NBA Power Rankings: Cavaliers are right where they want to be

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Kyrie Irving (2) in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 115-101. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 20, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) talks with guard Kemba Walker (15) during the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

5. team. 170. The Charlotte Hornets held nothing back as they went full on pedal to the metal against the Indiana Pacers. Sitting at 5-1, best start in franchise history, the Hornets are looking more and more like the real thing with every game that comes and goes as another win for the team from Buzz City. With the lack of defense being played by the Pacers, this game will forever be known as the meeting of Indy 500. Terrible name, but that’s the only thing that came to mind. Moving on from that, man was I so wrong about the Crying Jordans aka the Charlotte Hornets. I honestly thought that they would fall flat on their face after overachieving last season. I thought Basketball Twitter would be firing Frank Kaminsky over Justise Winslow jokes that would make “the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead” disappear quicker than Michael Jordan’s sneakers under his boot cut splattered jeans. But still they rise. Charlotte has found an identity and knows just how to stick to it. A lot of their credit should go to the head coach that truly turned things around for Charlotte. The Hornets under Steve Clifford have been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and that hasn’t changed this season. They are fourth in opponent points per game (95.8) and fifth in defensive rating (97.7). Kaminsky is turning heads like a seven-foot Billy Hoyle and Kemba Walker can not be stopped, but only contained to being this season. The Hornets were overlooked a year ago when they finished in a three-way tie for third place, but so far they have looked like the second best team in the Eastern Conference. IF everything keeps clicking in Queen City than we could possibly see if LeBron has to go through “the Ghost of Jordan” to get to his seventh consecutive NBA Finals.. . . Charlotte Hornets

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