Can the Cleveland Cavaliers Make the Conference Finals This Season?
We can all admit as a community that the Cavs should’ve gone to the NBA Finals. I mean, they won 64 games, whereas OKC won 68 games. The script was right there for an OKC-CLE matchup. However, that wasn’t what happened as Indiana packed the Cavs up in five games. Six-time all-star Donovan Mitchell did what he could in that series, averaging close to 34 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game. Not having his co-star Darius Garland, due to an injury, severely damaged the Cavs' chances of making it to the Conference Finals. A heartbreaking moment for Cavs fans who wanted to make it back there. Let’s go back into history for a quick moment.
Did you know that in NBA History, only 82 teams have had 60 or more wins in a season? Let me break it down a little further. Out of the 82 teams that had 60 or more wins in a season, only 30 of them won the championship in that same year. Making that close to 36-37% chance for teams that won a chip with a 60 or more win season. If we go even further, out of the 52 teams that did not win a chip that same year, only 15 of those teams didn’t even make it to their respective Conference Finals. That percentage is lower than actually winning the chip, yet both Cleveland and Boston of the 2024-25 season missed the Eastern Conference Finals.
Now, with that in mind, how does this affect the Cavs' chances of making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals? It affects not just their ability, but their mental fortitude, as well. If you give everything you've got, winning over 60 games, having the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. You’re going to feel like you’re set to win the ring. Yet, injuries happened, and the Indiana Pacers' surprising the league is what ends your season. You’re going to feel frustrated, upset, and maybe a little betrayed. How could this type of ordeal happen to me? While the Cavs have lost key players in Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro, they may still be primed for a playoff run.
Cleveland, during the offseason, traded Okoro to Chicago for former first-round pick Lonzo Ball. A six-foot-six point guard who has been battling injuries could have a turnaround season. He can be classified as a three-and-D type of player. He can guard the perimeter and knock down three pointers. People shouldn’t forget that the roster still has their starting lineup of Garland, Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Especially when Mobley is in serious conversation of being a top-five power forward in the league. Not to mention that two bucket-getters in Max Strus and Sam Merrill are on the roster as well. So, while the team could go for 60 or more wins again, it’s not the main focal point for the 2025-26 season. Cleveland is going for a deep playoff run, and can not get bounced in the first or second round like the past three years. They need to fight tooth and nail to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
