Can Any Team In The Eastern Conference Beat The Cavs?

What teams in the NBA Eastern Conference can beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs? 

Can any team in the Eastern Conference beat the Cavs?

by Da`Vince “Dino” Wright

Can any team in the Eastern Conference beat the Cavaliers? Well the answer is.. NO! Cleveland is hands down the best team in the east. Look at who`s next. Nobody. Im not a LeBron fan at all. The Cavs are a stacked team across the board. Let`s take a look at 4 teams that can push the Cavs for their limits.

Miami Heat

The Heat has some pretty good players. LeBron has won a championship with DeWayne Wade and Chris Bosh but stopping him would be an undaunted task. Deng matches up well against LeBron but limited minutes always hamper his 4th quarter production against LeBron.

Toronto Raptors

Could give them a run, but I only see them losing in 5 games easily. Young and talented they just don1t have the veteran leadership to compete with the Cavs.

Boston Celtics

Head Coach Brad Stevens unleashed the dogs against the Cavs last year. Marcus Smart can guard LeBron but he`s spending way too much time on being a knucklehead instead of being a professional.

The Celtics should allow David Lee to play his game because he`s the only champion on the roster winning a title with Golden state. You have to remember when Draymon Green disappeared during the final, David Lee was the catalyst for the turn around last year.

Chicago Bulls

The ONLY team in the east that match up well across the board. Jimmy Butler can play with these guys. He`s a proven start that can score and defend. PG Derek Rose is the key. If he`s healthy the point guard match between Kyrie Irvin and D`Rose is an awesome ticket in person or on network TV.

Let`s see how this all play out! Tyron Lue has his hands full with this cast of characters.

Lakers Interested in Acquiring Rondo This Summer

Could Rondo be in LA next year? Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey/USA Today Sports

Though free agency is a long way off from now and is not on anyone's mind as of right now, their is potential for a move this coming summer that could help a franchise get back on its feet.

By: Michael Hanley

NBA: Warriors, Celtics and Heat make a deal

Jordan Crawford apart of three-team deal in the NBA. Photo credit NBA 

by J.T.

Another slick deal was made this time the Golden State Warriors were the ones being the slickster. They made a deal that strengthened their bench and may help them have a better chance at making a long run in the playoffs this year.

NBA: Celtics, Thunder and Grizzlies make a deal

Courtney Lee and Jerryd Bayless swap teams. Photo
credit NBA 

by J.T.

This week the Celtics, Thunder and Grizzlies made an under the radar deal. The big deal in the NBA was the Bulls/Cavs swap, but I think this could be beneficial for all teams involved.

NBA: Rebuilding Boston Celtics Win Huge Commitment from Rajon Rondo

by Mattman

Rajon Rondo's commitment to the Boston Celtics' future could be the biggest offseason development that no one talked about. Just like Houston scored with Dwight Howard and Golden State made a splash with Andre Iguodala, the rebuilding Boston Celtics won big with Rondo's enthusiasm about their future.

NBA: MarShon Brooks has finally been freed

by J.T.

MarShon Brooks will get his chance in Boston. Photo credit NBA 

The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics made a blockbuster deal during the 2013 NBA Draft. Which the last few transactions the Celtics have been a part of we know they are in pure rebuild mode, which happens when your best players age it's apart of the game.

NBA: Brad Stevens takes his talents to the NBA

by J.T.

Brad Stevens is head coach for the Boston Celtics

I’m still shocked that Brad Stevens has left Butler, maybe I’m the only one after all of those big time programs tried to pry away Stevens to their prestigious programs I thought he was about to be the modern day Coach K. I don’t think I was crazy to think that but boy was I wrong.

The Boston Celtics signed Brad Stevens to a 6 year 22 million dollar deal to become their new head coach. Stevens is the youngest coach in the NBA at 36 years old. With the Celtics rebuilding this proves they are really starting from the bottom.

NBA: The Clippers finally land Doc Rivers

by J.T.

Doc Rivers headed to L.A. Photo credit BostonHerald 

After a few weeks of bluffing the Clippers and Celtics finally pulled the trigger on sending Head Coach Doc Rivers to LA.

One-on-One With Jason Terry

by Rodney Fisher

Jason Terry has only spent one season with the Boston Celtics and now finds his name mentioned in trade rumors along with the head coach that brought him to town. After winning a NBA championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks, avenging a 2006 loss to the Miami Heat, his eight year run with the team he loved came to an abrupt end when owner Mark Cuban decided to get ahead of the new collective bargaining agreement culture of today's NBA.

We had the chance to speak with Jet about trade rumors, Jason Kidd, The Finals, Dallas Mavericks, and his own head coaching aspirations.

Kevin Garnett fields questions about trade rumors; "I live or die green all day"

The interview session for the 2013 NBA All-Star practice turned into the Kevin Garnett trade rumor mill as reporters from Boston grilled the 17 year pro.

"Do I need to call

Dallas Mavericks lose in double overtime to Celtics 117-115

The Mavs did a great job of battling back from a 14 point deficit and stretching it out to two overtime periods, but 28 turnovers are hard to overcome.

O.J. Mayo lead the Mavericks in scoring with 24 points followed by Darren Collison with 20, but Shawn Marion had the most impressive stat line: 16pts, 11 boards, 7 assists, and 2 blocks.

Paul Pierce led all scorers with 34 points.

FULL RECAP and BOX SCORE

Jason Terry vs Dallas Mavericks

Dallas-- Tonight, the 11-10 Dallas Mavericks travel to Boston to take on the 11-9 Celtics. Mavs fans have had to endure watching their former championship team players play against Dallas since last year, but tonight will be different. It will be Jet's turn. This summer, Mark Cuban decided it was time to let the Jet leave the runway and never return. Doc Rivers signaled his landing as soon as possible in Boston. Terry was very thankful to Maverick fans during our interview with him in July, but vowed to make the Mavs pay the first opportunity he got. "Get Ready" he said after his AAU Lady Jets team inched closer to a AAU title. Spending a week with Terry during that time was watching the reality of the NBA. One minute he is talking about plans next year with his Dallas girls basketball team and overnight he is contemplating where to live in New England. Many questioned the decision at the time to allow Jason to leave to save $5 million a year when you have missed out on Deron Williams and other free agents. This year Jet is only averaging 11 points per game coming off a crowded bench in Boston. Let's see if he will takeoff tonight against his former team...

VIDEO: JASON TERRY'S LADY JETS VLOG DAY 1, AAU NATIONALS IN ORLANDO, FL

Big Trouble in Big D; Caron Butler out for the season, Dirk missed his 5th straight game



  Today Caron Butler had season ending surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his knee. His last full game with the team he hit 30pts in a loss to the Spurs at home. On the road against the Milwaukee Bucks you can hear him screaming in pain when he hit the knee in the first quarter. You knew then, it was not gonna be good.

  Dirk missed his 5th straight game tonight against the Portland Trailblazers, a win by the way. But they have Oklahoma City and Orlando coming up, so will they rush Dirk back? The "Big German" has been a quick healer. The Mavs are only 3 games ahead of the Lakers and Utah right now. The biggest concern has to be falling further behind the Spurs in the division and the conference.

  Who will step up now? That is the million dollar question for this team. Deshawn Stevenson had 21pts against the Cavaliers and 18pts tonight. JJ Barea hit 29pts in the loss to the Bucks. Tyson Chandler has back-to-back double doubles in rebounds and points. Jet Terry has been a 4th quarter savior in previous games, but is still inconsistent as a 2nd scoring option. Roddy B has not step a foot on the AAC floor this season and the rookie Jones unproven. This team needs a certified second option. The collective effort is good to make the playoffs, but once there, teams will again focus on Dirk and dare the team to beat them. A strategy that has worked the last 3 seasons.

  Is a trade the only option? If Mark Cuban loves anything, he loves the Mavs. Say what you will, but no other owner will "spend-to-win" with no disregard for his personal finances the way Cuban does. The trade is inevitable. Mark has to be on the phone with Denver right? How attractive does Carmelo look now? Every player outside of Nowitzki, Kidd, and Chandler has to be on the table. Caron's contract is up at the end of the season, Kidd is not getting any younger, and Dirk keeps reminding us he is here for only 4 more seasons. The time to trade is now.

  The Mavs were our #1 ranked team in our power rankings before the injury bugs infested the locker room. The team was starting to really gel has a title contender beating good teams like Miami twice, San Antonio, Denver, New Orleans, and even Boston. You could take a wait-and-see approach, but why? If the trade is out there...make it.



RF SPORTS RADIO NBA POWER RANKINGS

1. DALLAS MAVERICKS
2. BOSTON CELTICS
3. SAN ANTOINIO SPURS
4. MIAMI HEAT
5. LOS ANGELES LAKERS