The Cleveland Cavaliers are set up for success this coming season, but could this be a do-or-die situation for them?
The Cleveland Cavaliers' path to the NBA Finals has never been easier. At least not since LeBron James roamed the arena once affectionately known as the "Q."
After the Cavaliers won 64 games last season and were subsequently eliminated from the second round of the playoffs, the Eastern Conference landscape has changed drastically.
The juggernaut that was the Boston Celtics is now barely a shell of its former self after losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles and trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton suffered the same fate as Tatum in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, a couple of rounds after bouncing Cleveland.
The Cavs' top competition? Probably the New York Knicks, who the Cavaliers thoroughly owned throughout last season.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.So perhaps not surprisingly, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey has placed Cleveland third in his NBA preseason power rankings, but he also included a rather ominous warning for Donovan Mitchell and Co.
"With Haliburton and Tatum potentially out for the playoffs, every Eastern Conference team outside of Boston and Indiana has a golden opportunity. And it may be shining brighter in Cleveland than anywhere else," Bailey wrote. "The Cavaliers are bringing back all of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. De'Andre Hunter, barring a trade, should now be on board for an entire season. And a couple of incoming reserves could improve the rotation behind those five. ... If Cleveland can't break through with this group, in this context, it might never be able to."
Bailey has a point. Barring injuries, the Cavs should unquestionably be able to make a deep playoff run next spring. Anything short of a trip to the conference finals would be a complete and utter failure, and to be quite frank, the Cavaliers should make it all the way to the finals.
If Cleveland falters again? Koby Altman will have some very serious soul searching to do and may have to finally break up the Core Four. And in that scenario, it might also be time to admit that Mitchell cannot be a No. 1 on a true title contender.