The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the 2024-25 regular season and are on their way to clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Under head coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers have become a ruthlessly efficient offensive team with the defensive chops to match.
The backcourt and frontcourt tandems of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, plus Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, are too much for most teams to handle, which is why the organization should feel confident in its title hopes.
However, their biggest obstacle lies right below them in the standings, as the Boston Celtics are in a prime position to repeat as NBA champions.
While Boston doesn’t boast the same regular season record as Cleveland, it has far more playoff and championship experience.
Analyst Damon Jones likes what he’s seen from the Cavaliers but outlined what makes the Celtics such a tough postseason opponent.
“I’ve never seen a team like it. You put five guys on the court that are live on every single possession. You got guys that can penetrate the basketball, and the big thing now is all five players can make 3-point shots,” Jones said, via 92.3 The Fan.
"They have the equalizer come playoff time and that's home court advantage. #Cavs fans show up and show out every single night, but the Boston Celtics…I've never seen a team like it."@D19J w/ @EarldaPearl216 & @Spencito_ on #Cavs #Celtics🏀
🔊 Listen: https://t.co/xYMCl18StQ pic.twitter.com/MWUZUoM0By
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) April 5, 2025
Jones made a good point about Boston’s offense, as the Celtics shoot the most 3-pointers in the league and make them at an efficient rate.
Cleveland has similar offensive principles but doesn’t have the same perimeter firepower that Boston does on a nightly basis.
The teams seem like they’re on a collision course in the playoffs, though the Cavaliers are going to be the ones that might be scrambling for answers given the personnel.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals Concerning Trend For Cavs In Close-Out Situations
