When you take a look at which teams qualified for the 2022 NBA playoffs, which the Cleveland Cavaliers should be part of, there’s a very interesting and promising trend that appears to be developing.
Before the season, the Cavs weren’t projected to be anywhere near the play-in tournament, let alone the actual NBA Playoffs. Yet, they ended up finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference. This meant that they would meet the seventh place Brooklyn Nets in the 7 vs 8 play-in game for the right to play the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. Thanks to 25 points from Kevin Durant and 34 points from Kyrie Irving, the Nets defeated the Cavs 115-108.
The loss to the Nets sent the Cavs into the win-or-go-home against the Atlanta Hawks for the right to play the no.1 seed Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, Trae Young exploded in the second half and finished with 38 points. This ultimately propelled the Hawks to a 107-101 victory. This could potentially spark a rivalry between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers; if that were to happen, it would give Cleveland two new rivalries as a result of how this season ended (because I believe the Cavs now have a rivalry with the Philadelphia 76ers).
The Cavs fell short of the playoffs this season, but their rise into the play-in games could indicate future success as they model the path of other breakout teams
But when you take a look at the teams who are in the playoffs, many of them took a similar path to what the Cavs appear to be building towards. Some of them, such as the Memphis Grizzlies, were in the play-in tournament last season and made a significant jump in the standings this season. Coincidentally enough, the Grizzlies were one of the 2021 playoff teams I thought the Cavs should try to emulate.
Last season, the Grizzlies advanced to the playoffs by defeating the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. Once they got to the playoffs, they were eliminated in five games by the Utah Jazz. However, those five games weren’t “gimmes” for the Jazz. Just about every game in the series came down to the final minute. Despite losing the series, you could see that Memphis was building something special.
This season, the Grizzlies took a massive step forward this season as Memphis captured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 56-26. Ja Morant looks like he’s on his way to becoming an All-Star, perhaps even a superstar. If Darius Garland builds on what he did this past season, he could be on a similar trajectory for the Cavs. Additionally, the Grizzlies have surrounded him with players such as Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams, and many others who complement Morant and fit the identity that head coach Taylor Jenkins is trying to establish. But the interesting part of the equation is that the Grizzlies have a really good record even when Morant is out.
Based on what they showed as the season progressed, the Cavs appear to be doing the same type of thing. Through various means of roster building, the Cavs have created a solid core to build upon. They’ve got Garland, who should be the starting point guard moving forward, as well as Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. There are some other players such as Lauri Markkanen, Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert, and Lamar Stevens who could also be part of the future, but the jury is still out on them.
Going into Tuesday night’s Game 5 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns (the defending Western Conference champions and the team with the best record in the NBA) were tied 2-2. The seven-game series became a best-of-three series. The Pelicans were ninth in the Western Conference this season, so they had to win both games in the play-in tournament just to get into the playoffs. Even if Phoenix wins in six, it’s an impressive feat for a 36-win team.
The Pelicans have done things a little bit differently than the Grizzlies and Cavaliers. The players who have helped the Pelicans get in a position to possibly knock off the Suns were brought in through trades and free agency. As a result of the Anthony Davis trade, Brandon Ingram came to New Orleans. During this postseason, Ingram has been able to establish himself as a solid player who could reach All-Star level (Ingram has made one All-Star game, but he has not yet become a perennial candidate). The Pelicans also made a trade to get CJ McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers and he’s fit in seamlessly with New Orleans. Give huge credit to New Orleans’ head coach Willie Green.
The Boston Celtics drafted Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart (the defensive player of the year, DPOY). As each of them was added through the draft, the Celtics improved. When Boston went to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers in 2018, Tatum was just a rookie, Smart was in his third year, and Brown was a rookie in the previous season. I’m still surprised the Cavs won the 2018 “ECF” against the Celtics.
There are a few other young upstart teams who are trying to make their mark in the postseason/playoffs this year. This appears to be a new promising and interesting trend that favors the Cleveland Cavaliers. Will they jump up to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference next season like how the Memphis Grizzlies did in the Western Conference this season?
No, the Cavs probably aren’t going to do that as some of the NBA’s powerhouses reside in the East. But if this new interesting and promising trend that’s developing in the NBA continues, then the future is bright for the Cleveland Cavaliers and they could be a factor for years to come.