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Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 reasons they will win the East

By Robby Sabo

Mar 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots as Phoenix Suns forward Brandan Wright (32) defends during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 89-79. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots as Phoenix Suns forward Brandan Wright (32) defends during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 89-79. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The Playoffs are a different animal

During the last 10 games for each team, both the Hawks and Cavs sport records of 7-3.

When thinking about the playoffs, it doesn’t matter.

Both teams will finish as division champs and odds are will be the top two seeds in the conference. It will set up that road for Atlanta and Cleveland to meet in the Eastern Conference finals.

I don’t care of the Hawks win their final 19 games in dominant fashion. The NBA Playoffs are a completely different game than what these squads see in the regular season.

That once free-flowing game which sports so many open guys in transition suddenly becomes a half-court physical nightmare. Referees starting choking on the whistle and coaches campaign as hard as any politician during the post-game presser to get the friendly whistle the next game.

Having that one guy to throw the ball to in a do or die situation is of the up-most importance in the playoffs.

For Cleveland, they have their guy. In Atlanta, it’s a major question mark.

Al Horford could possibly be that guy as his low block game is still very impressive. The problem there is this is an NBA is different from 20-years ago. It’s tough to dump the ball into the low post during an end of game situation.

The way the game is played now with no hand-checking and such freedom along the perimeter has made the NBA a guard’s league a while ago – and why that clutch shot needs to be in the hands of a finisher in an iso situation.

Neither Horford, Paul Millsap or Jeff Teague has proved worthy of that situation. Although dipping a bit in percentage, Kyle Korver can always knock down a critical bucket, but when only a few seconds remain in a SOB (side out-of-bounds) situation, there’s not enough time for a play.

With how physical playoff basketball becomes, LeBron James gives the Cavs that ultimate weapon.

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