NBA: Which East Teams Present The Biggest Challenge To The Cavs?

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Oct 6, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; (From R-L) Chicago Bulls Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo, and Dwayne Wade watch from the bench during their game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 115-108. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Chicago Bulls

This is tough. Looking through the Eastern Conference teams, it gets super thin pretty quickly. The Chicago Bulls are one of several teams with a few questions to answer. The most important one for the Bulls, who is going to make three point shots?

The contrasting styles of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, and Jimmy Butler had many people head-scratching when this team was brought together. Three ball dominant players in the same starting lineup is not a recipe for success in today’s NBA of pace-and-space and three point shooting.

Despite that, there is still talent on the Bulls roster. They desperately need Nikola Mirotic to take a step forward to have at least one shooter in their starting lineup. Unfortunately, it looks as if Taj Gibson has a solid grip on the power forward position to matchup with Robin Lopez in the front court.

If Rondo and Wade can show glimpses of their old selves and Butler improves as the team’s best player, they could present a slight challenge to the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers spacing with Kevin Love presents a challenge if Gibson is still a starter come April, and Rondo’s defensive rating of 107 last season will not cut it against Kyrie Irving.