This Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers suit up for their first playoff game in four years. The opponent remains the same as it was the last time: the Boston Celtics. Cavs fans around the country hope and pray the result will be much different this time around.
We all remember how this series played out in 2010. Since rehashing said ugliness gives me severe anxiety, I’ll just give the bullet points.
Rajon Rondo decimated Cleveland. LeBron James put forth minimal effort during the back end of the series. The Celtics won. James left.
Ok, well, now that I’ve gotten this out of my system, it’s time to focus on the present instead of the past. As we all know, Cleveland’s prospects in this year’s series are much more favorable than those in 2010. For one, their roster features much more talent than it did during their last postseason appearance, when Mo Williams and a well-past-his-prime Shaquille O’Neal were strangely labeled as a “solid supporting cast.”
Additionally, the Celtics of 2010 defeated the Cavs en route to the NBA Finals. This year’s iteration is scrappy, well-coached, but ultimately one which took advantage of an inferior Eastern Conference.
Many expect Cleveland make quick work of Boston in this opening round, myself included. That said, the only thing which could prevent the Cavs from cake-walking their way through this series is, frankly, the Cavs themselves.
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