Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Jan. 7

I’ve like the Chicago Bulls’ depth for some time now. To me, it has been a matter of if this team will respond to Fred Hoiberg‘s coaching style after years of the agonizing Tom Thibodeau. On paper, the Bulls should stand as the best challenger to the Cavaliers, but that is still up in the air.

This team is great at home (15-5), but has only played 13 games on the road (6-7). Chicago is still a top five defensive team, with a defensive rating of 101.6 (fifth). However, playing in the Central as clearly its second-best team may end up costing the Bulls from getting to the ECF again this year.

Though small forward DeMarre Carroll will miss six to eight weeks with knee surgery, there is something about this year’s Toronto Raptors team that makes me believe that they can not only win the Atlantic again, but challenge the Cavaliers for a trip to the NBA Finals.

The Raptors pass both the eye test and the analytics test. They are sixth in offensive rating (107.1) and fourth in points allowed per game (96.9). Toronto plays well against the East (14-8), in the Atlantic (4-1), at home (11-6), and on the road (11-9). Their perceived balance puts them as this week’s favorite to play against Cleveland in the ECF.

Cleveland stands as the best team in the Eastern Conference yet again. They are the only team in the conference to not have lost 10 games already (24-9) and are the only team in the top five in efficiency in the East. The Cavs are fourth in both offensive efficiency (107.8) and defensive efficiency (101.6).

Next: Atlanta Hawks to face 76ers at Wells Fargo Center Thursday

Until somebody emerges as a real threat in the East, Cleveland should continue to concern itself with how it matches up with the Golden State Warriors, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the San Antonio Spurs, the Cavaliers’ three biggest threats from winning an NBA title early this summer.