For much of the season, it looked like the Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the NBA. Now, the Oklahoma City Thunder has overtaken them (in the NBA standings and public opinion), and the Cavs have started to show signs of weakness. After losing five of their last 10 games, some are starting to wonder if the Cavaliers aren’t dangerous after all. Last season, the Boston Celtics had an easy path to the NBA Finals and, eventually, the 2024 NBA Championship. The Cavaliers looked like they might be able to give Boston a run for their money this season, but recently, people are rightfully questioning that. If the Cavaliers from the last 10 games are who show up in the playoffs, the Celtics’ championship hopes skyrocket.
Cleveland’s Play Could Impact Boston’s Championship Chances
Cleveland’s Last 10 Games
The Cavaliers haven’t looked as dangerous over their last 10 games. Their defensive rating (top-10 for the season) has fallen to 19th in the league, and their number-one-rated offense has been 12th in the league. Although this slippage in play didn’t much affect their position at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, it is still worth looking into.
The Cavaliers had four straight losses during that stretch, all to teams with playoff hopes. They got things back on track with three straight wins against tanking Western Conference teams but then fell to a Cade Cunningham-less Detroit Pistons on Friday night. Maybe the Cavaliers are just taking things easy in preparation for the playoffs. Alternatively, they have some real issues that need to be sorted out before the playoffs begin.
Are the Boston Celtics Championship Bound Once Again?
So, what does this have to do with the defending champion Celtics? First of all, the Cavaliers hold the top seed in the East. They still have a 4.5-game cushion separating them from the Celtics. However, the Celtics are 9-1 in their last ten games and have been slowly closing the gap.
According to ESPN Bet, the Celtics have a much higher chance of winning the 2025 NBA championship than the Cavaliers. The Celtics are currently the second favorite at +190, and the Cavaliers are third at +500. The Cavaliers’ recent skid has contributed to this gap but the Celtics have been widely favored over Cleveland all year.
The Eastern Path is Much Easier
If the Cavaliers bring their disappointing recent play to the playoffs, they could be at risk of being upset. The Eastern Conference playoff contenders don’t seem that dangerous, but teams like the Magic or Hawks could easily upset the Cavaliers if they aren’t on their A-game in the first round.
If that does happen, it could have huge ripple effects for the 2025 NBA championship. The Celtics had an extremely easy path to the finals last season. If the Cavaliers are eliminated prematurely, the Celtics could find themselves in a similar position as last year, especially because whoever comes out of the West will likely have survived a playoff blood bath. The Celtics could be primed to repeat as NBA champions if the Cavaliers continue their disappointing play. Can the Cavaliers change things around and stop another Celtics championship?
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