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Cleveland Cavaliers: A complete guide to the East NOT being weak

By Alishah Pearine

AUBURN HILLS, MI - NOVEMBER 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers practices his pre game ritual before a game against the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2008 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - NOVEMBER 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers practices his pre game ritual before a game against the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2008 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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2008-09 Playoff Run

After losing to the Celtics in 7 games, the Cavs went out and got Mo Williams, easily LeBron’s second best player during his first stint with the Cavs. The Cavs finished the season with a 66-16 record, holding opponents to 91.4 points per game—1st in the NBA, and also had the 3rd best defensive rating in the league.

LeBron averaged a stellar 28.4 points, 7.2  assists, and 7.6 rebounds per game and also won his first MVP award. With Garnett sustaining a knee injury, it looked like the Cavs had all the pieces to make it back to the NBA Finals.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Detroit Pistons

The Pistons stood no chance against the Cavaliers this series. The team’s heart and soul: Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace were well past their prime, while LeBron was just hitting his. This was an easy 4-0 sweep with 5 Cavaliers averaging double digits and LeBron leading the way with 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.

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    • Eastern Conference Semifinals: Atlanta Hawks 

    Many tend to overlook the Atalanta Hawks when discussing LeBron’s opponents. They also forget this was the same Hawks team that took a healthy Boston Celtics squad to 7 games last year and had nearly seven players average more than 10 points a night.

    With a starting five of Al Horford, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Maurice Evans, and Mike Bibby the Hawks, on paper, looked like they could match up pretty well with the Cavaliers. Unfortunately, LeBron and Delonte West were just too much.  Coupled in with the fact that Al Horford went missing throughout the playoffs, there was just no way the Hawks would manage to beat such a surging Cavaliers team.

    The Cavs swept the Hawks with LeBron averaging 33.8 points, 6 assists, and 8.3 rebounds per game. He had a 47 point gem in Game 3, basically sealing the Hawks fate.

    Delonte West had himself a nice series too, averaging 15 points 3.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting a blistering 50% from the field and 42.9% from 3.

    Eastern Conference Finals 

    After an 8-0 start to the postseason, it seemed like nothing was going to get in the way of a LeBron and Kobe dream matchup in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers laid an egg against the Orlando Magic and lost the series in 6 games.

    The Magic were just on fire from the 3 point line and the Cavs had no answer for Dwight who averaged 25.8 points and 13 rebounds per game on 65% shooting. As a team, they shot 48% from the field and 40.8% from 3 (62/152). Stan Van Gundy thoroughly outcoached Mike Brown as well. His drive and kick outs for wide open 3 point shots left the Cavaliers defense dazed and confused.

    For the series, LeBron averaged 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8 assists per game with an average game score of 29.3. He only put up 25 points 7 rebounds and 7 assists in Game 6, but that just goes to show just how dominant he was throughout the whole series.