Amigos' NBA Previews: Cleveland Cavaliers

Recent Past They sucked, then they drafted LeBron, then they still sort of sucked but sucking with LeBron sucked less. Then they got better, and better, and now they're pretty good, but they've still not won a title, and...stuff.

Offseason (Is that the real album cover? Christ)

Anyway, they got Shaq. If you didn't hear about that. I understand that it sort of went under the radar. Ben Wallace left, as did Sasha. Then they managed to sign Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, and Leon Powe (and Rob Kurz. but, well. yea). And Joe Smith left as a free agent. So, overall, pretty awesome, it seems. They mostly just upgraded, although the obvious question is to what extent these changes will fuck with the team's style of play (keeping in mind that Kuester went to Detroit). And the answer to that question is...(/phone cuts out)

Probable Lineup Mo Williams, Delonte West, Bron, Anderson Varejao, and Shaq. Daniel Gibson, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Leon Powe, and Big Z as key subs. Hell, throw in Hickson, too.

General Outlook So, Cleveland. I'm going to be honest, I'm not feeling the Cavs in a huge way this year, and I'm not really sure why. Those additions are pretty big, and ought to really help out. But...every one of the real contenders has improved, and I guess I'm just a bit less impressed with how Cleveland have changed their team. But, anyway. Let's look at what they do have.

Mo Williams' impact was probably overstated, but he's a nice point guard, and he is a pretty nice option. His pretty epically awful playoff run is worrying, but maybe with the new pieces he'll feel less compelled to try so much...stuff...when it's not working for him. Delonte's problems not withstanding, he's a good role player, and hopefully he can put all the shit behind him and just live his life and play basketball. You put Parker behind him, and that's pretty good at the 2. I wouldn't be shocked if AP ends up starting for them, with Delonte as a sort of energy guy off the bench, but we'll see how it works out Varejao at power forward, well, nobody particularly seems to liek him, and it was at one point doubtful whether he'd stick around. But he's still "here", and he's not bad. Rotate him with Powe, and that's not bad at the power forward spot. Put one of those two next to Shaq/Illgauskas, and you have yourself a pretty decent frontcourt.

Speaking of Shaq and Illgauskas, I'm not really sure how that rotation will work. With Z being made of glass, I'd imagine they'll try to limit his minutes, but then again Shaq isn't a real young dude. So, we'll see how that works out for Brown, but it has to be said that this is certainly a better situation for them at the 5 than they had last year, and it ought to help them against some of the top end opposition in the playoffs/big games. As long as they don't try to overdo Shaq's role.

Oh, yea, LeBron. Well, look. He's not going to get better. Right? He can't, can he? We'll assume that's not possible. So, let's just pencil him in for about the same insane numbers he had last year, perhaps taking into account the fact that his usage percentage ought to be lower. If Brown works it out so he doesn't end up having to run the 1-4 offense, as seemed to eventually be the case in last year's playoffs. I know it's tempting, with the one being so damn...good...but it doesn't work. For Kobe, for Jordan, for anyone. Not on a regular basis, anyway.

If they were a hip hop act...I'd have to liken them to Pete Rock's career (with 'Bron as Pete, obviously). He's always been the focal point, but sometimes those accompanying him are pretty decent. And sometimes it's been...Deda. But, perhaps Shaq can be his CL Smooth, and everyone else be...good featured artists? Alright, I admit this sort of fell apart. But, in the end, we can all agree that the 1-4 offense is sort of like an instrumental album, right? I mean, it can be pretty nice, but it's never going to be the best. There. That feels better.

Guessing how they'll do Third in the East, including tons of questions of various players' negative impact, and tons of 2010!!!!! talk. Won't even guess on the playoffs, other than to say I don't see them getting to the finals. So, boom.