Sign up to get daily betting columns and advice delivered directly to your inbox. NBA Finals | Eastern Conference Finals | Western Conference Finals NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS HISTORY Year The winner of this best-of-seven series matchup will advance to The NBA Finals. The Cavs’ decision to extend Love’s contract could paralyze the organization.The Eastern Conference Finals is one of two pro basketball conference series of the National Basketball Association. Consequently, they’d likely face the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, or Philadelphia 76ers in the postseason.Ĭan you seriously talk yourself into Cleveland winning a matchup against any of them with their roster as currently constructed?įinishing in the middle of the pack is ultimately a recipe for NBA limbo.Ī purgatory of sorts where a team’s main goal is to make the playoffs only to be bounced shortly after.įor their mediocre ~.500 record, they are awarded mediocre draft picks to continue their mediocrity indefinitely. NBA FINALS EASTERN CONFERENCE WESTERN CONFERENCE (1) Milwaukee (8) Miami 1 Games 4 (4) Cleveland (5) New. So, if everything works out, they probably finish between 6-8 in the Eastern Conference standings. Visit ESPN to view the 2022-23 NBA Standings. Whether you think the Cavs will win 30 games or feel confident they’ll make the playoffs, I don’t think anyone has them in the East’s top-5. The East will only be tougher next season especially with Kawhi Leonard joining the conference. The Milwaukee Bucks (7) has a new and competent head coach in Mike Budenholzer and Giannis will be more dominant. The Washington Wizards (8) are more than volatile but the combination of talent in Wall, Beal and Porter has a higher ceiling in 2019 than Love, Osman, and Sexton. The Detroit Pistons (9) will have Blake Griffin for the whole season, and maybe we’re due for at least one more big Blake season-barring yet another injury. Teams that finished lower last season could be better this season. Still, Love will have to stay healthy for most of the season and, even then, Cleveland’s talent only rivals the East’s lower tier: the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and New York Knicks. Love will also see fewer minutes at center, which could help make Cleveland’s cringe-worthy defense more respectable. Without LeBron James dominating the court, Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue will have more freedom to use a wider range of Love’s offensive skillset and should use actions from the 2013 Timberwolves’ playbook. The deal does not, however, provide Cleveland with any sort of path back to the Finals anytime soon.Ī Love-led Cavs team likely stays afloat in a weak Eastern Conference but not much else. 2018 NBA Playoffs Bracket (1) Toronto (8) Washington Tor 114, Wsh 106 Game 6 (4) Cleveland (5) Indiana Ind 98, Cle 80 Game 7 (3) Philadelphia (6) Miami. In securing Love for the next five years, the Cavs do many things: they protect themselves from reliving 2011’s collapse, they keep a star player who can make Cleveland more attractive to free agents, and they provide their young prospects a chance to develop within a functional offense. However, the signing was a play for the middle rather than a step towards the top. He’s been a double-double machine, an All-Star for the last two years, and has already demonstrated leadership ability back in Minnesota. Yes, Love has been nothing but a true professional in his four years with Cleveland. Kevin Love will receive $120 million over the next four years following the 2018-2019 season and be the Cleveland Cavaliers’ primary scorer. (1) Head-to-head won-lost percentage (2) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division (3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division (4) Conference won-lost. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) I’m not crazy about the Kevin Love extension. 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. BOSTON, MA – MAY 23: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the first half against the Boston Celtics during Game Five of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on in Boston, Massachusetts.
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