Cavs 08-09 Season - Central Div Champs (official thread)

[NFBuck]

can we change the thread title to "Cavs 08-09 Season- Fail"?

I don't know if I'd call it a "fail". Coming in, I had no championship expectations. They surpassed all expectations this year until running into a team that simply played out of their minds and was designed to beat a team like the Cavs. It's our own fault for getting wrapped up in the hype...we've seen this movie before.

 

[purplehaze1213]

can we change the thread title to "Cavs 08-09 Season- Fail"?

Isn't the "fail" just taken for granted for a thread about a Cleveland sports team?

 

[OregonBuckeye]

can we change the thread title to "Cavs 08-09 Season- Fail"?

Wow, this is what's wrong with sports fans these days. Short memories. The Cavs were the NBA's laughing stock not long ago. They just finished with the best record in the NBA this year.

 

[purplehaze1213]

I don't know if I'd call it a "fail". Coming in, I had no championship expectations. It's our own fault for getting wrapped up in the hype...we've seen this movie before.

I wouldn't say it's our own fault. The expectations coming into the playoffs were entirely justified. Best record in the league, MVP, COY, homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs...

 

[NFBuck]

I wouldn't say it's our own fault. The expectations coming into the playoffs were entirely justified. Best record in the league, MVP, COY, homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs...

As a Cleveland fan, you should always take a "cautiously optimistic" stance. Anything more, you're setting yourself up for heartache.

There were obvious flaws exposed by Orlando. It's up to Ferry to go out and plug those holes. If this city can't get a championship with the best basketball player on the planet playing for it, it never will. Time is ticking...

 

[fanaticbuckeye]

Wow, this is what's wrong with sports fans these days. Short memories. The Cavs were the NBA's laughing stock not long ago. They just finished with the best record in the NBA this year.

Agreed. I think this Cavs team had such good chemistry that they minimized letdowns throughout the year which led to the best record. They are a fun team to watch and a very good team. Orlando is better and so is, probably, the Lakers. I look at the way Orlando played in the ECF as both a very hot team, but also a team that 'underachieved' during the regular season. If you can call third seed as underachieving. Regardless, they are a tough team to guard, specifically when they are shooting well.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Isn't the "fail" just taken for granted for a thread about a Cleveland sports team?

yes

 

[BuckeyeMafia]

Well it was good.. then came what we knew would come.

Yes I'm proud, yes I'm disappointed. The story of sports, and the story of my life involvement with sports. The expectations were there this year, but lets be real, they need a big man. Not just another Joe Smith, but a Bosh quality guy that plays big. Another post scorer, and more importantly, another defender. It took way too much of the Cavs to simply defend Howard. If they could've focused that on their shooters, it'd be 4-1 Cleveland wins.

 

[OState29]

As a Cleveland fan, you should always take a "cautiously optimistic" stance. Anything more, you're setting yourself up for heartache.

There were obvious flaws exposed by Orlando. It's up to Ferry to go out and plug those holes. If this city can't get a championship with the best basketball player on the planet playing for it, it never will. Time is ticking...

Yep, Ferry's decision not to trade Wally put him on the clock for me. And now he's officially on the clock now that our weaknesses have been exposed. He must put the pieces in place to get LeBron a ring otherwise the Cavs are back to where they were in 01 with Mo as our "star". Man, do I wish he could fire Mike Brown, he makes for a great deffensive assistant, but he is not a great motivator, does not make the necessary adjustments (see our 3rd quarters this year, he gets outcoached, but the effect is minimized by having #23 on his team), and is not good strategically (a Howard dunk is 100%, FT's around 60%).

 

[NFBuck]

Yep, Ferry's decision not to trade Wally put him on the clock for me. And now he's officially on the clock now that our weaknesses have been exposed. He must put the pieces in place to get LeBron a ring otherwise the Cavs are back to where they were in 01 with Mo as our "star". Man, do I wish he could fire Mike Brown, he makes for a great deffensive assistant, but he is not a great motivator, does not make the necessary adjustments (see our 3rd quarters this year, he gets outcoached, but the effect is minimized by having #23 on his team), and is not good strategically (a Howard dunk is 100%, FT's around 60%).

Not this series.

 

[billmac91]

Yep, Ferry's decision not to trade Wally put him on the clock for me. And now he's officially on the clock now that our weaknesses have been exposed. He must put the pieces in place to get LeBron a ring otherwise the Cavs are back to where they were in 01 with Mo as our "star". Man, do I wish he could fire Mike Brown, he makes for a great deffensive assistant, but he is not a great motivator, does not make the necessary adjustments (see our 3rd quarters this year, he gets outcoached, but the effect is minimized by having #23 on his team), and is not good strategically (a Howard dunk is 100%, FT's around 60%).

Agreed in part. The Cavs could have acquired O'Neal for Wally and Hickson. Would you do that deal now, knowing it could hurt 2010's chances of 2 max deals?

I'm not sure, but I do know Shaq wouldn't have been abused like Z.

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

Great season by the Cavs.

You guys should make another push for the Finals next year, especially if you can add another quality scorer into the mix. But, the Cavs might want to win it all next year, because the LBJ sweepstakes will be here soon.

 

[tsteele316]

Agreed in part. The Cavs could have acquired O'Neal for Wally and Hickson. Would you do that deal now, knowing it could hurt 2010's chances of 2 max deals?

I'm not sure, but I do know Shaq wouldn't have been abused like Z.

it was actually wally, sasha, hickson, and 2 1sts. cleveland would also have to take on $40 million in luxury tax as well.

the real news is that ben wallace is strongly considering retirement and wants a buyout. that makes him a very valuable trading chip this summer for a team looking to dump cap. A $4 million buyout automatically saves a team $10 million in cap space right off the bat.

 

[Snappy_Jay]

Wow, this is what's wrong with sports fans these days. Short memories. The Cavs were the NBA's laughing stock not long ago. They just finished with the best record in the NBA this year.

Unfortunately that word stands out in you quote... 2 teams still playing one will get a ring! Thanks for a great year Cavs..Good news is only 97 days till we STOMP navy!!

 

[aurorabuckeye13]

it was actually wally, sasha, hickson, and 2 1sts. cleveland would also have to take on $40 million in luxury tax as well.

the real news is that ben wallace is strongly considering retirement and wants a buyout. that makes him a very valuable trading chip this summer for a team looking to dump cap. A $4 million buyout automatically saves a team $10 million in cap space right off the bat.

Yup if there is one positive at the moment it would be that the Cavs have alot of trade assets and flexibility to makes moves in the offseason to get better. We could pick up just about any player that is on the block from a team looking to rebuild with the financial flexibility and expiring contracts we could offer them. That includes Chris Bosh, and we could get Carlos Boozer (ironic I know) because Utah cannot pay to keep both him and Paul Millsap. Also we have our mid level exception to use, which we could use on a veteran player looking to win a championship/ another championship (see Rasheed Wallace, AK-47).

I'm just throwing out names at the moment, but the point is, the Cavs have alot of flexibility and will get better this offseason. Its up to Danny Ferry to determine the best fit for this team to bring them a championship.

Edit: Add Ariza in as a guy that I would love to see in a cavs uniform, he's an unrestricted FA after the year. Oh, and absolutely no to Shaq, he gets paid too much for what he is at this point in his career.