Cavs have gone all in this season, leveraging their future by trading draft picks, but will all of this actually help them this year?
I still see 4 clear teams ahead of Miami. Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto and Washington. All four play solid O and D, and are in general, playing well together.
Cleveland have yet to play cohesive ball together. All these changes will just add more time in order for the team to gel. That said, trading Waiters was a step in the right direction. Not sure how JR Smith will help, but Shump should be the starting 2 guard providing some decent D.
I’m buying into Detroit’s turnaround now that J Smoove is gone, and I think they will clinch the 8th seed at the expense of the Nets or Bucks. Miami should improve their record, and take the 6 seed.
In the West, your guess is as good as mine. GSW, Blazers, Grizzlies, Mavs, Rockets, Clips, Spurs, Thunder. Pick anyone, and you can justify that pick. The weakest of the lot, the Clips, still possess a great 1-2 punch in Paul/Griffin and either of those 2 can carry them in a playoff series. I am really looking forward to the West playoffs this season!
