The 2017/2018 NBA regular season is coming to an end. Cleveland Cavaliers were totally outplayed by Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA finals and, as a result, the club owners decided to reinforce the roster in the summer. A number of top-class players joined Tyronn Lue’s team, but former Boston Celtics ace Isaiah Thomas was traded to Los Angeles Lakers after just 15 games. He struggled to fit in after returning from a serious hip injury and it is no surprise he is a new LA Lakers player.
Cleveland Cavaliers occupy third place in the Eastern Conference with 12 games to go until the end of the season, but it has to be noted that Indiana Pacers are breathing down their neck. Cavs have been having their ups and down of late, with the team recording five wins in previous ten league games, but they will have to be at their sharpest in the play-offs if they are to regain the NBA trophy.
As things stand now, Cavs will once again rely on LeBron James, who led Tyronn Lue’s troops to a 124-117 win over Milwaukee Bucks with 40 points earlier in March. “The King James” has been averaging 31 points in previous in March and, no doubt, he has found his best form. Anyhow, his teammates will have to improve their game as well if Cavs are to retain third place in the standings.
Kyrie Irving, who joined Boston Celtics during the summer, has been sorely missed in the 2018 NBA season and seeing that Isaiah Thomas is no longer part of the team, there is every chance Kevin Love will play a very important role in Tyronn Lue’s team in the season finale. You should bear in mind that Kevin Love has 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this term.
The likes of Larry Nance, Rodney Hood, Cedi Osman and Tristan Thompson have been struggling with injuries of late, but the quartet should be fully fit for upcoming games.
Taking everything into account, Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing below expectations in the regular season, with the team already suffering 29 defeats in the process. Cavs are relying too much on LeBron James, who is once again likely to find himself alone against Cleveland’s rivals. The team’s current goal is to finish the regular season in top four in the Eastern Conference as that will earn them home-court advantage in the play-offs.
Cleveland Cavaliers will face the likes of Toronto Raptors (twice), Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks (twice) in the remainder of the season.