Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Dec. 31

Dec 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) moves the ball as Houston Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Hawks defeated the Rockets 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Raptors are the first of three teams in the Eastern Conference that could play for an NBA Championship in 2016. Their backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan is one of the best in the NBA. Toronto is a more complete team in 2015-16 than last year and anything other than advancing to the second round is unacceptable for the Raptors.

This is a team that with the right matchup could win the East. I don’t want the Atlanta Hawks to face them, as Toronto has given Atlanta fits over the last few years. Toronto may not matchup well with Cleveland, but I expect the Raptors to at least play in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2016.

Regional bias aside, the Atlanta Hawks entering 2016 are still probably the best team in the East not named Cleveland. Both the Hawks and the Cavaliers seem like they are on another collision course in the Eastern Conference Finals this summer.

If Atlanta can continue to improve on both ends of the floor, their playoff experience should help get this team to at least the Eastern Conference Semifinals. By beating the Washington Wizards there last year, I think that mystique of playing in an ECF is no longer there for the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta may not beat Cleveland in a ECF rematch, but I doubt that the Hawks will get swept again by the Cavaliers in 2016.

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This isn’t lazy, this is the truth. Until the Cleveland Cavaliers either stumble considerably or someone else in the Eastern Conference undoubtedly elevates themselves to a championship caliber level, Cleveland will hang on to the top spot in the Eastern Conference Power Rankings.

Getting point guard Kyrie Irving back should help the backcourt for the Cavaliers. However, it is up in the air if LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Irving can all share the basketball as Cleveland needs their Big Three to win a NBA Championship. Within the next several weeks, we will see if the Cavaliers are championship caliber.