The Cleveland Cavaliers have had many ups in downs through the years from becoming champions to having the worst record in the NBA. One ma that has always factored into the Cavs performance is Cleveland native LeBron James. Before James was drafted to the Cavaliers in 2003 the Cavs were not good. It took a few seasons after LeBron was drafted to get to the playoffs and then eventually an NBA Finals appearance in 2007.
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers were swept in four games by the star-studded Santonio Spurs. Then a few years later came every Cavs fans’ worst nightmare that was from then on called “The Decision”. When LeBron James decided to team up with his best friend Dwayne Wade and we can’t forget Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat.
The “Big 3” would go on to win two championships in Miami and in 2014 LeBron James announced that he was coming home. The Cavaliers who already had star point guard Kyrie Irving would then trade for the Timberwolves star big man Kevin Love and that would solidify Clevelands’ new Big 3. A year later in 2015, the injured Cavaliers would reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007 as they would play Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The Cavs without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love would take the Curry and his Warriors to six games but could not do it without their other two key players.
Jump another year forward to 2016 it would be the Cavs and Warriors part two. The now healthy Cavaliers with their backs against the wall and nothing to lose would have a historic game 5 with Jame and Irving both scoring 41 points in a huge win for the Cavaliers. The Cavs would then go on to win both games six and seven to make NBA history being the only team in NBA history to come back from being down three games to one and win the NBA Finals.
The Cavaliers are back on track
Back to the present time the Cavaliers are in another post-Lebron James era and have made their rebuild through the NBA lottery and now have a very talented young core. The Cavs are currently sitting at fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 17-12.
The Cavs could very well see a playoff birth for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. With Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen leading the charge, the Cleveland Cavaliers are back on the rise and are looking to reclaim their former glory in the Eastern Conference.
Amanda Lynne