the moment, and are definitely vulnerable. If Gordon Hayward comes back and is able to contribute for Boston, they would be a heavy favorite. But I can’t believe in Toronto, not in the playoffs.
I didn’t realize just how bad Isaiah Thomas has been since coming back. If he magically becomes an All-NBA player again, I’d feel better about my vulnerable-but-will-probably-win vote.
While true, they finished just two games behind Boston, hardly a difference.
It’s a triple covfefe.
(I actually suspect it’s a typo for “Trouble.”)
Voted for the “Cavs are vulnerable, but will probably win the east” option.
Its the NBA. In a game the first 3 quarters are just practice for the 4th quarter, and the regular season is just practice for the playoffs. Until Boston or Toronto can beat the Cavs in a playoff series, I say the east still belongs to Lebron.
I think the Cavs are too far behind Boston to win the East. But…with an upcoming trade, they will improve and come close. They will beat Boston in the playoffs, because of the coming trade.
Touch-typing with the right hand displaced one character to the left. (I make godawful unreadable word-os like that fairly frequently at work).
If the Cavs make such a trade they will win the East. If not, they won’t.
If it isn’t the Cavs, I’ll be rooting for anyone but Boston. They’ve got too many Damn banners already anyway.
I’ve only been keeping up with the standings from time to time, but going back to the trade, I have always felt that the Thomas / Irving exchange heavily favored Boston. I get that Irving didn’t want to play in Cleveland anymore, but why would the Cavs deal him to an Eastern Conference contender - and even dealing him to a contender in the West like the Rockets or Warriors would have been a bad idea. Isaiah Thomas has been a great and explosive player, but Boston was actually better without him in last year’s playoffs. He’s not a great defender and on a team that already has offense, there’s no need for Thomas. They need a better defender, especially now that Irving’s gone.
The Celts could have used Jo Jo White last night. May he rest in peace.
Naw, Jo Jo really lost some height on his jump shot after he turned 70.
The Cavaliers’ ship has sailed. The train has departed the station. Elvis is on the verge of leaving the building.
The long, dark night of Cleveland basketball mediocrity/ineptitude looms.
Yeah… I Googled “triubke” and Google did the “did you mean trouble?” thingie, and when I indicated that, no, I wanted “triubke”, the first hit convinced me it was a typo for “trouble”.
Would have been more obvious if it had been “triybke” instead
It’s a foregone conclusion LeBron is a Laker next season, but that does not rule out success in this year’s playoffs.