Anyone Impressed With the Cavs?

[the_Bird]

What's the deal with Hickson?  Word is that they love the kid, but I haven't seen much yet.  Would he be ready to step into a bigger role, or might he have to go with Big Z to get a trade done?

Don't think they can rely on Powe coming back and contributing.  He might be on the court, but don't think you can count on him being back to where he was pre-injury. 

[JSD]

Don't think they can rely on Powe coming back and contributing.  He might be on the court, but don't think you can count on him being back to where he was pre-injury. 

See I disagree. I think Powe will be back and contributing before the Reg. season ends and into the playoffs.

[JSD]

What's the deal with Hickson?  Word is that they love the kid, but I haven't seen much yet.  Would he be ready to step into a bigger role, or might he have to go with Big Z to get a trade done?

Cleveland would have to balk at sending Hickson. They'd be waaay to thin at the 4-5 rotation.

[the_Bird]

Powe will be back, but I think it's a risky maneuver to expect him to be back to his pre-injury level this season.  He's a limited player anyway, he's not really going to help their biggest weakness (defense against perimiter bigs) even if he is at 100%.  

[JSD]

Powe will be back, but I think it's a risky maneuver to expect him to be back to his pre-injury level this season.  He's a limited player anyway, he's not really going to help their biggest weakness (defense against perimiter bigs) even if he is at 100%.  

Touche, another reason to have Bron at the 4 as it's unlikely they'll address that need this year.

[Bankshot]

Why are people trying to figure ways to improve the Cavs? They are fine just the way they are.

[the_Bird]

I think the bigger question is whether it's a good idea for LeBron to play at the 4.  Do you want him banging against bigger players (especially for 42 minutes a night?).  He's big enough, but he doesn't have quite the same strength advantage over most 4s as he does over 3s.  He can certainly outquick any PF in the league.

At the 3 or the 4, he's still going to be slashing, dunking, and shooting (can you imagine if/when LeBron decides to focus on a post-up game?)

So, I just don't know the answer.  Is it better to have 'Bron play at the PF spot, lose some of his strength advantage but have a huge quickness advantage, or have him continue playing at the 3 and able to dominate based both on size and quickness?  

Are his defensive abilities better utilized slowing down Pierce or slowing down KG?

I guess I come down as saying that he's (by far) the best player in the league at the 3; why change that (other than maybe for a couple minutes a night?)

[Who]

I think the bigger question is whether it's a good idea for LeBron to play at the 4.  Do you want him banging against bigger players (especially for 42 minutes a night?).  He's big enough, but he doesn't have quite the same strength advantage over most 4s as he does over 3s.  He can certainly outquick any PF in the league.

At the 3 or the 4, he's still going to be slashing, dunking, and shooting (can you imagine if/when LeBron decides to focus on a post-up game?)

So, I just don't know the answer.  Is it better to have 'Bron play at the PF spot, lose some of his strength advantage but have a huge quickness advantage, or have him continue playing at the 3 and able to dominate based both on size and quickness?  

Are his defensive abilities better utilized slowing down Pierce or slowing down KG?

I guess I come down as saying that he's (by far) the best player in the league at the 3; why change that (other than maybe for a couple minutes a night?)

Nope, you don't want LeBron at the four. He's better at the small forward position.

But it may be the only way that you get LeBron and Shaq to work at high level alongside one another. It would be a short term fix (band aid) rather than a long term move.

[Who]

What's the deal with Hickson?  Word is that they love the kid, but I haven't seen much yet.  Would he be ready to step into a bigger role, or might he have to go with Big Z to get a trade done?

JJ Hickson is ready offensively. He spent the offseason working out with LeBron James and he's improved his game substantially on that end of the floor.

Unfortunately, he's in that stage that many young players fall into where they're concentrating so hard on showing their value offensively that their defense + rebounding takes a hit (decent defender, good rebounder when effort/focus is there). But I think if Hickson was given 20+ minutes a night he'd grow out of that by midseason ... but if he doesn't get those minutes it could be a season-long issue.

[nickagneta]

Remember when LeBron was drafted and Cleveland said he was going to be playing the PG position? Maybe the solution is to just make him your PG. Trade for Stephen Jackson, make him the SF guarding the other teams small forwards, play Mo Williams or Delonte West at the 2 guard exclusively with no offensive initiation responsibilities and play LeBron at the point.

Okay I get that's basically what the do anyway but cement it. Design plays with LeBron as the PG off the top of the circle instead of trying to get him the ball through the intermediary at the wing and dribble drive or create from there. With Capt Jack and a better PF that could play some out of the paint, that would be a dangerous offense.

[JSD]

I think the bigger question is whether it's a good idea for LeBron to play at the 4.  Do you want him banging against bigger players (especially for 42 minutes a night?).  He's big enough, but he doesn't have quite the same strength advantage over most 4s as he does over 3s.  He can certainly outquick any PF in the league.

At the 3 or the 4, he's still going to be slashing, dunking, and shooting (can you imagine if/when LeBron decides to focus on a post-up game?)

So, I just don't know the answer.  Is it better to have 'Bron play at the PF spot, lose some of his strength advantage but have a huge quickness advantage, or have him continue playing at the 3 and able to dominate based both on size and quickness?  

Are his defensive abilities better utilized slowing down Pierce or slowing down KG?

I guess I come down as saying that he's (by far) the best player in the league at the 3; why change that (other than maybe for a couple minutes a night?)

It depends on the match-up. As you said, Bron is Cleveland's only answer for perimeter oriented PF's.

[JSD]

Remember when LeBron was drafted and Cleveland said he was going to be playing the PG position? Maybe the solution is to just make him your PG. Trade for Stephen Jackson, make him the SF guarding the other teams small forwards, play Mo Williams or Delonte West at the 2 guard exclusively with no offensive initiation responsibilities and play LeBron at the point.

Okay I get that's basically what the do anyway but cement it. Design plays with LeBron as the PG off the top of the circle instead of trying to get him the ball through the intermediary at the wing and dribble drive or create from there. With Capt Jack and a better PF that could play some out of the paint, that would be a dangerous offense.

But where is this better PF coming from? Does he just magically appear?

Lebron isn't most effective at the 4 but who else on that squad can match-up against a face-the-basket PF defensively?

[nickagneta]

Remember when LeBron was drafted and Cleveland said he was going to be playing the PG position? Maybe the solution is to just make him your PG. Trade for Stephen Jackson, make him the SF guarding the other teams small forwards, play Mo Williams or Delonte West at the 2 guard exclusively with no offensive initiation responsibilities and play LeBron at the point.

Okay I get that's basically what the do anyway but cement it. Design plays with LeBron as the PG off the top of the circle instead of trying to get him the ball through the intermediary at the wing and dribble drive or create from there. With Capt Jack and a better PF that could play some out of the paint, that would be a dangerous offense.

But where is this better PF coming from? Does he just magically appear?

Lebron isn't most effective at the 4 but who else on that squad can match-up against a face-the-basket PF defensively?

Good question Jsaad. I'm not sure where the PF comes from. Maybe in the Ilgauskas trade for Jackson the Warriors send Brandon Wright who after he recovers from could be the type PF that is athletic enough to guard perimeter PFs and space the floor a bit better than AV. Then AV comes off the bench as a backup 4/5.

Just throwing stuff off the wall here and seeing what sticks.

[Who]

Remember when LeBron was drafted and Cleveland said he was going to be playing the PG position? Maybe the solution is to just make him your PG. Trade for Stephen Jackson, make him the SF guarding the other teams small forwards, play Mo Williams or Delonte West at the 2 guard exclusively with no offensive initiation responsibilities and play LeBron at the point.

I think if you go with LeBron at the point guard spot then you need to go big on the wings. I don't think there's any advantage to it if you're playing a Mo Williams or a Delonte West alongside him. But put a Mickael Pietrus type player there and then some good things can happen.

The opposing team's point guard who have matchup problems defensively. He'd be stuck on a much larger player giving Cleveland some additional options offensively. But defensively is where the main gains could be had. LeBron James is one of the best defensive players in the league against point guards, he can take many a point right out of the game. Then you have his rebounding at the point, plus the rebounding of two athletic wings and the big's contribution, and you can have an elite rebounding lineup too.

However, you lose those type of advantages by playing a Mo Williams or a Delonte West at the two guard. That takes away the matchup advantages. So if James were to be moved to the point, I'd want to see those players leave the club.

Personally, I like James best as a small forward. I think it gives him the most freedom and allows him to be more self-centered which suits his game. Not sure it makes his team any better than he would be at the point, but I enjoy watching him at that position more so then the point.