Our 2014 Cleveland Cavaliers season preview is a position-by-position breakdown of the team as they embark on their quest to bring Cleveland its first NBA Championship.
Point guards
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is the most promising point guard in the NBA today. Two years younger than both John Wall and Damian Lilliard, Irving already has two All-Star game appearances, an All-Star MVP, and the FIBA World Cup MVP. Irving has smashed all expectations to this point and there is no reason why he can’t continue that trend. His most obvious flaw is his defense, as he has seem disinterested all throughout his career on that side of the ball. Irving recently said that he didn’t try as hard on defense because he wanted to save his legs because he felt that he needed to do the majority of the scoring for his team. He’ll no longer have that excuse, so he must produce on the defensive end. Another thing Irving needs to improve is distributing the ball. He’s averaged six assists a game for his career, but for the Cavs to reach their peak on offense, he should average about eight assists a game. He can also stand to improve his catch-and-shoot shooting percentage. Despite a good three point percentage, Irving shot only 32% on catch-and-shoot opportunities. With Kevin Love drawing double teams and LeBron driving and kicking, Irving will have more opportunities for wide open catch-and-shoots than ever before.
Matthew Delledova
To be short, Delly needs to do what Delly does best, and that is hit open shots, play good perimeter defense, and run the offense. Delly is the favorite to be the second string point guard and that may be one of the most important positions for this team. For a second unit that looks serviceable at best, Delly running David Blatt’s offense is going to be huge. Blatt’s offense thrives on movement and he’ll need to keep the offense flowing in order for the team to be successful.
A.J Price
Price was brought in as a possible third point guard. It is unclear if Price will make the roster with Dion Waiters and LeBron James also being able to handle the ball. Price’s best stretch of his career came with the Washington Wizards. The Wizards went 3-29 and Price put up marginal stats, but he shot a decent 35% from three.
Shooting Guards
Dion Waiters
Waiters is possibly the most charismatic Cavalier since Shaq suited up in 2009. He’s a two guard who excels at dominating the ball and attacking the rim to get shots for him and his teammates. Waiters is an above average 3 point shooter (shooting 37% last year) and is a very ferocious player who plays with a ton of emotion. Despite his feisty nature, Waiters is a poor on ball defender and can be classified as average at best. He will see his points go down if he remains in the starting lineup and it looks that is how he will start the season. Waiters could be a terrific asset for the second unit if Blatt decides that is where he is most needed. If Dion accepts this role, he would have a serious chance at winning 6th man of the year. He fits the mold of James Harden, Jamal Crawford, and J.R Smith to a T. He plays mediocre defense but the guy can absolutely light you up. If Waiters can accept being the 4th option with the starters and hit open shots, he can be the piece to put this team over the top.
Mike Miller
Mike Miller is a sniper, first and foremost. One of the deadliest shooters in the league, Miller averaged 46% from beyond the arc last year, good enough for 3rd best in the league. Miller is a below average on ball defender but he is a veteran and he understands playing team defense, something the Cavs will need more than maybe any other team in the league. Miller’s greatest contribution to the team is the spacing he will provide. LeBron loved playing with Miller in Miami because he knew that either LeBron was going to get to go 1 on 1 or that Miller’s man would double down and help and he could kick it out to Miller and Miller would make the shot.
Joe Harris
The only thing Joe Harris needs to do this year is become a Mike Miller clone. Harris is a guy who was a terrific shooter and scorer in college basketball. The second round pick is an average athlete and should be able to play good team defense. If Harris plays in 40 or so games this year, he will have made a good impression in his first year in the league.
Small Forwards
LeBron James
If LeBron can average his average 27/7/7, there is no reason to think he won’t win the MVP. Kevin Durant won the MVP last year, but Charles Barkley won it when MJ was still in the league, despite everyone knowing that both MJ and LeBron were the best players in those years. LeBron has been the best player since he entered the league and a championship this year will do wonders for his legacy. A Cleveland sports team hasn’t won a championship since 1964, despite the city having one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. If LeBron can deliver a championship, he may become the governor of Ohio.
Shawn Marion
The Matrix isn’t the athlete he used to be in his Phoenix days, but he is still a plus defender who can guard multiple positions. Despite his god-awful release, Marion shot 35% from three last year, which makes him a threat if left open, especially in the corners. Marion will be a great player for when Blatt wants to go small ball in the form of Kyrie-Dion-Marion-LeBron-Love. Being able to guard the 3-5 (which Kevin Love and LeBron can do as well), Marion can be a very versatile asset off the bench.
James Jones
James Jones is expected to continue to be a sniper at the end of the bench who will wear street clothes more than his uniform. Jones played in only 20 games last year, but he started in six and he netted a 51%(!) percentage from 3, a ridiculous stat. Jones is great shooter and the Cavs signed him for that exact reason.
Power Forwards
Kevin Love
It’s not often when a guy who averaged 26 and 12 last year is going to be the number two or number three option on his team, but that is the situation Love will be in. Love will always be behind LeBron in the pecking order, but depending on the teams they are playing, Love can be number 3 behind Kyrie Irving. Love is an elite rebounder, outlet passer, post player, and 3-point shooter. There is a very good argument that Love is the best power forward in the league, and he is just now entering his prime. With Love’s outlet passing ability combined with Irving, Waiters, and James athleticism, the Cavs have the potential to be the best in the league in transition offense. Love can also pass well in the half court, which will help him find open shooters when he is being double in the post. If the other team decides not to double Love, he will be able score fairly easily on just about anybody. As a member of the big 3, he will be expected to perform as such. If the Cavs want to be successful, Love needs to have an All-Star caliber season.
Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson will be a very interesting and integral part of the Cavs next year. It seems that Thompson has hit a growth spurt, which will allow him to play some center for the Cavs. In fact, in the Wine and Gold scrimmage and the preseason game against Maccabi, Thompson started at the 5. This may be because Blatt thinks that Thompson is the best choice to play the 5, or because he is trying to save Anderson Varejao for the playoffs. Thompson is a high energy guy who can be a monster on the offensive glass, and play above average post defense. Thompson can get himself in trouble when he tries too hard to prove to people that he has a jump shot. If Thompson can focus on getting points off dump offs and putbacks, playing good post defense, and playing with a high motor, he can be very valuable to the Cavs.
Lou Amundson
Amundson is a player that will fit in well with David Blatt’s offense, a guy who can pass the ball and capable of playing in an offense. Amundson can expect the James Jones treatment, where he is very frequently seen in street clothes.
Centers
Anderson Varejao
Varejao is the longest tenured Cavalier and he is a fan favorite in every sense of the phrase. When he is healthy, Varejao is one of the 15 best rebounders in the entire league. Varejao is also a capable offensive player, a very good passer, and an effective but ugly jumpshot. Varejao will get most of his points of dump offs and pure hustle, and that is exactly what the Cavs need. Varejao can also play very good post defense and is possibly the greatest charge-taker in NBA history. Without the Cavs having a traditional rim protector, the Cavs will have to protect it by taking charges and playing great team defense. If Varejao can stay healthy, he is a player that can help you win championships.
Brendan Haywood
Haywood was brought in for two reasons: he has a big body and an unguaranteed contract. Haywood is a trade chip, but he can be very valuable for the Cavs if they decide to retain him. He is the closest thing to a rim protector the Cavs have and that is huge. Haywood is also notorious for his mean streak and that too can be valuable for this team. Every team needs that guy who will beat the crap out of you if you touch one of his guys, and Haywood is that guy.
Alex Kirk
Kirk is expected to provide little or no production this year. He was a decent player for New Mexico State last year, but despite being 7’1″ and playing in the Mountain West, he only grabbed about 8 boards a game. Kirk tried to show off his perimeter game in summer league but he airballed a couple three pointers.
Season prediction: 58-14
The Cavs will have some growing pains in the beginning, but LeBron will have such a huge effect on building chemistry quickly. Blatt is a legend in Europe in getting the most out of his players, and there is no reason to think he can’t be at least above average at this in the NBA. The Cavs also play in the East so they should be able to beat up on the Philadelphia’s and Milwaukee’s of the conference. Paul George being hurt and Derrick Rose possibly not getting back to form is also huge for the Cavs. They should have no trouble making it out of the East and facing whoever makes it out of West. They should matchup fairly well with anyone who makes it out of the West except Memphis, but it is unlikely that they make it through. I don’t see how a team will be able to beat Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Kevin Love four games out of seven. I predict that the Cavs will win the title, and LeBron will become an immortal in Ohio legend.
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