Anyone Impressed With the Cavs?

[the_Bird]

Difference-maker, no.

Probably the closest to a "real" point guard as there is on the roster.

Still their third or fourth best player?  Yes.

The Cavs losing Delonte is, I think, analogous to our losing James Posey last season.  We subbed in players like TA that were no where near good enough to replace him, just like they may be forced to give too many minutes to Boobie Gibson.

I think they lose a little of their intensity, which is going to flow through to how well they play defense.  Their backcourt rotation is now going to be Mo Williams, Boobie, Anthony Parker, and Jamario Moon.  Does that really look like backcourt that's going to be able to slow down Rondo?  They going to be able to keep Ray Allen and Eddie House from getting open looks?

Wonder if they would have tried bringing Wally back, if he wasn't going in for surgury?

If they can pull off a trade for S-Jax, I'd be worried, but the question is whether they have the pieces Golden State would want to get a deal done.  S-Jax would help them out tremendously on all fronts; size in the backcourt, defense, intensity.  

[Fafnir]

I think you're assuming that Delonte is gone too soon. Hopefully he'll be back on the court this season, and playing well. Just not when they match up against the C's.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think Delonte *is* a difference maker, in the sense that his play very easily can be the difference between a playoff exit and a playoff series win.  He played very well in last year's postseason, and I think his contributions would be missed if he couldn't play.

No, he's not a superstar, but he was a vital piece on a 66 win team.

[crownsy]

This is weird. I keep reading "Delonte, Delonte....they miss Delonte!" Really?? So the Jim Abbott of the NBA is all the sidden that much of a difference maker? When did this happen? I don't recall that being the case when he was here. I'm not gonna debate whether he's a better player than Daniel Gibson because quite honestly who cares? If the Cleveland Cavaliers actually believed Delonte West's crazy *** makes that much difference they have much bigger problems.

It makes a difference when the player they have to fill delonte's role of 3rd gaurd and defensive nuisance is boobie gibson.

They are not deep at the 1 or 2. Delonte was a good defender who they could trust to limit the opposing teams SG or PG. now, they don't have a defender off the bench to fill that role.

That would be the same Boobie Gibson a number of people here were clamoring for a couple of years ago. 

When Cle doesn't win the title this year, they'll be pointing their fingers at a number of problems.  A backup combo guard won't be the primary cause of their failure.

well, i can't speak for these other people, but i have never clamored for an undersized PG who doesn't pass and doesn't even attempt to play defense.

we already have a shooter off the bench who is far better than boobie will ever be from three point land, and actually gives defensive effort if not results.

[the_Bird]

I actually remember the Boobie Gibson signing being pretty universally panned, both here and elsewhere, when it was made.  IIRC, he had one or two outstanding games in the playoffs, but otherwise had been invisible.  He was never considered a real PG. 

[moiso]

I think Delonte *is* a difference maker, in the sense that his play very easily can be the difference between a playoff exit and a playoff series win.  He played very well in last year's postseason, and I think his contributions would be missed if he couldn't play.

No, he's not a superstar, but he was a vital piece on a 66 win team.

Exactly.  I know I'll get slammed for this one, but Delonte is as important to the Cavs as Sheed is to us.

[Fafnir]

I think Delonte *is* a difference maker, in the sense that his play very easily can be the difference between a playoff exit and a playoff series win.  He played very well in last year's postseason, and I think his contributions would be missed if he couldn't play.

No, he's not a superstar, but he was a vital piece on a 66 win team.

What I was trying to say is that he's not a great player, not someone who's worth 8+ million and can carry a team.

A solid average NBA player who can execute is invaluable for a playoff team, ala Posey.

[Chris]

I think Delonte *is* a difference maker, in the sense that his play very easily can be the difference between a playoff exit and a playoff series win.  He played very well in last year's postseason, and I think his contributions would be missed if he couldn't play.

No, he's not a superstar, but he was a vital piece on a 66 win team.

Agreed.  I argued all last year that I felt that West was actually a better player to have on the floor in the playoffs than Mo Williams, and I still believe that.  His defense and grittiness are huge assets in the playoffs, and when you aren't asking him to make his own shot too much, he can be a very valuable player.

[Fafnir]

I think Delonte *is* a difference maker, in the sense that his play very easily can be the difference between a playoff exit and a playoff series win.  He played very well in last year's postseason, and I think his contributions would be missed if he couldn't play.

No, he's not a superstar, but he was a vital piece on a 66 win team.

Exactly.  I know I'll get slammed for this one, but Delonte is as important to the Cavs as Sheed is to us.

I don't think so, not when they've brought in Moon/Parker to bolster their backcourt rotation.

Also big men are more important in general than backup PGs. Your starting PG is much less likely to get in foul trouble for one thing, and bigs make everything work right on defense.

[Fafnir]

I think Delonte *is* a difference maker, in the sense that his play very easily can be the difference between a playoff exit and a playoff series win.  He played very well in last year's postseason, and I think his contributions would be missed if he couldn't play.

No, he's not a superstar, but he was a vital piece on a 66 win team.

Agreed.  I argued all last year that I felt that West was actually a better player to have on the floor in the playoffs than Mo Williams, and I still believe that.  His defense and grittiness are huge assets in the playoffs, and when you aren't asking him to make his own shot too much, he can be a very valuable player.

I still can't believe they were asking Delonte to guard Hedo....

Of course we had Marbury guarding Walter Hermann at one point too....

[the_Bird]

Why do we keep talking about Delonte as being their backup PG?  Delonte started all last year, and I don't *think* the guys they signed were signed to start.  He backs up Mo at the point, but he's still a starter.

I don't disagree with the Delonte = 'Sheed argument; like I said earlier, I think Delonte = Posey.

[Chris]

Why do we keep talking about Delonte as being their backup PG?  Delonte started all last year, and I don't *think* the guys they signed were signed to start.  He backs up Mo at the point, but he's still a starter.

I don't disagree with the Delonte = 'Sheed argument; like I said earlier, I think Delonte = Posey.

Oh, I absolutely think they signed those guys hoping one of them would start.  But I think that might have as much to do with Delonte's mental state, and resulting unreliability as it is with his actual play.

[the_Bird]

Why do we keep talking about Delonte as being their backup PG?  Delonte started all last year, and I don't *think* the guys they signed were signed to start.  He backs up Mo at the point, but he's still a starter.

I don't disagree with the Delonte = 'Sheed argument; like I said earlier, I think Delonte = Posey.

Oh, I absolutely think they signed those guys hoping one of them would start.  But I think that might have as much to do with Delonte's mental state, and resulting unreliability as it is with his actual play.

Did they?  I was under the impression that Delonte's recent descent was a relatively new development (at least since after the signings).  I know that his challenges have been known for a while, but it didn't seem to be impacting his performance until this fall.

[Fafnir]

Why do we keep talking about Delonte as being their backup PG?  Delonte started all last year, and I don't *think* the guys they signed were signed to start.  He backs up Mo at the point, but he's still a starter.

I don't disagree with the Delonte = 'Sheed argument; like I said earlier, I think Delonte = Posey.

Oh, I absolutely think they signed those guys hoping one of them would start.  But I think that might have as much to do with Delonte's mental state, and resulting unreliability as it is with his actual play.

Probably, though its also a chicken and egg sort of argument. His unreliability is probably why they went out and signed both Moon/Parker. Its also probably why they signed Boobie to a same sized contract, and gave Boobie a deal first!

[Fafnir]

Why do we keep talking about Delonte as being their backup PG?  Delonte started all last year, and I don't *think* the guys they signed were signed to start.  He backs up Mo at the point, but he's still a starter.

I don't disagree with the Delonte = 'Sheed argument; like I said earlier, I think Delonte = Posey.

Oh, I absolutely think they signed those guys hoping one of them would start.  But I think that might have as much to do with Delonte's mental state, and resulting unreliability as it is with his actual play.

Did they?  I was under the impression that Delonte's recent descent was a relatively new development (at least since after the signings).  I know that his challenges have been known for a while, but it didn't seem to be impacting his performance until this fall.

You don't hear about all the little incidents until it all blows up in the NBA. Several articles referred to a number of instances that all happened during the past season, well before Parker/Moon were signed. Late for practice and games, unresponsive during game, going AWOL, etc...