Cleveland will not win a championship title

[Finkelskyhook]

I think in some ways they are better than the HEAT.   Irving presently is better than Wade,   Love is better than Bosh,  LeBron is LeBron and their supporting cast might be better in CLE.  I hope Wade returns to 2006 form as it would be interesting to see the HEAT play the CAVS.   But I doubt FLA fans can whip up enough vitriol to bother James as they leave as soon as they get behind.

Sadly....I think the Heat (I despise any team wade in on) are going to be a lot better than people think.  Bosh sacrificed a lot of his game the last few years.  Bosh is also an underrated defender.  Big key is Granger.  If he gets close to his 2012 form...This team will make a lot of noise.

I'll maintain that Cleveland will go as far as the officials take them.     The messiah was still the best player on the court in the playoffs .....But was a lot more mortal when the officials tightened up and actually called the game by the rulebook for even him.  Love is a defensive sieve.  If Varajao isn't healthy...They aren't getting out of the east.

[SHAQATTACK]

The only team I don't see them beating is the Spurs, if the Spurs don't drop off due to age.  I think they'll make it through the East, and I think they could handle the Clippers and Thunder out west.

I agree....iF .....IF Duncan can play 90 % as well as last year .....Cavs not winning this year......I believe it's too early ...2016 /17 will be a really tuff out as they acquire more vets to help James.

[incoherent]

Remember, the Cavs are going to have 8 players on the court at all times this year.

Their offense is probably going to be pretty unstoppable in the fourth quarter.

[mgent]

Remember, the Cavs are going to have 8 players on the court at all times this year.

Their offense is probably going to be pretty unstoppable in the fourth quarter.

Great point.

[SHAQATTACK]

Remember, the Cavs are going to have 8 players on the court at all times this year.

Their offense is probably going to be pretty unstoppable in the fourth quarter.

Great point.

AH.....but this is the Adam Silver era...... James wasn't't getting his normal attention and lopsided calls going his way as the years before ..when it was just plain an embarrassment to the NBA.

[puskas54_10]

Looks like the usual hate post about Lebron (and the team he's currently on).
It's no surprise misery daily no substance post just to generate posts.

I'm really p---ed off when I see ref talk about Lebron. If you have an eye the Spurs was favoured in the last 2 finals. Don't let the hate derail your vision. What about the refs give a free win to Indiana in game 5. Or the year before bs verticality crap.

The only team that can stop the Cavs next year is the Spurs. Don't give me the bulls bs. Please... Gasol is no better than Boozer at this point. Rookies are rookies, can't count on them when it matters the most. Bulls lost Deng too, who was a mental leader for them.
In the long run I see at least 2 championships for Cleveland.

[D.o.s.]

The Bulls lost Deng and promptly went on a serious tear. I'll look up the numbers, since I can't remember them.

numbers: after the Deng trade, the bulls finished the season 34-16

[puskas54_10]

The Bulls lost Deng and promptly went on a serious tear. I'll look up the numbers, since I can't remember them.

numbers: after the Deng trade, the bulls finished the season 34-16

The celtics went on a tear after Rondo went down not long ago too. And while I'm not a Rondo fan, you have to be stupid to think that the celtics are better without Rondo.
On the bulls: we see how good they were in the playoffs. They had no chance against the wizards.

[Roy H.]

The Bulls lost Deng and promptly went on a serious tear. I'll look up the numbers, since I can't remember them.

numbers: after the Deng trade, the bulls finished the season 34-16

During that stretch, they went something like 19-4 against non-playoff teams, and 15-12 against playoff teams.  They then went on to be dominated 4-1 in the playoffs.  Now, they should be credited for beating the teams that they're supposed to, but it's not like they were dominant when facing good opponents.

[Finkelskyhook]

It's no surprise misery daily no substance post just to generate posts.

Just watch the 3-4-5 steps without a dribble the way to a dunk on ESPN messiah highlight and then say there's no substance.

[D.o.s.]

The Bulls lost Deng and promptly went on a serious tear. I'll look up the numbers, since I can't remember them.

numbers: after the Deng trade, the bulls finished the season 34-16

During that stretch, they went something like 19-4 against non-playoff teams, and 15-12 against playoff teams.  They then went on to be dominated 4-1 in the playoffs.  Now, they should be credited for beating the teams that they're supposed to, but it's not like they were dominant when facing good opponents.

Right, but the point stands -- losing Deng didn't seem to be the mega blow most people predicted.

[guava_wrench]

Disagree strongly with the OP.

Lebron is one of the best defenders in the league. If they end up with a problem on defense, they can trade Kyrie or pick up guys. With the team less dependent on Love and Kyrie on offense, we should see both exert more effort on defense. They need their 2 to be a really strong defender, so that would be the most obvious change that they need.

I also strongly disagree with any post ever made that says 'the only team that can beat X is Y', especially when based on recent memory. People should familiarize themselves with regression to the mean.

[puskas54_10]

The Bulls lost Deng and promptly went on a serious tear. I'll look up the numbers, since I can't remember them.

numbers: after the Deng trade, the bulls finished the season 34-16

During that stretch, they went something like 19-4 against non-playoff teams, and 15-12 against playoff teams.  They then went on to be dominated 4-1 in the playoffs.  Now, they should be credited for beating the teams that they're supposed to, but it's not like they were dominant when facing good opponents.

Right, but the point stands -- losing Deng didn't seem to be the mega blow most people predicted.

I never bought into the losing Deng will crater the bulls. Good teams are good because they have multiple good players and a good system. However when the playoffs start you can't hide anymore. Effort and system are not enough anymore. See bulls in the playoffs last year.

[Moranis]

Do not discount Varejao and Waiters defensively, especially Waiters.  I think playing next to James will do wonders for Waiters on both ends of the floor.  If they can land Marion, they will add another credible defender as well.  Center could be a real problem for them as Varejao is always hurt and Haywood just isn't very good, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see plenty of lineups with James at the 4 and Love at the 5 and frankly against most teams that won't be a problem at all.

Chicago, even with a healthy Rose, will not beat Cleveland.  They just have no one to defend James.  He will have a triple double field day all day long.  Not to mention, even Gibson will struggle to hang with Love.  On the other end of the floor I fully expect James to totally shut down Rose, leaving them in a bit of trouble offensively. 

Frankly I think Miami might pose more of a challenge as I really expect Bosh to go off.  That said the team to watch in the east is Washington as they are the only team that could pose a real problem for Cleveland in the East if everything comes together for them and Pierce can stay relatively fresh for the playoffs.  They have the players 1-3 to pose difficulties for the Cavs on both ends of the floor and their big athletic big guys should also do reasonable well on both ends of the floor, especially Gortat down low.  That is the only match-up in the East that I would be interested in watching as that is the only team I see with a good chance at beating Cleveland.

[Celtics4ever]

Do not discount Varejao and Waiters defensively,

Gimme a break, Waiters  played zone in college and has yet to show anything regarding talent on the defensive end.  .9 SPG and .2 BPG in 29 MPG last year, he is not bad on offense, but I think lauding him as a defensive stud is a reach.