Don’t be fooled by pre-game odds overwhelmingly being in favor of the Cavaliers. When they meet the Thunder on Thursday, just about the only advantage they will have is their near-flawless record at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Since their 2024-25 campaign began in late October, they have a single loss to show in the 19 matches they’ve hosted; the Hawks blitzed them on the front end of a home-and-home set courtesy of a playmaking masterclass by three-time All-Star Trae Young right before Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, the Thunder boast of a sterling 13-3 slate on the road, and will not be lacking in confidence while aiming for a 15th consecutive victory.
Given how both the Cavaliers and the Thunder have separated themselves from the rest of the National Basketball Association a little over halfway through the season, it’s fair to view Thursday’s set-to as an advanced look at the 2025 Finals. That said, there are still a lot of hoops to be played, and in history can be found examples of shocking swoons following remarkable rises. Moreover, the incidence of Number One seeds in each conference doing battle for the Larry O’Brien Trophy is not as high as conventional wisdom may assume.
To be sure, the benefits of regular season brilliance cannot be discounted. Sustained success does lead to heightened self-assurance, critical as a means of separation from equally strong contenders. There is likewise muscle memory to consider; winning begets winning, as the Cavaliers and the Thunder have clearly demonstrated. The phrase “trust in the process” has had a negative connotation in light of its misuse by the Sixers during the Sam Hinkie dispensation, but its importance is precisely what the East and West pacesetters have underscored.
So, yes, Thursday’s clash of the titans makes for must-see fare. And while it won’t be all that significant in the grand scheme of things, it does effectively provide the Cavaliers and the Thunder with an assessment of the state of their readiness to attain their ultimate objective. In short, it’s not just any contest; outside of bragging rights, they will gain intelligence that figures to shape their future.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
