Cavs roar into the 2017 postseason, or so we hope |
You also have to wonder if the Cavs
themselves feel the same, considering this tremendously talented team has complied
a 26-24 record since January 1. This season's squad has cycled through two
dozen players as well as numerous lineup changes, while displaying an
exasperating inability to stop opposing teams at the point of attack.
Call it a championship hangover or
frustration at not having a consistently healthy lineup from night to night. For
a postseason shoe-in like Cleveland ,
the regular season is an 82-game lab experiment of rotations and schemes
leading to a two-month meat-grinder where all that preparation pays off. But
the Wine and Gold appeared to still be figuring things out as Coach Ty Lue
eschewed seeding for resting his top stars.
So if there's a switch to be
flipped, the Cavs better be flexing their, uh, flipping fingers as they prepare
for this afternoon's first-round opener against the Pacers. Nobody needs to be
reminded of the all-world talent on this roster. Just as critically, the Cavs
won't have to deal with back-to-backs or long road trips. Logic tells me that
LeBron and Co. will be focused, rejuvenated and ready for another lengthy
playoff run.
Or are those optimistic adjectives
just me whistling past the graveyard? It's freaking hard to repeat, and even getting
out of the East is no longer the near certainty it was at the beginning of the
year. If last year's beautiful championship dream hadn't happened, I'd be
grimly waiting for the hammer
to fall. As it stands, I'm willing to see how things play out.
Ideally, the next week will lay to
rest stories about injuries and lackadaisical play, and reintroduce the
intense, fun-loving group that brought Cleveland
so much joy one year ago.
note: credit for the image of Lebron used above goes to @elliotgerard and @graphatick
note: credit for the image of Lebron used above goes to @elliotgerard and @graphatick