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560-342, 95-51 & counting

Picture: The sun shines on the LeBron James billboard across the street from the Q on Monday, April 17th, 2017.
In 11 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron Raymone James Sr. has helped lead his team to a 560-342 regular season record (average of 51-31 per season) and a 95-51 playoff record thus far. Prior to the two LeBron eras in Cleveland, the Cavs had compiled a modest playoff record of 28-49 with two Eastern Conference Finals appearances. It's been quite the ride.

However, many analysts, fans, and other NBA conspiracy theorists are calling this weekend the end of the second LeBron-Cleveland era. If this is true, making four Conference Finals in a row, three NBA Finals in a row, and winning one NBA Championship will never be forgotten in Cleveland. No matter how many championships James ends up winning in his career, the 2016 win will always stand out. The Cavs defied all odds by coming back from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat a team with a historic 73-9 regular season record, winning an exciting Game 7 on the road, and ending a 52-year championship drought for the city of Cleveland.

Now, a 3-2 deficit vs. the Boston Celtics is just that: a deficit in an active playoff series. 

In this series, the Cavs and Celtics have had a Jekyll & Hyde home-road relationship. Overall, the Celtics have had a Jekyll & Hyde home-road playoff experience in 2018. The Celtics are 10-0 in Boston, outscoring their opponents 108.7 ppg to 97.2 ppg. However, the Celtics are 1-6 on the road, getting outscored 106.4 ppg to 94.4 ppg. Being back in Cleveland tonight, the Cavs have a pretty good chance to force a Game 7.

In the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs are +39 at home, -51 on the road. They have lived and died with their core seven guys (James, Love, Thompson, Smith, Hill, Green, and Korver), who have played 991 out of 1,200 total minutes in this series. Coach Lue has turned to Nance Jr. and Clarkson for some necessary bench minutes in Games 3-5. Inconsistency has hurt the stability of the Cavs' rotation. Here is a telling stat for the Cavs:


Meanwhile, the Celtics have faced their share of injuries, with two stars (Irving, Hayward) and one up-and-coming player (Theis) out for the playoffs and another role player (Larkin) out indefinitely. In turn, they have leaned even more heavily on their remaining seven-man core (Horford, Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Smart, Morris, and Baynes), who have played 1,067 out of 1,200 total minutes in this series. Sometimes, having a leaner roster helps, as Coach Brad Stevens has been able to establish a set rotation. Here are some key notes for the Celtics from Game 5:


Both teams are clearly fatigued. With a healthier roster than Coach Stevens, Coach Lue may turn to bench wildcards for help. Osman and Hood offer energy and streaky shooting on the wing, Calderon offers ball control at point guard, and Zizic and Perkins (only one of whom will likely be in uniform each game) offer rebounding and physicality in the paint.

Most likely, Game 6 will be business as usual for Coach Lue and the Cavs. The 2018 Celtics are just not a good road team. Should the Cavs take care of business and force a Game 7, Coach Lue and staff should look beyond their core seven guys to figure out who else is a playoff clutch player.

Cavs fans will never forget Daniel Gibson, who attended Game 3 last weekend. Gibson's legendary performance vs. the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals was one of the best clutch performances in Cleveland sports history. If fans could have their way, perhaps Coach Lue will call on Cedi Osman to find his "Booby" Gibson moment. (Note: Fans spelled it "Boobie", but Daniel Gibson spells it "Booby", so both spellings are acceptable.)

Cavs rotation
Star players who are core players: F/G LeBron James, F/C Kevin Love
Role players who are core players: C/F Tristan Thompson, G/F J.R. Smith, G George Hill, F Jeff Green, G/F Kyle Korver
Role players who are situational players: F/C Larry Nance Jr., G Jordan Clarkson, G/F Rodney Hood, F/G Cedi Osman, G Jose Calderon
Bench players who are secondary backups: C/F Ante Zizic, C Kendrick Perkins, F Okaro White
*Not on playoff roster: Two-way players: G/F John Holland, G London Perrantes

Celtics rotation
Star players who are core players: F/C Al Horford, G/F Jaylen Brown, F Jayson Tatum
Role players who are core players: G Terry Rozier, G Marcus Smart, F Marcus Morris, C Aron Baynes
Role players who are situational players: F Semi Ojeleye, C/F Greg Monroe
Bench players who are secondary backups: F Abdel Nader, F Guerschon Yabusele
*Injured (day-to-day): G Shane Larkin
*Injured (out for season): F/G Gordon Hayward, G Kyrie Irving, C/F Daniel Theis
*Not on playoff roster: Two-way players: G Kadeem Allen, G Jabari Bird

 While Coach Lue is correct that the 2016 squad overcame great odds and adversity, it's a different Cavs roster now. Still, win or lose tonight, he's right: Cleveland will always have 2016. As LeBron James exclaimed after Game 7 on Father's Day, June 19th, 2016: 

 "Cleveland, this is for you!"

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