Out of all the teams in the NBA, there is no team happier then the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the return of LeBron James and the trade for Kevin Love, the Cavs are, not only immediate title contenders, but immediate title favorites. Returning to his home, James joins another big three, this time teaming up with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Now, it is never good to think that the Cavs will never lose, however this team is as “can’t miss” as we’ve seen in a long time.
KEY ADDITIONS: LeBron James (SF), Kevin Love (PF), Shawn Marion (SF)
KEY LOSSES: Luol Deng (SF), Jarrett Jack (PG), Spencer Hawes (C)
My Starting Five
Kyrie Irving(PG), Dion Waiters(SG), LeBron James(SF), Kevin Love(PF), Anderson Varejao(C)
- Cavaliers 2014-2015 Eastern Conference Ranking: #1
- Projected Win-Loss Record: 61-21
The Good
When talking about the good on this team, one must start with the signing of the best player in the world. LeBron James agreed to a 2-year, $42 million deal over the offseason. Once this happened, Kevin Love’s interest skyrocketed. The Cavs then sent Anthony Bennett and their number one pick in the draft, Andrew Wiggins over to the Timberwolves in exchange for Love. Acquiring the best player in the world and the best power forward in the league is definitely a recipe for success.
Let’s not forget about the other piece of the big three, Kyrie Irving. Irving, a top five point guard in the league, could be the glue to this team. It is important to have superstars, but a team needs a point guard who can take the ball and control the game. Irving’s role on this team will take some pressure off of James and let him relax in between plays. The addition of Shawn Marion also adds defense and experience on the floor.
The Cavs are all about the big three but they have a lot of young talent as well. Rookie Joe Harris could be one of the wild card players. Former Virginia Cavalier, Harris is used to the lifestyle of a Cavalier. Dion Waiters has been a solid player in Cleveland ever since he was drafted two short years ago. With the mix of experience and young talent, the Cavs are ready for the championship run.
The Bad
What could possibly be bad in Cleveland? That’s easy, the hype. All of this hype puts so much pressure on the Cavs to win right now. They obviously have that ability, but it is a lot to handle. A team with so much hype usually doesn’t win right away; just ask LeBron and his last big three. They finished with a finals record of 2-2 when they were promised not 4, not 5, not 6. If any team can turn my theory around, it would be this Cavalier ballclub.
Another issue is the coaching. How will the team respond to first year coach, David Blatt. One of the most important things in a team is to respond to their head coach. If players do not like him, the entire season will be a failure. Lucky for Blatt, he gets to walk into a team with a player who is like a coach in Lebron James. When discussing the Cavs, it is hard to think of negative points of this team. They are poised, experienced and ready to win.
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