Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18

 4. Point Guard Play

This season, the Cavaliers’ backcourt will be totally new. Currently, the point guard role will be shared by NBA veterans Derrick Rose and Jose Calderon — not the greatest combination in the league by any stretch of the imagination.

Yes, Isaiah Thomas, who came over in the big Kyrie Irving trade, will eventually come back and man the point guard role, but with the hip injury that will be sideline him until around January, the veteran backups will have to make due.

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For the Cavaliers to make a run at a fourth straight Eastern Conference title, they will have to have some sort of consistent production from their point guard. LeBron might possess the best passing/playmaking ability for his position in NBA history, but to ask him to essentially be the ball-handler this season may come back to bite Cleveland, as it will run him ragged.

It would be foolish to expect Derrick Rose to return to his MVP self of 2010-11 this year. However, Rose, who showed his electrifying side in moments with the New York Knicks, can realistically be expected to put up numbers consistent to last season (18.0 points and 4.4 assists per game).

LeBron will continue to lead his team this season amidst constant rumors on whether this is his last season in Cleveland. One way to help their case in keeping him long-term is if the point guard position steps up in a big way.