Power ranking the Cleveland Cavaliers against the rest of the East

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

#12 – Cleveland Cavaliers

Record – 9-21

Current streak – won 3

The Cavaliers are currently playing their best basketball of the season. They are on a season-high three-game winning streak and have tied their best 10-game stretch of the season as they are 4-6 over their last 10 games.

Now that they have traded Clarkson to the Jazz, it will be interesting to see how the rotation changes. Could they insert Kevin Porter Jr. into the starting lineup alongside fellow rookie Darius Garland and let Collin Sexton be the scoring punch off of the bench?

It may be a wise move as Sexton could be an excellent bench scorer and it would allow Garland to handle the ball more.

Cleveland’s point differential is still really poor at -9.0, however, they look to be playing much better and were close to vaulting the next team in the power rankings.

#11 – Washington Wizards

Record – 9-20

Current streak – won 1

The Washington Wizards are battling some serious injury issues at the moment but they are leaning on All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal to keep them in games.

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They are one of the best scoring teams in the NBA at 117.5 points per game, but they are also the worst defensive team in the league as they allow 121.7 per night according to ESPN.com.

Davis Bertans is having the best year of his career and has jumped to the forefront of the three-point shooting pecking order. According to Basketball-Reference, he is averaging a career-high 15.4 points per night while shooting 43.4% from three-point range.

The Wizards are 3-7 over their last 10 games and have a -4.2 point differential.

#10 – Charlotte Hornets

Record – 13-20

Current streak – lost 3

Perhaps the most surprising team in the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets are just a game and a half out of the playoffs as of today. They also have perhaps the most surprising player in the NBA and one of the front runners for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in Devonte’ Graham.

Graham, per Basketball-Reference, is averaging 19.3 points, 7.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds on 40.5% from three-point range on the season. It will be interesting to see if he can keep up this level of play throughout the remainder of the season and if the Hornets as a team, with a less than stellar roster, on paper, can keep up this level of play.

They are 4-6 over their last 10 games and have a -6.6 point differential.