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A Fan’s Perspective: Predicting Cleveland Cavaliers 2018 Playoff Foes

By Dan Gilinsky

May 17, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after a dunk in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors in game one of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after a dunk in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors in game one of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 19, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (left), forward Kevin Love (center) and forward LeBron James (right) look on from the bench during the second half against the Boston Celtics in game two of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (left), forward Kevin Love (center) and forward LeBron James (right) look on from the bench during the second half against the Boston Celtics in game two of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Eastern Conference could get more interesting in the coming weeks, and that’s a plus with LeBron James haters constantly groaning about how there’s no competition for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

We’ve all heard it before as fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron has a cakewalk in the East. People are always trying to downplay the fact that the King has gotten to seven straight NBA Finals. Let me repeat that, I don’t care how many times you’ve heard it. SEVEN STRAIGHT FINALS. That’s not to be mistaken. The guy is a different breed. Personally, I say bring on a new look Eastern Conference. People can keep coming at the King and missing as far as I’m concerned.

There has been plenty of discussion about the possibility of the Boston Celtics landing Gordon Hayward in free agency. That would seem to be a good fit with Hayward playing the wing for his old coach in Brad Stevens. Boston is building the right way through accumulating all their assets but now is when they finally need to get a big fish.

They have also been a key player in the Paul George sweepstakes, per Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s going to take a considerable number of picks and some young pieces from the C’s to make that happen. If they can somehow get a commitment from Hayward or fellow All-Star Blake Griffin as a backup plan, and then complete a deal for PG, things would really get interesting in the East.

Just a hypothetical scenario here.

After what was a terrible Eastern Conference Playoff stretch in 2017, things could really be different this go-round. This year’s draft was a deep one, and most teams did get quality prospects for the future. I’m spit-balling here, but this would be an entertaining trio of opponents for the King and the Cavs next postseason, and it wouldn’t be as much of a cakewalk, Cavs haters: