When you would want to play the Cavs?

[Moranis]

Everyone knows the East goes through Cleveland, so the question is would you rather play the Cavs in the 1st round, 2nd round, or ECF from only a basketball standpoint.  I get there are other reasons that reaching the ECF would be the best option (more attractive free agent destination, more games to watch, etc.), but I'm talking just on the court and the X's and O's.  Assume both teams are moderately healthy entering the playoffs, but you can assume that an injury may happen in the playoffs (though that affects either team). 

So would you rather try to catch the Cavs early or hope they get run down or injured and play them late?  Is there some advantage in the 1st round that you don't have in the 2nd or 3rd or vice versa?

[mef730]

ECF. We lose in a normal head to head matchup, so we have to hope that injuries favor us.

Mike

[jpotter33]

Eastern Conference Finals, preferably after they have gone through both Chicago and Toronto, which are both teams that I think can give them a good, challenging series.

You can't expect to freaking beat Cleveland with as easy of a road as they've had the last two years in the East.

[nickagneta]

My answer is ECF

My wise ass answer is when Lebron is hurt and not playing.

My wish is that both of my answers are right in the spring of 2017

[bdm860]

The only way I'd want the C's to face them early is if one (or more) of the key Cavs suffers an injury and isn't expected back until the ECF.  Otherwise, I'd hope for the C's to catch them in the ECF rather than the earlier two rounds.  It's a good look for the team, and probably the best chance of upsetting them.

Sure injuries are a 2 way street, Thomas, Horford, Crowder, or Bradley could get injured just as easily as LeBron, Irving, Love, or Thompson.  But any of the C's getting injured doesn't really change the likelihood of the Cavs winning, but a Cavs injury on the other hand could really help the C's.

And with the East so wide open after the Cavs, I could see the Cavs looking ahead during the ECF more so than during any other round.  Because once you're in the ECF, you pretty much know you're playing Golden State next, but when you're in round 1 or 2 in the East, you really have no clue who you'll be playing in the next round(s) so it might be harder to look ahead and underestimate your current opponent in the earlier rounds.

[bdm860]

What would be an argument for the 1st (or even 2nd) round?

The only thing I can think of is Isaiah.  Dude's just so small, and takes such a pounding, especially when the playoffs get more physical. 

Unfortunately he's never been past the 1st round yet so we don't really know how he'll hold up in the later rounds, but I just have these fears that he's not built for a long, brutal playoff run.  Like he's more likely to get injured or have a serious drop off in productivity the longer the playoffs grind on.  Irrational?  Probably, considering he hasn't had any injury concerns over the last few years and it's not like he's any worse or a step slower in the 2nd half of a season compared to the first, but it's just his small frame and the giants he drives against, I can't help but worry.

So maybe Thomas is more likely to go off for 30+ppg during a series in the 1st round rather than the later rounds?

[Moranis]

What would be an argument for the 1st (or even 2nd) round?

The only thing I can think of is Isaiah.  Dude's just so small, and takes such a pounding, especially when the playoffs get more physical. 

Unfortunately he's never been past the 1st round yet so we don't really know how he'll hold up in the later rounds, but I just have these fears that he's not built for a long, brutal playoff run.  Like he's more likely to get injured or have a serious drop off in productivity the longer the playoffs grind on.  Irrational?  Probably, considering he hasn't had any injury concerns over the last few years and it's not like he's any worse or a step slower in the 2nd half of a season compared to the first, but it's just his small frame and the giants he drives against, I can't help but worry.

So maybe Thomas is more likely to go off for 30+ppg during a series in the 1st round rather than the later rounds?

Thomas certainly could be one. 

You could potentially make an argument that the Cavs don't really hit their full stride until the ECF, so you might catch them a little rusty or unsuspecting especially if they are sitting guys left and right down the stretch.  Last year for example, while Detroit and Atlanta both got swept, Detroit had a much closer series.  Now some of that could be matchup, but maybe some of it was the Cavs just not being as in tune. 

You could also make the argument that you want to be as fresh as possible when you play the Cavs, and that means the first round.  I mean if you expect the Cavs to make the ECF in 8 or 9 games, then you might not want to face them after playing 12, 13, 14, etc. games because they will be a lot more rested than you are. 

I'm sure there are other reasons you could come up with.