NBA Playoff Preview: Championship or Bust for the Cleveland Cavaliers

At 61-17, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the best record in the NBA.

With four games to play in the regular season, they have secured home-court advantage throughout the postseason. 

LeBron James is on his way to a second consecutive MVP award and the Cavs look poised for another deep playoff run. 

But with one eye on the playoffs and one eye on free agency, this year's campaign will have huge repercussions.

If Cleveland wins a title, James is an absolute lock to re-sign this summer. 

If Cleveland doesn't though, brace yourself for quite the opposite.

Last year, the Cavs rolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs and appeared to be headed straight to the NBA Finals when Orlando came into town for the Eastern Conference Championship.

We all know how that turned out. 

The Cavs looked demoralized after their game six loss in Orlando, James didn't even stick around to shake hands with his opponents.

He blamed his competitive nature for the momentary lapse in gracefulness. 

That same competitive nature that makes him one of the greatest player on the planet right showed its dark side. James's frustration got the best of him, and it's completely understandable why.

Cleveland has struck out in the postseason four years in a row, arguably, with a better roster each time.

It would have been a miracle for them to beat the Spurs in the 2007 NBA Finals, but getting swept was embarrassing nonetheless.

Boston was favored in 2008, taking them to seven games was impressive, but that wouldn't doesn't make it feel any better.

Cleveland should have beaten Orlando, there's little to excuse about that. 

And there would be nothing to excuse about a playoff series loss this year.

They simply can't afford the same disappointment the last four years gave them. If the Cavs strike out yet again, there isn't an answer for the future. 

Cleveland doesn't have the cap space to do anything major this offseason, and while they can always churn the roster with more trades, that hasn't won them a championship yet.

If it doesn't this time around, what faith can be put into a different outcome next year?

James has shown in the past he's willing to work with this franchise, he's willing to give them time to build him a contender. The front office has brought him a ton of toys to play with over the years.

While that's come with a lot of success, it hasn't been enough so far.

Another year without a parade and another year without a ring will try James's patience beyond repair. 

If he'd been a free agent after last year, after storming off the court when the Magic downed his Cavs, Cleveland fans would have been holding their breath, expecting the worst news in franchise history. 

Well this year he will be a free agent. If he storms off the court after another playoff loss, Cleveland fans won't be holding their breath, they'll be bracing for a heart attack. 

That same competitive nature that showed its dark side in the Conference Finals will be what drives him to relocation.

He's done everything a player can do on the court, he's been patient with this franchise, he's given them time. But this is the deciding year.

The 2010 playoffs will make or break this franchise. 

It's a hard reality to face, and maybe a little unfair too. But more than wanting to remain in Cleveland, LeBron wants to win a championship.

If it doesn't happen this year, it just isn't going to happen in a Cavs jersey. 

It's Championship or bust in Cleveland.