LeBron James isn't walking through that door for the Cavaliers this season, but that hasn't changed center Tristan Thompson's opinion on which team is projected to win the East.
"We're still four-time Eastern Conference champions," Thompson said Thursday. "Until you take us down from that, teams ain't got much to say. Boston, Philly, they ain't got much to say. Boston had home court Game 7 and lost. Philly, you guys almost got swept. Toronto, we know that story, so until someone takes us down, there's not much for everyone to say."
The leader of the Celtics' BWA crew is certainly embracing the trash talker role of the team. After stating there isn't another team in the east that will top the Celtics this year, he implied to Thompson that Cleveland won't be heading into the postseason next spring, let alone win the conference.
Trash talking before the start of preseason? This year already has the potential to be an entertaining eight (or so) months.