The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the team to beat in the Eastern Conference all year long.
They’re not likely to lose 20 games all season, and that’s the sign of a championship-contending team.
That’s why Sacramento Kings coach Doug Christie tipped his hat to them after facing them on Sunday night:
“They’re built for the playoffs,” Christie said. “That’s a playoff team in my opinion. Regular season, they rack up a lot of wins, but as far as the playoffs, they’re built for that. They got guys that get to the free throw line. They got guys who make timely shots. They got two huge guys on the interior.”
The Kings escaped with a seven-point win after the Cavs made things interesting in the fourth quarter.
Ty Jerome scored ten points in the final period to erase a 12-point deficit, but it wasn’t enough to get the job done.
That win would’ve sealed the No. 1 seed in the East for the Cavs, and, with it, homecourt advantage through the NBA Finals.
Then again, as high as Christie is on this team, others are rather pessimistic.
Some have doubted their ability to thrive in the playoffs all year long, citing their struggles against bigger, tougher, and more physical teams.
The Cavs have excelled against all kinds of teams this season, but even though they’re close to full strength, it seems like they might be running out of gas right now.
Granted, they may have taken their foot off the gas and prioritized health over the No. 1 overall seed, but still, you never want to enter the playoffs in a slump.
Hopefully, they will be able to tweak things and show the same hunger and intensity they showed earlier in the season.
This has been one of the best seasons in franchise history, and it would be a huge shame for it to end prematurely.
NEXT: Donovan Mitchell Gets Honest About His Injury Scare On Sunday
