The Cleveland Cavaliers hold a 5.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
Nevertheless, the Celtics are still the reigning champions, and as such, they must be respected.
That’s why they’re still the team to beat until proven otherwise.
With that in mind, analysts debated about the biggest threat in the East.
Talking on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Bobby Marks and Kendrick Perkins agreed that the Cavaliers had to be the biggest threat right now.
Perkins claimed that he loved the De’Andre Hunter pickup for the Cavs, adding that it showed that they went ‘all-in.’
More than that, he thinks that the frontcourt matchup with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will be crucial.
Perkins believes that Mobley will be the X-Factor to determine whether the Cavs can take down the defending champions.
The Cavs have kept it close vs. the Celtics this season, even in two losses.
Mobley had his worst game of the season in the latest outing vs. the Celtics, and that ended up turning the table in favor of Joe Mazzulla’s team.
Now, getting Hunter could be a massive boost to this team’s aspirations.
They now have someone who can stay in front of either Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, someone who can switch onto anybody else on the court and knock down shots from deep.
If Dean Wade is healthy, the Cavs will finally be able to match the Celtics’ length and athleticism on the wing.
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