Cleveland Cavaliers' path to 2017 NBA Finals is even clearer

Any possible, remote chance of the Cleveland Cavaliers not making it make to the finals for a third consecutive season is off the table.

Can we just fast forward to the 2017 NBA Finals where the Cleveland Cavaliers face off versus the winner of the San Antoni Spurs/Golden State Warriors series? After all, those three teams are the best in the NBA and it is not an if, but when such a series will happen.

Unfortunately, we will have to wait to see Cleveland in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Cavs have been cruising so far this postseason going undefeated up to this point. Not to mention their pure dominance against the Boston Celtics has been nothing short impressive.

In game two of the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland defeated Boston by 44 points. 44!

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Prior to the beginning of the series, there were some who expected to see Boston truly compete and make the series interesting. That is of course with the assumption Boston point guard Isaiah Thomas continued to play great.

Well, that is not going to happen now. Earlier today the Celtics announced that Thomas will miss the remainder of the Cavaliers series due to injury.

Even if Thomas was healthy, it would have been very hard for Boston to get back into this series. The first two games is all that people needs to know about the ECF. Cleveland is simply on another level than the Celtics.

Cleveland’s path to a third consecutive finals and their chance to secure back to back championships is all but locked in. If there was hope from Boston’s point of view of them not getting swept, Thomas was going to have to play lights out.

It simply was not in the cards for both teams to be close to 100 percent healthy. Injuries are part of the game and non one can change that. However, I wish Thomas did not get injured for a couple of reasons. First, there is no legitimate case to hope for someone to get hurt. That is just wrong.

Secondly, I’d like to see Cleveland go up against teams that are as close to full strength as possible. Not only will Cleveland benefit from such matchups later, it also helps diminish the claims that they had an easy route to the 2017 NBA Finals.

According to basketball-reference.com, Thomas averaged 9.5 points and 8 assists versus Cleveland during the Eastern Conference Finals. A bigger plan is in place for Cleveland this season. Once they move on from Boston, it will be just a matter of time before they repeat as champions.

Next: 5 ways Cleveland embarrassed the Celtics in game 2

Whatever happens, happens, but the writing is on the wall. Hopefully next postseason Boston can be in the same position facing off versus Cleveland, but with a healthy Thomas. Then, perhaps fans and others will enjoy a postseason that is filled with exciting basketball prior to the finals.

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Cleveland Cavaliers’ path to 2017 NBA Finals is even clearer

By Ryan Rosko | May 20, 2017

Any possible, remote chance of the Cleveland Cavaliers not making it make to the finals for a third consecutive season is off the table.

More from Factory of Sadness