Cavs’ Start to 2016 NBA Playoffs Isn’t Just Dominant, It’s Downright Historic

Ten up. Ten down. 

After pulling ahead at the end of the first half and finishing the drill with a 108-89 Game 2 win over the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday, the Cleveland Cavaliers are now a remarkable 10-0 during the 2016 postseason. They’ve completed a first-round sweep against the Detroit Pistons, taken down the Atlanta Hawks with nary a blemish and defended their home court with two straight victories against their Canadian foes. 

With LeBron James leading the show—he even posted a triple-double in this latest outing—and Kyrie Irving playing like his sights are set on winning Finals MVP, head coach Tyronn Lue can now claim the most consecutive postseason victories to begin a coaching career:

With that win, Tyronn Lue enters the history books pic.twitter.com/kI5voJ6KzX

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 20, 2016

Per Bleacher Report Insights, the Cavs could become the third team in NBA history to successfully sweep its way through each of the first three rounds.

The 1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers were the first to do so, but their postseason winning streak “only” extended to 11 games. Though they advanced past the Portland Trail Blazers with a 3-0 opening-round victory, everything came to a sudden halt when Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons swept them in the NBA Finals. 

Next up were the 2000-01 Lakers, who didn’t lose until Game 1 of the NBA Finals. They also had the luxury of a 3-0 beatdown of Rip City in the first round, and their streak was similarly snapped at 11 games, though they’d avenge their predecessors by winning each of the next four outings and capturing a title. 

However, 11 isn’t the record the Cavs are chasing. If they continue their beatdown of the Raptors and win each of the next two games in the Air Canada Centre, they’ll get to 12 and tie the 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs, who only lost Game 2 of the opening round and Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Based on the energy this Cleveland squad is displaying, there’s little reason to doubt the extension of this quest. When was the last time we saw James look this spry?

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The four-time MVP has appeared energized throughout this postseason. He’s knocked down long-range jumpers, dominated games with his passing, locked down on the defensive end, made his way to the rim whenever he wants and unleashed feats of athleticism like the one above. 

ESPN.com’s Mike Mazzeo has a pretty simple summary of what he’s meant to the Cavs:

One Eastern Conference team has LeBron James. The rest don’t. End story.

— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) May 20, 2016

But it’s not just James who has dominated, even if he’s been one of the few truly bright spots on the point-preventing side. The team as a whole has been excellent, to the point that it had emerged as one of the best playoff squads ever through its …

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