The Cleveland Cavs, amidst their third 8+ game win streak this season, were the subject of a debate between ESPN’s Stephen A Smith and Mad Dog Russo. The Cavs own three of the four longest winning streaks set by any NBA team this season as they sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, where they’ve been all season. Still, Mad Dog Russo doesn’t see Cleveland as a title contender.
Russo’s take infuriated Smith on ESPN’s First Take, per Basketballnetwork.net.
“Something is wrong with you,” Smith said. “Oh, My Lord! Have you been paying attention? Have you watched the Cleveland Cavaliers this year? Boston’s championship pedigree and experience cannot be denied, but you can make a bonafide argument that the No. 1 threat to the Boston Celtics in the entire NBA is the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
After a historic 15-0 start to the 2024-25 campaign, the Cavs have started to win streaks often this season, including three by 8+ games that have led them to a league-best 48-10 record. Cleveland has won a dozen of its last 13 games, surrendering its only loss of that stretch to the champion Boston Celtics. Perhaps it’s one of the many reasons Russo won’t label the Cavs contenders as Stephen A Smith.
The Celtics defeated the Cavs 112-105 earlier this month after Cleveland handed the champs a 115-111 loss in December. Cleveland is 1-2 against the Celtics this season.
Some NBA insiders believe the Cavs can beat the Celtics
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Not everyone agrees with ESPN’s Mad Dog Russo’s take on the Cavs, including anonymous scouters. Some NBA insiders believe the Cavs would beat the Celtics in the playoffs. Many believe the Cavs’ trade for De’Andre Hunter increased their chances to defeat the champion Celtics in the postseason, but does it put them over the top?
For one Eastern Conference scout, it does, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
“Before the Hunter trade, I would’ve said the Cavs were shakier,” an East scout said. “Hunter isn’t a lockdown guy, but he’s another option to throw on [Jayson] Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown, he’s having a career year, and they didn’t have a guy like that before. I think they can beat anybody. They are so balanced and steady, and they’re really not going to beat themselves.”
For most, the Celtics are still the favorites to come out of the East for the third time in four tries. However, it should make for a compelling best-of-7 Eastern Conference Finals series if they were to meet with the Cavs in the postseason.
