Cavaliers–Celtics rivalry

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Cavaliers–Celtics rivalry
2017 Cleveland Cavaliers wordmark logo.svg
Cleveland Cavaliers
CelticsWordmark.gif
Boston Celtics
First meetingDecember 20, 1970
Cavaliers 112, Celtics 116
Latest meetingMay 12, 2021
Cavaliers 102, Celtics 94
Next meetingTBA
Statistics
Meetings total260
All-time seriesCeltics, 156–104
Regular season seriesCeltics, 134–80[1]
Postseason resultsCavaliers, 24–22
Longest win streak
Current win streakCavaliers, 2
Post-season history
  • 1976 Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics won, 4–2
  • 1985 Eastern Conference First Round: Celtics won, 3–1
  • 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cavaliers won, 4–3
  • 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Celtics won, 4–3
  • 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Celtics won, 4–2
  • 2015 Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers won, 4–0
  • 2017 Eastern Conference Finals: Cavaliers won, 4–1
  • 2018 Eastern Conference Finals: Cavaliers won, 4–3

The Cavaliers–Celtics rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first match-up, eventually winning their thirteenth championship in 1976.[2] The next playoff match-ups occurred in 1985 with Boston winning the series in four games[3] and 1992 where the Cavaliers would win their first series against the team in seven games. This series would mark the end of Larry Bird's career.[4] It wasn't until 2008 when the LeBron James'-led Cleveland Cavaliers ran into the newly minted Boston Celtics' Big 3 when the rivalry would be upstarted again.

History[]

LeBron James vs. The Big 3[]

In the summer of 2007, general manager Danny Ainge made a series of moves that returned the Celtics to prominence. On draft night, he traded No. 5 pick Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Seattle for perennial all-star Ray Allen and Seattle's second-round pick (which the team used to select LSU's Glen "Big Baby" Davis).[5] The Celtics then traded Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and a first-round draft pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for superstar power forward Kevin Garnett.[6] These moves created a new "Big Three" of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. In the 2007–08 season, Celtics completed the largest single-season turnaround in NBA history. The team went 66–16 in the regular season, a 42-game improvement over its 2006–07 record. However, the team struggled in the early rounds of the playoffs, needing seven games to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round and another seven to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals.

During the 2009 off-season, the Cavaliers acquired four-time NBA champion and 15-time All Star center Shaquille O'Neal from the Phoenix Suns.[7] The Cavaliers also signed wingman Anthony Parker, and forwards Leon Powe and Jamario Moon for the following season. On February 17, 2010, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star forward Antawn Jamison from the Washington Wizards and Sebastian Telfair from the Los Angeles Clippers in a three team trade. The Cavaliers originally lost Žydrūnas Ilgauskas in this trade, but after being waived by Washington, he signed back with the Cavaliers on March 23 for the rest of the season. The Cavaliers managed to finish with the NBA's best record for the second straight season, with a 61–21 record. James was named the NBA MVP for the second consecutive year. The Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls 4–1 in the first round of the 2010 NBA playoffs, but lost to the Boston Celtics in the semifinals after leading the series 2–1, with the Celtics proceeding to win 3 consecutive games.

With the Cavaliers out of the playoffs, the focus turned to James' impending free agency. On July 8, 2010, James announced in a nationally televised one-hour special titled The Decision on ESPN that he would be signing with the Miami Heat.[8] The repercussions of this announcement left many in the city of Cleveland infuriated and feeling betrayed. A number of LeBron James jerseys were burned, and the famous Nike "Witness" mural of James in downtown Cleveland was immediately taken down. Following James' decision to sign with the Miami Heat, the Celtics shifted their rivalry with James towards the Heat instead, halting the Cavaliers–Celtics rivalry temporarily.

Return of LeBron James, rivalry resurgence[]

The Cavaliers became perennial title contenders between 2014–15 and 2017-18 NBA seasons following the return of LeBron James to Cleveland.[9][10] On July 11, 2014, James revealed via a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated that he intended to return to the Cavaliers.[11] In contrast to The Decision, his announcement to return to Cleveland was well received.[12][13][14] A day later, he officially signed with the team,[15] who had compiled a league-worst 97–215 record in the four seasons following his departure.[16] A month after James' signing, the Cavaliers acquired Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, forming a new star trio along with Kyrie Irving.[17]

The Cavaliers entered the 2015 NBA playoffs as the second seed in the East with a 53–29 record. They advanced through the first three rounds of the playoffs virtually unchallenged, sweeping Boston in the first round, but Love would missed the remainder of the playoffs after he dislocated his left shoulder in the first quarter of Game 4 when he got tangled with the Celtics' Kelly Olynyk while battling for a loose ball. Love called it a "bush-league play", while Olynyk said he would "never intentionally hurt someone."[18][19] The league ruled that Olynyk had "yanked Love's arm down", and suspended Olynyk for one game.[20] Love underwent surgery to repair his shoulder and the team said he would need four to six months to recover.[18]

In the 2017 off-season, Kyrie Irving demanded a trade, citing that he no longer wanted to play second fiddle to LeBron. Irving's wish was later granted, sending him to the Boston Celtics on August 22, 2017 for Isaiah Thomas, along with Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić, and the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected 2018 first-round draft pick. .[21] However, during the post-trade physical examination by Cleveland staff, concerns were raised about the health of Thomas' previously injured hip.[22] As a result, eight days after the deal was announced, the Celtics agreed to send the Cavaliers a 2020 second-round draft pick via the Miami Heat to complete the trade.[23] It was later reported that Thomas had been playing with a number of secondary issues in his hip, such as a loss of cartilage and some arthritis, for several seasons.[24] Thomas was later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a trade deadline overhaul that saw the Cavaliers add several young players. The following offseason, James declined his player option to rejoin the team, instead signing with the Lakers. In the following two seasons, the team recorded only 19 wins and failed to make the playoffs.

Results[]

Cavaliers victoriesCeltics victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScoreNotes
1 November 20, 1970 Boston Celtics 116–112
2 December 4, 1970 Cleveland Celtics 118–107
3 January 24, 1971 Boston Celtics 121–110
4 January 25, 1971 Cleveland Cavaliers 117–116
5 November 21, 1971 Cleveland Celtics 128–105
6 December 8, 1971 Boston Celtics 126–107
7 December 17, 1971 Cleveland Celtics 115–109
8 January 26, 1972 Boston Cavaliers 112–108
9 February 23, 1972 Cleveland Celtics 113–111
10 March 1, 1972 Boston Celtics 115–105
11 October 27, 1972 Boston Celtics 123–97
12 December 8, 1972 Cleveland Celtics 96–87
13 December 9, 1972 Boston Celtics 123–88
14 January 31, 1973 Boston Celtics 94–89
15 February 6, 1973 Cleveland Cavaliers 110–105
16 February 25, 1973 Cleveland Celtics 105–92
17 October 28, 1973 Cleveland Cavaliers 102–99
18 October 31, 1973 Boston Celtics 128–110
19 November 25, 1973 Cleveland Celtics 107–101
20 December 29, 1973 Boston Celtics 111–92
21 January 30, 1974 Boston Celtics 120–108
22 March 15, 1974 Cleveland Cavaliers 104–103
23 October 23, 1974 Boston Cavaliers 108–107
24 October 29, 1974 Richfield Twp Celtics 107–92
25 January 31, 1975 Boston Celtics 121–99
26 March 25, 1975 Richfield Twp Celtics 89–84
27 November 23, 1975 Richfield Twp Celtics 105–90
28 January 20, 1976 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 98–85
29 March 26, 1976 Boston Celtics 95–93
30 April 1, 1976 Richfield Twp Celtics 95–88
31 April 6, 1976 Boston Cavaliers 101–92
32 May 6, 1976 Boston Celtics 111–99 1976 Conference Finals, Game 1
33 May 9, 1976 Boston Celtics 94–89 1976 Conference Finals, Game 2
34 May 11, 1976 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 83–78 1976 Conference Finals, Game 3
35 May 14, 1976 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 106–87 1976 Conference Finals, Game 4
36 May 16, 1976 Boston Celtics 99–94 1976 Conference Finals, Game 5
37 May 18, 1976 Richfield Twp Celtics 94–87 1976 Conference Finals, Game 6
Celtics win series, 4–2
38 November 26, 1976 Boston Cavaliers 108–92
39 December 21, 1976 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 108–101
40 March 29, 1977 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 110–82
41 April 10, 1977 Boston Celtics 115–105
42 October 29, 1977 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 103–98
43 November 2, 1977 Boston Cavaliers 104–101
44 March 16, 1978 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 112–102
45 March 22, 1978 Boston Celtics 105–99
46 October 13, 1978 Boston Cavaliers 115–101
47 November 18, 1978 Richfield Twp Celtics 92–90
48 February 2, 1979 Boston Celtics 112–98
49 March 27, 1979 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 111–109
50 October 13, 1979 Richfield Twp Celtics 139–117
51 October 17, 1979 Boston Celtics 127–108
52 December 8, 1979 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 116–100
53 January 30, 1980 Boston Celtics 110–103
54 March 22, 1980 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 109–105
55 March 28, 1980 Boston Celtics 130–122
56 October 10, 1980 Boston Celtics 130–103
57 November 22, 1980 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 113–98
58 December 20, 1980 Richfield Twp Celtics 107–102
59 January 14, 1981 Boston Celtics 120–113
60 February 25, 1981 Boston Celtics 124–103
61 November 14, 1981 Richfield Twp Celtics 92–91
62 December 22, 1981 Boston Celtics 120–116
63 January 2, 1982 Richfield Twp Celtics 106–103
64 January 28, 1982 Richfield Twp Celtics 116–104
65 March 24, 1982 Boston Celtics 136–115
66 October 29, 1982 Richfield Twp Celtics 104–93
67 December 8, 1982 Boston Celtics 113–93
68 January 15, 1983 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 90–86
69 January 23, 1983 Boston Celtics 105–91
70 March 20, 1983 Richfield Twp Celtics 90–79
71 March 25, 1983 Boston Celtics 124–102
72 October 29, 1983 Richfield Twp Celtics 108–89
73 December 14, 1983 Boston Celtics 110–108
74 January 6, 1984 Boston Celtics 115–97
75 January 24, 1984 Richfield Twp Celtics 118–97
76 April 3, 1984 Richfield Twp Celtics 98–86
77 April 6, 1984 Boston Celtics 113–94
78 December 1, 1984 Richfield Twp Celtics 110–104
79 December 2, 1984 Boston Celtics 122–99
80 February 6, 1985 Boston Celtics 113–108
81 March 15, 1985 Richfield Twp Celtics 119–96
82 March 22, 1985 Boston Celtics 129–117
83 April 11, 1985 Richfield Twp Celtics 121–115
84 April 18, 1985 Boston Celtics 126–123 1985 First Round, Game 1
85 April 20, 1985 Boston Celtics 108–106 1985 First Round, Game 2
86 April 23, 1985 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 105–98 1985 First Round, Game 3
87 April 25, 1985 Richfield Twp Celtics 117–115 1985 First Round, Game 4
Celtics win series, 3–1
88 October 26, 1985 Richfield Twp Celtics 105–100
89 December 14, 1985 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 109–99
90 January 8, 1986 Boston Celtics 126–95
91 March 18, 1986 Boston Celtics 126–96
92 April 1, 1986 Richfield Twp Celtics 123–105
93 April 11, 1986 Boston Celtics 117–104
94 December 6, 1986 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 88–86
95 January 16, 1987 Boston Celtics 133–128 (OT)
96 February 4, 1987 Boston Celtics 104–102
97 March 24, 1987 Boston Celtics 111–88
98 April 7, 1987 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 107–83
99 November 13, 1987 Boston Celtics 128–114
100 November 17, 1987 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 109–88
101 January 23, 1988 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 119–100
102 March 6, 1988 Boston Celtics 127–98
103 April 15, 1988 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 120–109
104 November 22, 1988 Boston Cavaliers 114–102
105 December 2, 1988 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 112–84
106 December 21, 1988 Boston Cavaliers 115–114
107 April 2, 1989 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 117–100
108 April 14, 1989 Boston Celtics 113–104
109 November 11, 1989 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 104–101
110 December 1, 1989 Boston Celtics 102–89
111 March 21, 1990 Boston Celtics 123–114
112 April 6, 1990 Richfield Twp Celtics 109–104
113 November 2, 1990 Boston Celtics 125–101
114 November 24, 1990 Richfield Twp Celtics 113–102
115 March 29, 1991 Boston Celtics 110–108
116 April 19, 1991 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 124–117 (OT)
117 January 3, 1992 Boston Cavaliers 111–100
118 January 20, 1992 Richfield Twp Celtics 107–102
119 March 18, 1992 Boston Celtics 96–94
120 April 7, 1992 Richfield Twp Celtics 100–97
121 May 2, 1992 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 101–76 1992 Conference Semifinals, Game 1
122 May 4, 1992 Richfield Twp Celtics 104–98 1992 Conference Semifinals, Game 2
123 May 8, 1992 Boston Celtics 110–107 1992 Conference Semifinals, Game 3
124 May 10, 1992 Boston Cavaliers 114–112 (OT) 1992 Conference Semifinals, Game 4
125 May 13, 1992 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 114–98 1992 Conference Semifinals, Game 5
126 May 15, 1992 Boston Celtics 122–91 1992 Conference Semifinals, Game 6
127 May 17, 1992 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 122–104 1992 Conference Semifinals, Game 7
Cavaliers win series, 4–3
128 December 1, 1992 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 111–101
129 January 12, 1993 Richfield Twp Celtics 121–115
130 March 7, 1993 Boston Celtics 96–88
No.DateLocationWinnerScoreNotes
131 April 23, 1993 Boston Celtics 107–99
132 January 5, 1994 Richfield Twp Celtics 101–96
133 January 7, 1994 Boston Cavaliers 99–85
134 March 2, 1994 Boston Cavaliers 110–96
135 April 24, 1994 Richfield Twp Cavaliers 117–91
136 December 9, 1994 Boston Cavaliers 96–89
137 December 26, 1994 Cleveland Cavaliers 123–102
138 February 8, 1995 Boston Celtics 75–67
139 April 4, 1995 Cleveland Celtics 97–92
140 January 5, 1996 Boston Celtics 93–77
141 February 6, 1996 Cleveland Cavaliers 91–73
142 March 8, 1996 Boston Cavaliers 96–91
143 March 14, 1996 Cleveland Cavaliers 98–73
144 March 1, 1997 Cleveland Cavaliers 99–81
145 April 2, 1997 Boston Cavaliers 96–87
146 April 11, 1997 Boston Celtics 103–101 (OT)
147 November 7, 1997 Boston Cavaliers 96–82
148 November 29, 1997 Cleveland Cavaliers 103–97
149 April 14, 1998 Cleveland Cavaliers 95–86
150 April 17, 1998 Boston Celtics 78–71
151 February 6, 1999 Boston Celtics 77–73
152 March 2, 1999 Cleveland Cavaliers 116–99
153 March 23, 1999 Cleveland Cavaliers 113–86
154 April 12, 1999 Boston Celtics 103–89
155 November 17, 1999 Boston Celtics 114–103
156 December 14, 1999 Cleveland Cavaliers 115–88
157 January 3, 2000 Boston Celtics 105–98
158 April 1, 2000 Cleveland Cavaliers 109–103
159 November 4, 2000 Cleveland Cavaliers 91–89
160 November 28, 2000 Cleveland Celtics 87–72
161 February 4, 2001 Boston Celtics 103–82
162 October 30, 2001 Cleveland Celtics 108–89
163 December 19, 2001 Boston Celtics 104–98
164 January 26, 2002 Cleveland Celtics 108–101
165 March 20, 2002 Boston Celtics 96–70
166 December 13, 2002 Boston Celtics 115–100
167 December 21, 2002 Cleveland Celtics 89–82
168 March 28, 2003 Boston Celtics 104–95
169 March 29, 2003 Cleveland Celtics 110–106
170 November 14, 2003 Boston Celtics 91–82
171 December 13, 2003 Cleveland Celtics 105–98
172 January 9, 2004 Boston Celtics 107–82
173 February 9, 2004 Cleveland Cavaliers 97–89
174 November 26, 2004 Boston Cavaliers 98–96
175 December 18, 2004 Cleveland Celtics 114–107 (OT)
176 April 19, 2005 Cleveland Cavaliers 100–86
177 November 22, 2005 Cleveland Cavaliers 115–93
178 February 15, 2006 Boston Cavaliers 113–109 (2OT)
179 March 24, 2006 Cleveland Cavaliers 94–82
180 April 17, 2006 Boston Cavaliers 93–88
181 November 11, 2006 Cleveland Cavaliers 94–93
182 January 3, 2007 Boston Cavaliers 107–104
183 April 1, 2007 Boston Celtics 98–96
184 November 27, 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers 109–104 (OT)
185 December 2, 2007 Boston Celtics 80–70
186 February 5, 2008 Cleveland Cavaliers 114–113
187 February 27, 2008 Boston Celtics 92–87
188 May 6, 2008 Boston Celtics 76–72 2008 Conference Semifinals, Game 1
189 May 8, 2008 Boston Celtics 89–73 2008 Conference Semifinals, Game 2
190 May 10, 2008 Cleveland Cavaliers 108–84 2008 Conference Semifinals, Game 3
191 May 12, 2008 Cleveland Cavaliers 88–77 2008 Conference Semifinals, Game 4
192 May 14, 2008 Boston Celtics 96–89 2008 Conference Semifinals, Game 5
193 May 16, 2008 Cleveland Cavaliers 74–69 2008 Conference Semifinals, Game 6
194 May 18, 2008 Boston Celtics 97–92 2008 Conference Semifinals, Game 7
Celtics win series, 4–3
195 October 28, 2008 Boston Celtics 90–85
196 January 9, 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers 98–83
197 March 6, 2009 Boston Celtics 105–94
198 April 12, 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers 107–76
199 October 27, 2009 Cleveland Celtics 95–89
200 February 25, 2010 Boston Cavaliers 108–88
201 March 14, 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers 104–93
202 April 4, 2010 Boston Celtics 117–113
203 May 1, 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers 101–93 2010 Conference Semifinals, Game 1
204 May 3, 2010 Cleveland Celtics 104–86 2010 Conference Semifinals, Game 2
205 May 7, 2010 Boston Cavaliers 124–95 2010 Conference Semifinals, Game 3
206 May 9, 2010 Boston Celtics 97–87 2010 Conference Semifinals, Game 4
207 May 11, 2010 Cleveland Celtics 120–88 2010 Conference Semifinals, Game 5
208 May 13, 2010 Boston Celtics 94–85 2010 Conference Semifinals, Game 6
Celtics win series, 4–2
209 October 27, 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers 95–87
210 November 30, 2010 Cleveland Celtics 106–87
211 January 25, 2011 Boston Celtics 112–95
212 January 29, 2012 Boston Cavaliers 88–87
213 January 31, 2012 Cleveland Celtics 93–90
214 February 28, 2012 Cleveland Celtics 86–83
215 December 19, 2012 Boston Celtics 103–91
216 January 22, 2013 Cleveland Celtics 103–95
217 March 27, 2013 Cleveland Celtics 93–92
218 April 5, 2013 Boston Cavaliers 97–91
219 November 29, 2013 Boston Celtics 103–86
220 December 28, 2013 Boston Celtics 103–100
221 April 12, 2014 Cleveland Celtics 111–99
222 November 14, 2014 Boston Cavaliers 122–121
223 March 3, 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers 110–79
224 April 10, 2015 Cleveland Celtics 99–90
225 April 12, 2015 Boston Celtics 117–78
226 April 19, 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers 113–100 2015 First Round, Game 1
227 April 21, 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers 99–91 2015 First Round, Game 2
228 April 23, 2015 Boston Cavaliers 103–95 2015 First Round, Game 3
229 April 26, 2015 Boston Cavaliers 101–93 2015 First Round, Game 4
Cavaliers win series, 4–0
230 December 15, 2015 Boston Cavaliers 89–77
231 February 5, 2016 Cleveland Celtics 104–103
232 March 5, 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers 120–103
233 November 3, 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers 128–122
234 December 29, 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers 124–118
235 March 1, 2017 Boston Celtics 103–99
236 April 5, 2017 Boston Cavaliers 114–91
237 May 17, 2017 Boston Cavaliers 117–104 2017 Conference Finals, Game 1
238 May 19, 2017 Boston Cavaliers 130–86 2017 Conference Finals, Game 2
239 May 21, 2017 Cleveland Celtics 111–108 2017 Conference Finals, Game 3
240 May 23, 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers 112–99 2017 Conference Finals, Game 4
241 May 25, 2017 Boston Cavaliers 135–102 2017 Conference Finals, Game 5
Cavaliers win series, 4–1
242 October 17, 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers 102–99
243 January 3, 2018 Boston Celtics 102–88
244 February 11, 2018 Boston Cavaliers 121–99
245 May 13, 2018 Boston Celtics 108–83 2018 Conference Finals, Game 1
246 May 15, 2018 Boston Celtics 107–94 2018 Conference Finals, Game 2
247 May 19, 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers 116–86 2018 Conference Finals, Game 3
248 May 21, 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers 111–102 2018 Conference Finals, Game 4
249 May 23, 2018 Boston Celtics 96–83 2018 Conference Finals, Game 5
250 May 25, 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers 109–99 2018 Conference Finals, Game 6
251 May 27, 2018 Boston Cavaliers 87–79 2018 Conference Finals, Game 7
Cavaliers win series, 4–3
252 November 30, 2018 Boston Celtics 128–95
253 January 23, 2019 Boston Celtics 123–103
254 February 5, 2019 Cleveland Celtics 103–96
255 March 26, 2019 Cleveland Celtics 116–106
256 November 5, 2019 Cleveland Celtics 119–113
257 December 9, 2019 Boston Celtics 110–88
258 December 27, 2019 Boston Celtics 129–117
259 March 4, 2020 Cleveland Celtics 112–106
260 January 4, 2021 Boston Celtics 141–103

References[]

  1. ^ "Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics Head-to-Head in the NBA Regular Season – All-Time Game Log". Landofbasketball.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  2. ^ "1976 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Cavaliers vs. Celtics".
  3. ^ "1985 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Cavaliers vs. Celtics".
  4. ^ Vergara, Anndre. "25 years ago today, the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Larry Bird's NBA career". Fox Sports. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  5. ^ Celtics Acquire Seven-Time All-Star Ray Allen from Sonics Archived June 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, nba.com. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  6. ^ Celtics Acquire 10-Time All-Star Kevin Garnett, nba.com. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  7. ^ Broussard, Chris (June 24, 2009). "Shaq to Cavs deal awaits approval". ESPN. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  8. ^ Stableford, Dylan (July 8, 2010). "ESPN's Disgraceful LeBron James 'Decision'". TheWrap.com. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  9. ^ Vardon, Joe (October 21, 2016). "LeBron James and a boulevard of broken teams: NBA 2016-17 season preview". Cleveland.com. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  10. ^ "CLEVELAND CAVALIERS ACQUIRE AGRAVANIS' NBA RIGHTS". agonasport.com. October 15, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  11. ^ "LeBron James rejoins Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency". Sports Illustrated. USA Today. July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  12. ^ Levin, Josh. "Nice Rebound!". Slate. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  13. ^ Simmons, Bill. "God Loves Cleveland". Grantland. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  14. ^ Lowe, Zach. "The Decision 2.0: OK, What's Next?". Grantland. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  15. ^ Windhorst, Brian (July 12, 2014). "LeBron deal has eye on future cap". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  16. ^ Bloomberg News. "LeBron to Cleveland: I'm coming home". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  17. ^ ESPN News Services. "Kevin Love traded to Cavaliers". ESPN. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Haynes, Chris (April 29, 2015). "Kevin Love undergoes surgery on dislocated shoulder, out 4-6 months". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015.
  19. ^ Haynes, Chris (April 27, 2015). "Kevin Love shoulder injury: Cleveland Cavaliers forward out for entire Eastern Conference semifinals". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015.
  20. ^ "Smith, Olynyk suspended; Perkins fined" (Press release). NBA. April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015.
  21. ^ "Celtics Acquire Four-Time All-Star Kyrie Irving". NBA.com. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  22. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (August 27, 2017). "Cleveland Cavaliers plan to seek additional compensation from Boston Celtics". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  23. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (August 30, 2017). "Cavs add 2nd-round pick from Celtics to complete Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  24. ^ Lloyd, Jason (September 8, 2017). "Lloyd: So few answers raise even more questions about Isaiah Thomas' health". theathletic.com. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
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