The Boldest Prediction: 2015-2016 NBA Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs have been a lot of fun for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Another staff prediction:

Getting right to the point here is my bold prediction:

The Cavs lose only two games in the playoffs.

Why this will happen.

This is the best LeBron James team ever. The bench is deep and strong, the starters are working together like a clock, and LeBron doesn’t have to shoot. Richard Jefferson, Matthew Dellavadova, Iman Shumpert, and Channing Frye come off of the pine for the best bench in basketball. Ty Lue can play line-ups such as Frye-Love-RJ-Shump-Delly, Frye-LeBron-RJ-Shump-Delly, and even Frye-Thompson-RJ-Shump-Kyrie, to get the bench involved, while constantly keeping one of the big three on the court at all times.

This is similar to what Billy Donovan has been doing with Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant. The thinking is “If Durant and Westbrook are on the court we are winning, if one of them is on the court we can keep it close.” Tyronn Lue has been doing similar things with the big three (See above lineups).

The Cavs starters are playing lights out. Every single player knows his role, and is playing at a new level. Kyrie is scoring the basketball at new levels, and has even shown the ability to work hard and fight on defense, even though he is terrible on P&R defense. Kevin Love is learning to let the game come to him. He doesn’t have to have a 30-30 game for the Cavaliers to win (like he had to do in Minnesota). He can have 10 points and 18 rebounds one night, and go off for 30 and 10 the next. He takes what the offense brings him. J.R. and Thompson are doing what they do best. Hit threes and grab boards.

Finally, LeBron doesn’t have to shoot jump shots. He just doesn’t. This single factor makes the 2015-2016 Cavs the greatest team LeBron has ever had. Finally, a team that plays straight into LeBron’s strengths. When any team tries to guard LeBron they are faced with a major predicament. If LeBron drives, and you don’t double team with help defense, he will score over any defender. If they do double him, he finds the open shooter, and the Cavs hit 25 threes in a game. For those reasons and more, the Cavs will sweep the Raptors, and win the Finals in 6.

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Why this won’t happen.

The Cavs are 9-0 in the playoffs currently and haven’t really played a good team yet. After last night’s game, the Raptors don’t look good enough to win a game. But if Jonas Valanciunas comes back and plays games 3 and 4, he will give the Cavaliers problems defensively, and offensively. At the end of day, the Western Conference Finals are looking like an incredible battle between two prolific teams. It is foolish to think that the Cavaliers could beat either GS or OKC in 6 games. Both of those teams are great in their own right, with GS possessing the best player, and OKC owning two of the top five players in the NBA.

More from King James Gospel

Injuries have always been a problem for Kyrie, and the Cavs have avoided a major injury this season. The WIne & Gold look like the healthiest team still alive. Golden State is worried about Steph and Dray’s ankles. Steven Adams is all beat up for OKC, and Jonas Valanciunas might not suit up at all for the ECF. A big injury to a key player could be on the Cavaliers horizon.

Even though the Cavs are a great team, there is no way that they sweep the Raptors and win in 6 against the West. It’s just not reasonable. Is there a big possibility to say that the Cavaliers win the finals? Sure. But it is doubtful that they handle the team that comes out of the West. Even sweeping the Raptors is going to be tough for Cleveland.

Do you think the Cavs lose more than 9 games in the NBA Playoffs?