Brutus1
Don't be penurious, donate to the BP Spring Dr.
I didn't want this to get mixed up in the playoff thread so I started a new one to gauge the feelings of this season and the prospects for next season.
LeBron- Great season. He continued to improve in most areas. His jump shot really improved. His free throw shooting will need to improve for next year. He can hit 18-20 one night, then 6-12 the next. I'm sure he'll be an 80% shooter in no time. His shot selection can be questionable at times. Often times, he'll pull up with that off balance J from 22 feet with a guy draped all over him. I guess it doesn't make that big of a difference early in games, but late, in close games, he needs to take it to the hole. He's starting to get the rep with the refs where he's going to get most of the calls, hopefully he'll be taking full advantage of that. His defense was better in the playoffs, but still has a long way to go. There's no reason that a guy with his size, speed and strength can't be one of the top defenders in the league.
Gooden- Thanks for the 2 years. Your inconsistency was aggravating. He can be a great rebounder and a very good shooter, but, only once or twice out of every 4 games. He sat alot because of his defensive shortcomings, but will be a much better offensive player when he goes to a team that doesn't care if he plays good defense.
Z- He had a good regular season, but disappeared for most of the playoffs. I noticed a pretty nice improvement in his defense this year. His free throw shooting was a great improvement. His offensive rebounding was also very good this year. He looked tired and old in the playoffs. Maybe he played too many minutes in the regular season, thus affecting his playoff game. He needs to get mean and hit the weightroom, neither of which I expect he'll do because of his age. He could use a decent backup not named Alan Henderson.
Larry Hughes- I think he's going to be the player that helps the team get to the next level. His first year was wasted with the finger problem the whole season. I love his game to complement LeBrons'. When healthy, he's on of the better players in the league. He just has the look, when the ball is in his hands. His driving and finishing ability are very good. I love his defense, too. He needs to get healthy in the offseason, and work on his mid-long range shot. I look for him to improve greatly next year.
E. Snow- I dogged him the first 3 months of the season. He missed shots, airballed shots, and I was po'd. I finally realized , though he shouldn't be starting , he was still a very good team player. He hustled every night, even when he was throwing up airballs, and never made it easy for the opposing pg. Sure, he got eaten up by some of the best pg's in the league, but he shouldn't be starting anyway. He knew his shot was bad, and thus, never took too many shots, unless he was wide open for a layup or the shot clock was about to expire. His offensive shortcomings made it too easy on opponents to cheat toward LeBron. He'd be a guy that I'd love to have coming off the bench, just not starting. I'm not sure we can afford a good pg in free agency, thus we'll have to take one of the many that will be in the draft. I'd gladly take the kid from Rutgers or Dee Brown.
Verajeo- I love his game, as does LeBron. He hustles, muscles and spends more time on the floor than most players in the league. His offensive game is hardly flashy, but it doesn't need to be when you play with LBJ. He developed a good game with LeBron in the Piston series. Aside from LeBron, the Pistons noticed him the most. He's a great defender and is always looking to help out when another players guy heads to the hole. He runs up and down the floor all game long and does a good job of finishing when given the ball from LBJ. At 23, he's young enough to show decent improvement and be a member of this team for the long haul. He's the kind of role player this team will need if they're ever going to win a championship. The only way he ever leaves this team is in a big name trade. Ferry and Gilbert love him, but more importantly, LeBron loves him. He's physical and will have LeBrons back if necessary.
Donyell- On and off season, but I was really impressed with his defense, shot blocking and rebounding this season this season. He was non-existant some nights, but I expect that to improve next season.
Jones- The self proclaimed "Best shooter in the world", didn't show very much of that. I wondered why the heck he was not starting ahead of Snow, but that was quickly answered when he finally got a chance to start and blew it big time. He hit some big shots this year, but not enough to justify that fat contract given to him by Ferry. He's still good enough that he can help the team improve, but it's definitely going to be off the bench. Play some defense and you'll get more pt.
Murray- I bad mouthed him since the trade, but he provided a spark for the team in Hughes' absence. He's good when he drives to the hoop, but his jump shot blows big time. He'll get a decent contract somewhere other than in Cleveland.
Pavlovic, L. Jackson- Can play a few minutes off the bench to give others a breather, but in the playoffs, they're just cheerleaders. Maybe in time, Jackson can develop into a decent player, but I'm not sure when that time will arrive.
Nothing else worth mentioning on the bench, unless I'm forgetting someone.
Free Agency- Gooden and Murray will both be gone. Gooden is restriced so maybe something can be returned in a sign and trade. Maybe not.
I think they still have thier mid-level exception to get a player. I wouldn't mind seeing Speedy Claxton in a Cavs uniform. I'm not sure how feasible that would be.
They don't have much to spend, so they'll need to pick up role players that can fit the system. I expect that anyone they sign or bring in, will need to be good defenbsive players. They certainly need players that aren't afraid to move without the ball and will not stand around watching the 'LeBron Show'.
Draft 2006-
With 3 picks, Ferry should be able to get a decent player or two. It sure would be nice to strike gold with great player in the 2nd round. I think all of us Cavs fans will be paying close attention to this draft, I know I will.
As disappointing as it was to lose to the Pistons after being up 3-2, it was a great step forward in the teams play this season. They've shown that they're not that far off from competing in the Eastern Conference. Their run in the playoffs definitely shwoed LeBron that this is the place for him. I look for him to sign that 5 year extension sometime in the next 3 months.
It was great corresponding with the same 4 or 5 fans all season long.
LeBron- Great season. He continued to improve in most areas. His jump shot really improved. His free throw shooting will need to improve for next year. He can hit 18-20 one night, then 6-12 the next. I'm sure he'll be an 80% shooter in no time. His shot selection can be questionable at times. Often times, he'll pull up with that off balance J from 22 feet with a guy draped all over him. I guess it doesn't make that big of a difference early in games, but late, in close games, he needs to take it to the hole. He's starting to get the rep with the refs where he's going to get most of the calls, hopefully he'll be taking full advantage of that. His defense was better in the playoffs, but still has a long way to go. There's no reason that a guy with his size, speed and strength can't be one of the top defenders in the league.
Gooden- Thanks for the 2 years. Your inconsistency was aggravating. He can be a great rebounder and a very good shooter, but, only once or twice out of every 4 games. He sat alot because of his defensive shortcomings, but will be a much better offensive player when he goes to a team that doesn't care if he plays good defense.
Z- He had a good regular season, but disappeared for most of the playoffs. I noticed a pretty nice improvement in his defense this year. His free throw shooting was a great improvement. His offensive rebounding was also very good this year. He looked tired and old in the playoffs. Maybe he played too many minutes in the regular season, thus affecting his playoff game. He needs to get mean and hit the weightroom, neither of which I expect he'll do because of his age. He could use a decent backup not named Alan Henderson.
Larry Hughes- I think he's going to be the player that helps the team get to the next level. His first year was wasted with the finger problem the whole season. I love his game to complement LeBrons'. When healthy, he's on of the better players in the league. He just has the look, when the ball is in his hands. His driving and finishing ability are very good. I love his defense, too. He needs to get healthy in the offseason, and work on his mid-long range shot. I look for him to improve greatly next year.
E. Snow- I dogged him the first 3 months of the season. He missed shots, airballed shots, and I was po'd. I finally realized , though he shouldn't be starting , he was still a very good team player. He hustled every night, even when he was throwing up airballs, and never made it easy for the opposing pg. Sure, he got eaten up by some of the best pg's in the league, but he shouldn't be starting anyway. He knew his shot was bad, and thus, never took too many shots, unless he was wide open for a layup or the shot clock was about to expire. His offensive shortcomings made it too easy on opponents to cheat toward LeBron. He'd be a guy that I'd love to have coming off the bench, just not starting. I'm not sure we can afford a good pg in free agency, thus we'll have to take one of the many that will be in the draft. I'd gladly take the kid from Rutgers or Dee Brown.
Verajeo- I love his game, as does LeBron. He hustles, muscles and spends more time on the floor than most players in the league. His offensive game is hardly flashy, but it doesn't need to be when you play with LBJ. He developed a good game with LeBron in the Piston series. Aside from LeBron, the Pistons noticed him the most. He's a great defender and is always looking to help out when another players guy heads to the hole. He runs up and down the floor all game long and does a good job of finishing when given the ball from LBJ. At 23, he's young enough to show decent improvement and be a member of this team for the long haul. He's the kind of role player this team will need if they're ever going to win a championship. The only way he ever leaves this team is in a big name trade. Ferry and Gilbert love him, but more importantly, LeBron loves him. He's physical and will have LeBrons back if necessary.
Donyell- On and off season, but I was really impressed with his defense, shot blocking and rebounding this season this season. He was non-existant some nights, but I expect that to improve next season.
Jones- The self proclaimed "Best shooter in the world", didn't show very much of that. I wondered why the heck he was not starting ahead of Snow, but that was quickly answered when he finally got a chance to start and blew it big time. He hit some big shots this year, but not enough to justify that fat contract given to him by Ferry. He's still good enough that he can help the team improve, but it's definitely going to be off the bench. Play some defense and you'll get more pt.
Murray- I bad mouthed him since the trade, but he provided a spark for the team in Hughes' absence. He's good when he drives to the hoop, but his jump shot blows big time. He'll get a decent contract somewhere other than in Cleveland.
Pavlovic, L. Jackson- Can play a few minutes off the bench to give others a breather, but in the playoffs, they're just cheerleaders. Maybe in time, Jackson can develop into a decent player, but I'm not sure when that time will arrive.
Nothing else worth mentioning on the bench, unless I'm forgetting someone.
Free Agency- Gooden and Murray will both be gone. Gooden is restriced so maybe something can be returned in a sign and trade. Maybe not.
I think they still have thier mid-level exception to get a player. I wouldn't mind seeing Speedy Claxton in a Cavs uniform. I'm not sure how feasible that would be.
They don't have much to spend, so they'll need to pick up role players that can fit the system. I expect that anyone they sign or bring in, will need to be good defenbsive players. They certainly need players that aren't afraid to move without the ball and will not stand around watching the 'LeBron Show'.
Draft 2006-
With 3 picks, Ferry should be able to get a decent player or two. It sure would be nice to strike gold with great player in the 2nd round. I think all of us Cavs fans will be paying close attention to this draft, I know I will.
As disappointing as it was to lose to the Pistons after being up 3-2, it was a great step forward in the teams play this season. They've shown that they're not that far off from competing in the Eastern Conference. Their run in the playoffs definitely shwoed LeBron that this is the place for him. I look for him to sign that 5 year extension sometime in the next 3 months.
It was great corresponding with the same 4 or 5 fans all season long.