The natural reaction after any loss is to panic. Especially in a football state, where a single loss flips seasons upside down, gets coaches fired and ruins the

If Cleveland does reach the NBA Finals, its most likely opponent would be OKC. Yes, the Mavericks beat the Thunder in last season's Western Conference semifinals. But OKC has added an elite defender in Alex Caruso and a rebounding machine in Isaiah Hartenstein since then.

Both the Thunder and the Cavs have won at least 30 of their first 35 games, the only pair of teams to do so since the Lakers and Bucks in 1971-72.

If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander means what he says, the NBA won’t have much choice but to reinsert itself in cities like Cleveland and Oklahoma City.

I can't see a world where I'm not in Oklahoma City," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Market, no market. I don't care. I'm comfortable where I am. I love where I