3 reasons Cleveland Cavaliers will make the 2019 NBA Playoffs

3. They will beat out the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets

Let’s quickly break down the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors are the cream of the crop, but they will likely siphon wins from each other as division foes.

The Washington Wizards and Miami Heat will probably own the doleful Southeast Division. The Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks seem to be the best squads in the Central Division.

Those seven teams appear primed to make serious runs at the playoffs. That leaves eight squads jostling for one opening. From those eight, the only three teams with playoff-ready rosters are the Cavs, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons.

The Hornets only made the playoffs once over the past eight years, finishing exactly 36-46 in both seasons. The roster is almost identical to last year’s, with Bismack Biyombo, a healthy Malik Monk and first round pick Miles Bridges expected to contribute. That trio’s combined projected Wins Above Replacement is -2.9. So taking those numbers as gospel, Charlotte appears to be on track for a nonthreatening 33-49 season.

Then there are the Detroit Pistons, a team multiple sites prognosticate will earn the East’s eighth seed. They are division rivals to Cleveland. The Cavs play Detroit four times, once in October, November and twice in March.

The first pair of games is at Little Caesars Arena. The Cavs will be in good shape if they split those two. This Pistons roster is susceptible to injuries and could very well be shorthanded come March. Plus, both of the March games will be at Quicken Loans Arena, so Cleveland could easily sweep those two.

Let’s say those scenarios play out. The Cavaliers would win the season series over Detroit 3-1, ultimately taking the final playoff spot.