There’s a new team that has stuck its name deep in the NBA Finals conversation. The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking like a team that can take over games in the postseason and are getting hot at the right time. At the trade deadline, they took a big swing in trading for James Harden. That move minimized their championship window to the next two seasons. They’ve looked excellent, but are they and should they be the favorites in the Eastern Conference?
Cavaliers Eastern Conference Favorites?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They are riding a six-game winning streak, winners of 11 of their last 12 games, and are 4-0 since the Harden trade. For someone who has said that it was mind-numbing to trade for a player who is 10 years older than the player you’re acquiring, they have proven me wrong. Have three of the four wins come against bad teams? Yes, but their team chemistry has been elite.
My biggest concern was that Harden would join the Cavaliers, which would mess up their flow. The Beard has been the complete opposite. He’s only taking 10.25 shots and is averaging 8.75 assists over his first four games in Cleveland. Talk about fitting into the offense and knowing your role.
Current State of the Cavaliers
Harden hasn’t been the only new Cavalier to make an immediate impact. Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder have been just what the doctor ordered for the team. From being menaces on the perimeter to finding new peps in their steps, it’s shown you how a change of scenery can do for players who “play the right way.”
Doing whatever your team needs on any given night. Just look at last night’s game against the Nets. Ellis had seven points and four stocks (steals and blocks), while Schroder had a solid 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Since joining the team, they have combined for +53 on the court.
With a record of 35-21 on the season, Cleveland sits in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. Catching the Detroit Pistons, who are seven games ahead of them, might be too far to catch. However, they’re tied with the Knicks and only a game and a half back of the Boston Celtics for the second seed. I can see them making a push for the two seed, especially when Evan Mobley returns to form. Mobley has missed the previous seven games with a left calf strain.
Are They Title Contenders?
Being the betting favorites to make it out of the conference and being championship contenders are two different things. I believe they have the roster and the talent to beat whoever they face in the playoffs. I think they’re a bad matchup for the Knicks. The Boston Celtics are still missing Jayson Tatum.
I love the Pistons, but with them being a young team, it’s going to be tough to beat a more seasoned team. It’s a different level of pressure when you are the hunted instead of the hunter. Not saying the Cavs have years of postseason success, but they are the more veteran team of the two.
Final Thoughts
I am excited for the rest of the Cavaliers’ season. They are one of the more intriguing teams in the NBA over the last three weeks. From a dominant regular season last in 2024 to trading for a former MVP this year, can they put it together in 2025? What do you make of Cleveland’s recent success? Do you think they can make it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2018? Lastly, should they be the betting favorite to win the East?
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