The shiniest silver lining about the Cavaliers' two-month slow burn has been its place of occurrence: the NBA Eastern Conference, which cradles sliding teams by having more give than 30-year-old car struts.
Opportunity is suddenly knocking, and the 40-37 Cavs are starting to win games again at a time when it will only take a couple more victories to secure a playoff spot. On Wednesday night, Indiana's and Washington's victories clinched the East's No. 5 and No. 6 playoff spots. Two remaining spots in the East have now yet to be awarded, and the Cavs' current No. 7 spot is next in line.
A win Thursday night against the Knicks would put the Cavs three games up on ninth-place New Jersey with four to play for both teams. My limited math brain tells me that would put the Cavs' magic number at two (magic number is the combination of wins by the leading team and losses by the team in the trailing, elimination spot -- in this case the ninth spot in the conference -- needed for the leading team to clinch a playoff berth). That would mean Cleveland can go 2-2 in their ensuing final four games and still clinch a playoff berth even if New Jersey wins out in their final four.
Even with all the struggles the Cavs have endured in February and March, a win Thursday should make a playoff berth all but academic.
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