OT: Cavs look like a really good team

[UThinkUrSoGood]

A little off-topic, and it's a little to early to come to such a conclusion with them only playing one game with their new roster against a really poor Grizzlies, but they do look really good. Lebron was already able to get Ben Wallace tie his season high in pts, Wally and Joe Smith looked really good off the bench.

With our current record against the Cavs for the past couple of years, assuming the Lakers make it to the Finals, I would rather see Detroit, or even Boston (even with our 0-2 rec against them) over the Cavs come out in the East. Lebron is the only player in the league who I think has the ability like Kobe to take over a game. Then again it could really make for a very promising finals either way you look at it. Your thoughts?

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Yeah they look solid, its weird how a lot of cavs fans are still crying saying they gave up too much for what they got.

[dockingsched]

not only was it the grizz, it was the grizz without miller and without darko. no darko = kwame pt.

[20veinte20]

I haven't seen the games we've had with the Pistons, but we seem to match up well against them...I'd love to see them in the finals.

The Cavs seem improved, but the Celts dominated in us in our two regular season games. Lakers-Celtics final would probably be the worst scenario for us.

[slifersd]

The Cavaliers cannot match up against the Boston big three and the Pistons with Ben Wallace, Delonte West, Wally Szerbiak and Joe Smith. Their problem was that they had no other guy who can create offense other than LeBron, and with this trade, they have even less than before because Gooden and Hughes still could create offense by themselves. Bottomline is, we will destroy them the next time we play them. They are not our match.

[Slava]

I'd rather play Detroit than Boston in the finals, having said that if Detroit can beat the Cs, we'll have a really tough time against them. Hope they play a 7-game ECF and come out really tired.

[tnayrbrocks]

I agree, i know it sounds a little (Please Use More Appropriate Word) but i think they just might be better than the celtics.

[SashAlex]

I'd rather play Detroit than Boston in the finals, having said that if Detroit can beat the Cs, we'll have a really tough time against them. Hope they play a 7-game ECF and come out really tired.

By saying that you mean that Lakers will come out of west ?

[Erik Eleven]

The Cavs just got very good with that trade. Hughes skill set was redundant next to LBJ, never understood why they got him in the first place. Smith is a star in the making, in my opinion, and they needed defensive toughness down low (Big Ben).

If some of their fans don't realize that just yet, I'm sure they will very soon.

[Minhee]

Smith is a star in the making, in my opinion

I hope you are not talking about Joe Smith. He's real solid but as far as being a star, I think that ship sailed more than a few years ago.

[hermes]

not only was it the grizz, it was the grizz without miller and without darko. no darko = kwame pt.

excellent point, but they did improve with that trade

[davidse]

i'm not too worried about that team this year.
they will probably be better, but they're still not better than the celtics or pistons imo - unless delonte west seriously breaks out.

what DOES worry me is next season.

the amount of expiring salary they'll have to work with as trade bait is absolutly SCARY.
add the most motivation any team in the league has ever had to get better (lebron's upcoming opt out) - even at the expense of a huge payroll - and what you get is a probable elite/nba finals team next season, and depending on what they'll be able to get, and how lebron continues to grow - they may even give our 2009 championship team a lot of trouble, although it could send them close to knicks territory in terms of payroll.

but for now - i dont' think they'll be good enough - although they'll be good.

[That Nicka]

The Cavaliers cannot match up against the Boston big three and the Pistons with Ben Wallace, Delonte West, Wally Szerbiak and Joe Smith. Their problem was that they had no other guy who can create offense other than LeBron, and with this trade, they have even less than before because Gooden and Hughes still could create offense by themselves. Bottomline is, we will destroy them the next time we play them. They are not our match.

I have to disagree.. I dunno if they can beat Boston, but i definitely think they match up better with Detroit now... Delonte West is a fine playmaker, an upgrade over any PG they had at least (Gibson is strictly a spot up shooter)... Gooden could create his own offense, but so can Joe Smith... And Joe Smith isnt the liability on defense that Gooden was... Szczerbiak is a better fit than Hughes simply because he can shoot (Hughes was shooting 37% this year in Cleveland)... Wallace adds defense....

I definitely dont think they are better than us, but they are certainly better than they were....

Smith is a star in the making

?? He was drafted in like 95

[LAKESHOW]

well thankfully, we only have to pick 1. and i think out of their conference, only boston will make it out of there.

we on the other hand, have a boatload to contend with out west.

but i see boston edging . . . "edging" out detroit or the cavs.

[mg]

I don't know who comes from the EC but I think it's good that Conference improved..at least Boston and Detroit have some competition now.

We all know it will be a bloodbath in the WC playoffs.