Cleveland Cavaliers
Organization in Basketball
Cleveland Cavaliers has come up in 14 episodes across 2 podcasts in TMT, including The Bill Simmons Podcast, Pardon My Take. 6 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
Simmons questions Cleveland paying Peyton Watson like a proven playoff contributor.
“We've never seen him succeed with a lot of minutes in the playoffs. We haven't seen it at all. They paid him like a playoff guy”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA One Guy (the East!), a Man City Punishment Primer, and Tom Cruise’s Bomb With J. Kyle Mann, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan (Oct 6, 2026) · Listen from 29:25
Simmons believes Cleveland's contention window has closed and it must make changes.
“I think they had their window and this is it”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 58:21
Simmons criticizes James Harden for claiming Cleveland was the better team after being swept.
“When people say, after a sweep, when you say that, that almost feels like an IQ test”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:30:10
Simmons doubts the Cavaliers can win a title with a Mitchell-Harden backcourt because of defensive vulnerabilities.
“How are we going to win four straight rounds if our guards are Mitchell and Harden?”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:04:13
Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly
Lowe believes a Cleveland team with LeBron would have been a legitimate title contender, disagreeing with Simmons.
“I think that actually would have been a pretty stacked team and a legit title contender”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe. (Jul 24, 2026) · Listen from 15:28
Lowe argues it was not embarrassing for Cleveland to need seven games because Toronto is very difficult to play against.
“I don't think it's embarrassing. Toronto is a pain in the ass to play against”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Part 2: Cleveland Survives, Knicks-Sixers, and Whaddya Do for Denver, Houston, and Atlanta With Zach Lowe (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 4:05
Lowe argued Cleveland has been unfairly overlooked and has a high ceiling if their four main players play together.
“i want to see those four guys mitchell harden mobly allen how does that look together because i think there's a really high ceiling here”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: UConn’s Miracle, Weirdest NBA Season Ever, A Scary Playoff Team Draft, and an Iffy Expansion Plan With Zach Lowe (Mar 30, 2026) · Listen from 37:38
Joe HouseRinger podcaster and longtime friend of Bill Simmons, known for sports betting talk
House contends LeBron James benefits from Cleveland's collapse because he no longer needs to go there.
“I think LeBron is a winner by virtue of what happened with Cleveland. Cleveland's the loser, not LeBron”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 59:43
House says Kenny Atkinson should never be an NBA head coach again after his handling of Game 1.
“he cannot and he should not, and he shouldn't be a head coach ever again”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 53:42
Tim LeglerFormer NBA player and ESPN basketball analyst who calls games alongside Mike Breen
Legler says that if Cleveland must move one of its core players, it should probably be Evan Mobley rather than Donovan Mitchell.
“Probably Mobley. And I think I was a little disappointed in this series”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 1:02:32
Dan KatzBarstool Sports personality known as Big Cat, co-host of Pardon My Take
Katz argues that Kenny Atkinson's claim that the Cavaliers analytically won two games was the biggest loser quote in professional sports.
“Now, I don't want to be hyperbolic here, but I think that is the biggest loser quote that has ever been uttered in professional sports”
Pardon My Take: Knicks To The Finals, Wemby Domination, Saints RB Travis Etienne, Saints Safety Justin Reid, Who’s Back Of The Week And More (May 26, 2026) · Listen from 5:58
Ryen RussilloSports broadcaster and host of The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Russillo argues Cleveland is more talented and should have beaten Detroit convincingly.
“Cleveland's talent's better. Like this series, I really think Cleveland should have won pretty convincingly because of this offensive flaw that Detroit has had all season long”
Pardon My Take: Ryen Russillo In Studio, NFL Schedule Release, Zoo Trades, Playoffs And Fyre Fest (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 57:03
Predictions
- Came trueBill Simmons
Simmons predicts the Knicks will sweep Cleveland, citing a Game 3 play where the Cavaliers appeared to quit.
“Game four is already over because there was a play at the end of game three that made me convinced the Knicks are going to sweep them”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: OKC Gets Wobbled, Cleveland’s Done, and Knicks Nirvana Is Here (Maybe) With Zach Lowe and Sean Fennessey (May 25, 2026) · Listen from 1:10:56 · Cleveland Cavaliers
The Knicks beat the Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 in Cleveland on May 25, 2026, completing a 4-0 sweep of the Eastern Conference Finals. The win sent New York to its first NBA Finals since 1999.
Sources: Knicks blow out Cavaliers to complete sweep and reach first NBA Finals since 1999 | CNN · Knicks sweep Cavs 130-93 in Game 4, advance to NBA Finals for 1st time since 1999 - CBS New York · Knicks sweep Cavaliers and advance to first NBA Finals since 1999 – NBC New York · 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 4: Knicks vs Cavaliers, May 25, 2026 | Basketball-Reference.com
Checked Sep 30, 2026
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- The Bill Simmons Podcast · 10 episodes
- Pardon My Take · 4 episodes
Episodes
NBA One Guy (the East!), a Man City Punishment Primer, and Tom Cruise’s Bomb With J. Kyle Mann, Chris Ryan, and Van LathanThe Bill Simmons Podcast · Oct 6, 2026 · 2 h 13 min
Bill Simmons and J. Kyle Mann pick one key player per NBA Eastern Conference team, then Chris Ryan and Van Lathan discuss cable stars, Tom Cruise's 'Digger,' and Manchester City's punishment.
- LeBron’s Philly Shocker! Plus, the 2011 NBA Redraftables With Zach Lowe.
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jul 24, 2026 · 1 h 46 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, then redraft the 2011 NBA draft class.
- Game 7 Fever in OKC, NBA Lottery Reform, and a Mega-Mailbag With Rob Mahoney, David Jacoby, and Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 29, 2026 · 1 h 51 min
Bill Simmons and Rob Mahoney react to the Spurs forcing Game 7 against the Thunder, then Simmons, David Jacoby and Joe House discuss NBA lottery reform, Cavs losers and a mailbag.
- A Spurs Fumble, CarusoMania, Brunson’s Mega-Rise and a Knicks Appreciation With Tim Legler and Brian Koppelman
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 27, 2026 · 1 h 45 min
Bill Simmons and Tim Legler break down Thunder-Spurs Game 5 and the Knicks' Finals run, then Brian Koppelman reflects on the Knicks reaching the NBA Finals.
Knicks To The Finals, Wemby Domination, Saints RB Travis Etienne, Saints Safety Justin Reid, Who’s Back Of The Week And MorePardon My Take · May 26, 2026 · 3 h 1 min
The Pardon My Take crew celebrates the Knicks reaching the NBA Finals, debates the Thunder and flopping, and interviews Saints players Travis Etienne and Justin Reid.
- OKC Gets Wobbled, Cleveland’s Done, and Knicks Nirvana Is Here (Maybe) With Zach Lowe and Sean Fennessey
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 25, 2026 · 1 h 40 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe break down Thunder–Spurs Game 4 and rank pressure on players, then Sean Fennessey joins to celebrate the Knicks' dominant playoff run.
Ryen Russillo In Studio, NFL Schedule Release, Zoo Trades, Playoffs And Fyre FestPardon My Take · May 15, 2026 · 2 h 30 min
The Pardon My Take crew reacts to the NFL schedule, PGA Championship and a zoo gorilla trade, then Ryen Russillo discusses the NBA playoffs, the draft and solo travel.
- Harden’s Moment, an NFL Schedule Glut, Owning the Jazz, and a Boston Sports Check-In—With Bryan Curtis, Bill’s Dad, and Ryan Smith
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 15, 2026 · 2 h 54 min
Bill Simmons previews NBA Game 6s, discusses sports schedule glut with Bryan Curtis, Boston sports with his dad, and Jazz rebuilding with owner Ryan Smith.
Brooks Koepka, PGA Championship With Shane Bacon, Wemby's Revenge, Lebron's Last Game? Plus Guys On ChicksPardon My Take · May 13, 2026 · 2 h 54 min
The Pardon My Take crew covers the NBA playoffs, a Wizards bet and Giannis rumors, then interviews Brooks Koepka and Shane Bacon ahead of the 2026 PGA Championship.
- The Wizards Win (Something!) and More Lottery Reactions, Plus the Juggernaut Knicks With Joe House, Tate Frazier, and Chris Vernon
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 11, 2026 · 1 h 46 min
Bill Simmons, Joe House, Tate Frazier and Chris Vernon react to the 2026 NBA draft lottery won by the Wizards, preview top picks, and discuss the playoffs.