The Cleveland Cavaliers are gearing up to get their championship run started.
This team has been the best team in the Eastern Conference all season long, but they’ve also had their fair share of detractors.
That’s why they must have a killer mindset right out of the gate.
They can’t afford to take this playoff run as a learning experience or anything other than what it is, which is a legitimate chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
At least, that’s how NBA analysts Daryl Ruiter and Nick Pedone feel.
Talking on 92.3 The Fan, they warned the Cavs against thinking they might have another shot like this.
“This might be their shot. This is what they’ve been building towards. The door is open and it is time to walk through it,” they said.
“This might be their shot. This is what they’ve been building towards. The door is open and it is time to walk through it.”
➡️ @RuiterWrongFAN and @NickPedone12 on the opportunity for the #Cavs this postseason 🏀
🔊 Listen: https://t.co/GIhP43pz4V pic.twitter.com/3vieJhlk1a
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) April 20, 2025
They recalled how the Oklahoma City Thunder looked poised to become a dynasty when they reached their first NBA Finals and lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Despite having three future MVPs and Hall of Famers on their team, they never returned to the NBA Finals or won a single championship together.
The Cavs have been a dominant force on both ends of the court all season long, and they’ve already shown that they can dominate the best teams in the Association.
Then again, the playoffs are an entirely different animal, both for good and bad.
This is where good teams have to prove that they’re great.
Kenny Atkinson has taken the Cavaliers all the way to the top of the conference, and anything short of a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals should be considered a massive disappointment at this point.
NEXT: Analyst Names Biggest Difference For Cavs This Season In Playoffs
