How The Bucks Compare: An Early Eastern Conference Primer

Apr 8, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward

(23) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Cleveland won 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Season: 53-29 (2nd, Finals)

Player Additions: Mo Williams

Player Subtractions: Shawn Marion, Mike Miller, Kendrick Perkins

2015-16 Outlook

The Cavaliers have committed a lot of money this summer, and the reality is that they were left with no real choice.

Cleveland already lost LeBron James once, and now that they’re lucky enough to have gotten a second chance of building around the best player of his generation, they know they can’t afford to make any mistakes this time out.

As such, Cleveland has tied themselves into big money deals to keep the same roster that fell short to the Golden State Warriors last season. The big difference, of course, is that this year the Cavaliers will be hoping to have much improved luck when it comes to injury.

If guys like Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao can stay healthy, well then it’s going to be near impossible to look past Cleveland not only in the East, but in the bigger picture of an NBA title.

Could the Cavs still end up short on depth in some spots? Sure.

Have they got the answer to that though? Yes, his name is LeBron James.

How The Bucks Compare

Milwaukee showed themselves to be capable of competing with Cleveland last year in a couple of close games, and once again, you’d have to feel that they are yet another team that the Bucks have closed the gap with this season.

I’m not saying the Bucks are ready to go toe-to-toe with the Cavaliers in a seven game series, we’re still some big leaps in production from this young team away from that in all likelihood, but could the Bucks now cause Cleveland some uncomfortable moments? Definitely.

Monroe has a strong enough inside game to trouble Timofey Mozgov, and Jabari Parker is most definitely versatile and athletic enough to cause Kevin Love nightmares. If the Bucks’ three other starters can get a handle on the rest of Cleveland’s team defensively (and yes, I know that includes LeBron), well then Milwaukee will be no fun for the Cavaliers to play against.

Next: Pistons Starting To Fire Again