For Cavs, approach to playoffs will mean everything
Before the Cavaliers can beat the Warriors, they'll have to beat the Pistons.
And either the Celtics or the Hawks. And the Raptors or someone else. And that's just to get through the Eastern Conference.
Of course, you probably already knew that. But sometimes it may be easy to forget.
Truth is, the Cavs don't have to worry about the Warriors (or perhaps some other surprise team from the West) for about another six weeks.
Right now, the Cavs just need to focus on doing what it takes to get that far.
They need to focus on beating the Pistons. They need to focus on Game 1 -- which takes place Sunday afternoon at The Q.
They truly cannot look beyond that. Teams that look beyond the task at hand, after all, leave themselves open to getting burned.
This isn't to say a LeBron James-led team is destined to get caught up in looking ahead. James has been to five straight Finals.
He knows how to behave at this time of year. He knows this truly is a second season, a season that could last as many as 28 games.
But he also knows you only need to win 16 of them.
And certainly, James also knows you cannot win all 16 in a day. Or a weekend. Or even a month.
At this stage, you have to treat each game like it's the championship.
You can be sure James understands that -- and if the rest of the Cavs don't yet totally, you can be sure they won't be far behind.
Ready and set
The good news is reserve forward Richard Jefferson told FOX Sports Ohio the Cavs "are in as good of a place mentally as we've been."
That's important, because this roster has depth and inexperience.
The Big Three of James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are healthy. Tristan Thompson, Matthew Dellavedova, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov all played meaningful playoff minutes last year -- including time in the Finals.
And while Tyronn Lue is entering his first postseason as a head coach, he has plenty of big-game experience as a former assistant and player.
So yes, the Cavs only need to win the "mental game." They only need to stay focused. They only need to utilize their talent by, as they say, playing the right way.
One opposing GM told FOX Sports Ohio the only team in the East that could beat the Cavs in a seven-game series "is the Cavs."
That wasn't intended to doubt the Cavs. It was actually meant as a compliment.
They are heavily favored to reach the Finals -- as the No. 1 seed in the conference and the only team with LeBron. And Kyrie. And Love. And the rest.
But just being the best on paper, or in your heart, or even the opponent's mind, isn't enough. You have to go out and take it.
You have to win a series is to start with one game.
The Cavs seem to know that. They've been down this road before.
If they bring that know-how to the floor, then this should go just fine. They should have another shot at the end.
And that's all anyone can ever really expect at the start.
