Cleveland should feel good about their chances

[Fencer reregistered]

Given that Cleveland came closer to beating the eventual champions than anybody else, they were arguably the second most successful team this post-season, after having a regular season that gave them a perfectly decent playoff seeding.

They also have a lot of room for improvement because:

1. A few key players showed up in a mid-season trade, which really didn't leave a lot of time to jell.
2. Lebron is still getting better.
3. Improving via the MLE or draft is realistic. (They can surely acquire perimeter players better than some of the ones who got minutes.)

Fortunately from our standpoint, a lot of Cleveland's talent sits in three frontcourt players on the downside of their careers. Still, they have a lot of tough, smart players. Add some more perimeter offensive talent with average-or-better defensive ability, and an already good team could be improved.

[chakdaddy]

As a Cleveland native, I'd love to see them win if we don't - a nice scenario is, have us win 1 or 2 more before guys retire, then a Cavaliers dynasty while Rondo and Powe lead us to a couple of frisky runs in the playoffs, then a new savior brings title 20 in 2015!

Either way, we had THE PERFECT season this year. The turnaround from the disappointment, beating our arch rivals who were armed by our ex-GM, showing up Kobe and Phil, stretching the overall title lead - this season was just perfect; to the extent that I think winning this year and never again might even be preferable to, say, losing this year but winning the next 2 in a row. This was just a storybook season and it's not often that the storybook season really has a proper happy ending.

[pballa]

yeah i agree about the great season

only thing that irks me is the fact that so many people are calling this a 'chalked' up playoffs

[jfs1000d]

They have a lot of work to do. I think LeBron with Wally and Delonte is a good start, but BigZ and Wallace are aging. They need a scoring PF IMO. I like Varejo., but if Big z and Wallace get older they are in trouble.

Wallace in particular has downgraded immensely.

[Joselo16]

I would love two more titles and then I could care less who wins while we retool. The great thing is that most of the big contracts are up around the same time, which will allow us to get the next savior easier that the 22 year drought we went through. Let's enjoy what we have, while we have it!!!

[tombattor]

Yeah, as long as they have Lebron, they will always have a chance. No one in the league can do more with less than he can. Hell, he probably can even get 10 points out of me, if I was on the Cavs.

[bruno sundov]

yeah i agree about the great season

only thing that irks me is the fact that so many people are calling this a 'chalked' up playoffs

Great sig!! What do you mean chalked up?


CLE is going out and getting Brand. I will put moeny on it.

[tombattor]

CLE is going out and getting Brand. I will put moeny on it.

Just out of curiosity... How are you figuring they get him? He's got one player option year left. I don't think the Cavs have the cap space to sign him and if he picks up the option, who would the Cavs give up to get him?

I think that would be a great move for them, but I just don't really see a way they can get Brand...

[BobbySura]

they need more consistency. the only reason they had a chance is because our guys couldn't get all going together at the same time.

they need a legit 20 point a game scorer not a "sometimes gets 20, sometimes gets 5"

[I love heinsohn]

Cleveland needs new players, not just more consistency. Neither Boobie nor Delonte will ever be a top flight NBA PG, but they don't need one. The issue is that each of their bigs has severe limitations and Z/Wallace/Smith are all on the sharp downside of their careers.

That said... I really like their chances as well going forward. LeBron is the most unstoppable force in the game and they have good cap flexibility. If I was Danny Ferry, the first thing I would try to do is stock up on draft picks. Can Delonte or Boobie (RFAs) get you a 2010 1st rounder? Does Pavlovic or Varejao have some value around the league? If he can acquire some nice future chips, then their expiring contracts (Wally, Snow, Smith and Damon Jones this year, Ben Wallace and Z next year) should put them in a good position to get a disgruntled star and take on some bad contracts in the process (could have been Pau+Cardinal last year).

[Prophet_C]

They don't have the pieces to get Brand but it is the Clippers we are talking about so anything can happen.

[BMF Jet Jaguar]

id say the hawks played ya'll better than cle. until game 7.

the cavs are gonna get redd though, watch out