The NBA's Biggest Problem

I'm by no means the biggest basketball fan in the world. Chances are I watch one game a week - if I'm lucky - and I'll do my daily scroll through the standings, but that's about it. But, even in my limited watching and scrolling, I've noticed a pretty serious trend over the last 5 years that I don't think is getting enough attention. The trend that LeBron James has made the NBA Finals in the past 5 seasons and will do so again this year. 

The problem is that I'm not even an average NBA fan, let alone above average, but even I can see that LeBron and the Cavaliers will make the Finals again this year, and play either the Golden State Warriors or San Antonio Spurs. It's the end of January and I'm already predicting along with almost everyone else what the Finals matchup in June will be. That's a problem.

Kawhi Leonard

It's almost as if the first round of the playoffs don't even matter. I know the Cavs, Warriors and Spurs will all sweep whoever they play, or at most lose one game. I don't even need to watch their series'. The only thing and I mean only thing stopping the Cavaliers from rolling through the Eastern Conference is a season ending injury to LeBron or both Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. If LeBron and one of either Love or Irving can stay healthy, they will without a doubt make the Finals again this year.

So, my question is, if you're a fan of another team that isn't Cleveland, Golden State, or San Antonio, what are you expecting out of this season? Because basketball unlike any other sport very rarely ever has upsets in the playoffs. Sure, Golden State could lose to Milwaukee or Detroit on a random night in January. But once the playoffs start, the underdog will not be able to beat LeBron James, or Steph Curry 4 out of 7 times. Sorry, it's just not happening. Wouldn't you rather just have your team tank and get a good draft pick than have them get swept by either Cleveland or Golden State?

Don't get me wrong, as a casual observer, I'm excited to see LeBron play the Warriors or the Spurs, but I just think it's unsettling that myself along with almost every other basketball observer can predict pretty confidently that the only three teams with a shot to win this year are Cleveland, Golden State or San Antonio. It's a problem, and unless the other teams can figure out a way to stop the 3 powerhouses, it's not going to be going away soon.

-Cameron