All season lengthy, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have been the 2 greatest groups within the Japanese Convention, however Jamal Crawford isn’t satisfied that the Cavs are for actual.
After profitable the primary 15 video games of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers rapidly emerged as the easiest crew within the Japanese Convention. They rivaled and handed the Boston Celtics within the standings, which turned the preseason expectations on their head.
Getting into the season, the Celtics, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers have been anticipated to be one of the best groups within the East, though accidents to the Sixers and the surging of the Cavs have altered the playoff image.
Final yr, Cleveland bought bounced within the second spherical of the playoffs, dropping to the Celtics in 5 video games. Former Sixth Man of the 12 months Jamal Crawford thinks the Cavs will meet an analogous destiny this season.
“Actually, I feel Cleveland is extra of a regular-season crew,” mentioned Jamal Crawford on The OGs podcast.
“I all the time have Miami as a darkish horse. There’s lots occurring proper now, so I’m going to maintain them to the facet for a minute, however I feel New York is the most important risk to Boston, the best way they shoot it, and their spacing.”
Cleveland is 1-1 in opposition to Boston up to now this season and the Knicks are winless, dropping the season opener, so Crawford must look forward to the postseason to justify his prediction.
Regardless of the Jimmy Butler saga and Bam Adebayo having one of many worst seasons of his profession, the Miami Warmth are 24-24 and maintain the sixth spot within the Japanese Convention.
Butler has made it clear that he solely needs to play for the Phoenix Suns, however Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause is making a commerce not possible up to now. If the Feb. 6 commerce deadline comes and goes, Crawford appears to assume Butler will return to the Warmth and supply the enhance they should compete with one of the best of them.
Nonetheless, Miami is comfortably within the third tier of Japanese Convention groups, behind the Cavs, Celtics, Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Milwaukee Bucks. They’ve a protracted solution to go to make their third Finals within the Butler period, however the gritty crew has completed it earlier than as a decrease seed.
