Philippines, 01 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Cleveland Cavs, OKC Thunder Are For Real


PhilBoxing.com





As the NBA season reaches its mid-point mark, Cleveland and Oklahoma not only kept their leadership in the East and the West respectively but have even stretch their lead over their nearest pursuers, including no less than the defending champion, Boston.

Cleveland Cavaliers, holding a 35-6 win loss record in the Eastern Conference, the league's best as of mid-season, is 6.5 games ahead of the Celtics. Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder toting the Western Conference best record of 35-7 is also 6.5 games ahead of the overachieving Houston Rockets.

It's no secret that the Cavs have been helped a great deal by their season best 15-0 start. The few teams to have beaten them thus far included the Celtics and Indiana Pacers where they are both 1-1, the Atlanta Hawks who have beaten them twice, the Miami Heat where they are 0-1 and the OKC Thunder which gave them their most lopsided loss via a 134-114 trashing last week. The Cavs have however earlier beaten OKC squaring their matchplay this season.

Cleveland has been having success through an extended line-up which is bannered by a strong starting unit composed of usual dependables Jarrett Allen at center, Eric Mobley at power forward, Caris Levert at small forward, Donovan Mitchell at shooting guard and Darius Garland at point guard. Coming off the bench are Dean Wade, Ty Jerome, George Niang, Max Struss and Isaac Okoro among others.

Of course, it helps the Cavs that Boston and even New York are still sorting out some chemistry problems in their current line-ups despite the Celtics are back with their old championship unit and the Knicks strengthened by the arrival of Karl Anthony Towns.

Oklahoma, last season's Western Conference second best team behind Minnesota Timberwolves, got to where they are now by posting long winning streaks through the MVP-worthy performance of star guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander despite missing ace center Chet Hoimgren and later even relief slotman Isaiah Hertenstein.

Completing a powerhouse cast with SGA are Jaylin Williams who now usually spell at center, power forward Jalen Williams, small forward Luguenz Dorf and Isaiah Joe at point. Providing support from the bench are Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, reserve center Brenden Carlson and Ajay Mitchell.

Oklahoma thus far is 2-1 against their nearest rival, Houston Rockets with a fourth game to be played in Houston.

Between Cleveland and OKC, it is the Thunder that may have harder time keeping their post position in the West in the long run with the continued absence of their top two centers and the higher probability of injuries hitting their other major players including SGA who missed the recent crucial game against bitter rival Dallas Mavericks. A win could have given them the league's best record but they lost the game, allowing Cleveland to regain the top.

There is Houston which is also continuous winning with their own brand of extended line-up that is bannered by a core of from six to seven players who could score in double figures game after game. This has been the result of a long rebuilding effort that transformed the Rockets once youthful recruits into a cohesive fighting unit with veterans, point guard Fred Van Fleet and center Stephen Adams providing steadiness and leadership. The stars of the current Rockets team include seven foot Turkish center Alperen Sengun, shooting guards Jalen Green and Amen Thompson and forwards Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith.

Then, there are the Denver Nuggets with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray playing lately like they are on a mission to get back to the top of the West, at least. And who could overlook Dallas which is just waiting for the return of Luka Doncic to help Kyrie Irving for a final push.

Of course, we are just talking of the Conference standings and the placing for the post season.

The play-offs are another matter altogether where different types of challenges and dangers lurk for both Cleveland and Oklahoma.

Abangan ang mga susunod pang kabanata...

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Stacked Card Unveiled for Manny Pacquiao’s Highly Anticipated Return
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV DEFEATS DARIUS FULGHUM IN WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR THRILLER
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • AFM Benoni Wabe Champ in the IIEE National Midyear Convention Tournament in CDO
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • Bektemir Melikuziev Edges Darius Fulghum in Thrilling WBA Title Eliminator
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • A Bridge to Plant versus Charlo is the theme for PBC/Amazon Card on Saturday
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • WEIGHIN RESULTS FROM LAS VEGAS: Plant - 167.2. lbs., Resendiz - 167 lbs.; Charlo - 167.4 lbs., LaManna - 166.6 lbs.
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • BAM: I WANT TO BE POUND-FOR-POUND NUMBER ONE!
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • QUOTES FROM TODAY’S “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • Reymart Soledad In Action for ABF Welter Strap in Brico Santig's Promotion in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • Konuk, Chaiyapong Make Weight, Collide for UBO Youth World 140
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • World Boxing to introduce mandatory Sex testing for all boxers that want to Participate in its competitions
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • 2025 BOXING HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY TO BE STREAMED LIVE
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • AJ Paciones Ready for WBO Oriental Battle in Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • BOXER JEAN PASCAL INDUCTED INTO THE BOXING CANADA HALL OF FAME
    , Sat, 31 May 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 5 - ALI VS. FOREMAN IN RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Raquinel and Zulueta Crowned ABF Champions in Bacolod City Homecoming
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • GMs Quizon, Antonio, Laylo Vying in 4th Edition Eduardo B. Basilonia Invitational Open Rapid Chess Tilt in Roxas City, Capiz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • New York Stays Alive, Foils Indiana, 111-94
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • PLANT VS. RESENDIZ & CHARLO VS. LAMANNA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Álvarez vs. Crawford: "Champions of Champions"
    By Gary Todd, , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: MELIKUZIEV - 166.8 LBS., FULGHUM - 167.6 LBS.
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Former Champion Jaime Munguía Notified of Possible Failed Drug Test
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • WEIGHTS AND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FOR MANUEL GALLEGOS VS. KHALIL COE REMATCH IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • Championship Summer: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas to Battle Mexico’s Jorge Garcia for WBO Jr. Middleweight Crown July 26 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden LIVE on ESPN
    , Fri, 30 May 2025
  • José Sulaimán Honored as New Gym Inaugurated in México State
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 29 May 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.