cavs

[Donoghus]

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.

I'd agree with that.  That whole standard is pretty preposterous, IMO.

[D.o.s.]

The Cavs are certainly on the short list of the best teams in the East, and I'd put them in the top 5 teams overall, probably, but they're lucky that they're playing in the conference they are.

[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.

I'd agree with that.  That whole standard is pretty preposterous, IMO.

Which one is MORE important can be a fun and worthwhile conversation, though.  I have to go talent, but if talent's close, experience/coaching/chemistry, etc can trump it.  Our One Shining Moment with the Big 3 had all of those in spades, which is part of why it was so enjoyable.

[Roy H.]

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.

I think he'll play better than expected defense, and will look excellent as a floor general in Blatt's system.

[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.

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.

Those guys weren't all stars in 2004.  At least most of them were not.  It wasn't till after the title that they started consistently playing at an all star level. 

[Moranis]

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.

He got tired at the end of the year a bit no question, but I still think he was the best defender in basketball (even though he was only voted to 2nd team all defense).  I mean his opponent production was downright awful according to 82 games. 

[Endless Paradise]

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.

... I showed that experience didn't matter by pointing out that the Heat didn't win their first time around because, as the Big 3 admitted at the time, they didn't know how to play together effectively enough to win a title?

Yeeeaaah, about that.

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.

He got tired at the end of the year a bit no question, but I still think he was the best defender in basketball (even though he was only voted to 2nd team all defense).  I mean his opponent production was downright awful according to 82 games.

His defense had slipped throughout the entire year.  Hot Hot Hoops noted that super early in the season.  It wasn't a secret.

[greece66]

Their bench is disgusting [...] kevin love, irving and waiters havent had deep playoff experience. Im just not convinced.

My feelings exactly. Add to this that a)Blatt has never coached an NBA team b)Cleveland as an organization is far behind Miami and c) that this will be the first year their big 3 will be playing together and it is clear things are not rosy for Cleveland. IMHO they are the favourites for Eastern Conference champions (but with Washington and Chicago following closely behind).
IMO the favourite is almost always last year's champion, and since SAS retained its core I see no reason not to regard them as the favourite no matter how difficult the Western Conference is. After them come the Clippers, they have their own version of the big 3 in CP3, Griffin, D. Jordan and fantastic depth (Spencer Hawes might prove to be the best bench player acquisition of this summer- and Doc knew what he was sacrificing when he chose him over Pierce). My only concern is that they have a long record of sucking in the playoffs.
Only after these two teams comes Cleveland IMO, and still they are much more vulnerable to contingencies. SAS, Clippers (and OKC) have proved they can play good bball even when missing one of their stars, but I think that if Kyrie or Love (let alone Lebron) gets an injury they will reach rock bottom very fast- it all goes back to the Cavs lack of depth.

[Diehard2001]

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.

well i know i have hater blood in me for lebron but that just comes with the territory of being a celtics fan. Just sick McCarty on him

[D.o.s.]

I still think the Bulls could be better.

On the other hand, this Lowe article was really good -- although I don't agree with everything he says.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-windows-the-cavs-have-all-the-makings-of-a-title-contender/

[Moranis]

I still think the Bulls could be better.

On the other hand, this Lowe article was really good -- although I don't agree with everything he says.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-windows-the-cavs-have-all-the-makings-of-a-title-contender/

He hit pretty much my sentiment.  Cleveland will be good enough defensively to win the title.  It doesn't mean they will of course, they just have that potential.

[D.o.s.]

Definitely. I also think David Blatt is being slept on by a lot of NBA fans, particularly the ones that don't pay a lot of attention to international basketball. He's a much better coach than you might think.

I will say, though, that I think Cleveland's defense is going to be a bigger problem than you (and Lowe) suspect.

[greece66]

I also think David Blatt is being slept on by a lot of NBA fans, particularly the ones that don't pay a lot of attention to international basketball.

On Blatt, I think there is a thin line separating an excellent coach (which he is) and a successful NBA coach (which he is not). I would have said the exact same thing if Spoelstra went to coach Maccabi Tel Aviv. Different rules, very different schedules and priorities, and most important different roles for the coach over all.
Until he proves in practice he can coach this team well (which would be a major challenge for any NBA coach) I think people are right to point out the Cavs have a question mark sitting on their bench.
On a different  note, I entirely agree with what you say about the defense, this is why many people who think Love> Bosh are wrong, let alone the lack of depth, chemistry etc. I do not see them winning a championship this year, unless they add a few more more pieces to their team and get really lucky.

[SHAQATTACK]

I d rather see Bulls win East than LeBrick diva

[greece66]

I d rather see Bulls win East than LeBrick diva

Who wouldn't?
But it would be really sweet to see Washington with Pierce winning East against the over-advertised Cavs.