The Cleveland Cavaliers have been doubted and disrespected for much of this season.
They began the year with a 15-0 record, but it was largely disregarded because their roster was basically the same as last year.
They struggled to beat a young Orlando Magic team and then were easily dispatched by the Boston Celtics in the second round.
Cleveland is clearly out for vengeance this year because they swept the Miami Heat in the first round by an NBA record of a combined victory margin of 122 points.
It is clear that they are much better than everyone gave them credit for, but their owner does not want them to get ahead of themselves.
The vibes heading into the second round are undeniably higher than they were last year.
But the Cavs will be facing off against a red-hot Indiana Pacers team who just quickly dropped off Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
They are an incredibly young, athletic and confident team that absolutely shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Following the sweep of the Heat, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had this to say, “We still have 12 more wins to accomplish our mission. Let’s stay focused.”
We still have 12 more wins to accomplish our mission. Let’s stay focused. #LetEmKnow
— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) April 29, 2025
Obviously, he is ecstatic that his team is advancing because that’s something that has been a struggle for the franchise since its inception without LeBron James on the team.
However, they will have to beat the Pacers who just last year came back from down 2-0 in a series to beat the New York Knicks.
If Cleveland is fortunate enough to get past them, then they will likely face a deep and balanced Celtics team in the conference finals.
All year long head coach Kenny Atkinson has been trying to instill a championship pedigree in his team.
They will need to show a significant amount of mental fortitude to achieve their ultimate goal.
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