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Cleveland Cavaliers: Would the Cavs make the playoffs in the Western Conference?

By Trey Flynn

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Lebron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Lebron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers would not make the playoffs in the Western Conference

Hypothetical statements can be frustrating, most of us can agree to that. Although, this hypothetical has high stakes with a lot of significance and possibly a hot-take thrown in – so it’s fun.

How do you begin a piece on LeBron James not making the playoffs? It seems sacrilegious, let’s try it out and be rule-breakers.

LeBron James may have inadvertently created a monopoly in basketball, it’s called the Western Conference. The West is shaping up to be a fist-fight to get into the playoffs. In fact, with the top-two seeds excluded (Rockets and the Warriors), there is a race of about nine teams to make the final six spots in the Western playoffs.

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In order, those nine teams include: Blazers, Pelicans, Spurs, Timberwolves, Thunder, Nuggets, Clippers, Jazz, and the Lakers (The Lakers are included for their late-success, and so the BBB – Big Baller Brand, doesn’t sue me).

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a 7-11 win/loss ratio against the nine of those teams this year.

The Golden State Warriors have represented the West in the NBA finals for three straight years, winning two rings (all against the Cavaliers). Which leads me to believe that some of you may be wondering – why do the Western playoff standings ever matter?

Probably because the best player in the NBA may leave the East soon, and the East is in need of a shake-up.

That player is LeBron James.

"Via Kevin O’Connor – The Ringer“I’ve consistently heard from multiple league sources that LeBron currently has only four teams on his list: the Cavaliers, Lakers, Rockets, and 76ers.”"

The Lakers and the Rockets are obviously both from the West, so the idea of LeBron paving his way toward the Pacific Ocean – far away from anything Cleveland – is extremely real.

Now that the case for LeBron playing in the West is feasible, what would happen if James’ Cavaliers simply switched conferences?

Side note: This hypothetical question gives perspective to how difficult the Western playoffs are relative to the Eastern playoffs. Also, it may make a case for LeBron’s legacy, for better or worse (that’s another story).

LeBron James has made the playoffs every year for the last twelve seasons, he plans on making it thirteen straight as we get closer to April. Barring anything drastic, James and the Cavaliers will make the Eastern playoffs this year, but the question remains:

Would the Cavaliers have a chance in the West?

Yes they would, but barely.

Cleveland is currently 37-26, sitting loosely in the third seed of the Eastern conference. Out of the nine teams that are included in the playoff race for the Western conference, five of them, have 37 wins. That would mean the Cavaliers would be somewhere between the third and eighth seed, fighting to barely make the Western playoffs (seeds 9-11 in the West would only be 2.5-5 wins away from the Cavs).

Let me repeat that:

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been to three straight finals, would struggle getting into the Western Conference playoffs. 

… The playoffs.

Must Read: NBA Tanking Wars: Which team is going to land the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft?

NBA media and fans are passionate that LeBron has had it easy in the East throughout his career; that rhetoric is frankly exhausting, but this year it seems justified. James is playing his best basketball and the Cavaliers may not even grab home-field advantage in the East, there is a definite problem with the allocation of talent in the NBA.

Help us, Adam Silver, you’re our only hope.

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