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NBA Power Rankings: Cleveland Cavaliers moving up in recent rankings

By Nathan Beighle

Cleveland Cavaliers Rodney Hood (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers Rodney Hood (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 8: JR Smith #5 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shake hands in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 8, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 8: JR Smith #5 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shake hands in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 8, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The lower-middle tier

. . Charlotte Hornets. 10. team. 170.

The Charlotte Hornets, outside of drafting Miles Bridges and trading away Dwight Howard, didn’t improve much this offseason. Kemba Walker is still their only reliable playmaker, and unless Malik Monk improves significantly, it appears they are on track for another mediocre season.

The Hornets shouldn’t necessarily blow it up, but they do need to hit a home run on a free agent or lottery selection. Maybe that home run is Miles Bridges. If not, buckle up, Hornets fans.

64. . . . Detroit Pistons. 9. team

The Detroit Pistons actually struggled following their acquisition of star Blake Griffin. The two-big duo of Griffin and Andre Drummond didn’t turn out exactly as they had planned. Winning four straight to start, the Pistons then had four stretches with at least three straight losses that weren’t too far apart, destroying Detroit’s playoff chances.

Without much offseason improvement, expect another disappointing season from Detroit, especially given the potential on their team.

team. 156. . . . Cleveland Cavaliers. 8

LeBron James left. The sad truth will be hitting Cleveland as training camp begins and they don’t start the season as a title contender for the first time in almost half a decade.

However, behind hopeful improvement from Hood, Osman and Clarkson, a pack of trusted veterans, a stellar rookie point guard, and five-time All-Star Kevin Love, the Cavs should barely slide their way into the postseason.