Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
By Drew Zlogar
The Cleveland Cavaliers have made the news all offseason for a few reasons, but mainly because of the Kyrie Irving drama. Now, with Kyrie gone, the Cavaliers have a new look as they try to win the Eastern Conference for a fourth straight year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a different looking roster heading into this year, but the mission remains the same: win the Eastern Conference for a fourth season in a row. Kyrie Irving is no longer a part of picture, as the Cavaliers flipped him to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets’ first round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Eastern Conference got considerably more top-heavy with the moves that were made this offseason. Paul George and Carmelo Anthony joining the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jimmy Butler going to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and even Paul Millsap joining to the Denver Nuggets highlight some star players that departed from the East and headed out West.
All these moves that were made throughout the offseason keep supporting the claim that has been understood for the past couple seasons: The East will probably come down to the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers again in 2017-18.
As training camp begins for NBA teams throughout the league, we take a look at five keys for the Cavaliers to contend for yet another NBA championship.