The Cleveland Cavaliers Got Better Not Worse: Stop Hating On Them

All over this offseason I have heard about how the Cavaliers may have fallen from contention. How they have done nothing in the offseason to get any better.

This is the most ignorant thing I have heard since Alex Rodriguez denied steroid use.

To break it down for you, before the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic, the Cavaliers were supposed to breeze through right to the finals.

Due to the absence of a "big man," to defend Dwight Howard and a "big guard," to defend almost every guard/forward they have, Cleveland lost and were one miracle shot away from being swept.

Then comes the offseason. They let Wally Sczcerbiak, Lorenzen Wright, and Joe Smith walk. Zadruna Ilgalskus accepted his contract option and Anderson Varajao was resigned.

They traded Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic for Shaquielle O'Neal and then signed Anthony Parker. Remember what I was saying about a "big man," and a "big guard?" Shaq is THE "big man," and Parker is 6'6".

Basically, Wallace and Pavlovic were replaced by Shaq and Parker. I don't know about all of you Cavalier haters out there but I am seriously missing something if they got worse.

And to add another piece to the puzzle, the Cavaliers signed forward Jamario Moon to an offer sheet. He is a much improved replacement for Sczcerbiak and gives Cleveland a lot more versatility.

If Moon is signed, then the Cavaliers are very much improved and they would still have a sum amount of money to sign another players, say a scoring power forward that could come off the bench?

But as of now, with Moon on the roster, this is what their lineup looks like.

Starter/Reserve/reserve

PG- Mo Williams/ Daniel Gibson/Tarrance Kinsey

SG- Anthony Parker/Delonte West/Tarrance Kinsey

SF- LeBron James/Jamario Moon/Anthony Parker

PF- Anderson Varajao/JJ Hickson/Darnell Jackson

C- Shaquielle O'Neal/Zadrunas Ilgalskus/Darnell Jackson

Most have the mindset that West will start and Parker will play from the bench, but I see it otherwise. Parker has a great three point shot, and is big. He will be desired on the starting lineup.

West brings a lot of high energy and scoring to the game when needed. Those are perfect for him coming off the bench. It would benefit the team highly for him to come off the bench.

But, yet another position to improve is point guard. In the ECF's, Mo Williams seem to fall apart, scoring minimally. With a year with the Cavaliers under his belt, and now having playoff experience, he is better.

So Cleveland loses three important players (Wallace, Pavlovic, Sczcerbiak) and replaces them with better ones (Shaq, Parker, Moon), get two new starters and put two old ones on the bench (Shaq for Ilgalskus, Parker for West), and everyone has a year under their belt.

This team did nothing but improve and are hungrier than ever. With a much improved, more versatile lineup, the reigning MVP pissed off, and Cleveland desperate for a title, this could very well be the Cavaliers year.

Do you think they got worse?

And mark my words, a player to watch out for is JJ Hickson. Wallace taught him defense, Z helped him with an outside shot, and now he has Shaq. The kid is all about learning and improving, so be prepared for a splash.