Starters
Kyrie Irving - PG: Was an all-star selection last year. Time for him to play like an all-star this year, by which I mean: guard the ball with purpose and make his teammates better. We know he can score on anyone. Can he win 45 games? Can he win 50?
Dion Waiters - SG: Another canny scorer who needs to defend. He will, or his minutes will diminish. Underrated facilitator. I'd want to see him average 16+ PPG, 4+ assists and get in his opposite number's shirt all game long.
Andrew Bynum - C: Top-shelf talent on both sides of the court. It now appears he will, indeed, play. If he stays healthy, we've got ourselves a top 3 center in the league, which alone could be good for a 15-game improvement over last year. I would not bet my life on him playing 60+ games.
Earl Clark/Alonzo Gee - SF: These are two serviceable forwards who will hearken to Coach Brown's call to defend. Otherwise, they are keeping the spot warm for whomever replaces them next season's starting three.
Tristan Thompson - PF: Overrated as a defender last year, underrated as a scorer. Should make the biggest leap of any Cav in his third season. I've never heard of anyone switching their shooting hand mid-career, but the dude is shooting better from the floor and the stripe. Weird.
Bench
Anderson Varejao - 6th man: If he and Bynum can stay out of the Cleveland Clinic, the league will have a very hard time dealing with our tandem of centers, both of whom have NBA finals experience. Elite rebounder. Perfect Mike Brown big. Needs to play <28 a="" br="" minutes="" night.="">
Jarrett Jack - G: Tremendous pickup. Efficient guard who will excel on both ends of the floor and in the locker room. If he's starting for any extended amount of games, however, that spells trouble.
Earl Clark/Alonzo Gee - SF: see above.
CJ Miles - G/F: Streaky shooter whose defense will improve under Coach Brown. Strictly a role player whose volume 3s can be an asset or a impediment.
Tyler Zeller - C: Who the hell knows? Zeller will probably be a proficient backup center, but he was overwhelmed and exhausted last year as a starter. I'd like to see him playing 16-18 minutes a night.
Anthony Bennett - Rookie PF: A physical freak who will show flashes of the big time scorer/rebounder he will become, as he did in the preseason. Insanely long arms. Shoulders a mile wide. Good instincts, especially on interior passing. Currently fat. Will one day justify the #1 pick.
Sergey Karasev - Rookie G: Intriguing mix of athleticism and b-ball acumen. Not convinced he will ever be much of a defender, but he appears to have a natural shooting stroke to go with good court vision.
Carrick Felix - Rookie G: Played 5 minutes in the preseason, so your guess is as good as mine. Solid defender, apparently. Good attitude.
Matthew Dellavadova - Rookie PG: Not sure what this guy brings, aside from feistiness. I do not want to see him on the floor, unless we are up 20.
Henry Sims - C: Should be able to carve out a career as a journeyman center. Another dude I don't want to see playing meaningful minutes.
Coach
Mike Brown: In his second tour of duty with the Cavs, Mike Brown is charged with turning the worst defensive squad in the league into one of the best. That will be a gradual process that won't be fully realized until next season. I really don't give a shit about offense this year, as long at we're not squandering 20 point leads and regularly surrendering 110 points. I'm glad he's back. Expect some 84-78 losses, and a lot more wins than last year, which leads me to the...
Prediction
This team has many key players with histories of getting injured. The talent is there. A relatively healthy year could produce 48 wins. I predict a slow start, at least one catastrophic injury, a 40-42 record, a 7-8 seed for the playoffs and a hell of a series in the first round, past which they will not advance. This year is all about next year, but it should be a fun year, nonetheless.
Go CAVS!
nwb
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