CAVS BEAT PACERS TO CLINCH NBA’S BEST RECORD

The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the NBA’s best overall record on Monday night with a 117-109 road victory over the Indiana Pacers.  This gives the Cavs home court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs—a big deal for a team that has only lost once on their Quicken Loans Arena floor this season.   Cleveland will open the NBA playoffs against the Detroit Pistons this weekend.

Until then, the only thing to play for is the opportunity to tie the 1985-1986 Boston Celtics for the best regular season home record at 40-1.  Or maybe not—Cavs coach Mike Brown indicated that LeBron James and most of the teams’ other starters will be ‘spectators’ during their final home game against Philadelphia on Wednesday night.  According to LeBron, that’s fine with him since his team needs to now focus on the ‘big picture’:

"We've got to do what's best for the ring. We've got home-court advantage already. We're not fighting for breaking a record anymore. We're fighting for that ring."

He also took the occasion to praise his team for their regular season title achievement:

"It's one step, however, it's a big step. When you consider all the great teams, all the great players, all the great coaches and all the great systems that are in the NBA, for us to finish with the best record is a tremendous feat. And that is something the franchise should be proud of."

He’s not willing to suggest that the Cavs are the favorites to win the NBA title, however:

"It's going to be Boston. It goes like that every year. Until you knock off the NBA champs, that's the team to beat. We worked hard for the regular season to get to the point where we're at now, the home court. We must serve home in the playoffs like we did in the regular season."

The man who drew the dubious assignment of guarding LeBron, Indiana’s Danny Granger, disagreed:

"I think LeBron separates Cleveland from other teams. Kobe's still a great player, and D-Wade's a great player, and Boston has their 'Big Three,' but I think LeBron brings so much to that team. It opens up so much for everyone else. He's virtually unguardable, and I think he makes them special."

On Monday night, LeBron led the Pacers with 37 points along with 5 assists and 5 rebounds.  Delonte West added 20, Mo Williams 18 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas posted a ‘double/double’ with 16 points and 10 rebounds.  Indiana was led by Danny Granger’s 38 points, with Brandon Rush adding 27 and Troy Murphy earning a ‘double/double’ with 17 points and 13 boards.

Cleveland’s regular season finale will be on Wednesday night at home against the Philadelphia 76ers.  Indiana is out of the playoffs, and will wrap up their 2008-2009 campaign on Wednesday at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.