The Cavs Deserve More Respect Than They Are Given
We are all aware by now that this has been a remarkable season for the Cavaliers. They have been on three separate 10+ game-winning streaks this season with a chance to shatter the team record for wins in a season set in 2009. They are in the top ten in both defensive and offensive ratings. They can reach a different gear to flip potential losses to wins on a dime or bury teams under the weight of Cavalanches to put games away early. They've been the best team in the Eastern Conference and a no doubt Finals contender. So why does it feel like they are still the best-kept secret despite their performance suggesting they should be a serious threat?
I'm sure you've heard the usual excuses. "Oh, but they still got no chance against Boston; they're the 2015 Atlanta Hawk." "They are a small market team; They ain't the Knicks or Lakers, and the ESPNs of the world only care if LeBron was still rocking wine and gold." "Nobody outside Donovan Mitchell is a sexy lightning rod for the national media."
That's all nonsense, and you know it. This team has a collection of 4 All-Star level players that have been pillars of their accession, two 6-Man Of The Year candidates, one who is the best out-of-nowhere story this year in Ty Jerome, and the other being the most consequential move of the NBA trade deadline in DeAndre Hunter. All of this cannot happen without the front-runner for coach of the year in Kenny Atkinson. Awards night in the NBA will be filled with Cavaliers.
There are so many things to talk about with this team. If I went over the mind blowing stats one by one, you'd probably get bored of me acting like a bitter fan and go doom scroll TikTok. Let's call it like it is; it's just laziness by those who cover the league, recycling old, stale narratives that can get clicks and instant gratification because their articles and clips go viral. They can cover the Cavaliers, especially as the first seed who has dominated the first 60+ games of the season and has flirted with history all season. Still, they choose not to because they feel they can't sell you on it simply because of dated perceptions. It tells you more about them that they suck at hyping up the league and not just the 4-5 legacy brands and players that are instant money generators.
This feels more egregious when the two best teams undoubtedly have been the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cavs, but unless you are an actual hoops head, you have to go out of your way to understand why they are so great. Charles Barkley from Inside the NBA was right; everyone is rooting for 2nd place, and they are idiots and fools for hyping up two weeks of good basketball by the Lakers and Warriors when the Cavs have had five amazing months they can actually chew on. These networks are excited to get hyped up on sugar highs instead of enjoying well-crafted meals prepared by some of the best the NBA has to offer. It's an utter shame, but hey, all of us in northeast Ohio will happily enjoy it if nobody wants to give it the time of day it deserves.