Following tonight’s loss to the Pistons, the Cavs are 42-21- having played to a .500 record over their last 10 games. The return of J.R. Smith bolsters the team’s depth, but Tyronn Lue’s squad continues to miss Kevin Love‘s presence in their rotation. The Celtics aren’t far behind Cleveland’s trail, sitting two games behind the Cavs for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
It’s been a similar story for Golden State, whose fourth quarter struggles have been well-publicized. The Warriors hardly have a comfortable hold of the Western Conference’s #1 seed, as San Antonio is riding a torrid 9-1 streak. The Warriors have long clinched a playoff spot, but Steve Kerr said he isn’t obsessed with the top seed.
“We still have the No. 1 seed, but I won’t run guys ragged to get it,” Kerr told Connor Letourneau of SF Gate. “We have to manage this stretch right here and get through this week.”
Fox Sports editor Brett Pollakoff has recently predicted the Spurs to overtake Golden State for the top seed, citing the Warriors’ difficult schedule through the rest of the regular season.
“The Warriors lead the Spurs by 2.5 games in the standings but are playing without Kevin Durant for at least a little while longer and have an absolutely brutal schedule this week, which ends with a game in San Antonio on Saturday,” Pollakoff writes. “The Spurs might be able to make up some ground during that stretch and are capable of playing consistently enough to overtake Golden State for the West’s No. 1 seed.”
Five Thirty Eight currently gives the Warriors a 79% chance of hanging onto the #1 seed, and Cleveland a 40% chance. We want to hear your opinion: Do you think each team will hold onto the #1 seed? If not, what will get in their way? Are the injuries to Kevin Durant and Kevin Love ultimately too much to overcome?
Let us know what you think in the comments section!
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs ended up with the first seed, but I’m still pretty confident in GSW, despite Steph’s recent struggles. Obviously the seeding matters in this situation. The Thunder (who will be the 7th seed) are a much tougher matchup than the Nuggets, Blazers, Mavs. As for the East, I don’t think Cleveland will cough it up. If they do, I would expect the Wizards to take it, not Boston. I’m sure Washington will overtake Boston within the next week or so. But to answer, nah I don’t think Cleveland will fall. If they do, it’ll be for like a game or two.
Doesn’t matter either way what seed they are as long as both are healthy when playoff time rolls around we’ll be seeing GS vs CLE part 3
Warriors could lose it without Durant but I would be suprised if the cavs lost it
Community Shootaround: Does anyone care if the Cavs and Warriors hold onto the number 1 seeds?
Nope. And I’m a Celtics fan. Don’t care one bit if we don’t get the 1 spot as long as we beat whoever in the playoffs.
For me personally, yes as a Spurs fan. No disrespect to the nuggets who are doing pretty good this season, but I’d rather go against them with the first seed than have to deal with Westbrook, who probably will win MVP, and their depth with their big men. The Spurs lost to them tonight, and while Kawhi was out due to a hit in the head, it does scare me a little if we have to face them. Warriors probably thinking the same thing, especially with the team holding a grudge them. But that’s just me personally I get why you wouldn’t care.
No they won’t retain the 1 seat
For the warriors it’s really hard to say. As they get closer to the end of the season the spurs will be resting guys as well and they won’t finish as strong as they are now. We know golden state can play without durant but it seems like everyone is trying to do too much. They have an insane number of weapons, but the 4th quarter struggles aren’t all that suprising since the warriors starters play the least 4th quarter minutes in the league.
The cavs I don’t see holding the 1st seed. Yes lebron is awesome, but the teams challenging for the 1st seed are up and coming and hungry for every win and advantage they can get. For the cavs the titles is the only goal, for the other teams any playoff win, 1st seed, series sweep, even a finals appearances would be considered a success.
Maybe neither holds on but really does it matter? Cavs and warriors still match up well against all their competitors, and both are the most feared teams.
Cleveland’s defense has a lot of issues since that trade, and the guys they picked up are part of that as well…it’s especially terrible when LeBron isn’t on the floor. Obviously, he’ll be on the court a lot during the playoffs, but you’d like to be able to survive a few minutes without him, especially after what he had to do the last 2 years. They could use another big, now that they lost Bogut
Cavs are more likely to hold on their first seed than the warriors.
I feel like the Cavs look around the room and see all the talent they have and think, this is going to be a cake walk with the talent we have. Sorry it doesn’t work that way. It’s time every player forget you have Lebron on your team and take responsibility for winning yourself. Also every player should be a passer on the team. Team ball by getting 30+ assists a game and team and individual defense, by taking responsibility for your check and space on the floor. Also don’t be so in love with the three, especially when your not hitting them. Get serious about making your shots. Lebron and Kyrie need to get their team prepared and confident going into the playoffs by sharing some of the shots they take with guys who are making shots. Defense leads to offense. Keep freakin leads. Nothing’s for free in this league, bring your lunch bucket every possession. Don’t think we’ll be better when so and so comes back. Time for every player to take responsibility for the team.
The way the Warriors faded last year, I think they’d rather have a fresher team than a team that holds the #1 seed but is worn out.