The Cavaliers are the favorites to win the NBA. Should they be?
Some radio personalities have stated that Lebron may just 97% of what he once was, especially after he choked in the late stages of the game vs Houston last night.
Dave feels that is just radio noise, that is made up to generate allot of interest.
Dave feels that the defensive improvements of this team has been what the Cavs have been missing and that now makes them a more complete team. He feels that they are clearly the favs to win the East, especially since he expects the Hawks to fade in the playoffs.
The Hawks have had a great regular season, but Dave doesn't feel that they are built for the playoffs. Atlanta has been slowing games down of late to try and conserve energy, but will that still really help them in the playoffs. What Dave feels that will hurt the Hawks here is that they just joust won't have the better players heading into the playoffs. They are good as far as Xs and Os, but not so much in talent wise.
When you get to the third game of a series then it becomes more about talent and that is where the Hawks will fall short.
Dominant talent is very meaningful in the NBA. Over the years the team that won the NBA Title, more than half the time that teams has had one of the two top players in the league. Atlanta is not in that category.
Last year the Spurs did win with out one of the top two players in the league, but they were also a very experienced team and their players have played together for a while. Another thing that Atlanta doesn't have.
The Warriors have outscored their opponents by 10+ ppg and just 6 or 7 teams in the history of the NBA has done that. They have the best bench in the NBA, but once they get to the playoffs could they become a team like Atlanta and decline a bit in the playoffs. The difference between Atlanta and the Warriors is that the Warriors do not have an easy playoff gae, because the West is so strong. Whoever makes it out of the East will play probably 4 or 5 games fewer than who makes it out of the West and that could make a big difference in June.
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