After three years of back and forth play in the NBA Finals, Golden State and Cleveland seem destined for a fourth straight series. This time, Cleveland could end up taking home the glory and they won’t need a last second block to do it
Three times in a row, Cleveland has ran into Golden State in the NBA Finals. Twice, the sharpshooting splash brothers have bested the King and his knights. However, if, and when, the two conference powerhouses square off for the fourth time in as many years, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the firepower to dethrone Golden State.
The Cavaliers will look a heck of a lot different this season. After overshadowed star Kyrie Irving asked for a change of scenery, he was shipped off to Boston. Irving had been Cleveland’s x-factor back when they won the series in 2016. It was going to take a lot for the Cavs to let a talent like Irving go and boy, did they get a lot.
Irving and James appeared close during Irving’s time in Cleveland but that relationship was damaged once the point guard made his desires to leave Ohio known, as they won’t be talking basketball anymore:
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"“If my son went to another team and asked for advice, I ain’t giving him s–t,” James told reporters, per Ben Axelrod of WKYC."
Cleveland will host Irving’s Celtics on opening night, a game sure to feature it’s share of drama.
In return for Irving, Cleveland hauled in more than anyone thought they’d get for the disgruntled guard: Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, first round draft pick (via Nets) in the upcoming draft (which will almost surely be a top-5 pick) and a second rounder (via Heat) in 2020.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Danny Ainge and the rest of the Celtics’ brass blew this one. Celtics’ forward Jaylen Brown, for one, was not thrilled with the move.
"“Do I agree with it? Not necessarily,” Brown said to Complex’s Adam Caparell. “He (Isaiah Thomas) will definitely be missed.”"
Kyrie may be one hell of a player but he isn’t worth your star point guard and a top draft pick. Forget the fact that Crowder, Zizic and an extra second rounder went to Cleveland in the deal as well. Cleveland was essentially handed the bench depth to eventually beat Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.
On top of that haul, Cleveland made a bunch of other nice acquisitions. Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Jeff Green, Cedi Osman and Jose Calderon all decided to latch on with “The Land.”
The signings of Rose and Calderon are huge since Isaiah Thomas will miss an extended period of time due to his seemingly mysterious hip injury. Rose has proven he’s a more than capable point man in the NBA, as he managed a respectable 18 points per game with the Knicks last year. Calderon can hold down the fort and give him breathers. The two will be key in easing Thomas back into the fold when he is able to take the court sometime around New Year’s.
Jeff Green and Cedi Osman are some nice depth pieces. However, it isn’t reasonable to expect Osman to contribute much early on in the season. He could emerge as contributors down the stretch of the season and in the playoffs, where players that aren’t necessarily in the game plan step up and make a difference. Green will give James and Crowder breathers and get valuable minutes in doing so.
Isaiah Thomas will fill the same role Irving did next to James: score when LeBron does not have or call for the ball. He played on the same AAU team as Kevin Love when they were younger and now, the close friends wear the same uniforms once again, this time in pursuit of an NBA title.
Put all of these signings into perspective. When Isaiah Thomas comes back, he’ll run the point, Wade will start at the two, Crowder and James will split time at the two forward spots and Love will man the middle. That lineup is pretty damn good but that’s not what sets this team apart.
Assuming Wade does in fact start, the bench five would presumably consist of Derrick Rose, J.R. Smith, Kyle Korver, Jeff Green and Tristan Thompson. Wade and Smith could end up switching spots, however. Either way, that would arguably take some starting groups in the association. Nobody has this kind of depth behind their starters.
And that’s what separates Cleveland from Golden State. Whereas the Dubs had an elite bench three seasons ago, they have lost depth ever since. Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston remain in town but Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and more no longer remain on the West Coast.
Instead, the team invested in Kevin Durant to bolster the starting unit, and that’s great. However, depth can beat talent, just as a lack thereof can plague a team. It happened with LeBron’s first stint with the Cavs, Durant and Westbrook’s Thunder and many more. Golden State could be next on that list against a team this deep.
King James Gospel
Cleveland received the Nets’ first rounder in the upcoming draft via the Irving trade, a pick sure to be within the top 10, if not top 5 selections. Their team will only get deeper, which is a scary thought.
The big four out West will likely be broken up soon due to immense financial concerns (expected $1.4 billion!) through the 2020-21 season, likely seeing one or two of the stars landing elsewhere. If and when that happens, that would signal an end to this dynasty that has ruled the NBA since the birth of the splash brothers.
Bench depth is ever valuable down the stretch as well. Where injuries may hit and fatigue sets in, bench depth allows players to rest and recover. If Golden State loses one of the four to injury, they will have serious problems. If the Cavs lose someone (not named LeBron), they have the depth to plug someone in and hold down the fort.
Golden State hasn’t been thoroughly tested on the injury front before. However, when Stephen Curry injured his knee during the 2016 playoffs (although Draymond Green’s game 5 suspension helped too), LeBron and company took advantage and brought the title home to the Cavalier faithful. Imagine if one of the Warriors suffered an injury they couldn’t play through. If Durant, Curry, Thompson or Green went down, this team would feel the effects.
It wouldn’t be fair to ignore Golden State’s moves this offseason. Signing Nick Young, Omri Casspi and drafting Nick Young are three nice moves. However, those moves pale in comparison to Cleveland’s. While Golden State signed guys without much postseason experience, Cleveland’s bench has plenty of playoff run on their tires. In fact, all five bench guys have played through April. Again, if any starting guard or forward for Golden State went down, their bench simply wouldn’t be able to provide adequate production.
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Cleveland would be able to withstand such a situation. No Thomas? Plug in Rose. No Wade? Hello J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver. No Crowder? Jeff Green stand up. No Love? Tristan Thompson has it covered. If James remains the superhuman playoff machine he’s proven to be throughout his SEVEN consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals, this team simply doesn’t have easily exploitable characteristics.
Between bench depth and experience, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally have an advantage over the Warriors with their ridiculously deep, experienced bench.