Power Rankings: Eastern Conference Playoffs Edition

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James and Kevin Love are two of the best offensive players in the world

The Cleveland Cavaliers' regular season record did not make the least bit of sense in the past 3 years. Nor does it make any more sense this season, although concessions have to be made for a Kyrie Irving-sized hole in their roster. Even so, the Cavaliers are on course to match their 51-31 record from last season.

The Cavaliers have been one of the most injury-plagued teams of the league all season long. They have never had their full complement of players available, and they were particularly bad for the period of time starting with the Christmas game and ending with a game against the Timberwolves which ended with LeBron walking off with a game-winning buzzer-beater.

They then lost Kevin Love to injury, and although they acquired some nice pieces with hectic deadline-day trade activity, they have been unable to figure out how to distribute the available minutes among their role players. They are hot right now, however, losing only 2 games since Kevin Love's comeback.

The Cavaliers will be sticking to their strategy of trying to outscore their opponents in every playoff game like they did last year, and they can expect similar results based on the fact that their opponents will have to face LeBron James in a murderous mood. They have every chance of making the NBA Finals for the 4th consecutive season, provided they get over the hump that the team that nudged ahead of them in our power rankings presents in their playoff run.