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Cleveland Cavaliers cannot afford to lose as they close out the regular season

By Ryan Rosko

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 25: LeBron James NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles to the basket against DeMarre Carroll #9 of the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter during their game at Barclays Center on March 25, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 25: LeBron James NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles to the basket against DeMarre Carroll #9 of the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter during their game at Barclays Center on March 25, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Losing a game in the next week could impact the Cleveland Cavaliers’ route back to the NBA Finals.

The regular season is closing quickly as fast as the excitement of the upcoming playoffs is building. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, they are still the best in the east regardless of what the seeding says. No team has knocked them off yet.

Before the playoffs can begin, Cleveland still has plenty of business to take care of. If they do what is needed, then their route back to the finals should be much easier.

Heading into Thursday’s games, Cleveland is the third seed in the east but is tied with the Philadelphia 76ers with a 48-30 record. The Cavs have been playing great of late, going 9-1 in their last 10 games. However, the 76ers have been undefeated during that time.

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To maintain the third seed, Cleveland will have to win out. The Cavs’ schedule has them facing the Washington Wizards on Thursday, the 76ers on Friday, and a home and home series versus the New York Knicks early next week.

Meanwhile, the 76ers face the Cavs, followed by the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, and the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks next week. There is no reason Cleveland’s momentum will end any time soon, but they do have their work cut out for themselves.

Washington is going to the playoffs and Philly is on the path to becoming the next great team for years to come. New York, well is New York destined for the lottery again.

After facing the Cavs, the 76ers get two teams with likely top-five picks in June aka easy wins. They should also come away with a win against the hit and miss Bucks to close out their season.

If the seedings all hold as-is, Cleveland would get the Miami Heat in the first round in the three/six pairing. The Cavs would then be destined to face the Boston Celtics in the second round.

Let’s say Cleveland somehow drops to the fourth seed. They would likely have to prep for the Toronto Raptors in the second round. There is not a team that should concern Cleveland. With the athletes Toronto has and the physical defense that is enforced though, they are going to be the most challenging team to face before the NBA Finals.

It is hard imagining the 76ers losing to a team the rest of the way outside of the Cavs. Therefore, all the pressure is on Cleveland, which should be embraced going forward.  If the 76ers were to lose a non-Cavs game, hopefully, it is against the Mavericks or Hawks as it may help with the Brooklyn Nets’ pick.

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Playing in hopes to win the game is always the goal but if Cleveland ends up being paired with Boston in the second round, I don’t think they’ll be disappointed.

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