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NBA: Ranking The Top Threats To The Cavaliers In The East

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) comes away with a rebound against Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Cavaliers 103-99. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) comes away with a rebound against Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Cavaliers 103-99. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) celebrates with guard Isaiah Thomas (4) after making a three-point shot to end the game and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Celtics won 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Boston Celtics

This is entirely contingent on the continued health of Jae Crowder, but the Boston Celtics are a potential spoiler for LeBron’s plans of reaching his sixth straight NBA Finals. The Celtics would need a lot of things to break their way for that to happen, but they have the defense to make things interesting at least.

Sporting the league’s fourth ranked defense, Boston was actually ranked second in defensive efficiency for most of the season until Crowder’s absence began to take its toll on their numbers. In any case, a team with a healthy Crowder — who recently returned to action — is a threat in the East, as the Cavs know firsthand.

The key in a potential series against Cleveland would be Isaiah Thomas, who has struggled against the Cavs over the last two seasons.

In his 10 games against Cleveland in the past season and a half (including the playoffs), Thomas has averaged a 17.6 points and 5.3 assists per game…which wouldn’t seem so bad if we completely ignored his shooting struggles, including 48-for-138 from the field (34.8 percent) and 12-for-41 from three-point range (29.3 percent).

The Cavs are 7-3 against Boston in those 10 games, including 2-1 against the Celts this season. That becomes even more concerning when you remember that Cleveland’s only defeat to Boston this season came on a complete late-game meltdown and an Avery Bradley game-winner. Their 16-20 record against teams at or above .500 isn’t encouraging either.

Crowder may be able to make LeBron work for it, but it’d take some sharp shooting performances from Thomas and Bradley for the Celtics to live up to their reputation as potential Cavs killers. Or, you know, just have Kelly Olynyk separate someone’s shoulder again.

Next: No. 4