Cavs first to 50 wins

The Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday became the first NBA team this season to register 50 wins, a feat achieved thanks to a 2 point home win against the San Antonio Spurs who smashed the Cavs in the '07 finals. Why is this important? Well firstly it was a victory delivered without LeBron James and with a depleted Cavs front court keeping Tim Duncan to just 13 points and 5 boards. It's doubly important because in the last two seasons the first team to claim their 5oth win has gone onto claim that year's Championship.

The Cavs reaching 5o wins leaves them just 10 short of 60 with just 17 games remaining. Should they get there, and they more than likely will, they will become only the sixth team in the last twenty years to secure back to back 60 win seasons. The previous five to have done this have all gone onto make the finals, with three of those winning the championship.

Chicago '90-91/'91-92
Chicago '95-96/'96-97
Utah '96-97/97-98 (Lost to the Bulls in the finals 2-4)
Dallas '05-06/'06-07 (Led the 06 finals 2-0 against Miami before losing 2-4)
Boston '07-08/'08-09

Cleveland '08-09/'09-10 ?????

Its arguable that Cleveland, a city who's sporting calamities are infamous, will ever experience a more nervous next few months as the Cavs try to win their first NBA championship and help rid the city of one of the longest and most torturous droughts in professional sports history. Failure to do so will no doubt compound the pain which may only be worsened by the departure of the very man who has bought them so far, and has so many believing that this may indeed be their year.