The Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the Eastern Conference in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, and it wasn’t particularly close.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t much help in the playoffs.
Now, with major injuries on other teams, the East looks wide open next season.
With that in mind, one analyst named the New York Knicks as the Cavs’ primary threat.
“Jimmy Watkins ranks the Knicks as the top threat, citing their conference finals appearance and Jalen Brunson’s clutch performances. The physical frontcourt of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns poses matchup problems, while new coach Mike Brown is expected to ‘modernize the Knicks offense.’ The Knicks also maintain flexibility with movable contracts should they need to make midseason adjustments,” per the “Wine and Gold Talk Podcast.”
The Knicks reached the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals and have one of the best starting lineups in the league.
Brown is a proven and experienced head coach, and he should improve their offense while maintaining the defensive identity Tom Thibodeau established.
Then again, the Orlando Magic might pose an even bigger threat.
They’re physical, and they added the floor-spacer they craved by trading for Desmond Bane.
If they stay healthy, they could make a lot of noise.
Whatever the case, there will be no more room for excuses or margin for error for Cleveland.
The Boston Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum, while the Indiana Pacers won’t have Tyrese Haliburton.
Damian Lillard is gone from the Milwaukee Bucks, and while Joel Embiid and Paul George will most likely be healthy for the Philadelphia 76ers, they’ve had trouble staying on the court in recent years.
The Cavs should continue to build on their recent success.
If that’s not the case, the front office will need to have some difficult conversations and reassess the long-term outlook of their core four.
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