Eastern Conference Playoffs Round One
Washington Wizards (3) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (6)


The tension is palpable. The lights come on, and there is a quiet but clear anticipation about what is to come. Everyone knows that the calm surface of the water belies the frantic energy and tiresome planning that goes into something like this. Thought and energy and sweat has gone towards making this possible. Silence lingers like the scent of an extinguished candle.

And just like that, Joshua and Dylan ruin the family Easter dinner because only one of these two cousins can survive the next week. Their beloved teams, the Wizards and the Cavaliers, locked in a tailspin, with one team pulled towards glory and the other, defeat. A family divided, will Team Joshua leave the dinner with wind in their sales, or will Team Dylan rejoice, flex, and then leave without doing any dishes?

How the Teams Got Here

Washington has put together another great season, once again eclipsing 50 wins and showing that trademark consistency and under the radar winning that this team is known for. They drafted a gem in Desmond Bane who has developed into a great player already. Devin Booker has inched closer to a legitimate seat at the MVP candidate table and will one day win that award. However, the most pivotal move of the season came in the form of the swap of superstar bigs. Sorry. I cant keep a straight face. The Wizards pulled the trigger and got KAT off their hands and brought in the warrior, two way superstar in Joel Embiid. Amazing deal, as KAT is yet to prove he is a winning player. This has them primed to lay a claim for the Eastern Conference Title.

From Wizards coach Joshua:

�Firstly, we are blessed to have a writer of your calibre crafting the playoff preview for these teams, and you can quote me on that.

We have been putting in a lot of work with the coaching staff in preparation for these playoffs and we are excited at the prospect of a long and fruitful playoff run. The medical staff have their work cut out for them. However, we are going in with confidence that we can get this done. Between our two stars and our great role players, the pieces are all in place.�

The Cavaliers have fast tracked their rebuild and a lot is due to the innovation and dedication from their GM Dylan, and the commitment to building a team identity around toughness and defense. Some great Free Agency heists and clever trading has added significant ability and value to the Cavaliers portfolio that will carry positive momentum forward even after this season.

From Cavaliers coach Dylan:

�Joshua is a hell of a GM. Crafty, calculated and adds winning players through the draft and trading. Here in Cleveland, we are young, we are continuing to evolve, and we are under no illusions that we can take this series comfortably. They are a tough match up for us. They are more experienced, they are bigger and they have two of the games elite players [Embiid and Booker].

While that is so, it does not mean we are going to lay down and let them waltz through the first round and advance without a fight. We have been working night and day looking for a strategy and rotation to best prepare us to succeed in this series. At the end of the day, with a young roster, this is a necessary and valuable learning experience, one way or the other. Win or lose, this is just the beginning for the Cavaliers.�

How the Teams Match Up

As alluded to earlier, the Wizards trump the Cavaliers in most aspects of the game. Washington has great players, good players and players that fit, and great depth. Better on offense, better at shooting, taller, more experienced, more talented, better depth. On paper, the advantage appears resounding and unconquerable for the Cavaliers.

A first unit of Victor Oladipo, Devin Booker, Desmond Bane, Montrezl Harrell and Joel Embiid for Washington rivals all and any other teams in terms of talent. The inside outside combination of Embiid and Booker is classic and as dangerous as any duo the NSL has. Bane, Harrell and Oladipo are there to finish plays and work hard, complementing their star teammates. Unfortunately, Booker is rumoured to be carrying a hamstring complaint and may have to miss time if it does not improve. This is why depth matters.

If Derrick Rose is able to return during the playoffs, he will lead a great bench unit of sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic, athletic and versatile Aaron Gordon and Tony Bradley. The lineups are versatile and multiple players can be rotated in and out of the starting lineup, which bodes well for playoff basketball. They are good enough to cover for starters.

Thankfully for the Cavaliers, not all hope is lost. They have committed so deeply and entirely to their defensive scheme and DNA, they have the ability to overcome a really talented Wizards team if all goes to plan and they can go Super Saiyan without the ball.

Jarrett Allen has been rushed back from a broken finger and will be ready for Game One. Joining Allen in the starting lineup will likely be Davion Mitchell, Alex Caruso, Andrew Wiggins and Al Horford. Matisse Thybulle is only eligible to play away games, so the starting lineup is uncertain. Dylan might opt for continuity or Thybulle on Booker will just be too impactful to have him play off the bench. However, as mentioned above about the Wizards, the Cavaliers have useful depth, too. Not as glamourous or robust as the Wizards bench unit, but beloved rookie Davion Mitchell, the energetic Brandon Clarke and microwave Malik Monk comprise the Cavaliers reinforcements.

On paper, there is a chasm between these two teams. However, considering personnel missing on both sides, the motivation from the front offices to succeed and the prayers from Josh and Dylans families to take it easy on the NSL shit talk at family functions, I think this series will be competitive, close and is there for the taking, for either team.

How Will the Series Unfold?

I am excited for this series.

Can a great defensive team beat a more talented offensive team? The age old adage. Can this series be a paragraph for either argument � that talent and offense trumps effort and defense, or that defensive ability will is the most impactful tool a player can have?

Despite being aware of just how clever Dylan is with getting the most out of his team and players, I also know that Josh is a deep thinker, testing, tinkering and getting his team in the best position to win.



Booker missing games as well as Thybulle missing games really adds a randomness to the series that should go in the Cavaliers favour. But, this is why the Wizards got Embiid. Superstar insurance is the best cover you can have, and the Wizards have got the premium cover. Allen back should help negate Embiid more than if he was not playing, and he will keep Embiid busy on defense. However, I still feel that the Wizards, being the favoured seed and the more talented team, deserves to be favourites.

Washington defeats Cleveland 4-2 in a close, gritty series.