Cleveland Cavaliers: 2016-17 Season Outlook, Predictions

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Oct 8, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Predictions

The Cleveland Cavaliers are still second to none in the East, but it may not be such a breezy path to the Finals as their 14-game trek last season. The Raptors and/or Celtics will put up a better fight, and people forget how close a couple of games against the young Detroit Pistons were in the first round.

However, there’s no doubt that unless LeBron James is electrocuted by lightning, his team will be back in the Finals in 2017. The MVP race is wide open with the Warriors votes being split between Curry and KD, but the amount of rest LeBron enjoys may take him out of the contest.

Still, even with his eye on the ultimate prize — repeating as NBA champs — LeBron has another monster season in decreased minutes and the Cavs win 57 games to secure the No. 1 seed in the East. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love stay healthy for the second season in a row, and Cleveland manages to swing a trade to bring in a more reliable backup point guard.

Next: 2016-17 Win Projections For All 30 NBA Teams

In another epic showdown with the Warriors in the Finals, Cleveland gets the short end of the stick as head coach Steve Kerr shortens his rotation and allows his four superstars to carry the load. The Warriors exact their revenge on the Cavs, but it’s worth noting there’s no shame in losing to a 73-win team that just added Kevin Durant in the wake of Cleveland’s magical title run in 2016.

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