National Basketball Association

Which Teams Can Threaten The Cleveland Cavaliers In The East?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Which teams could stand in the Cleveland Cavaliers path to their third straight Eastern Conference championship?

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks in the first half against the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

If there’s one item that basketball pundits have been able to agree on over the last year (outside of prematurely anointing the Golden State Warriors as the greatest team ever), it’s the fact that the Eastern Conference has improved drastically. It doesn’t take a seasoned data analyst to observe that the East has become rife with talented, young teams. Top-to-bottom, it can even be argued that the East has surpassed the West in terms of overall quality.

While the top four teams in the NBA still probably consist of three Western Conference teams (Warriors, Spurs, Clippers), the NBA as a league has become much more competitive. Just look at the numbers of East-West matchups from last season; the playing field has leveled.

With this uptick in competition comes the increase in challengers to the reigning Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Yet, despite the praise of these young, capable teams, it still remains difficult to discern which one poses the greatest threat to the Cavs.

Here’s a breakdown look at which teams are in the running to take out the defending champs and why they’re poised to do so.

Oct 13, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) looks to make a move on Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

1. Toronto Raptors

Why they’re a contender:

This one is a gimme. The Raptors finished their 2015-16 campaign with a 56-26 record, good enough for second in the Eastern Conference. As Cavs fans well know, the Raptors were then able to squeeze their way into the Conference Finals and even push the eventual NBA champions to six games.

The x-factor for the Raptors boils down to continuity and health. The All-Star backcourt of Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry continues to be one of the best in the league but the frontcourt remains much more of a question mark. Jonas Valanciunas is one of the most dynamic big men in the NBA and he’ll need to stay healthy for the entirety of the Raps run if they have any shot at contending for a title. The revelation and subsequent loss of Bismack Biyombo was a big blow to the team. Still, some combination of newly-acquired Jared Sullinger, Patrick Patterson, and rookie Pascal Siakam at the power forward position might work. The operative word there is “might”.

How they can beat the Cavs:

Tough to say.

Obviously, Toronto has three potential all-stars in Lowry, DeRozan, and Valanciunas, but there’s a lot left to be desired beyond that. Jakob Poeltl, who happened to be the first Austrian player to be drafted into the NBA, with the ninth-overall selection, will need to contribute off the bench and challenge the Cavs’ smaller frontcourt.

The Raptors possess a size advantage over the Cavs but do they have the athleticism to outrebound the likes of Love and Thompson? Only time will tell. They have a chippy physicality that proved itself in Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals that resulted in two victories. Nonetheless, the Cavs ultra-talented offense was simply too much over the course of a seven-game series.

It’s tough to imagine the Raptors making a quantum leap forward and ousting the Cavs as kings in the east. Yet, Toronto was still able to take two games against a full-strength Cavs team. In spite of the fact that Lowry and DeRozan’s play didn’t live up to expectations for the majority of last years’ playoffs and Valanciunas was sidelined after the second round. That alone is enough to suggest that the Raptors are a real threat.

Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) talks with head coach Brad Stevens in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Celtics defeats the Suns 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. Boston Celtics

Why they’re a contender:

Currently every NBA analyst’s darling of the East, the Boston Celtics have made a marked improvement to their roster with the addition of All-Star power forward Al Horford. If you detect a slight tone of annoyance, your senses have not failed you.

The Celtics are good. You might even go so far as to say the Celtics are among the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference. Well, they made this list, so we have to like something about them, right?

There’s nothing sexy about the Celtics. From the top-down, the C’s take on a physical, team-oriented mentality that basketball purists can’t get enough of. Brad Stevens has implemented a winning culture, and the league has certainly taken note.

After being oh-so-close to reeling in the biggest fish in the free agency ocean, Boston has refocused its energy on infusing Horford into the offense and taking big steps forward with what they’ve got. What they’ve got it is a top-four team in the Eastern Conference. What they don’t have is a championship contender. Sure, they’re well-coached, great defensively and have added a seasoned all-star to a young core but it just doesn’t seem like enough.

Now if they make a move or two before the trade deadline, look out.

How they can beat the Cavs:

Lock-down D. There won’t be any love lost between the Cavs and Celtics this year. The gauntlet was thrown when they faced off in the first round of the 2015 NBA playoffs. And the physicality has never left.

It’s always fun to watch the Celtics play. Isaiah Thomas has defied logic with his play since joining the team and they’ve only gotten better since losing to the Hawks in the first round of last season’s playoffs. They’re a gritty bunch of misfits, and at the very least, they’re fun to watch. With that being said, their lack of shooting depth can cause the offense to stagnate at times, but their defense can keep them in any game.

I still say they’re one offensive weapon away from being real contenders to the Cavs but there’s plenty of time between now and the trade deadline.

Oct 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) dunks against the Dallas Mavericks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Dallas 130-121 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

3. Indiana Pacers

Why they’re a contender:

Now this is what it’s all about. A real wildcard type of team.

While the rest of the league was fixated on which superstars were going where in free agency, the Pacers quietly acquired three very solid players in Thaddeus Young, Jeff Teague, and Al Jefferson (Aaron Brooks also joined as a backup point guard – not as noticeable. Sorry, Aaron.).

People probably aren’t as excited about Myles Turner as they should be but he already proved why he is an up-and-coming star in the Pacers season-opener versus the Dallas Mavericks.

Add a budding potential all-star to a bona fide superstar in Paul George and sprinkle in some veteran talent? Boom, you’ve got something.

The big question mark will be the Pacers defense. While George is one of the league’s premiere defenders, a large portion of the roster doesn’t scream defensive prowess. New head coach Nate McMillan has a big opportunity at the helm but can he do a better job than former coach Frank Vogel? That remains to be seen.

How they can beat the Cavs:

Unfortunately for the Pacers, their superstar small forward has to play our super-mega-deluxe-star small forward, LeBron James.

That being said, the Pacers will be no cakewalk for the Cavs.

Monta Ellis, when he’s on, is a pretty outstanding scorer. He could certainly prove a tall task for either J.R. Smith or Iman Shumpert. Jeff Teague is also a lightning-fast scoring and passing threat, and can challenge Kyrie Irving on each possession. The Pacers frontcourt can flat-out score. If Jefferson’s health can hold up, they’ve got a very talented and athletic big-man trio with Young and Turner.

As previously noted, the Pacers are a bit of a wildcard in the East, but if their young talent continues to grow and Nate McMillan finds a way to shore up the defense, the veteran Cavs will certainly be getting their cardio in.

Oct 20, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) dribbles against the Chicago Bulls at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

4. Atlanta Hawks

Why they’re a contender:

Not everyone is fond of the Atlanta Hawks and it’s not entirely difficult to see why. Dwight Howard has gone from being heralded as the best center of this era to locker room cancer. Character aside, Howard still remains a physically imposing and dynamic presence at his position. If going home (or getting straight paid, son) was just what Howard needed to take his game to the next level, then you’ve got to count the Hawks in the Eastern Conference mix.

The Hawks are another team, like the Celtics, that will have to abide by an all-or-nothing team mentality in order to be successful. Though they were a different team a couple of years ago, we’ve seen what they’re capable of when they put their minds to it.

How they can beat the Cavs:

It’s going to have to come down to the Hawks’ sneaky-good depth. They’ve got a couple of talented All-Stars in Howard and Paul Millsap. Atlanta will also rely on solid defense, good ball movement, and knock-down shooting.

The Hawks can still get up and down the floor in a hurry and will likely be a very exciting under-the-radar type of squad. It will be interesting to see Dennis Schroder transition into full-time starting point guard. The 23-year-old German displayed an array of offensive talent and facilitation throughout the regular and postseason last year.

Of course, a large portion of the Hawks’ success depends on the team dynamic with Howard in the mix. If head coach Mike Budenholzer can keep his guys focused on the ultimate prize, Atlanta will be no easy out for the Cavs.

Do you think any of these teams have a legitimate shot at taking out the Cavs? What would you change about this list? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA and follow the author @RJCLE216.