The Cavaliers’ path to the NBA Finals could come down to just 3 wins

Writing for King James Gospel, Creshonda Smith argues that the Cleveland Cavaliers should target 55 regular-season wins to secure a much better path to the NBA Finals. After finishing 52-30 as the East's fourth seed and enduring two grueling seven-game series before being swept by the New York Knicks, adding just three more victories could significantly improve Cleveland's playoff seeding and bracket.

Smith projects a 55-27 record and the No. 2 seed for Cleveland, citing a full season of James Harden alongside Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Peyton Watson. However, the author notes tough Eastern Conference competition from the defending champion Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers, cautioning that seeding alone will not solve defensive inconsistencies.