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NBA Thanksgiving: What Every Team Has To Be Thankful For, Part 1

By Gerald Bourguet

November 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates against the Phoenix Suns during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Suns 133-120. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates against the Phoenix Suns during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Suns 133-120. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) slam dunks during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 121-117. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Cavaliers: Owning The East

LeBron James is quietly averaging 23.8 points, 9.3 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game, Kyrie Irving has taken the next step as one of the team’s leading scorers (23.7 PPG on .472/.407/.814 shooting) and Kevin Love is basically good for 20 and 10 on a nightly basis.

But with all the attention being paid to the Kevin Durant experiment in Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers’ red-hot start, doesn’t it kind of feel like we’re overlooking the Cleveland Cavaliers? It makes no sense since they’re defending champs, but maybe it’s because — barring injury to King James — their path to the Finals is pretty much guaranteed.

And that’s precisely what the Cavs have to be thankful for, because as of right now, it’s hard to see the Raptors, Celtics or Hawks giving them legitimate problems in the Eastern Conference playoffs. It’s still early of course, but so far it feels like the Cavaliers are just coasting, yet they’re still No. 1 in the East.