LeBron James and the Cavs look like the team to beat once again in the East. Do they stand a chance against anyone coming out of the West?
Over the last few years, the seeming inevitability of another NBA Finals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers (and realistically, of a title for Golden State) has sapped the fun out of chatting about championship contenders and betting on potential underdogs.
This year, the Warriors and Cavaliers are both still very much in the mix to square off for a fourth straight time, but at least they've looked a little less invincible, while a few other teams -- the Houston Rockets, in particular -- have emerged as potential contenders.