The reason to think that the Cleveland Cavaliers will not win the ring in 2025

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the best record in the league. They have had two 15-game winning streaks this season. Although many see the team as a championship contender, the latest matchup between the Orlando Magic and Kenny Atkinson's boys showed a clear weakness. Have the Florida team shown that they can beat the Cavs?

Since last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled against teams with talented small forwards. That was the main reason they acquired De'Andre Hunter at the trade deadline. The small forward position was the Cavs' weak point.

Against the Magic, it was evident once again. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero torched the Cavs. Without Evan Mobley to protect the paint, Banchero and Wagner consistently outperformed the defenders and attacked the rim. Although they didn't shoot particularly well, the Magic's small forwards attempted almost as many free throws as the entire Cavs team. They combined for 14 of 17, with Banchero going 9 of 11. In comparison, the Cavs as a whole shot 13 of 20 from the free-throw line.

The Cavs are well-covered at the shooting guard and big man positions. But the small forward position is something teams might try to exploit in the playoffs. In the playoffs, it all comes down to which team can better exploit the matchups.

If the Cavaliers fail to defend the small forward position, a tough battle awaits them in the playoffs. Currently, the Orlando Magic are the eighth seed. Last year in the playoffs, these two teams fought to a seventh game. The Cavs do not want a tightly contested series against the Magic in the first round. Due to Paolo and Franz' injuries, the Magic have slipped in the standings. A matchup between the Magic and the Cavs is a bittersweet reward for claiming the top spot in the East.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Potential Playoff Path

But it only gets tougher from there. The Milwaukee Bucks hold the fourth seed. They could be the Cavs' potential opponent in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Yes, the Cavs have won all four meetings this season. But three of them came in November and December when the Bucks were one of the worst teams in the league. If Paolo and Franz can get to the free-throw line at will, what about Giannis Antetokounmpo? He has averaged 10 or more free-throw attempts per game for four consecutive seasons.

However, the biggest challenge could come in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. The teams split the season series, but the Celtics have two of the league's best small forwards: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum attempts over six free throws per game, while Brown averages just over five.

The good news for the Cavs is that all this rim damage occurred without their All-Defensive center. When Mobley is on the court, attacking the rim is no easy task. The Cavs hope he doesn't sustain an injury on his championship quest. Mobley is also not someone teams can take out of the game with fouls. This year, he has stayed far away from silly fouls. He only commits an average of two fouls per game, nearly 50% less than the past two years. Last season, he averaged 2.7, and 2.8 the year before.

Now that the Cavs have suffered their eleventh loss of the season, they can let go of any idea of chasing more than 70 wins. The pressure should ease off. They have a relatively easy schedule remaining in the season. The Cavs can use the remaining games to give their players rest when needed and recover for the stretch run.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La razón para pensar que los Cleveland Cavaliers no van a ganar el anillo en 2025