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Cleveland Cavaliers: Is the fourth seed the best spot for the Cavs?

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 1: Kevin Love #0 celebrates with LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Quicken Loans Arena on April 1, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 1: Kevin Love #0 celebrates with LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Quicken Loans Arena on April 1, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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While much of the playoff conversation has centered around the Western Conference, the seeding in the East, especially for the Cleveland Cavaliers, could be just as important.

With just two games left in the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are likely to finish with the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they’d draw Indiana in the first round and then most likely face Toronto in the second round.

Is facing Toronto, the only other true contender in the East, a round earlier going to be an issue? Some might think so, but in my mind, it might be more beneficial for the Cavs to get a more difficult series out earlier in the postseason.

Outside of Toronto and Philadelphia, there isn’t really an Eastern Conference team that can compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers. That said, there’s a very real chance that they might have to play both, which means dropping down to the four seed would hurt Cleveland.

The most realistic route for the Cavaliers includes playing Indiana, Toronto, Philly, and then Houston/Golden State in the Finals. That’s supposing they end with the fourth seed. If they end back on top of the 76ers, they’ll play Miami, who blew them out by 19 earlier in the season, Boston/Milwaukee, Toronto, and then either Golden State or Houston.

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Which one of those routes sounds more appealing?

Indiana is a much better first round matchup for the Cavs than Miami. Albeit Victor Oladipo has been on another level this season, Miami plays with such grit and heart combined with a powerful shot blocker and several players with the ability to get hot and stay hot.

At the fourth seed, the Cavs would play the Raptors in the second round, a team they’ve beaten twice in the last few weeks.

Supposing that isn’t as smooth sailing as we hope, LeBron and the Cavs might win in six or seven games. Then, they’ll get some rest and go into a less difficult Eastern Conference Finals. Ideally, they could sweep their ECF opponent and be rested for the NBA Finals.

It might not be the best reasoning, but if the Cavs could knock out the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in the second round, it’ll make their route significantly easier, giving them more rest before the Finals.

However, it really won’t matter. For the last seven straight seasons, the seeding for a LeBron James-led team has just been a headline. At the end of the day, there isn’t a single team in the East that can stop LeBron James.

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Knowing that, give me the No. 8 seed, and I’d be confident the Cavs would still reach the NBA Finals.