The Cleveland Cavaliers have their eyes set on another NBA title, and the Houston Rockets might be the main threat on their quest.
There are three teams that have proven to be on a level above the field. Those are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors. Some analysts even throw in the Toronto Raptors, the best Eastern Conference team in the regular season, and the Philadelphia 76ers, winners of 14 straight, into the mix.
However, when push comes to shove, it boils down to just the first three that are a tier above the field. That said, are the Warriors or Rockets bigger threats in the Cavs journey for a second title in four years?
In my opinion, it’s still the Warriors without a shadow of a doubt. And, to be fair, it’s the same reason most would assume. Houston is a heavy three-point shooting team, and for the most part, that’s been plaguing playoff teams.
Since LeBron has returned home, the NBA has continued to rely more and more upon the three-point shot, continually re-upping their most threes per season made.
However, since his return in 2014, the team to finish with the most threes has yet to win the Finals. Actually, that record goes back before James was even in the league and I was even alive. Shockingly enough, the Houston Rockets back in the 1994-1995 season were the last team to lead the league in threes made per game and win the Finals.
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Crazy, huh? Three-point shooting doesn’t always translate to postseason success.
As for recent history, it’s quite possible that Houston is the most three-point reliant team in the history of the league. They average over six more three-point attempts than the second highest team, the Brooklyn Nets. In comparison to the “Big Three”, they average over ten or more attempts than both Golden State and Cleveland.
That’s a recipe for playoff disaster.
James Harden, who cooks up opponents, will get MVP; however, his legacy will be much more scrutinized if he yet again fails to take his team deep in the playoffs.
To add onto that, the West’s bottom three teams could pose an intriguing threat to upset either Houston or Golden State. While it’d be extremely shocking, due to their current flaws, Minnesota has potential to knock either team off, leaving the other as the true lone threat to the Cavaliers, assuming they survive the wild west. .
At the beginning of the season, many assumed that fans would get just a fourth chapter in the Warriors-Cavs rivalry. While that might be another entertaining affair, the league is finally starting to return to equilibrium. Young players are getting better while the injury bug is starting to set in on a team like Golden State.
As we move into the postseason in just a few days, it’s clear that both Golden State and Houston have their flaws, but ultimately, the Cavs won’t have a perfect road to the Finals either. The bigger threat to win the Finals overall might just end up being the one that stays healthy and performs to their peak potential.
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The only question is: who will that be?