NBA: Which teams have had the best benches in 2017-18?

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

What a weird team!

The early season panic mode, the obligatory Derrick Rose drama, the 13-game winning streak, and we’re not even halfway through the season.

Cleveland’s bench is dangerous for a couple reasons. First, they have a future Hall-of-Famer in Dwyane Wade coming in, at times even running the point. Did I mention that this team is weird? They also have a player who was (loosely) in the MVP discussion last season and has yet to suit up in Isaiah Thomas. To round it all out, they have one of the best 3-point shooters in the history of the game to just use at their disposal when they need him. If you were to mix a youth pastor with a flame-thrower, you’d end up with Kyle Korver.

Per NBA.com, the Cavs are second in both effective field goal percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio, which is especially incredible considering their injury woes at the point guard position. Even though the roster (and front office) has had a lot more turnover than you’d expect from a team coming off their third straight finals appearance, the Cavs have regained their poise and clearly take care of the ball from top to bottom.

Jeff Green is actually helping this team (wild), and Tristan Thompson — one of the more expensive bench players — comes in and does the dirty work that he’s always been known to do.

At full strength, this team is, well, still weird. However, the undeniable talent up and down the roster still suggests that they’re built for the playoffs and not necessarily the regular season. It seems clear now that the Cavs won’t be in danger of falling out of the top four in the East, and their deep bench will likely create a lot of problems for the Washingtons and Philadelphias of the world come late April.