Cleveland Cavaliers: Why They Won't Be One of the NBA's Worst Teams for Years
The Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks 115-109 on Friday night in a game that Yahoo Sports so affectionately labeled as a "stunning" win and an "embarrassment" for the Knicks.
Funny, they said the same thing about the Lakers game a week earlier.
The fact of the matter is, the Cavaliers, who are still among the worst teams in the league, have been vastly improving. While there's nothing the media loves more than a nice Cleveland bashing, this article will expose the fact that Cleveland is on the right track to becoming relevant again in the sports world.
"They Lost 26 Games in a Row, How Good Could They Be?"
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That's so January. Ok, and most of February.
Starting with an overtime win over the Clippers that snapped "The Streak" the Cavaliers have won three of their last five games, with wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.
A five-point loss to the Houston Rockets without Mo Williams or Daniel Gibson isn't too shabby either.
"No Free Agents Will Want to Go There"
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Quick, name the top free agents this summer.
Yao? Zach Randolph? Glen Davis?
Yikes.
This year's free agent class doesn't exactly compare to last year's. With everyone talking about the draft having a down year, the list of available players seems even worse.
If Troy Murphy decides not to take his talents to Cleveland, I just don't see it being that disappointing.
"The Roster Has No Talent"
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Over the past month the Cavaliers have had two players post some gaudy statistics that show maybe some talent can be scraped off of the young, thin roster.
Let's take a look at these two stat lines over the last month. One is an All-Star starter. One has been in and out of the starting rotation for an 11 win team. Can you guess which is which?
Player A: 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 9.1 assists on 44 percent shooting
Player B: 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 8.6 assists on 53 percent shooting.
.
"The Cavs Don't Have a True Point Guard"
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Player A is Chris Paul
Player B is Ramon Sessions, who yes, is scoring more and shooting better than arguably the NBA's best point guard.
Let's do one more.
One player is in his third pro year, making about $1.5 million this year. The other, an All-Star power forward who scored a max contract deal.
Player A: 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, 0.7 blocks per game.
Player B: 17 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks per game.
Any guesses?
"No One Can Rebound the Ball"
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Yes, Player A is Chris Bosh, an All-Star and max contract player.
Player B is J.J. Hickson who is 22 and could still be a senior in college. Over the past month Hickson has been a beast on the boards, despite being forced to play center.
His shot blocking has also improved tremendously, and his five blocks in a win over the Knicks was a career high.
"The Baron Davis Trade Was Terrible for Them"
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It doesn't matter if Davis plays for the Cavs or milks a knee injury for the next two and a half years, this will still go down as a great trade for Cleveland.
The pick they received will be somewhere around number eight overall, right where a player like Harrison Barnes could fall to.
Despite going first on most preseason mock drafts, Barnes has failed to live up to expectations at North Carolina, but could still end up being an elite talent in the NBA.
Barnes plays small forward and can create his own shot, something the Cavaliers desperately need.
Thanks Clippers!
"But Davis and Byron Scott Don't Get Along at All"
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Here's an exert from the Cavaliers' recent team report:
"Baron and I talked last year in the preseason," he said. "From that point on, we've been great. I'm looking forward to having him here. I think you guys know the type of talent he has. He can elevate our team."
He said Davis hugged him, told him he loved him and apologized for some of the things that went on in New Orleans.
"(Davis) said he realized now that I was just trying to make him a better basketball player," Scott said. "I can be tough on guys at times. I don't think he accepted it at that time. It's water under the bridge.
"I was very touched. I got on the bus and I was speechless. I was shocked by it."
Sounds like they're cool to me.
"Ok, but What Do They Do About That Contract?"
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Davis has a horrible contract, there's no doubt about that. But it may not be as terrible as it seems.
Davis is owed just under $14 million is 2011-2012 but his 2012-13 season salary of $14.8 million is non-guaranteed.
This makes him much more tradeable in either this year's offseason or next year's trade deadline, to go along with the unprotected lottery pick the Cavaliers received.
Remember, Larry Hughes had essentially the same contract and management got rid of him for Ben Wallace, who they in turn dumped for Shaquille O'Neal's expiring $20 million contract.
I mean, if Gilbert Arenas' contract can be moved, anyone's can.
"The Draft Is Terrible, They Won't Get Anybody Good"
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I just don't understand how this draft could be worse than last year's. Besides John Wall, Landry Fields and DaMarcus Cousins, has anybody else made an impact for their team thus far?
While this year's draft lacks a true star like Wall, there is plenty of talent available.
Perry Jones is an athletic freak, Jared Sullinger a rebounding machine and Kyrie Irving, when healthy, could be a franchise point guard.
And none of them could even go first.
Arizona's Derrick Williams provides the scoring the Cavs could use at small forward, as could Terrence Jones or Harrison Barnes.
It appears to be a real solid draft with a star or two thrown in the mix. The Cavs just have to find him. Good thing they've got two lottery picks now.
"They Can't Move Antawn Jamison's Huge Contract"
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The question is, why would they want to?
Jamison is a perfect player to keep around a young team to help them mature and grow.
If they decide they no longer need him next year, I'm sure a 20-point per game scorer who has an expiring $15 million deal would attract a buyer or two.
"Ok, but It's Still Cleveland"
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You're damn right it is. Home of some of the best fans in the world.
I know, everyone says that right?
Well despite the league's worst record, the Cavaliers still draw 20,268 fans a game, third most in the entire NBA.
That's more passionate, die hard fans per game than the Knicks, Celtics, Lakers, and even the Miami Heat.
What competitive athlete wouldn't want to play for fans like that?
