RealGM

If the Warriors had lost in every WCF from 15-18, therefore allowing the following to make the Finals:

2015 Rockets

2016 Thunder

2017 Spurs

2018 Rockets

Which of those teams do the Cavs beat in their respective years?


I say they go 3 and 1 with their only loss being in 2018.


As a result, many of our current-day narratives would be changed.

Harden would no longer have the label of being called a choker by most of the general public with him now having a ring and three finals appearances to go along with his MVP that he won in 2018.

Lebron with 5 rings to go along with his longevity and records probably makes the Goat debate now go into his favour.

For 2016 and 2017 Cleveland has a slight edge but both series are close, high-level title series (assuming 2017 SA has Leonard healthy).

The two Rockets series are more health dependent. With all the teams at full health Cleveland wins easily in 2015 and Houston wins easily in 2018. With Love and Irving injured in 2015 and Paul out in 2018 both series are more competitive (largely LeBron and role players vs Harden and better role players). If anything, I'd lean to Houston winning both in that scenario (especially as Paul wasn't that injured and might have returned for at least part of the finals in 2018).

2016 is a probably, and 2017 is a maybe if Kawhi is healthy. If Kawhi doesn’t play, then obviously they win.

15 - W
16 - W
17 - W
18 - L

Not sure why people are think the cavs were objectively better than the spurs esp if both teams were healthy.

why would warriors lost every WCF ? lol ridiculous assumption here. What if Cavs never makes PS from 15-18 ?

cpower wrote:why would warriors lost every WCF ? lol ridiculous assumption here. What if Cavs never makes PS from 15-18 ?

Go make a thread for it!

2015 - Cavs probably grind out the rockets. They're not a very impressive team, so I don't think the Cavs would need Love and Irving to pull it off.

2016 - 50/50 match against the Thunder. If I had to pick I'd go Cavs but it's a push.

2017 - Spurs without Leonard get slaughtered. If Leonard doesn't get hurt I'd have to think about it, I'd probably lean Spurs then.

2018 - The Rockets walk all over the Cavs, probably a sweep or maybe Rockets in 5 if CP3 slips on a banana peel. Cavs defense was beyond terrible that year and without Irving they don't have that next gear to make up for it.

Maybe I’m missing something but that 2017 Spurs team was not winning anything even with a healthy Kawhi

I’d take the 2017 Cavs playoffs version over them in 5 games or so even with a healthy Kawhi.

1993Playoffs wrote:Maybe I’m missing something but that 2017 Spurs team was not winning anything even with a healthy Kawhi

I’d take the 2017 Cavs playoffs version over them in 5 games or so even with a healthy Kawhi.

They had the 2nd best SRS. The best defense (cavs weren't even top 20). A top 10 offense. They won 10 more games than the Cavs. Kawhi was the best scorer in the post season, at least up to when he got hurt. They beat the Rockets who were a better team than anyone the Cavs beat that season. They have a deeper roster to play match ups with. They have a much better coach than the Cavs do.

They have plenty of advantages really...Cavs beating a team like that in 5 seems unlikely, given they've never beaten a team like that in 5 games. The Raptors are not the Spurs.

Cleveland is an underdog every series assuming health. That dray suspension has really warped people perception

sp6r=underrated wrote:Cleveland is an underdog every series assuming health. That dray suspension has really warped people perception

I would actually argue people give outsized value to draymond missing a game where cleveland blew warriors out and were likely to win (game 5) regardless

I don't think it insults Cleveland to say that every one of those teams gives them a major challenge. 2015, they're depleted by injuries. 2016, they face the Thunder at their peak. 2017, if we assume Zaza doesn't take Kawhi out, that's a strong championship team most years. 2018 is one of the GOAT runners-up. What a great era of basketball.

Houston didn't have Bev or Motiejūnas in the playoffs, I don't think they would have been a threat

Cavs matched up well with OKC I think, could have played Frye against them unlike GS, giving them a pretty big advantage. I'd take them 75-25 times.

Spurs are really only interested if Kawhi is healthy, hard to really evaluate that team with what we have. Obviously great in the RS but their depth is less valuable here and I think the Cavs would have matched up quite well again them, don't have any of the issues with not being able to play guys like they did with GS.

2018, definitely a big underdog, I think they'd probably play them pretty well, definitely better than GS. They just don't have the defensive utility that GS did. Probably lose this series 8/10 times, but it's not a landslide imo.

People forget how good Dwight Howard still was in 2015. With Ariza and Dwight, there's just no way that LBJ does well. I don't think Dellevadova's physical style, which limited Curry a lot, works that well on Harden.

Also,Houston was the 4th best team in the West. I'd take the Clippers or Spurs in 2015 over Cleveland.

5 titles, easily.