Cavs 07-08 Season Thread

[osugrad21]

Canton

Stopping LeBron James tops Celtics list in series vs. Cavs
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]But Cleveland has offense clicking[/FONT]
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

INDEPENDENCE Everything clicked for one night in Washington.

The offense flowed. The defense locked down. The Cavaliers looked like a team poised for a run to the NBA Finals when they closed out the Wizards last Friday in Game 6 of the first round.

Tonight at 8, the Cavs will begin to prove if that was an illusion or reality with the start of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Boston. The best-of-seven series will be a huge test for the Cavs, who essentially are just coming together after a major trade reshaped them Feb. 21.

"Confidence is very high," guard-forward Devin Brown said Monday after practice.

Taking out Washington in six games bolstered Cleveland's confidence after a 14-13 finish to the regular season.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Cavaliers keys to victory
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Here are five things the Cavs have to do to beat Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals:

LeBron on move

LeBron James always says he's seen every defense imaginable since his arrival in the NBA. And expect the Celtics to throw everything they've got at him. But what makes James almost impossible to stop is giving him the ball when his 6-foot-9, 250-pound ultra-athletic frame is on the move. Too often, especially late in games, the offense bogs down. James stands and dribbles up top or on a wing before trying to make something happen late in the clock. "We're going to have to try to move him around ... so the defense doesn't know what's coming," Head Coach Mike Brown said. So look for the Cavs to use him in the post, coming of screens away from the ball or by running pick-and-rolls on various spots of the floor to give James room to work.

Don't settle
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Sports spotlight: Everything seems brighter in Wally's world
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
BY Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

INDEPENDENCE It was less than a week ago when Wally's world was somewhere between a heave-ho wave and the bottom of a fan's beer in the nose-bleed seats at Quicken Loans Arena.

"That guy," the fan said on his way out of the door after the Cavaliers blew a chance to close out the Wizards in Game 5, "sucks."

"That guy" was veteran Wally Szczerbiak. He came to Cleveland in the middle of the season by trade, but seemed to leave his shot in Seattle. In 50 games there, he shot 46 percent from the field and drilled almost 43 percent of his 3-pointers.

With the Cavs, Szczerbiak hit just 35.9 percent, 13 below his career average. That's quite a dropoff for a shooter who knocked down more that 50 percent of his shots his first three seasons in the NBA, and 51 percent just three seasons ago. But playing in Cleveland didn't come natural.
Cont...

 

[billmac91]

The Cavs did pretty well when you consider their roster. It's time for Danny Ferry to get creative and find a way to get LeBron a legit #2.

Top 2 guys on my board.

1. Baron Davis
2. Gilbert Arenas

Either of these guy paired with LeBron is a title contender. A healthy Arenas would be deadly. A healthy Baron Davis can get to the rack whenver he wants.

The nice thing about Baron, is he is also strong enough to be a good defender. That would allow Boobie to play considerable minutes with him in the game. Gilbert and Boobie is a very weak defensive back-court.

Anyways, I'd love to see Ferry find a way to get one of these guys. You'd have to think at some point, another superstar wants to come and play with LeBron.

The thing that worries me the most is if we don't make a move this off-season, we will be in the position to have to re-sign LeBron and bring another on-board. This off-season is really critical to keeping LBJ in a Cavs uni, IMO.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

First I wanna say not as a good a season compared to last season, due to the fact we were looking to get back to the finals as we were there last year, but this year the road was a lot tougher and the injuries, and lack of ever finding a lineup killed us...

Ferry did a good job this season IMO...Some don't like the trade, but first he started with not over signing for Sasha and Andy...Both ended up playing this season for us, but for far less than they wanted...

I really liked the trade with Seatlle...Newble and Marshall weren't doing anything for us and West and Wally were the two main guys outside of LBJ and Z for us in the playoffs...

West is the man at point next year...

I really don't have a feel for the salaries this season, after the trade...but what I do know is that we have to find a way to not just get role players, we need a couple legit starters, not necessarily all star players, but guys that could start for most teams in the NBA...

We have players that would make for a great bench...Guys like Wally, Boobie, Smith, Wild Thing, Sasha...

West, LBJ, Z are the guys, we need a legit PF and 2G...

Need a guy at the PF that can score to go along with play D...A younger version of Joe Smith would be great, but we need a guy that can put it on the floor and do something, unlike Joe who is just a Shooter and occasional post move at this point in his career...

I had hopes for Wild Thing last year...this year he didn't improve...He has the potential, but it is going to take time, which we don't have...

Also as for 2g we need a guy to come off screens to score the ball, and also score and create off the dribble...

Would be great to think that we could get someone in the draft but it is hard to really strike that kind of lightning at the number 19 pick in the draft...

Also I am all for either firing Mike Brown, or bringing in an offensive coach...The thing here is if LBJ is for Mike Brown, you don't piss him off...Keep him happy, if I was Ferry I would be sitting down with him and finding out what he thinks is best, as if we piss him off he could leave when his contract is up...

 

[NFBuck]

Anyways, I'd love to see Ferry find a way to get one of these guys. You'd have to think at some point, another superstar wants to come and play with LeBron.

The thing that worries me the most is if we don't make a move this off-season, we will be in the position to have to re-sign LeBron and bring another on-board. This off-season is really critical to keeping LBJ in a Cavs uni, IMO.

Exactly. Jordan didn't win a title until Scottie Pippen came along. Nobody on the Cavs roster is in Pippen's universe. Boobie is a nice complimentary player, but that is all. How much cap room do we have this offseason? Because Arenas or Davis are gonna command very big salaries...

I'm not a big fan of Arenas as a player, but I love his game and he would really open things up for LBJ. Davis would be great too, but he's three years older and plays a more physical style. Given a choice, I'd love for Arenas to come on board. He and LeBron seem to have a pretty good rapport as oponents and I think they'd make a great tandem.

Either way, if Ferry is worth a shit, he needs to understand that the time is ticking away and he needs to bring in a name player to pair with the franchise.

 

[buckeyemania11]

we need a legit PF and 2G...

maybe they go PF in the draft? Jason Thompson from Rider is a name that shows up for the cavs in mock drafts


NBADraft.net - Jason Thompson

 

[crazybuckfan40]

maybe they go PF in the draft? Jason Thompson from Rider is a name that shows up for the cavs in mock drafts


NBADraft.net - Jason Thompson

Yeah he is on my watch list, but like I said it will be hard to get a legit starter at 19 in the draft...Don't see him as being that guy...He has great athleticism, but he is small in terms of bulk for the NBA...A decent jump shot, and a decent offensive game...

But if we could get a legit starter at the 2g we could go with a guy like Thompson at the PF...

BTW I am just talking about guys like Derek Fisher, Radmonovich, Okur, Kiralenko, Finley, are some examples of players we could use...

 

[billmac91]

BTW I am just talking about guys like Derek Fisher, Radmonovich, Okur, Kiralenko, Finley, are some examples of players we could use...

maybe I'm just overreacting to the playoff loss, but i think we need to be desperate this off-season. No resting on our laurels, believeing we willc ontinue to improve on what we have. It WILL NOT get it done.

We need a legit #2. No way around it.

Hpw does Danny Ferry pull it off?

If Danny Ainge can do it, Danny Ferry should be able to.

Also, for the record, I also have no problem bringing in a new Head coach. This offense is atrocious.

 

[buckeyemania11]

beside Arenas and Baron Davis are there any other legit options in the free agent pool this offseason?

 

[NFBuck]

BTW I am just talking about guys like Derek Fisher, Radmonovich, Okur, Kiralenko, Finley, are some examples of players we could use...

Okur is the only name I like on that list, but he seems like a slightly younger version of Z to me. The rest of those guys are complimentary players and we need more than that IMO. We need a legit #2 guy to take the scoring pressure off of LeBron. We went the complimentary route 3 years ago with Hughes, Marshall, DJ et al and it yielded some success, but not enough to get to NBA title level.

maybe I'm just overreacting to the playoff loss, but i think we need to be desperate this off-season. No resting on our laurels, believeing we willc ontinue to improve on what we have. It WILL NOT get it done.

We need a legit #2. No way around it.

Hpw does Danny Ferry pull it off?

If Danny Ainge can do it, Danny Ferry should be able to.

Also, for the record, I also have no problem bringing in a new Head coach. This offense is atrocious.

I agree. Dantoni landing in NY has to turn up the pressure cooker. LBJ is built to run in his offense and he landed in the worst place possible for Cleveland. Somehow, someway, Ferry has to bring in another star player. Not more complimentary types. We have those.

Also, my distaste for Mr. Potatohead is well stated in this thread. I'd be impressed with Ferry's cajones if he were to ax him, but at the very least he needs to get Brown somebody to help develop an offensive system to better utilize LeBron's skills. If we stand pat with the same staff next season and don't make a serious run to get LeBron help on the court, I'm going to have a hard time giving damn.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

maybe I'm just overreacting to the playoff loss, but i think we need to be desperate this off-season. No resting on our laurels, believeing we willc ontinue to improve on what we have. It WILL NOT get it done.

We need a legit #2. No way around it.

Hpw does Danny Ferry pull it off?

If Danny Ainge can do it, Danny Ferry should be able to.

Also, for the record, I also have no problem bringing in a new Head coach. This offense is atrocious.

No reason to be desperate that is what Isiah did in New York and look where it got him...Guys are going to start wanting to play here, or else I hope so...There is no reason to over spend on a guy...See where that got us with Larry Hughes...

Okur is the only name I like on that list, but he seems like a slightly younger version of Z to me. The rest of those guys are complimentary players and we need more than that IMO. We need a legit #2 guy to take the scoring pressure off of LeBron. We went the complimentary route 3 years ago with Hughes, Marshall, DJ et al and it yielded some success, but not enough to get to NBA title level.

I have no idea if any of those guys are free agents or not...I was just saying we need guys like that...Right now we have guys that wouldn't start on any NBA team, and especially not an NBA Title team...

I agree we need a #2, but right now, I am not desperate...I don't see any reason to overspend...I think with a guy like Okur at PF, or Fisher at PG, or Finley at SG we would of been a good enough team to get back to the championship this year...

Having Wally at the 2g while he had some good games, put more pressure on LBJ to create, Finley could of created, Fisher allows us to play he and west together and get very solid shooting from the outside, and Okur would of gave us a legit 4 who coudl step clear outside, hit the open 3 and score off the dribble and stretch the D more for LBJ...

LBJ is good enough to take a team of himself, and 4 legit starters all the way...Some of these guys are role players...Now don't get me wrong we would be very very good if we could have a guy like say Boozer who was here already, or say any type of all star player...

The thing is it isn't as easy as some think to grab a player like that...and when you do you either have to give up other parts of your team, or over pay for them...Which means if they don't pan out it kills ya...Much like Hughes did...That is why I stay away from Arenas and his continuing injuries...And Davis is getting up there in age...

Legit starters are cheaper, then with expiring contracts we might attract someone in the middle of the season next year...

like I said I don't know the contract situations very well after the draft, and desperation as a GM is a recipe for disaster...

The Lakers had kinda been in the same situation the past couple years as the Cavs with really only having Kobe and then noone other than say Odom, but now they have Fisher, Odom, Radmonvich, and then made the big deal for Gasol mid season...

LBJ is going to make players around him better, so if we get legit starters they could become better here and be all star type players...

 

[billmac91]

No reason to be desperate that is what Isiah did in New York and look where it got him...Guys are going to start wanting to play here, or else I hope so...There is no reason to over spend on a guy...See where that got us with Larry Hughes...

I understand that POV cb40.....but that's the same POV that made Kobe want out of LA.....role players around LeBron sin;t going to make LeBron excited to stay in Cleveland.

Larry Hughes was a HUGE reach for that contract. Larry Hughes was probably the 4th option that season behind Michael Redd and Ray Allen.

Danny Ferry needs to figure something out.

 

[NFBuck]

No reason to be desperate that is what Isiah did in New York and look where it got him...Guys are going to start wanting to play here, or else I hope so...There is no reason to over spend on a guy...See where that got us with Larry Hughes...

I agree about overspending on a guy like Hughes. Hughes was simply not a proven player, at least not proven enough for that contract. But a guy like Arenas is a proven player and he's still young enough (26) to overcome the injury problems. I do have some reservations about him. He's turnover prone and not real solid defensively, but not having to create as much beside LBJ could help the turnovers and other complimentary players could help mask his defensive problems.

I agree about Davis, like I said earlier, he's pushing 30 and plays a physical style that has and will take more of a toll on his health. I still believe you need another star player to get over the hump. Somebody good on with the ball. Somebody that can relieve the scoring pressure on LBJ to keep defenses honest. Jordan won with Pippen and a cast of supporting players. LeBron needs his Pippen. You look at the best teams out there recently and now, and there's two stars. Duncan-Parker, Wade-Shaq, Kobe-Gasol, Nash-Stoudamire. I'd have to see a list of upcoming FA's to really think about it, but Arenas is a name that pops up. He's a passionate player, relatively young and already has rapport with LBJ.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I understand that POV cb40.....but that's the same POV that made Kobe want out of LA.....role players around LeBron sin;t going to make LeBron excited to stay in Cleveland.

Larry Hughes was a HUGE reach for that contract. Larry Hughes was probably the 4th option that season behind Michael Redd and Ray Allen.

Danny Ferry needs to figure something out.

The thing with Kobe is that he is not the type of player that makes the guys around him that much better like LBJ does...Kobe did moreso this year, but before that not so much...

LBJ can score 30 while rebounding the ball and getting his teammates open looks...

Look how close we were last year with Hughes, Sasha, LBJ, Gooden, Z with a bench of Boobie, Wild Thing and Eric Snow...

Look how we competed this year with West, Wally, LBJ, Ben, Z with a bench of Boobie, Sasha, Wild Thing, and Joe Smith...

The bench was better, but the injuries, hold outs, trades, killed any momentum we were ever able to build...

Remember when we won a game with Damon Jones, LBJ, Snow, Billy Thomas, Z, and Wild Thing...That was a joke, but we won because of LBJ...

Wally is solid, but he can't create a shot for himself, and when in the playoffs and defense is real tough, he needs someone to create for him...He can't create for himself, like a solid 2g can...

IF we had someone that could create, then LBJ doesn't have to play so much on the ball...It doesn't have to be an all star, just a player in the league that can create...

As far as Ben and Andy, they don't bring much offense...Drew brought offense, but he had the mental capacity of a 3rd grader and would go with a good game followed by a game of 5 points...And his defense lacked big times at time...Joe Smith is the best guy we have had in terms of hitting the jumper, but he is up there in years, and doesn't do much off the dribble...LBJ would be lethal with a guy like a Karl Malone, Carlos Boozer type who could role off the pick n roll and catch the ball in traffic and still finish...Andy did at times last year in the play offs, but he struggles to hit free throws at times, and his jumper still needs lots of work...

I like West, and he is still young and getting used to playing with LBJ...If he can be a consistent 12 point guy, with his occasional 15-20 point games he will be a great option at pg, and he isn't a defensive liability...So while he is a legit NBA starter, would you take an all-star or a guy that might be looked as better, like say a Nash, Bibby, etc? No because they just don't bring the defense...

We are a great defensive team and can defend at all positions, that is why we can compete with anyone in the playoffs...We just need to get offensive options that can also play D...