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NBA: Predicting the Eastern Conference playoff mess

By Jerran Anderson

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images /

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 39-29, fourth in the Eastern Conference, so moving up to the third seed isn’t too much of a stretch. The Cavaliers are 12.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors for the top seed, but with games left against playoff teams, they should figure things out.

Cleveland shuffled its roster a lot at the NBA Trade Deadline and the results have been more of the same for them. The reality for this team is it has to play defense and find offense through that. Head coach Tyronn Lue is in over his head, but it helps he’s been given some youth to work with.

Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. still have some learning to do on defense but playing alongside LeBron James improves their potential. Cleveland is 3-5 in March, but as James mentioned earlier in the week, regardless of seed, you don’t want to see him in the playoffs.  

The Cavaliers are also without big men Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, which hasn’t helped on the interior. Cleveland needs to flip the switch now though, as the NBA Playoffs are on the horizon.