NBA standings 2012: Cavaliers settle into lower-middle of Eastern Conference

Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers (2-3) are off to an uneven start to the 2012-13 season, but that's where everyone expected them to land anyways. The Cavs are currently in the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference, and to expect much more from them would mean Kyrie Irving would need to post an MVP-caliber season. That is especially true now that Tyler Zeller and Anderson Varejao are both banged up and an already thin frontcourt is running on fumes.

As for early season surprises, the New York Knicks (3-0) are the only undefeated team left in the NBA and the new-look Brooklyn Nets (1-2) are hanging out at the bottom of the East with the Charlotte Bobcats (1-2). Somehow the Orlando Magic have managed to go 2-2, and the Pacers (2-3) could be in trouble now that Danny Granger is out for three months.

Complete NBA standings can be found at Sports Illustrated.