Mid-Season Cleveland Cavaliers: I'm Having A Breakdown

Clevelanders long-used to sports disappointment view even this stellar Cavs season with skepticism.  One thought represents a collective nightmare: Jim Chones’ foot.

People line up to place sacrificial offerings under the giant Witness poster downtown to appease the ever-hungry injury gods.

No one dares say it out loud.  Instead, talk centers on our amazing undefeated home record, multiple sightings of the team spending time together outside the confines of the Q and the Mo Williams “where have you been all our lives?” experience.

Mid-season, however, is fraught with anxiety. 

1)  Health

Cracks in the seamless starting five’s physical state began slowly. In fact, the first fissure to open up was Lorenzen Wright calling in with the flu.

Ah, the "new guy flu.”  This time, however, it was not a metaphor.  Ben Wallace caught it next and maybe this was Lorenzen’s plan all along as this allowed him a spot in the starting lineup.

The flu, including LeBron’s recent head cold, pales in comparison to Z’s still-healing fractured ankle and Delonte West’s nose dive from a standing position on Derrick Rose’s back which fractured his wrist and opened up a boxer’s cut above his eye.  His famed pinky ring, however, remains intact.

Where does this leave the Cavs?  Watching the Bulls game last Thursday was disheartening.  Our carefully crafted on-court relationships came unglued before our disbelieving eyes as we lost, in overtime, to Derrick Rose and crew.

The following night, after plane delays finally landed the team in town around 5 a.m., we faced New Orleans.   Impossible, I thought to myself.  No Z, no Ben, no Delonte.  Chris Paul and David West never looked so menacing.  And then it happened. 

Sasha Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak stepped up to the plate and started dropping 3s.  Could not believe my eyes.  This is the definition of a championship team; one that rolls with the punches and reinvents itself as the year unfolds.

2)  Trading Deadline

Word on the street is we need another big man.  For the long term, I agree.  For the short term, I’m terrified of messing with the team chemistry. 

If we can handily put down the Hornets without Z or Ben or Delonte, I think we have the personnel we need. 

Let’s make sure everyone on the bench understands their role and feels 100% invested in the team.  We can handle injury; disgruntlement would be our undoing.

3)  Road Trip

We’re heading into a tough stretch of games on the West Coast.  Renowned for playing well at home, this will be a good test for the Cavs. 

Nothing like spending a week in close quarters with your locker room buddies to push team spirit to the limits.

4)  Unanswered Questions

Other than the obvious “who will break their ankle next,” the main question is one of consistency.  Can Sasha Pavlovic, Lorenzen Wright, Wally Szczerbiak, and Boobie Gibson continue to contribute at the level we need to win the Eastern Conference?

JJ Hickson, Tarence Kinsey and 10-day Jawad Williams face steep learning curves.  Some skills simply take time to develop; ask LeBron about his free throws. Is the Cavs bench deep enough, experienced enough to provide key minutes?

5)  Stamina

LeBron played the regular season, the playoffs and the Olympics last year.  Will he be able to sustain his current level of play through the post-season this year?  Of course, every time I think LeBron has limits, he proves me wrong.

Do I think we can go all the way?  I’ve already ordered the T-shirt.