Why the Cleveland Cavaliers can win the NBA Finals this season

Strength of schedule and seeding

So far this season, the Cavs have had the third-toughest schedule to this point in terms of opponents win percentage. Yet, the Cavs currently sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference with the best average margin of victory in the conference, just 1.5 games back from the first place-Miami Heat.

As far as the rest of the season is concerned, the Cavs have the third-easiest schedule. With an average margin of victory of +4.9 over the course of the first 49 games of the season with the third-toughest schedule, imagine how much ground they can gain in standings with 33 games remaining.

The #1-seed Heat have the 15th-toughest schedule remaining. The #2-seed Chicago Bulls have the 10th-toughest schedule remaining. The two teams behind the Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets, have the toughest and the sixth-toughest schedule remaining.

Case in point, the Cavs are in perfect position to move in the standings and sit atop the conference once the season ends. This would guarantee them homecourt advantage throughout the conference playoffs. Considering the city of Cleveland has the best fans in the world, it’s hard to think of a better advantage come playoff time.