How do we match up with Cleveland?

[SamuelAdams]

Cleveland was best when running the break with LJ off the ball.  We all saw how well Phoenix did on the break with Shaq last year...

[BudweiserCeltic]

Cleveland was best when running the break with LJ off the ball.  We all saw how well Phoenix did on the break with Shaq last year...

That was a coaching problem more than anything. They wanted to play a different style.

[star18]

It all depends on how Shaq is next year.    If he can be really consistent and play in 65+ games and put up even better numbers than last year, then the Cavs have a chance.   If Shaq shows his age, only plays in about 50 games, and his numbers go down, then the Celtics should have no problem getting the #1 seed and beating the Cavs.  

Last year, the Cavs were extremely lucky during the regular season. They got a ridiculous amount of calls in their favor.   They got lucky late in the games, teams underperformed against them, and the teams they played against had a much higher percentage of key players missing for those games.   They did not deserve the #1 seed and should not have won 66 games.   I know many of you may not agree, but if you take a close look at the stats, the statistics back it up.

In 2007-08 the Cavs won 47 games.   In 2008-09 teams did not gear up to play the Cavs and underperformed against them.  I watched alot of their games last year so I know. Alot of players were overdoing it watching Lebron and handing the game to him on a silver platter, instead of trying to outplay him and win the game.  One play during the Pistons playoff series stood out in my mind.   Something happened to Tayshuan Prince and he was lying on the floor, the basketball went directly on his back and he just laid there and made no effort to gather in the basketball.  He had some sort of injury but it wasn't anything major as he came back to play later in the game.  All he had to do was put his arm over the ball and the Pistons would have had posession, instead a Cavs player grabbed the ball.   Players do not play like that against the Celtics, they don't just roll over and give up.  Last year many many players played "pathetically" against the Cavs and it was an embarassment.

People say that our 27-2 start last year was lucky because of the come from behind wins and close games and that is true, but we also got very unlucky in the 2nd half of the season.   The 2008-09 Cavs did not have one stretch of unluckiness last year during the regular season.  

The 2009-10 season will be much different for the Cavs then 2008-09.   First of all, Lebron's best statistical games are behind him, in my opinion.   He will not improve as an individual player, and can only improve as a team player.  He will not be as good as last year.   Walking off the court against Orlando is a sign of this.   Great players who really want to win, just don't do that.  His 47 point perfomance in Game 3 in the Hawks series made no sense either.  Here was a chance to get his teammates involved and get them ready for a title run, and he hogged the ball for like 90% of the time during that game.  This is not the 1985-86 Bulls, the 2008-09 Cavs were going for a championship. He has a hidden agenda to grab the spotlight instead of having heart to win the games necessary to be a champion.  NBA players will not look at Lebron this year, like they did last year.   They will be more geared up to play him, and will not take a back seat to his antics, and I think the Orlando incident will play a role in that.   Because of that I expect the Cavs to win about 57 games in 2009-10.

Besides Lebron, we are a much better team than the Cavs with 4 players who can take over a game with KG,PP,Ray & Rondo, while the Cavs only have 1 or possibly 2 with Shaq, that is why I think we are a better team.

[kheeko]

I hate to sound like a Lebron towel waver BUT...

The guy is sick nasty. Pierce will spend every ounce of energy guarding him so we lose his offense, so it all falls on KG and Ray. Ray has a hard time finding his stroke in games like this, and KG will foul out b/c of Varejao's flopping. Lebron has endless energy so he'll play 48+ minutes and jump over Marquis and dunk all over him.

Shaq too will clog the lanes leaving Delonte and MoWill outside for 3's.

It will be a great game, and I expect our Perk to be the bench C in crunch time so Sheed can win the game on a 3 pointer!

Quoted for truth, I love Pierce but Lebrons a animal, and very true about Ray not getting in his groove on big games.

[Eja117]

I'm very curious to see how long it will take Lebron and Shaq to go all Shaq/Kobe on us and ruin what they have

[Drucci]

I hate to sound like a Lebron towel waver BUT...

The guy is sick nasty. Pierce will spend every ounce of energy guarding him so we lose his offense, so it all falls on KG and Ray. Ray has a hard time finding his stroke in games like this, and KG will foul out b/c of Varejao's flopping. Lebron has endless energy so he'll play 48+ minutes and jump over Marquis and dunk all over him.

Shaq too will clog the lanes leaving Delonte and MoWill outside for 3's.

It will be a great game, and I expect our Perk to be the bench C in crunch time so Sheed can win the game on a 3 pointer!

Quoted for truth, I love Pierce but Lebrons a animal, and very true about Ray not getting in his groove on big games.

Oh yeah, like in the Detroit series, the 2008 Finals Games 4 & 6, and games 2 & 6 of the Chicago series.

[billysan]

Cleveland was best when running the break with LJ off the ball.  We all saw how well Phoenix did on the break with Shaq last year...

That was a coaching problem more than anything. They wanted to play a different style.

Still, Lebron is at his best when the Cavaliers rebound and run. Shaq/Z/Powe may provide a few rebounds but they cannot run and this will put Lebron in a half court mode that limits his ability to attack. All we need is to get back so he is trying to attack 3 on 5 or whatever when the numbers are in our favor. We gain an advantage then because of superior team defense.

The Celtics can also dominate scoring simply by beating Shaq/Z/Powe down the floor. None of them can keep up with KG/Sheed/Perk/BBD in the open court. The remaining Varejao/Hickson are not threats offensively and dont scare people with defense.

I really hope Doc has the guts to throw Bill Walker out there on Lebron a few times in the first game or two we see them. I think if we keep the minutes short (2 minutes at the end of quarters for example) and get him fired up in practice, he will become an asset defensively this year. SO what if he picks up a couple of fouls, he can physically challenge Lebron and give Paul a break.

[Check_My_Stats]

Cleveland was best when running the break with LJ off the ball.  We all saw how well Phoenix did on the break with Shaq last year...

What are you talking about? Are you trying to say Cleveland was a fast-break team? They run a grind-it-out half-court offense. And Lebron playing off the ball? He is the main faclliatator (sp?) on offense. And last time I checked Shaq was faster than Big Z. And its not like they were a running team to begin with. I think a lot of you are really searching hard for reasons to discredit the Cavs. The truth is that in a 7 game series, Cleveland's frountcourt is going to be putting Boston in foul trouble for most of the series. And I wouldn't use Sheed as an excuse for getting better when Cleveland has exposed Sheed in every playoff series they played. Perkins can't even stay out of foul trouble guarding Big Z. What is going to happen now?

[Check_My_Stats]

Cleveland was best when running the break with LJ off the ball.  We all saw how well Phoenix did on the break with Shaq last year...

That was a coaching problem more than anything. They wanted to play a different style.

Still, Lebron is at his best when the Cavaliers rebound and run. Shaq/Z/Powe may provide a few rebounds but they cannot run and this will put Lebron in a half court mode that limits his ability to attack. All we need is to get back so he is trying to attack 3 on 5 or whatever when the numbers are in our favor. We gain an advantage then because of superior team defense.

The Celtics can also dominate scoring simply by beating Shaq/Z/Powe down the floor. None of them can keep up with KG/Sheed/Perk/BBD in the open court. The remaining Varejao/Hickson are not threats offensively and dont scare people with defense.

I really hope Doc has the guts to throw Bill Walker out there on Lebron a few times in the first game or two we see them. I think if we keep the minutes short (2 minutes at the end of quarters for example) and get him fired up in practice, he will become an asset defensively this year. SO what if he picks up a couple of fouls, he can physically challenge Lebron and give Paul a break.

LOL

[Roy Hobbs]

Cleveland was best when running the break with LJ off the ball.  We all saw how well Phoenix did on the break with Shaq last year...

That was a coaching problem more than anything. They wanted to play a different style.

Still, Lebron is at his best when the Cavaliers rebound and run. Shaq/Z/Powe may provide a few rebounds but they cannot run and this will put Lebron in a half court mode that limits his ability to attack. All we need is to get back so he is trying to attack 3 on 5 or whatever when the numbers are in our favor. We gain an advantage then because of superior team defense.

Two things:

1) I've never really understood the argument that if you have a big, slower center, you can't be a fast breaking team.  Somebody has to rebound, right?  You don't need five guys who are super fast.  Rather, you need somebody to rebound and initiate the break (usually by throwing a decent outlet pass), while two or three guys who get out on the break.

2) The Cavs ranked 25th out of 30 teams in pace factor last season, and still won 66 games.  The Cavs ranked 4th in offensive efficiency.  Lebron is an excellent player in a half court offense.

[star18]

Cavs got 2 slow centers, so Shaq & Big Z won't be on the court at the same time.  So the Shaq signing limits how effective Big Z will be.

[Roy Hobbs]

Cavs got 2 slow centers, so Shaq & Big Z won't be on the court at the same time.  So the Shaq signing limits how effective Big Z will be.

If the Cavs split their minutes, say, as 28 minutes for Shaq and 20 for Big Z, that can keep them both fresh and at their max effectiveness, right?

That would be a reduction of 2 minutes per game for Shaq from last season, and 7 fewer than Big Z averaged last year.  Also, the Cavs may be able to absorb a few minutes each game going with both on the floor at once. 

I agree the combo isn't ideal, but there are worse things than having two legit starting centers.

[billysan]

Cleveland was best when running the break with LJ off the ball.  We all saw how well Phoenix did on the break with Shaq last year...

That was a coaching problem more than anything. They wanted to play a different style.

Still, Lebron is at his best when the Cavaliers rebound and run. Shaq/Z/Powe may provide a few rebounds but they cannot run and this will put Lebron in a half court mode that limits his ability to attack. All we need is to get back so he is trying to attack 3 on 5 or whatever when the numbers are in our favor. We gain an advantage then because of superior team defense.

Two things:

1) I've never really understood the argument that if you have a big, slower center, you can't be a fast breaking team.  Somebody has to rebound, right?  You don't need five guys who are super fast.  Rather, you need somebody to rebound and initiate the break (usually by throwing a decent outlet pass), while two or three guys who get out on the break.

2) The Cavs ranked 25th out of 30 teams in pace factor last season, and still won 66 games.  The Cavs ranked 4th in offensive efficiency.  Lebron is an excellent player in a half court offense.

I think the 'slowness' of Shaq and Z are huge factors for the Cavs. I agree they do not play at a 'fast pace', I just think they are now even slower and Lebron is at his best when he can attack from inside half court. I think he attacks quite often before the rest of his team is past the free throw line. He seems to like to push the pace IMO when he gets the chance. This is actually his ability to get off a shot before the opposing teams defense is set and able to help. I am sure some of this is by design and they dont want two big slow centers clogging the paint when he is in attack or ISO mode.

In seasons past, he has gotten in to the paint on us without the defense rotating adequately or even being in position to help. This IMO because of his ability to attack on offense before anyone is in a halfcourt set.

I agree Lebron is also dangerous in the half court and that someone has to rebound for a fast breaking team to function. The Cavs are not a fast breaking team, so much as an attacking team when Lebron has the ball in hand.

[Jon]

I really think we can handle Cleveland.  I'm really not impressed with the Shaq acquisition.  Sure, Shaq statistically had a nice year last year.  But if he was anywhere near the player her used to be, the Suns would have made the playoffs.  After all, he had a surrounding cast of Nash, Richardson, Hill, and Stoudemire.  I think anyone who thinks he's going to be a difference maker is going to be sadly mistaken...and that's if his body doesn't break down before we even get to the playoffs.  Remember, for all the worrying we do about the Big Three, Shaq is older and has a far more vulnerable body at his outrageous size and weight. 

I also think Shaq is going to present problems for the Cavs offensively and defensively.  As many have already alluded to, they are going to be much more vulnerable to the think pick and roll now that they will always have at least 1, if not 2, slow big men on the court at once.  Furthermore, having Shaq and Big Z at the 5 could take away some of LeBron's drive and kick out plays, as they'll often go with bigger lineups with less shooters given Shaq, Big Z, and Varejo's need for minutes.

I also don't think Moon and Parker will help the team.  One might, but not both.  With LeBron getting 40+ minutes in the playoffs and Delonte looking to get over 30, there's only going to be minutes for one of them in a playoff rotation.  So if we're evaluating backup wings, I think you have to go Parker vs. Daniels or Moon vs. Daniels, not Parker and Moon vs. Daniels since they both are't going to get PT.  And if that's the case, I think the backup wing positions (assuming both teams are healthy) are a wash. 

[RAcker]

However we match up with CLE, we don't ahve the moral high ground. We're sorry LEon!

I feel better that the team offered him a contract.  I think that the failure to pick up the qualifying offer really got under his skin, though.

Agree. Seems like he was ticked at that and blinded to any other offer. I also wonder what extension offers Powe turned down (if any.)

Leon can be ticked all he wants, but he still can't hold KG's jock strap which will force the Cavs to have to double team if they don't want to pay severely.