5 teams that can challenge the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference

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Nov 13, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives around Charlotte Hornets forward Spencer Hawes (00) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 100-93. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets aren’t going away any time soon in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte gave the Cavaliers a scare on Sunday night in Cleveland, falling 100-93. This is a Hornets team that can win the Southeast Division and has a realistic shot at making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Charlotte is another defense-first basketball team under head coach Steve Clifford. The Hornets are fourth in defensive rating at 101.4 and sixth in opponents points per game at 98.9. It’s not just defense that has the Hornets off to a hot start this season. They are also top-half offensively with an offensive rating of 107.1 (14th) and points per game average of 104.4 (15th).

Add in the lack of any glaring holes on the roster and the Hornets’ ability to play well offensively on the fast break, and it seems this will be hard team to beat over seven games. It also helps that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is back in the heart of Clifford’s defense after missing most of last season.

Charlotte may not score enough points to appropriately keep pace with the Cavaliers, but this is one of the few teams in the East that can at least hang with Cleveland. A Cavaliers/Hornets 2017 Eastern Conference Finals doesn’t seem farfetched.

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