These 2 NBA Teams Just Clinched Playoff Berths, and Made History in the Process
In a week that included Kevin Durant’s second debut for the Phoenix Suns after returning from one of the strangest injuries I’ve ever seen, there were two stories that were even bigger.
After four years, the Cleveland Cavaliers are on their way to the playoffs. And for the first time since 1998 without Akron’s own Lebron James. It’s crazy to think that since I’ve been born, the only times Cleveland has been in the playoffs, and also the only times it really felt like a contender (in my eyes) were when Lebron was wearing the jersey. When he departed for La La Land, the team quickly became a bottom feeder. But instead of betting they would land “The Next Lebron,” Cleveland started to sow the seeds that would blossom into the team we see today.
The emergence of star guard Darias Garland, coupled with excellent big man Jarett Allen and sharpshooter Cedi Osman are a potent enough trifecta on their own. Surrounded by depth aplenty and coached by excellent staff, this is a team that may not be as flashy as others but is a well oiled machine, the whole of which is vastly more valuable than the sum of its parts. At the beginning of the season I argued that the Cavaliers ‘needed’ nothing. Aside from perhaps a superstar.
And then wouldn’t you know it, along came a spider…
The addition of Donovan Mitchell was like Thanos getting the final infinity stone. He may not be the freak of nature that LeBron is, but you wouldn’t know it by how he plays. The man more than lives up to his superhero moniker, whether he’s rattling the rim with a dunk from the stratosphere or draining a flurry of baskets en route to scoring 71 points in a single game. The combination of Mitchell and Garland is a backcourt that is only rivalled by the one in Golden State. Once again, in my opinion.
Ultimately, time will tell what becomes of this Cleveland team. But for fans of the franchise, there is more than one reason to be beaming with optimism.
And speaking of beams…
The Sacramento Kings have clinched their first playoff berth since 2006, the longest playoff drought in NBA history.
I could leave it at that, but doing so would be a disservice to this team. It would also give the impression that the team’s success is a shock. When in reality, if you’ve been paying attention to this team, it is most assuredly not.
For the majority of this season the Kings have been among the best teams not just in the Western Conference, but in the entire league. They are currently the third best in their conference, ahead of teams like the Suns and Warriors who many view as more legitimate contenders. And to them I say, everyone has a right to their opinions. And I respect your right to be wrong. The fact is that the Kings are one of my favourites to win the NBA championship this season. Period.
But what has been the secret to success for a team that not too long ago was one of the most godawful teams in the entire league? Simple.
Pure. Offensive. Excellence.
The Sacremento Kings have the highest offensive rating in the entire league. You read that right. Above teams like the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks, all of whom have some of the best offensive players the game has ever seen. Yet none are better than the Kings. And that’s not all. Unlike many offensive-minded teams, the Kings are no slouches on defense. Granted they are not as good as some other teams, but they aren’t a lay-up line on defense. All in all, I’m willing to bet that the Kings are going to make a deep playoff run this year at minimum. I can see them making it to the conference finals at least if all goes well.
I could go on and examine the chances of both of these teams, dissecting their strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately say whether I think their chances at a championship are more akin to a coin toss or a lottery ticket. But I don’t want to do that this time. Because regardless of what happens next, this is a great day for both franchises. For the Cavaliers, they are forging ahead to make a legacy that doesn’t involve relying on LeBron to save them. And for the Kings, it’s about the oasis that has been quietly growing in the middle of a desert no longer being just a mirage. I’m happy for both teams, and I cannot wait to see what they do in the playoffs. There are only a few more games left until the final stretch of the NBA year. But even so, one thing is for certain:
The world is watching.
