Can anybody stop the Cavaliers?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are likely going to the NBA Finals. No disrespect to the Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls, but neither of those teams strikes any type of real fear into the heart of LeBron James.
Yes, when Chicago is completely healthy, it is dangerous. But that is one heck of a qualifier. The Bulls can never get everybody on the court at once anywhere near 100 percent, bumping into health issues on an hourly basis. Currently, Derrick Rose is once again getting his knee repaired after suffering a torn meniscus while Jimmy Butler is dealing with a sprained elbow. Neither is expected back before the middle of April, just in time for the postseason run.
Even with Butler and Rose back in commission, Chicago will have its hands full and then some. The Cavaliers, after spinning their collective wheels for the first half of the season, have figured it out. Cleveland is rolling toward the second seed in the Eastern Conference and a Central Division title behind the incomparable trio of James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Factor in role players like Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Triston Thompson, and Cleveland is almost impossible to deal with.
The one advantage Chicago has is on the interior. The Bulls can bang around in the paint against Cleveland with little resistance thanks to the duo of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol. Chicago will have their way on the offensive end with Rose going against a defensively-challenged Irving and on the block with Love playing his own brand of no-show defense.
The Hawks have been the feel-good story of the year and perhaps can author a true Cinderella story by making a magical run to the NBA Finals. Al Horford and Paul Millsap have provided great play on the interior as expected, with Dennis Schroder, Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague shooting the lights out on the perimeter. Atlanta shares the ball in a beautiful fashion, very similarly to the San Antonio Spurs. The basketball never stops, and often ends up in the opponent’s basket.
Atlanta will likely have the benefit of home-court advantage, but will it be enough to stop the Cavaliers? The Hawks also have the advantage on the interior, but the disadvantage of the enemy having the three best players on the court, including a legend in James. It is tough to envision James going down to a band of no-name players, no matter how teamwork-oriented they are.
If Cleveland gets to the Finals, it will run into a tough team regardless of its opponent. A bevy of different groups could get there, with smart money on the Golden State Warriors, Spurs or Memphis Grizzlies.
Regardless, the NBA playoffs are finally going to take a break from predictability.
