Cleveland Cavaliers: Why They’re Not A Lock To Make The NBA Finals
By Mason McFee
Don’t Believe in the Land
The Cleveland Cavaliers are without a doubt one of the best teams in the NBA, and certainly were even before the additions of Korver, the D-Wills, and Bogut. While they are heavily favored to run away with the Eastern Conference again (and justifiably so), they’re playing out with the guy on the left (pictured above), and he should be coming back before the regular season ends.
While he will be on a minutes restriction when he returns to keep him fresh for the postseason, he will need that one thing every NBA player wants more of – minutes.
As good as the list of aforementioned players are, none are at the All-Star level K-Love is when he’s healthy. He’s a great fit for Cleveland, and is a piece to another title run…. but how much do the Cavs really need him?
The new additions are still developing chemistry with their new teammates (Deron Williams has only played in two games, and Bogut hasn’t even made his Cavs debut as I write this). While Love should take priority over those players, he will be taking away minutes from guys like Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye. J.R. will almost certainly take away Shumpert’s minutes, and Liggins could take Shumpert’s reduced minutes if he continues to struggle like he has been.
Continuity is one of the pillars title contenders need. It’s why the Spurs work – everyone knows their role – and that it can change at any moment. The Cavs have been blessed with LeBron’s inability to get hurt, but have had to up his MPG with Love and Smith’s injuries. Even a player of LeBron’s caliber has to wear down eventually…. right?