Cleveland Cavaliers
By: Kevin Lindgren
Basketball is officially underway. With all 30 teams in action, it’s time to take a look at the Eastern Conference. My favorite to win the conference are the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The breakdown is fairly simple. The Cavs have the best basketball player on the planet in LeBron James to pair with budding superstar Kyrie Irving as well as dominant post presence, Kevin Love. Freshly re-signed power forward Tristan Thompson is playing on a hefty new contract, while streaky shooter J.R. Smith rounds out their backcourt. That’s a formidable starting five.
Another season under head coach David Blatt’s system bodes well for developing chemistry between James, Irving and Love. Perhaps the only thing standing in the Cavaliers way to another NBA Finals appearance is the injury bug.
Unfortunately for the Cavs, Irving is currently injured, forcing Matthew Dellavedova into a starting role. While Dellavedova continues to play quality defense and contribute offensively, he isn’t nearly the explosive playmaker Irving is.
Despite some current setbacks, the Cavaliers remain optimistic that they can put together a great season. The Cavs currently sit at 3-1 on this young season. If they can get healthy and develop some good chemistry among their players, watch out NBA. Cleveland’s still the beast of the east.
Chicago Bulls
By Nick Todd
For the Eastern Conference this decade, the nicest way to put it for the teams that haven’t
been blessed with LeBron James’ talent is they will not make it out of the east alive.
However, this year is different for Lebron and his Cavaliers. James is about to be on the wrong side of 30, Kyrie Irving has yet to return from the fractured left knee cap he suffered in Game 1 of last years NBA Finals and David Blatt seems completely incompetent as an NBA coach. With all these negative factors affecting the Cavs this season, it is finally time for the Bulls to make the Finals for the first time since Michael Jordan ruled the basketball world.
Led by former MVP Derrick Rose and new head coach Fred Hoiberg, the Bulls are the best bet to take the conference crown from James. In order for the Bulls to take the east, Rose must be healthy, budding star Jimmy Butler must continue last years All-Star performance, and the bigs (Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson) cannot let age catch up to them and dominate the paint just like the Bulls have for the past half decade.
Ultimately, with Hoiberg’s minute restrictions, the Bulls should finally be healthy, and with four former All-Stars and a young cast featuring forwards Doug McDermott and Tony Snell, the Bulls can finally dethrone the King.
