NBA: 5 teams that will compete with Cleveland Cavaliers
By Glenn Moore
Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers were given an appetizer of what’s to come Wednesday night as the teams faced each other in a scrimmage. There were dunk, passes behind legs, and plenty of cheers as LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving played together for the first time.
Many have the Cavaliers favorites to win the Eastern Conference going into the season. Plenty of new faces surround this team, including a new head coach, and with potential three All-Stars on the team, they should be favorites.
But don’t count the rest of the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Bulls didn’t sleep during the offseason, adding Pau Gasol to the combination of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Don’t forget the rising of the young with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets.
The Toronto Raptors will look to make a return trip to the postseason, fighting for home court advantage in the first round. And then there’s the Miami Heat. Losing James will hurt, but they still have two superstars in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Here are the five teams that will challenge the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference:
1. Chicago Bulls (48-34 last season)
New faces: Paul Gasol, Aaron Brooks, Doug McDermott, Cameron Bairstow, Nikola Mirotic
Departures: Jimmer Fredette, Ronnie Brewer, Mike James, D.J. Augustin, Louis Amundson
Whey They Will Compete: Chicago Bulls fans took a huge sigh of relief watching Derrick Rose survive playing for Team USA during the summer. Noah is coming off a great season, averaging career-highs in points (12.6), rebounds (11.3) and assists (5.4), which earned him All-NBA First Team honors. Mix in Gasol, and you have another ‘Big 3’ in the East. Not as flashy or explosive as the Cavs, but three All-Stars nonetheless. If Rose can stay healthy, the Bulls will be the Cavaliers opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. If Rose can’t stay healthy, the Bulls will have to look to rebuild their roster without Rose.
2. Toronto Raptors (48-34)
New faces: Jordan Hamilton, Louis Williams, Lucas Nogueira, James Johnson, Greg Stiemsma, Bruno Caboclo, Will Cherry
Departures: John Salmons, Steve Novak, Dwight Buycks, Nando De Colo, Julyan Stone
Whey They Will Compete: Talent and chemistry are two key elements this season’s version of the Toronto Raptors. The young roster took care of business on the road last year; winning 22 games away from Toronto tied them for tops in the East. But they were a surprise to many; this year, they won’t be sneaking up on anybody. Demar DeRoan and Kyle Lowry should be mixed in the conversation of best backcourt in the NBA. While they might not be on the same level as the Cavs or Bulls, they will take an important step in that direction and will be a force in the East for years to come.
3. Washington Wizards (44-38)
New faces: DeJuan Blair, Kris Humphries, Paul Pierce
Departures: Trevor Ariza, Trevor Booker, Al Harrington
Whey They Will Compete: Even though the Wizards have one of the best backcourts in the NBA, Bradley Beal and John Wall are still young players. The Wizards will have to rely on the production of Paul Pierce and at age 38, does he have another season in him? If he does, the Wizards will be a lock for home-court advantage in the East. The roster is young, with Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. And if Nene can stay healthy, they have one of the best, well-rounded rosters in the East. Like the Raptors, they are below the caliber of the Cavs and Bulls, but on the edge of making that jump. Another solid season and advancement to the second round of the playoffs would make them a true contender in the East next season.
4. Charlotte Hornets (43-39)
New faces: Brian Roberts, Marvin Williams, Lance Stephenson, P.J. Hairston, Noah Vonleh
Departures: Josh McRoberts, Anthony Tolliver, D.J. White, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Luke Ridnour
Whey They Will Compete: If the Cavaliers matchup with the Hornets in the second-round of the playoffs, watch out for an upset. The Hornets are not as flashy as the Cavaliers, but they provide the right amount of perimeter shooters and bodies down low to cause frustration for the Cavs. With Al Jefferson, Michael Kid-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker, this team has the potential to be in the top-half of the Eastern Conference. But Jefferson’s foot problems are a concern. And will the East having so many up and coming teams, any bump in the road could land them on the outside, looking in. Ultimately, the Hornets have a good core of players, adding Stephenson, and will be a pesky team for the Bulls or Cavs in the second round.
5. Miami Heat (54-28)
New faces: Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Josh McRoberts, Shabazz Napier, Shawne Williams, Shannon Brown, James Ennis, Tyler Johnson, Reggie Williams
Departures: LeBron James, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Michael Beasley, Toney Douglas, Rashard Lewis, James Jones, Greg Oden
Whey They Will Compete: Losing James hurts, but many are overlooking that the Heat have two proven veterans in Wade and Bosh that know how to win. No one can replace James’ production. And it will take a committee of players to fill the void. The eyes of the NBA world will be taken off Miami with James gone, but that still doesn’t mean this team can’t be a threat in the postseason. With James out, Wade and Bosh’s numbers will grow and both will get more opportunities with the basketball, which is a good thing. But they are an old team and the youthful aspect of the Eastern Conference might be too much for the Heat. Still, they are a team that has players who know how to win. They shouldn’t be taken lightly.
It’s a youth movement in the East. And the future of the NBA is exciting. With many teams adding key free agents and mixing in superstars that will be providing superstar roles for years to come, the future is bright. The question is, which young team has enough to hang with the Cavaliers and Bulls? The Eastern Conference will be interesting this season.
More from FanSided.com
NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Cowboys rise
College Basketball: Preseason AAC power rankings
NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 training camp edition
Derek Jeter and MLB’s 20 richest players
All 30 NHL franchises ranked by all-time greatness