cavs

[gpap]

The only Eastern Conference team I can see giving the Cavs a hard time is the Wizards.

Gortat is better and less injury prone than Varajeo, and the backcourt of Wall and Beal could be just as good if not better than Kyrie and Waiters.

As for the Bulls, I don't see it.

Noah and Gasol is a nice little front court but if Rose can't stay on the court, I say the Cavs runs circles around them.

Not to mention, Kevin Love is like 7 years younger than Pau Gasol.

[Fafnir]

I think that Kyrie Irving is going to open a lot of eyes this season.

I think he'll continue to play the same brand of basketball, which is to say not worth a ton to his team. Especially when compared to his accolades and salary.

But Kevin Love + LBJ is worth about 40 wins on their own so I'm sure Irving will regain some of the shine he's lost while stagnating.

[Donoghus]

I think that Kyrie Irving is going to open a lot of eyes this season.

I think he'll continue to play the same brand of basketball, which is to say not worth a ton to his team. Especially when compared to his accolades and salary.

But Kevin Love + LBJ is worth about 40 wins on their own so I'm sure Irving will regain some of the shine he's lost while stagnating.

They'll be fun to watch in the open court.

[fairweatherfan]

I think that Kyrie Irving is going to open a lot of eyes this season.

I think he'll continue to play the same brand of basketball, which is to say not worth a ton to his team. Especially when compared to his accolades and salary.

But Kevin Love + LBJ is worth about 40 wins on their own so I'm sure Irving will regain some of the shine he's lost while stagnating.

I agree, I don't think Irving's play will change so much as the regard for it since his team will be winning games on bigger stages.  He'll probably become a bit more efficient due to having so many more threats around him, though.

[Diehard2001]

I just dont see them playing shut down defense with who they have.

[Donoghus]

I just dont see them playing shut down defense with who they have.

A guy like Lebron goes a long way on his own defensively to help a team.  Kyrie appears to have made strides over the summer at FIBA but who knows if he carries those habits in the NBA. 

In the east, any major deficiencies can almost be masked right now with the talent they have on that team.  Where I think they will run into trouble is once they get to the conference finals.  If they can get through there, they could be in trouble facing one of the heavyweights coming out of the West.

Barring major injuries, they should at least make the conference finals this year.

[Endless Paradise]

I just dont see them playing shut down defense with who they have.

In the east, any major deficiencies can almost be masked right now with the talent they have on that team.  Where I think they will run into trouble is once they get to the conference finals.  If they can get through there, they could be in trouble facing one of the heavyweights coming out of the West.

Barring major injuries, they should at least make the conference finals this year.

This is where I stand.

[Moranis]

I just dont see them playing shut down defense with who they have.

Lebron is the best defender in basketball.  Waiters is also very underrated.  You are going to see massive improvement from him playing next to Lebron.  Irving looks to be better, at least he was this summer.  Varejao is a good solid defender.  Marion is an excellent defender.  Thompson is very athletic and uses it well on both ends. 

The Cavs won't be a world class defensive team, but they will certainly be good enough to win the title.

[Moranis]

Ask LeBron how much it mattered in 2011 that he was the best player in the NBA and on a team with two fellow multi-time All-Stars, both of whom had been to the playoffs and one of whom was already a champion and Finals MVP.

I think you are kind of showing that experience doesn't matter.  Thanks for proving that point.  I mean the 2 time defending champions in their 4th straight finals appearance couldn't win.  All that experience just didn't matter.

Experience just doesn't matter. 

[Fafnir]

I just dont see them playing shut down defense with who they have.

Lebron is the best defender in basketball.

He wasn't last year. We'll see if he expends more energy on that end this year.

[Fafnir]

Ask LeBron how much it mattered in 2011 that he was the best player in the NBA and on a team with two fellow multi-time All-Stars, both of whom had been to the playoffs and one of whom was already a champion and Finals MVP.

I think you are kind of showing that experience doesn't matter.  Thanks for proving that point.  I mean the 2 time defending champions in their 4th straight finals appearance couldn't win.  All that experience just didn't matter.

Yeah those plucky upstart Spurs really showed them what new blood can do!

I think experience matters, but it doesn't matter nearly as much as talent does.

[fairweatherfan]

Ask LeBron how much it mattered in 2011 that he was the best player in the NBA and on a team with two fellow multi-time All-Stars, both of whom had been to the playoffs and one of whom was already a champion and Finals MVP.

I think you are kind of showing that experience doesn't matter.  Thanks for proving that point.  I mean the 2 time defending champions in their 4th straight finals appearance couldn't win.  All that experience just didn't matter.

Yeah those plucky upstart Spurs really showed them what new blood can do!

I think experience matters, but it doesn't matter nearly as much as talent does.

The 2004 Lakers had more talent than the Pistons and lost handily.  Therefore talent doesn't matter either. 

[manl_lui]

Ask LeBron how much it mattered in 2011 that he was the best player in the NBA and on a team with two fellow multi-time All-Stars, both of whom had been to the playoffs and one of whom was already a champion and Finals MVP.

I think you are kind of showing that experience doesn't matter.  Thanks for proving that point.  I mean the 2 time defending champions in their 4th straight finals appearance couldn't win.  All that experience just didn't matter.

Yeah those plucky upstart Spurs really showed them what new blood can do!

I think experience matters, but it doesn't matter nearly as much as talent does.

The 2004 Lakers had more talent than the Pistons and lost handily.  Therefore talent doesn't matter either.

I won't say they had MUCH more talent than the Pistons. They were better on paper but the Pistons were no pushover either

Billups/Hamilton/Prince/Rasheed Wallace were all-stars and they had defense specialist and rebound monster in Ben Wallace.

Also, add in unfortunately that Karl Malone was injured for most of the playoffs.

Talent does matter, both Spurs and Heat had tremendous talent. The Spurs were also champions in their own respective rights. Parker/Giniobli/Duncan are old, but brings a lot of championship experience. Add in up and coming Kawhi Leonard and a p---ed off, angry, and hungry role players that were on the team 2 years ago that came 2 minutes close of winning a championship in game 6, and you have a dangerous team vs the Heat.

[Donoghus]

I'd say talent is still the biggest factor in determining success.  There's a reason why, in the history of the sport, you'd often see the best player in the league playing in the Finals.   However, it's certainly not the "be all, end all" and hasn't always been proven to be true (see last year as example A). 

I wouldn't dismiss experience, though.  You've certainly seen instances in the past where having been there before has definitely played a major factor.   And sometimes it hasn't but the fact remains that you'd rather have it than not.

[fairweatherfan]

My point was just that when your standard is "If this doesn't win out 100% of the time, it doesn't matter", then nothing matters.  Both talent and experience do matter, it's just that the more talented/experienced team doesn't always win.