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5 Reasons The Cleveland Cavaliers Aren’t Locks To Win The East

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 22, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 126-113. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 126-113. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Mar 1, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is guarded by Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

2. A True Challenger

Again, there’s no guarantee the Cavs will face the Heat or the Bucks in the first round, nor is it set in stone that Washington or Toronto would be waiting in the second round. But if the Boston Celtics make it to the conference finals, Cleveland may face its toughest Eastern opponent since LeBron James came home in 2014.

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Simply put, the Celtics are as well constructed to take down the Cavs juggernaut as any team in the East. They’ve got a fringe MVP candidate in Isaiah Thomas who can take advantage of Kyrie Irving’s lackluster defense. They’ve also got two stifling backcourt defenders who can make life hell for Kyrie in Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart.

They’ve got a quality two-way wing in Jae Crowder who will do his best to hold onto the monster that is LeBron James. They boast underrated albeit young depth, plus a quality head coach in Brad Stevens. They also have an advantage in an incredible two-way center like Al Horford, who can stretch the defense and defend out to the perimeter on the other end.

Throw in the fact that the city of Boston hates LeBron James, that the TD Garden will be rockin’ for every home game and that the Celtics are only one game behind Cleveland in the standings for that No. 1 seed and things could get interesting in a potential Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

To be truthful, the Cavaliers would still be favored here. LeBron relishes any opportunity to break Boston’s heart in the playoffs, Kevin Love would be looking for a revenge series after the Kelly Olynyk incident in 2015, and this Celtics group hasn’t even won a playoff series together yet.

But if the Bucks/Heat force the Cavs to play an extra game or two in the first round, and if the Raptors can push them to six or seven games in the semis, the Celtics may stand a better chance against a Cleveland side that won’t have the same rest advantage as last year.

If that’s the case, Boston represents a real challenge for the Cavaliers, especially as a team that’s won 26 of its 38 games in 2017 and seems to be coming together at the perfect time.

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