NBA Season 2014-2015

[Fafnir]

Additional evidence that Kyrie/Dion aren't LeBron's favorites right now: Windhorst who's made a career out of following LeBron directly throws them under the bus.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11824708/lebron-james-opts-new-leadership-style-young-cleveland-cavaliers

Though given the lack of ball movement from either one of them I can't say he's wrong.

[fairweatherfan]

Additional evidence that Kyrie/Dion aren't LeBron's favorites right now: Windhorst who's made a career out of following LeBron directly throws them under the bus.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11824708/lebron-james-opts-new-leadership-style-young-cleveland-cavaliers

Though given the lack of ball movement from either one of them I can't say he's wrong.

What a shock, those two seemed so well-adjusted last year 

It's kinda funny how quickly the LeBron-to-Cleveland narrative shifted from a feel good sports story to the sharks circling after every loss.  Not surprising, but funny.

[D.o.s.]

It was only a feel good story if you ignored the LeBatard angle:

[Fafnir]

Additional evidence that Kyrie/Dion aren't LeBron's favorites right now: Windhorst who's made a career out of following LeBron directly throws them under the bus.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11824708/lebron-james-opts-new-leadership-style-young-cleveland-cavaliers

Though given the lack of ball movement from either one of them I can't say he's wrong.

What a shock, those two seemed so well-adjusted last year 

It's kinda funny how quickly the LeBron-to-Cleveland narrative shifted from a feel good sports story to the sharks circling after every loss.  Not surprising, but funny.

Thing is Windhorst isn't a shark, he's largely LeBron's scribe. He's not a total toady like Bucher, but he knows whose access his career depends on.

If they're 8-9 like the Heat started out I imagine it'll be hot-take city on them.

[Donoghus]

Watching the Cavs/Bulls game in person at the UC on Friday night, the biggest thing that stood out to me about Cleveland was their half court offense.  Several possessions it looked they weren't running any sets and just free lancing out there.  No real rhyme or reason to their offense.  Irving looked lost out there when he doesn't have the ball in his hands.  It's going to be real interesting to see how this dynamic between Irving & Lebron unfolds.  Kyrie going to need to learn to move around without the ball. 

I think some of it is definitely going through the feeling out phase but, come playoff time in those final 6-7 minutes of the 4th quarter, they're going to have to do a better job in the offensive half-court (sounds familiar?).  They just have to.  Having Lebron on that team should help. 

They're very well a Kyrie Irving continuation call away from being winless right now.

[manl_lui]

Watching the Cavs/Bulls game in person at the UC on Friday night, the biggest thing that stood out to me about Cleveland was their half court offense.  Several possessions it looked they weren't running any sets and just free lancing out there.  No real rhyme or reason to their offense.  Irving looked lost out there when he doesn't have the ball in his hands.  It's going to be real interesting to see how this dynamic between Irving & Lebron unfolds.  Kyrie going to need to learn to move around without the ball. 

I think some of it is definitely going through the feeling out phase but, come playoff time in those final 6-7 minutes of the 4th quarter, they're going to have to do a better job in the offensive half-court (sounds familiar?).  They just have to.  Having Lebron on that team should help. 

They're very well a Kyrie Irving continuation call away from being winless right now.

like Miami, they're off to a slow start, but expect them to pick things up as the season goes on.

[D.o.s.]

Miami's undefeated, though.

I know it's way too early to be saying this, but people really thought Cleveland was/is going to be better than Chicago?

[manl_lui]

Miami's undefeated, though.

I know it's way too early to be saying this, but people really thought Cleveland was/is going to be better than Chicago?

Houston beat them yesterday

[D.o.s.]

Miami's undefeated, though.

I know it's way too early to be saying this, but people really thought Cleveland was/is going to be better than Chicago?

Houston beat them yesterday

Time is a flat circle. 

Didn't realize that, though.

[Donoghus]

Miami's undefeated, though.

I know it's way too early to be saying this, but people really thought Cleveland was/is going to be better than Chicago?

Well, I know you & I weren't.   

[Endless Paradise]

Miami's undefeated, though.

I know it's way too early to be saying this, but people really thought Cleveland was/is going to be better than Chicago?

Experience doesn't matter, defense doesn't matter, LeBron's God and instantly makes any team the best ever, etc., etc.

[fairweatherfan]

I wouldn't get too far ahead on burying Cleveland, as Faf noted Miami started 9-8 their first year and didn't really hit their stride until they'd had a few months together (and didn't REALLY step it up til Year 2).  And the glaring X-factor in projecting Chicago's success has always been whether they can stay healthy for the full season, which remains to be seen. 

But so far, yeah, the Cavs haven't looked great, and in ways that aren't really surprising to those who've paid attention.

[Donoghus]

Oh, its certainly too early to bury them but I think we're going to see some Year 1 struggles from that bunch and, yet, they'll still be a top 3 seed in the East when all is said & done.  They got themselves a heckuva team there.

I just think the idea that you could just roll the ball out there and this CLE team would steamroll its way to the Finals, like many on here conveyed all offseason, was misguided.  Especially when you factored in items like roster makeup, depth, & strength of some of the competition.  It's not as simple as "Add Lebron/Make NBA Finals".

[Fafnir]

As long as a big part of Chicago's formula is Derek Rose I have a hard time counting on them. The fact that if Rose isn't on the court they're left with Brooks/Hinrich also leaves me skeptical. Add in how often Noah is hobbled and I don't see a team you can count on being healthy enough to make a title run.

[Donoghus]

As long as a big part of Chicago's formula is Derek Rose I have a hard time counting on them. The fact that if Rose isn't on the court they're left with Brooks/Hinrich also leaves me skeptical. Add in how often Noah is hobbled and I don't see a team you can count on being healthy enough to make a title run.

They certainly have their own question marks.