Cleveland Cav's Historic Season: Take a Minute To Appreciate It

The Cleveland Cavaliers have guaranteed themselves the best record in the NBA.  They have set records for winning on their home court.

Of course, if they go the way of the 2007 Dallas Mavericks, who won 67 games and then lost in the first round of the playoffs to the 42-win Warriors, all will be for naught.  I think the Cavs even feel that way unless they win the title.

Still, we ought to take a moment to recognize their regular season achievement. We've gotten a little used to 60-win teams lately, what with three teams this year, the Celtics' 66 wins last year, the Mavs and Suns doing it two years ago, and so on. 

But consider: in the NBA's 63 seasons thus far, only 63 teams have ever reached 60 wins. If the Cavs win their final game against Philadelphia, they will have tied for the sixth highest winning percentage in league history. 

If they lose, they'll have tied for the 11th highest winning percentage. That's out of 1,213 team-seasons through the history of the league. Not too shabby.

They did it with one superstar, and a supporting cast that brilliantly complements him.  Obviously, the Mo Williams pick-up was huge. Williams and Delonte West both do a beautiful job of biding their time while LeBron essentially plays their position on offense (as point-forward), then stepping up with baskets and assists when needed. 

The Cavs also did what they did this season with a huge front line that's difficult to shoot over or control the boards against.  They did it with team unity, as just about anyone who watched their games could sense. 

Props to Mike Brown, who's been a great defensive coach pretty much from the get-go, but who vastly improved the design of the Cavs offense this year.

The Cavs were in the upper echelon of the league in every major category.

According to Basketball Reference, they had the fourth most efficient offense (taking into account not just points but points per possession), the third most efficient defense (same criteria), and were in the top half of the league in offensive rebounding percentage, defensive rebounding percentage, turnover management on offense, producing turnovers on defense, getting to the free throw line on offense, and keeping the opponents off the free throw line on defense. 

Their average point differential against their opponents, 9.1, is the 13th best in league history.

What more is there to say?  The playoffs loom, and the Cavs will have to get it done there. Because I'm sort of a corny, "all men are brothers" kind of guy, one of my favorite images was LeBron and Ilgauskas hugging after the Cavs beat the Pistons in the 2007 Eastern Conference finals.  Ebony and Ivory and all that (sorry, I'm getting all choked up...give me a minute...OK, I'm better). Let's hope for more such touching scenes.

But whatever happens, take a moment to recognize one of the greatest regular seasons any team in NBA history has ever put together.