I suspect they've been working on threes all year, secretly, to spring this addition to their game when they need it.  Lue may have his issues but he is that smart.....

The Cavs were second in the league in made 3s this year. They made over 11 per game.

It has went up in the playoffs, but they were shooting a high volume amount of threes all year.  They were third highest in the league at 30 per game.  That has went up to 36 in the playoffs, but I would highly suspect it has a lot to do with the success they've had shooting it.  I was loving watching this series, but really wish we had exploded from 3 in the Finals.  It would be extremely optimistic to hope that one or two players stay around 50%, let alone the entire team.

 

With Jonas V. and Whiteside either out or lame for the ECF, I hope we take it to whoever our opponent is in the paint.  That would really f-up all the scouting reports the Western teams are drawing up for us.

Curry is likely out again for Game 4.  GSW has looked rather ordinary against Portland and should be down 2-1 rather than being up the same.  Things are trending against conventional wisdom in the West playoffs, with San Antonio looking like a shadow of themselves-- the suddenly look old and vulnerable and, for all the talk of Kawhi Leonard, he's overrated.  Yes, he was series MVP vs Miami/LeBron 2 years ago and he's a nice player, but to hear the media, it's as if he's comparable to LeBron and, of course, he's not.

 

Even when Curry returns, will he be damaged goods?  Who knows, neither the Spurs nor the Warriors may make it to the Finals-- could be OKC, which is playing better of late.  Portland is the only team to have beating GSW twice this season.  Are they capable of taking them out of the playoffs?

 

Everything seems to be breaking for the Cavs these playoffs.  The only thing that could stop us is (heaven forbid -- injuries).  Chuck Barkley stated last night, he thinks the Cavs will win the championship.

It has went up in the playoffs, but they were shooting a high volume amount of threes all year.  They were third highest in the league at 30 per game.  That has went up to 36 in the playoffs, but I would highly suspect it has a lot to do with the success they've had shooting it.  I was loving watching this series, but really wish we had exploded from 3 in the Finals.  It would be extremely optimistic to hope that one or two players stay around 50%, let alone the entire team.

 

With Jonas V. and Whiteside either out or lame for the ECF, I hope we take it to whoever our opponent is in the paint.  That would really f-up all the scouting reports the Western teams are drawing up for us.

 

Why can't they maintain the 3-point pace throughout the playoffs? It's not like they are depending only or two players to his threes. For example, the main 3 point machine -- JR Smith -- disappeared after Game 2 and it didn't matter. Frye was the 3 point machine in Game 3, then Love in Game 4. Kyrie really hasn't even gotten going yet and is still inconsistent with his shooting, Kyrie has shown he can be even better than he is right now. Shots aren't being contested because LeBron is still drawing defenders in the lane. As long as everyone is getting open looks, it's hard to believe that the Cavs will slow down to something even like 8 3PMs a game.

 

I'm waiting for the game where Kyrie, Love, Smith, LeBron, Frye, Shumpert and RJ are all feeling it at the same time. Why can't they score 140+ one night? Amazingly, there's room for improvement here.

Never say never, but our pace was not simply record breaking, it was record shattering.  And it wasn't just the volume, but the efficiency as well.  We can always shoot a large volume of threes.  That's easy enough.  But hoping they keep a 'pace' of 50% is very optimistic.  Not that it can't be done.  Just very unlikely. 

the other good news is, the cavs will actually thrive on the long week off they will get. they need it and are seasoned enough to handle it well. with lue's guidance, of course. probably not so with some teams that could loose their groove.

KLove in the first player in the history of the NBA to win his first 12 postseason games.  Of course there has to be an asterisk by that, but still an impressive accomplishment.

KLove in the first player in the history of the NBA to win his first 12 postseason games.  Of course there has to be an asterisk by that, but still an impressive accomplishment.

 

*Arm yanked from his body, missed the end of the 2015 playoffs.

 

I like this Playoff Kevin Love much more than the regular season model. He turned it up for the play offs last year, too. Be it a very small sample size.

A double double in 8 straight games is impressive, I don't care what part of the season.

Curry is likely out again for Game 4.  GSW has looked rather ordinary against Portland and should be down 2-1 rather than being up the same.  Things are trending against conventional wisdom in the West playoffs, with San Antonio looking like a shadow of themselves-- the suddenly look old and vulnerable and, for all the talk of Kawhi Leonard, he's overrated.  Yes, he was series MVP vs Miami/LeBron 2 years ago and he's a nice player, but to hear the media, it's as if he's comparable to LeBron and, of course, he's not.

 

Even when Curry returns, will he be damaged goods?  Who knows, neither the Spurs nor the Warriors may make it to the Finals-- could be OKC, which is playing better of late.  Portland is the only team to have beating GSW twice this season.  Are they capable of taking them out of the playoffs?

 

Everything seems to be breaking for the Cavs these playoffs.  The only thing that could stop us is (heaven forbid -- injuries).  Chuck Barkley stated last night, he thinks the Cavs will win the championship.

 

So much for Curry being damaged. Dude is amazing and was again last night in OT.

 

Long way to go before we can schedule a parade.

Curry is likely out again for Game 4.  GSW has looked rather ordinary against Portland and should be down 2-1 rather than being up the same.  Things are trending against conventional wisdom in the West playoffs, with San Antonio looking like a shadow of themselves-- the suddenly look old and vulnerable and, for all the talk of Kawhi Leonard, he's overrated.  Yes, he was series MVP vs Miami/LeBron 2 years ago and he's a nice player, but to hear the media, it's as if he's comparable to LeBron and, of course, he's not.

 

Even when Curry returns, will he be damaged goods?  Who knows, neither the Spurs nor the Warriors may make it to the Finals-- could be OKC, which is playing better of late.  Portland is the only team to have beating GSW twice this season.  Are they capable of taking them out of the playoffs?

 

Everything seems to be breaking for the Cavs these playoffs.  The only thing that could stop us is (heaven forbid -- injuries).  Chuck Barkley stated last night, he thinks the Cavs will win the championship.

 

So much for Curry being damaged. Dude is amazing and was again last night in OT.

 

Long way to go before we can schedule a parade.

 

Definitely a long way.  But yet, we are healthy so far and they are not.  They showed weakness and frustration at times (see Draymond "T")    Hopefully the Blazers can take another and keep the series going, and Currys minutes along with it.

Nobody scheduled a parade.  And Curry's injury was no reason to think the 'ship is locked up.  SAS and OKC would be very formidable opponents, probably even favorites, even if GS is somehow derailed.

 

Curry's overtime performance was one for the ages.  Not quite up to the level of LBJ's Game 5 against Detroit in 2007, IMO, but great nonetheless.  That said, it was in OT, against a Blazers team that should not be so challenging for a defending champion destined to repeat.

Curry is likely out again for Game 4.  GSW has looked rather ordinary against Portland and should be down 2-1 rather than being up the same.  Things are trending against conventional wisdom in the West playoffs, with San Antonio looking like a shadow of themselves-- the suddenly look old and vulnerable and, for all the talk of Kawhi Leonard, he's overrated.  Yes, he was series MVP vs Miami/LeBron 2 years ago and he's a nice player, but to hear the media, it's as if he's comparable to LeBron and, of course, he's not.

 

Even when Curry returns, will he be damaged goods?  Who knows, neither the Spurs nor the Warriors may make it to the Finals-- could be OKC, which is playing better of late.  Portland is the only team to have beating GSW twice this season.  Are they capable of taking them out of the playoffs?

 

Everything seems to be breaking for the Cavs these playoffs.  The only thing that could stop us is (heaven forbid -- injuries).  Chuck Barkley stated last night, he thinks the Cavs will win the championship.

 

So much for Curry being damaged. Dude is amazing and was again last night in OT.

 

Long way to go before we can schedule a parade.

 

I still feel good about the Cavs.  Yes, Curry is back and torching 3s late in the game, ... as usual.  But Golden State doesn't quite look like the team that was tearing up the league.  For one thing, their vaunted defense is allowing teams like Portland, and even pathetic Houston, run up big scores on them.  I, like a lot of Cavs fans, still have the vision of the 30-point GSW blowout at the Q which, ultimately, cost David Blatt his job.  Neither that Golden State team, nor that Cavs team, is the same as then.  Particularly the Cavs.  We're a much more potent, passing offense with Love, now a key cog -- unlike the semi-Forgotten Man he was under Blatt.  And now we have this new weapon; this man named Channing Frye who is just another, dangerous tool in Tyronn Lue's tool belt.  Frye's 3 pointers, and his length and ability to guard the rim OK, gives us yet another part-time center -- a dreaded 'stretch 5' -- who can space the floor by pulling opposing 5s away from the hoop opening the lane for LeBron, Kyrie and even Love, when Lue tries his new Frye-LeBron-Love front line.

 

Steph or no Steph, I still believe a Ring is within our grasp -- and this assumes Golden State is even going to make it past either OKC or the Spurs, which they may not... As one of the local pundits is fond of saying: the only thing that can stop the Cavs is the Cavs.

Well, you're not wrong about the GSW drubbing still looming large.  And it's nice to have Frye now, I admit, but he doesn't close that kind of gap by himself, especially because of the comparative fading of Mozgov compared to where the season began.  Love's improved chemistry with the team is a larger factor, and the apparent maturing of J.R. Smith (though he actually showed up to play in that earlier game against the Warriors, too, but he certainly seems to be more mentally consistent now than earlier--apparently/hopefully LeBron got into his head).  Remember that Shumpert was actually originally thought to be the catch of the Knicks trade, and Smith was in some sense New York dumping salary and ego.

 

With Smith maturing, Dellavedova improving greatly from his deep-bench yesteryear, Love getting more with the scheme and/or the scheme changing to match what Love offers, and Frye giving us options at the 5 that Mozgov and Varejao couldn't, we're in a better position.  But while we're going to present matchup issues with anyone now, even Golden State, Golden State is still going to present even more matchup issues for us.

against a Blazers team that should not be so challenging for a defending champion destined to repeat.

 

Here's a stat showing how the West drops off (and how the Blazers should be a team that a team destined to win the championship should manhandle):

 

The Portland Trailblazers, the 5th seed in the West, would not have even made the playoffs in the East this year.  The Pistons had the same record and were 2-0 against Portland head-to-head.

Cool intro video from the Atlanta series:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V29tlF4AyMo

Interesting developments for the Cavs coming out of the other series.  Portland pushed GS all series.  The Warrior's defense has been less than stellar, and Bogut was kept out of the second half last night with an injury.  OKC seems to be in control of its series with SAS.  The Spurs lost 1 time at home the entire regular season and first round of the playoffs.  Against OKC, they have lost 2 home games.  OKC can close this out with a win at home in Game 6.

 

In the East, Toronto and Miami continue to beat each other up in an ugly series, which Toronto now leads 3-2.  Jonas V is out for the series with an ankle injury and might not be able to return for the ECF.  Carroll left last night's game with a wrist injury (x-rays negative).  Deng also left with a wrist injury (x-rays inconclusive).  Whiteside suffered an MCL sprain and has not played the last two games.

 

I'm not ready to join the "Cavs are now the favorites" crowd, which includes some notable basketball experts.  But the way these playoffs are playing out is very not Cleveland-esque.  Looks like lady luck is finally on our side.

Looks like lady luck is finally on our side.

 

SHHH! SSSSSHHHHH! MODS, GET RID OF THIS NOW!

I agree im not ready to join that crowd, but my confidence for the cavs went from "they have the talent to get there and shock the world"....to they have as good as a shot as anyone.  I believe the cavs are spending as much time right now preparing for CUrry as they are the heat/raptors.  I think there are enough smart basketball minds in that organization to muck up those games and win them.

 

I also believe that the Thunder can beat the Warriors (assuming they finish the Spurs).  They are catching fire at the right time...and the crazy thing about the thunder is they do not play great team ball, but their stars are SO GOOD, they can not play team ball and get away with it.  The thunder played the warriors tough in Oakland and at home (that ridiculous curry buzzer beater). ...and the determintation KD and Russ have right now should concern anyone.  They seem like they are on a mission. 

 

If the Thunder did prevail, and Cavs did as well, Cleveland would host the finals...and for some reason Lebron has always had Durants number.  Incredible.

If the Cavs play OKC in the NBA Finals, we will have home court advantage.

If the Cavs play OKC in the NBA Finals, we will have home court advantage.

 

I like it -- although it didn't help the Spurs.

If the Cavs play OKC in the NBA Finals, we will have home court advantage.

 

I like it -- although it didn't help the Spurs.

 

On top of home court the Cavs handled OKC pretty well this season. I know the regular season isn't indicative of the playoffs but I feel like the Cavs will do better to play them than the Warriors. I certainly will be pulling for the Thunder in the WCF.

The Spurs (and Warriors) are model teams.  The Thunder are certainly not a model team...they have a bunch of no namers running around out there at times..but they have TWO Superstars that absolutely went nuts and the spurs couldn't match.  That's the risk of NOT having a superstar (Kawhi is a star..but ultimately cant score at will like Durant/Russ).  Fortunately for the Cavs, they have superstars and right now look like a great team.  I don't see a way that the Thunder win it all...I do give them a punchers chance against the Warriors if their stars can keep playing at that level.

Cool intro video from the Atlanta series:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V29tlF4AyMo

 

Very cool.  Love the crumbling floor illusion at the Q; most effective... I also love the view of downtown from the FEB point of view (where did the cameraman/woman stand, on top of one of the salt piles?  Really cool stuff.

I agree im not ready to join that crowd, but my confidence for the cavs went from "they have the talent to get there and shock the world"....to they have as good as a shot as anyone.  I believe the cavs are spending as much time right now preparing for CUrry as they are the heat/raptors.  I think there are enough smart basketball minds in that organization to muck up those games and win them.

 

I also believe that the Thunder can beat the Warriors (assuming they finish the Spurs).  They are catching fire at the right time...and the crazy thing about the thunder is they do not play great team ball, but their stars are SO GOOD, they can not play team ball and get away with it.  The thunder played the warriors tough in Oakland and at home (that ridiculous curry buzzer beater). ...and the determintation KD and Russ have right now should concern anyone.  They seem like they are on a mission. 

 

If the Thunder did prevail, and Cavs did as well, Cleveland would host the finals...and for some reason Lebron has always had Durants number.  Incredible.

 

I agree with you.  This is as confident as I've ever been of a Cleveland team winning a championship, and that's saying something ... I'm old enough to have lived through all the bad stuff: Jim Chones' foot; The Pass, The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, the Modell move; the Mesa Meltdown, The Decision ... all the way last year which I now refer to as: The Olynyk...

 

The Cavs, especially LeBron, will never admit it, but this season, they've researched, schemed, re-coached and even partially rebuilt this team (phasing out the large, lumbering (and suddenly clueless) Timofey Mozgov and bringing in creators/outside shooters like Jefferson and Frye) specifically to knock off Golden State in the Finals.... Ironically though, the Warriors may not even make it to the BIG dance.  OKC, like the Cavs, have suddenly found their groove in the playoffs and are peaking, while the Warriors (at least to me) appear to have fallen back a step since they tore through the League during regular season to achieve the 73-win record (and quiet as it's been kept, I believe Golden State is hurting, and I don't just mean Steph, who I don't believe is all the way back despite his continued big scoring).  Both lowly Houston and surprising Portland ran up big numbers on GSW's vaunted defense... and OKC is perfectly capable of knocking off the Warriors -- even though GSW beat them all 3 times they played, the Thunder entered each 4th quarter ahead... OKC is better now, esp with that triple-tower lineup they use with Adams-Kanter-Durant... and sometimes Ibaka. 

 

Ironically, should OKC make it to the finals, there slower, bigger pound-the-boards style is the exact polar opposite of the Warriors'.  Cavs have programmed themselves as a "smaller team"... and yet, we're so versatile (and have # 23 -- always a major plus, even against the Warriors), I wouldn't be worried about either team and, yes, we have homecourt vs. OKC...

 

But first things first... I fully expect Toronto to be our next opponent.  Despite their largely fumbling, bumbling Keystone Kops-type playoff run, generally, the Raptors finally seem to be righting the ship... even though it appeared that Miami's loss of Whiteside cancelled out Toronto's loss of Valanciunas, Toronto has the big-man trump card in Biyombo which has given Lowry and DeRozan just enough cover to reassert themselves and probably knock off Miami ... hopefully tonight... Remember, even though regular season doesn't mean much now, the fact is the Raptors won the season series vs. the Cavs and we did not win a game in Toronto...

 

Let the games (re) begin!  ... for the semi-vacationing Cavs, that is.

Just out of curiosity (I wasn't following that closely), how healthy were we when we played the Raptors during the regular season?

^^ don't be concerned about the Raptors.  They are going to wet themselves and get swept.  The Raptors are struggling SO MUCH with these teams that have ZERO DEPTH.  Its literally 1 vs 5 the last two series.  Paul George vs th Raptors and now Wade vs the Raptors.  The Raptors are BEGGING to lose and the teams they are playing are just so thin.  They have a long track record of choking and they have tried HARD to choke away these playoffs, but they are squeeking by tbecause the other teams are so bad.

 

As far as the regular season, ive come to the conclusion the Cavs did everything intentionally.  I think the blowout at home vs GS was to get Blatt out of here.  I think they wanted to put all the pressure on GS and not have any all year so they can just play loosely in the playoffs like they are.  I think Lebron knows now that the regular season means nothing at all in a quest to get this one ring.  They have to get the first ring.  If they get that first ring, I think down the line they would work on a regular season that that tried to be more like the warriors was this year.  Then again, knowing LeBron, probably not.

^^ don't be concerned about the Raptors.  They are going to wet themselves and get swept.  The Raptors are struggling SO MUCH with these teams that have ZERO DEPTH.  Its literally 1 vs 5 the last two series.  Paul George vs th Raptors and now Wade vs the Raptors.  The Raptors are BEGGING to lose and the teams they are playing are just so thin.  They have a long track record of choking and they have tried HARD to choke away these playoffs, but they are squeeking by tbecause the other teams are so bad.

 

As far as the regular season, ive come to the conclusion the Cavs did everything intentionally.  I think the blowout at home vs GS was to get Blatt out of here.  I think they wanted to put all the pressure on GS and not have any all year so they can just play loosely in the playoffs like they are.  I think Lebron knows now that the regular season means nothing at all in a quest to get this one ring.  They have to get the first ring.  If they get that first ring, I think down the line they would work on a regular season that that tried to be more like the warriors was this year.  Then again, knowing LeBron, probably not.

 

... from your lips, er, keyboard, to God's ears...

Toronto-Miami game 7 is now a thing.

Again,  anything that resembles a good team would've finished that series off last night.  So whoever the cavs play, Has played two straight seven games series and an additional 6! Games on top of what the cavs have played. Not sure if that will fatigue guys at this level or not, but wow

^The series has also involved three overtimes

I love the NBA playoffs, but this Miami-Toronto series is really pathetic. Bad basketball all around...Toronto is trash and will most likely get swept by the Cavs, if they even get past Miami.

here we go!

 

warriors-thunder tonight

 

cavs-raptors tuesday

I'm glad we don't have to play a depleted and old Miami team. That is about as close as you can get to a lose lose situation in the conference finals

I wanted Miami because I wanted this championship drought to end in poetic fashion...beating Miami would mean a lot more.  But im not discouraged and I really don't care how it gets done, just do it. 

Glad it's Toronto. For one thing I'm already tired of the LeBron vs Wade storyline. Miami is old news and their fans are weak sauce. Meanwhile the Raptors fans are energized and they bring the added bonus of NOT having Pat "used car salesman" Riley hovering over their games like a greasy vulture.

 

Cavs in five!

Wow... If GSW and OKC continue like this and the Cavs keep their momentum this is gonna be really interesting. GSW lose game 1 at home!

 

 

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OKC is playing great, and they are so tough! Almost like KD wants to stay there. Almost the identical situation w cavs in 2010...I digress. Anyway, they are dangerous but we know that the NBA is all about match ups. The Stars for OKC can't really be stopped in that GSW series because they are so much more athletic and skilled than the Warriors defensively. if GSW doesn't hit their shots (by the way the second half rotations for OKC were incredible- it's not like GSW was just missing open shots), then OKC can beat them.  The cavs have the stars defensively to neutralize the OKC stars.  The X factor that always gives the Warriors an advantage is their crazy shooting ability.  They haven't been tested since the cavs last year in the finals- let's see how they handle it...

Cavs look extremely impressive tonight.  Just watching on tv, I admit, but I have to be honest, as a regular NBA viewer, our crowd is 4th ranked of the 4 cities left - Golden State, OKC, Toronto - all better.  Never thought I'd say that about a Cleveland crowd.....

^crowds are in it early, until we blow the other team out. Wait til a game or series are on the line. The emotion and passion will surpass

Anyone else. You know how ridiculous it looks to be rowdy and screaming when you are up 30 all the time

^^ OKC is the only professional team in their state. Golden State are defending champs. Toronto represents the 4th largest city on the continent/35 million Canadians.

I think Cleveland does pretty well in comparison, considering we are tied for the 4th longest NBA title drought. 

^crowds are in it early, until we blow the other team out. Wait til a game or series are on the line. The emotion and passion will surpass

Anyone else. You know how ridiculous it looks to be rowdy and screaming when you are up 30 all the time

 

I couldn't agree more. I was at the game tonight and the fans were totally into it till the Cavs went up by 27 in the 3rd. Any point after that is like cheering on someone kicking a puppy.

Cavs look extremely impressive tonight.  Just watching on tv, I admit, but I have to be honest, as a regular NBA viewer, our crowd is 4th ranked of the 4 cities left - Golden State, OKC, Toronto - all better.  Never thought I'd say that about a Cleveland crowd.....

Wait rank based on what, your own opinion? I watch all the games and Cleveland fans are no different than the other teams, it all depends on the particular game. Did you see the sullen GS fans when they were dying in the last half of the game last night? The Cavs are playing at the highest caliber than ever before and that's what we should focus on anyhow.

Well, as I hoped, Ty Lue is making the other teams tear up their scouting reports on the Cavs.  After bombing away against Atlanta, we beat the sh!t out of Toronto in the paint.

There were moments of sheer greatness last night. Loved the effort. Lets see if the team can stay dialed in.

 

Also, did anyone hear Jason Terry's interview on 92.3 yesterday? He had a hilarious story of how he forgot to read the scouting report on the Cavs and so when he got to the game he had absolutely no idea who Sasha Kaun was.

Well, as I hoped, Ty Lue is making the other teams tear up their scouting reports on the Cavs.  After bombing away against Atlanta, we beat the sh!t out of Toronto in the paint.

 

it was so noticeable in the first 5 minutes they were focused on the perimeter, and I immediately saw those gaping holes in the paint for guys to get into.  Lue obviously saw them as well and within minutes cavs were getting open lay up and dunk after open lay up and dunk.  I truly believe the Hawks were superior to the raptors.  Again, regular season means nothing.  I really don't care about 56 wins...its how you perform in the 7 game series.  Looking for the same result tomorrow night.  I give them a punchers chance at game 3 in Toronto, but definitely not 2 games there

Well, as I hoped, Ty Lue is making the other teams tear up their scouting reports on the Cavs.  After bombing away against Atlanta, we beat the sh!t out of Toronto in the paint.

 

it was so noticeable in the first 5 minutes they were focused on the perimeter, and I immediately saw those gaping holes in the paint for guys to get into.  Lue obviously saw them as well and within minutes cavs were getting open lay up and dunk after open lay up and dunk.  I truly believe the Hawks were superior to the raptors.  Again, regular season means nothing.  I really don't care about 56 wins...its how you perform in the 7 game series.  Looking for the same result tomorrow night.  I give them a punchers chance at game 3 in Toronto, but definitely not 2 games there

 

In all honesty the best team the Cavs have played so far is the Pistons. They may not have been the best talent wise but SVG had no fear of the Cavs and he showed it in his coaching schemes on both sides of the ball. I never felt the Cavs ever really had control of that series even though it was sweep. Without Hack-a-Drummond you have to wonder if the Pistons would have won one or two games.

 

If the Cavs sweep Toronto it would be the first 12-0 postseason start in NBA history. Not betting on it but who knows.

I definitely wouldn't say 'best team' (Atlanta and Toronto would beat Detroit in a series), but I might entertain the thought that the Pistons were the toughest matchup for the Cavs, especially if Toronto doesn't have Jonas V.  Atlanta just doesn't match up well at all with the Cavs, sort of like the first era LeBron teams had trouble matching up with Boston and Orlando.

^In fairness, until the early 2000s, a 12-0 start prior to the Finals was impossible because, before that time, the Round 1 was the best 3-of-5.  The then-new Kobe-Shaq Lakers went 11-0 before losing Game 1 in the Finals to the 76ers in 2001.  After that 1st lost, though, the Lakers swept the next 4 from the Sixers meaning they went 15-1 in postseason... not too shabby. 

^In fairness, until the early 2000s, a 12-0 start prior to the Finals was impossible because, before that time, the Round 1 was the best 3-of-5.  The then-new Kobe-Shaq Lakers went 11-0 before losing Game 1 in the Finals to the 76ers in 2001.  After that 1st lost, though, the Lakers swept the next 4 from the Sixers meaning they went 15-1 in postseason... not too shabby. 

 

To be fair we've had over a decade of best-of-seven through the entire playoffs and no team has done better than 10-0. So it still would be quite special to go 12-0 even if one of those games is not in the Finals.

 

I'm quite aware of the 2001 Lakers. As I stated upthread they were one insane Mr. "Practice" AI performance away from going 15-0. The Lakers had some rust from having 8 days off. Even though the Lakers played really bad in the first half they still forced that game into OT.

 

What was nuts about that game was after Philly won "experts" were saying Kobe was already handing the torch over to AI and that the Sixers would sweep. Uh, yeah.

 

 

I definitely wouldn't say 'best team' (Atlanta and Toronto would beat Detroit in a series), but I might entertain the thought that the Pistons were the toughest matchup for the Cavs, especially if Toronto doesn't have Jonas V.  Atlanta just doesn't match up well at all with the Cavs, sort of like the first era LeBron teams had trouble matching up with Boston and Orlando.

 

We don't know what Detroit would do if they played Toronto or Atlanta. I think Detroit is just as good as Indiana and Boston and Miami without Whiteside and Bosh.