They were so close in 2007. Having reached their first NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers seemed destined for greatness. Even though they were swept by the Spurs that season, LeBron James was young and constantly improving his game.
Come 2008, and the Boston Celtics had a beefed-up roster that was simply too strong for the Cleveland Cavs. They nearly beat them, but Boston went on to capture an NBA title under the leadership of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.
During the 2008-2009 season, the Cavs looked like the team to beat. With the best home record in the NBA (they had a 39-2 record at home), the Cleveland Cavaliers also had the best record in the NBA. A 66-16 finish gave them the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It looked like it would be Cleveland’s year.
Unfortunately, the team’s streak was ruined by the Orlando Magic. This left Cleveland fans wondering if Dwight Howard and the Magic had the Cavs’ number and what could be done about it.
Surely, the team was lacking in the big man department. Enter Shaquille O’Neal. The Cavs now enjoy the presence of the big man on their roster, and will look to use his physical prowess and his playoff experience to bring home an NBA title. The stakes are high, and the Celtics and Magic have made big moves this offseason.
This may or may not be enough, but one thing is for sure. The Cavs are stronger this year than they were last year. And that is scary.
