Now that Cleveland finally has their coveted championship, it’s quite possible that the Eastern Conference’s best chance to take down a LeBron James led squad is now. There was so much pressure on King James to bring the title back to his home state that a small door may be open for rising teams to make things hard on LeBron for once in the East.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are primed to be perennial contender in the Eastern Conference, but it’s not so clear whether or not they are the final line of defense against another Conference Finals appearance for a LeBron-led team. The East has become considerably deeper over the past few seasons. The Raptors still have the experience and personnel to challenge the Cavs. After a six-game exit in the Conference Finals last season, the Raptors will certainly have a fire lit under them this season. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan lead the same squad, with the addition of Jared Sullinger back into battle. Sullinger shores up a weak spot in the Raptor’s lineup and will offer some offensive versatility if he can remain healthy. The Raptors were a top five defense team last season, and I don’t see that changing. Unfortunately for the Raptors, the Cavs were also in the top five.
Boston Celtics
Speaking of defense, the C’s will now roll out one of the most formidable defensive lineups in the NBA. Al Horford joins a talented and gritty cast that continues to ascend each season. A lineup of Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Al Horford (playing his REAL position finally at power forward), and Amir Johnson will give a lot of team significant trouble as these are true defensive stars. Let’s not forget that All-Star IT4 is a microwave who can erupt nightly. Horford was a missing piece the C’s so desperately needed to hit the upper tier of the conference. Now, Brad Stevens has the personnel to make a deep playoff run.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers were one of the busiest teams in the offseason, acquiring Thaddeus Young, Jeff Teague, and Al Jefferson. Those are three solid players who have put together top tier performances over the last few seasons. Teague isn’t a better defender than George Hill who was traded to Utah, but he is a true scorer who can help take the load off of Paul George and Monta Ellis. Point guard scoring is so essential to a team’s success in the NBA, and Teague is a huge upgrade over Hill in that aspect. Young will deliver defensive toughness and outstanding rebounding prowess. Young will fit great alongside a true big like Myles Turner who displayed brilliant screenshots last season of what his career can become. This starting five is among the most talented on paper, only time will tell if the chemistry will be there.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are the most frustrating team in the NBA at times. They are constantly full of talent, but fail to put together a solid enough campaign to make the NBA Finals. It’s hard to say whether the Bulls were winners or losers in the offseason. Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade have aged quite a bit from their superstar days, but both veterans have demonstrated that their talent alone is enough to string together excellent games. Wade alone is enough for the Bulls to feel optimistic about one more season of vying for a conference finals spot. Plus, Jimmy Butler is about to hit his prime, and the arrival of Wade can only help his development. The Bulls are a tough-nosed squad, but their lack of perimeter threats or big men who can score will eventually be their down fall, especially against the Cavs who can light it up from beyond the arc.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are the Timberwolves of the east. They have a great head coach in Jason Kidd, and are a team compiled of young stars who are on the verge of a major breakthrough. The Bucks length alone make them a formidable opponent to the Cavs who typically go “small”. The issue for the Bucks, much like the Bulls, is perimeter scoring. The Bucks were one of the least dangerous teams from deep last season, averaging less than 5.5 three pointers per game. The additions of Mirza Teletovic and Matthew Dellavedova should shore up that weakness a bit. The best chance for the Bucks to challenge top tier teams resides with Giannis Antetokounmpo who has the biggest upside out of any NBA player in recent memory beside Anthony Davis. He’s now been given the keys to the offense as demonstrated by the times he played point guard last season. The Bucks have the opportunity to frustrate many teams in the East this year with their size, but again, the Cavs seem to have an antidote for any problem thrown their way.