Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
By Ryan Piers
2. The Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors
The most formidable opponent for the Cavs in the Eastern Conference is undoubtedly the Boston Celtics. TD Garden’s own enter the year with longer guns in the form of Irving and Gordon Hayward, and that’s after finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference last season.
Cleveland still has a talent and experience edge against their rivals, but the Celtics are younger, more athletic and possess more upside. Brad Stevens will use that to his advantage in the season opener, allegedly starting Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Their length and spryness that could give “The Land” problems.
Stating the obvious, the East is weak. Boston is the only team with a skill-set to threaten the Cavs. The Toronto Raptors are top heavy with DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka and little else. The Washington Wizards are 3-7 against the Cavs since LeBron rejoined the team. The Cavs B-team is probably superior to every other team in the East.
So it’s Boston and likely just Boston for as long as the Cavs are competing, but even if Cleveland breezes its way to the Finals just like last year, the unstoppable Golden State Warrior will likely still be waiting for them.