Power ranking the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Eastern Conference
#6 – Toronto Raptors – composite score – 14.6
Projected starting lineup – Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol
The defending NBA champions lost one of the best players in the NBA when Kawhi Leonard decided to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. They have many questions marks because of it.
Last season the Raptors were very good without Leonard, but how will that translate across an entire season?
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Can Pascal Siakam improve upon his Most Improved Player season of last season, now as the number one option? Can Norman Powell or OG Anunoby step up as Siakam did last season?
If the answers to all of those questions are yes, the Raptors will be much better than sixth in the conference, however, it’s fair to rate them there as things stand today.
Kyle Lowry will be his usual steady self, but the coaching staff may elect to limit his minutes a little throughout the year. That could be beneficial for them as they have the heart of Canada coming off of their bench in Fred VanVleet. The Raptors will be looking to prove the doubters wrong this season, as VanVleet has done throughout his career.
#5 – Brooklyn Nets – composite score – 16.2
Projected starting lineup – Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert, Rodions Kurucs, Taurean Prince, DeAndre Jordan
The surprise of the NBA last season received a bit of a facelift this offseason. Gone is D’Angelo Russell, in is Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and DeAndre Jordan. However, Durant will miss the entirety of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles.
The composite score for the projected starters isn’t much to write home about for the fifth rated team in the rankings, however, the Nets have Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie coming off of the bench. Those two players could be starters on the majority of teams in the NBA.
The Nets could be a team that threatens for a top-three seed in the East or a team that is battling for the seventh and eighth spots. They have talent, but they also have some unproven guys in Kurucs and Prince.
#4 – Indiana Pacers – composite score – 10.6
Projected starting lineup – Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo, T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner
The Indiana Pacers are expected to be without Victor Oladipo until roughly January. But when he comes back, this will be one of the best starting lineups in the entire NBA. The question for the Pacers in regards to how competitive they can be is what kind of production will they get from their bench unit?
Players such as Jeremy Lamb, T.J. Leaf, T.J. McConnell, and Goga Bitadze will be crucial to the Pacers’ success this season. They know what they’ll be getting from their starting unit, and that is loads of production.
It should be noted that there are murmurs starting of a potential Sabonis trade which could really impact the Eastern Conference and the Pacers significantly moving forward, as was reported by The Athletic’s Sam Amick and (h/t NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin).
If the bench steps up and can be middle of the pack in the NBA, they will have a chance to be a major player in the East.