Are the Wizards or Celtics a bigger threat to the Cavaliers?
With Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals coming tomorrow, the Cleveland Cavalier's continue to wait with baited breath to discover who will be their next competitor; the Boston Celtics or the Washington Wizards. After Cleveland started this years playoffs sweeping the first two rounds without much concern (aside from the 26 point comeback against the Pacers in game 3) many critics and journalists are already quick to write off whichever team comes out successfully to face them in the Eastern Conference Finals, declaring it likely that the Cavaliers will continue their run going 12 - 0 into the Finals. It's tough to truly predict the outcome of the next round, but which of the two would put up a better fight against the rolling reigning champions?
Season Series':
Wizards / Cavaliers:
Cavaliers win the series 2 - 1
The Cavaliers won Game 1 by 11 points, with the Wizards missing their star SG Bradley Beal.
Comparatively in their 2nd game of the season in February, they put on an absolute show, creating the potential game of the season with the Cavalier's mounting a clutch victory in overtime, winning 140 - 135 on the back of a the Cavaliers' big three combining for 94 points as well as a phenomenal fadeaway three pointer from Lebron James at the buzzer to force overtime.
The final game of their season series came towards the end of the regular season at the end of March, with the Wizards taking the win scoring 127 - 115 with Beal and John Wall having a terrific game scoring 64 points between themselves, compared to the Cavalier's Big 3 of Kevin, Kyrie and Lebron scoring 64 as well between those three.
Celtics / Cavaliers:
Cavaliers win the series 3 - 1
Cavaliers start with a victory against the Celtics early into the season with a strong team effort with 4 of their 5 starters scoring at least 15 points for a 6 point victory.
Towards the end of 2016 they faced each other again with the Cavaliers' again retaining a 6 point win, even without starting shooting guard JR Smith, suffering a fractured hand at that point of the season.
On the 1st of March, the Celtics were able to snatch a win from Cleveland winning by 4 points against a Kevin Love-less team in Boston.
The final game of their matchup came at a crucial time in the season with both teams tying for the 1st seed when this game came to occur. The Cavaliers proved a point with an absolute dominant performance, thrashing the Celtics by 23 in Boston with all 5 starters scoring in the double digits.
Winner:
As far as the regular season goes, the Wizards seemed to hold up better against the top heavy Cavaliers' than the Celtics did, both taking a win, but the Wizards being far more competitive, especially in the match of the year contender which 99 out of 100 times they would've won with Lebron missing that clutch three pointer, possibly leading to them winning the season series against the Cavs; 2-1.
Wizards
Playoff Roster:
Cavaliers:
PG: Kyrie Irving / Deron Williams
SG: JR Smith / Kyle Korver
SF: Lebron James / Iman Shumpert
PF: Kevin Love / Channing Frye
C: Tristan Thompson
Wizards:
PG: John Wall / Brandon Jennings
SG: Bradley Beal / Kelly Oubre
SF: Otto Porter / Bojan Bogdanovic
PF: Markieff Morris / Jason Smith
C: Marcin Gortat / Ian Mahinmi
Celtics:
PG: Isaiah Thomas / Marcus Smart
SG: Avery Bradley / Terry Rozier
SF: Jae Crowder / Jaylen Brown
PF: Amir Johnson
C: Al Horford / Kelly Olynyk
The Cavaliers and Celtics have been running 9 man rosters for these first two rounds of the playoffs, whereas the Wizards have been going with a healthy 10 man rotation instead.
Matchups to Watch:
PG: Irving v Wall / Thomas:
- This is an interesting trifecta, 3 of the top 10 guards of the NBA. Regardless of competitor, Kyrie will have his hands full attempting to defend either of these All NBA tier players. Wall's speed and intensity of getting to the basket will be difficult for Kyrie to handle, as well as the lackluster interior defense of the Cavaliers; whereas Thomas' perimeter based offensive flow will be difficult to guard, especially with how hot he can get in clutch moments of the game.
Defensively though, were the Cavaliers to face Boston, Kyrie would get to enjoy playing opposite one of the worst defensive players in the game. Looking at his defensive real plus minus (DRPM) he is ranked dead last of point guards in the NBA, with a stat of -4.42 DRPM. Boston is able to hide his defensive short comings often with the utilisation of Avery Bradley as the main defensive anchor of the backcourt, with Thomas being put onto the less dangerous option, but with the Cavaliers ball movement and rotations, Thomas will be exploited much like how Stephen Curry was in the 2016 NBA Finals.
The Cavaliers would prefer to face Boston, comparing this factor.
Based on other foundations and position matchups, it'd seem apparent that the Cavaliers would have an easier time facing the 1st seeded Boston Celtics, compared to the Washington Wizards. Due to rebounding issues, and overall mismatches on the team, especially when you take into consideration Lebron James.
Unfortunately, this article was not completed within so it's now sort of useless, the Cavs will face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals starting May 17.
Go Cavs!
