The new NBA season might be months away, but the Eastern Conference power rankings are already out, and NBA.com has some predictions about who will be the best of the best.
Writing on the site, John Schuhmann stated that the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped multiple spots and came out as the top team in the East.
In the latest power rankings, they were the No. 1 team in the East, followed by the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic (who jumped four spots), and the Detroit Pistons.
This lineup looks wildly different than last season, but some big injuries and major moves have shaken things up.
Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton are out, while Damian Lillard is headed back to the Portland Trail Blazers.
This presents a great opportunity for the Cavaliers to make serious noise and find more success in the postseason than they did last year.
They lost Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro, but they gained Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr.
Plus, they were already the best regular-season team in the East last year, so why wouldn’t they be favorites in 2025-26?
They need to work on their defense, health, and consistency, but this is a driven team run by one of the smartest coaches in the league.
Remaining the best team in the East for the entire season and beyond is possible; it’ll just require hard work and dedication.
Schuhmann claims that the East is the Cavaliers’ to lose, which sets some pretty big expectations for them.
And that means it’ll sting even more if Cleveland falls short again.
NEXT: Cavs Bring Back Classic Threads For 2025
