Team Expert/Cool Guy: Amar Panchmatia of the very insightful blog that is bearing "witness" to LeBron James' greatness, Cavalier Attitude.
Questions and Answers:
1. Can LeBron James actually get any better? After an excellent
postseason performance last time out, can LeBron get the Cavaliers to
the Promised Land this season?
LeBron can absolutely get better. Keep in mind that we're talking about a guy who is just entering his fourth season in the league and just last year made his playoff debut. He has yet to win a scoring title or lead the league in any sort of statistical category. He hasn't been named league MVP yet (although it just might happen this season). And last but not least, his defense, though improving under new Cavs head coach Mike Brown, is light years away from the defense of upper-echelon players. Kobe Bryant is known as a flashy scorer, yet he was named to an All-Defensive team in his career. Jordan's defense was by far the most underrated part of his repertoire. If these are the guys he is being compared to, defense must be one of his strengths. Right now, it's one of his flaws. But don't expect that to stay so. When LeBron reaches his peak, he just might start leading the Cavs to championships all by himself. If and when they ever get him some consistent help, it will be downright scary.
2. How much of a difference will a full year with Larry Hughes, last offseason's seemingly final piece of the puzzle and LeBron's Scottie Pippen, make for the season?
The Cavaliers relied heavily on Larry Hughes to come in and pick up from where he left off in Washington. And what he was in Washington was a triple-double threat who could score in bunches, defend the best perimeter players, and play both on and off the ball in the backcourt. Hughes failed miserably in doing so, and instead of suffering his annual 20-game injury, he went down for an astounding 45 games. Expecting Hughes to play all 82 games (or even 75) is nothing more than a pipedream at this point, as he is going into his ninth year and hasn't played a full season with one team in his career to date. But if they can get that 2004-05 version of Hughes back, even for the 61 games he played that year, this team will make the so-called pundits who aren't picking them to go all the way this year feel ashamed of themselves once the playoffs approach.
3. Who's more underrated - Zydrunas Ilgauskas OR Anderson Varejao?
There is no question that Anderson Varejao is underrated. Ilgauskas has made not one but two All-Star teams in his career. He is generally regarded as one of the top five or six centers in the league. Most (and almost all) NBA fans know who he is because of his longevity in the league and his status as one of LeBron's better teammates. But Varejao exploded on to the scene in last season's playoffs, and he won't look back. When the Cavs lost Carlos Boozer, they acquired Varejao and Drew Gooden with the idea of using Gooden to replace Boozer. As it turns out, Varejao might be that guy, instead. The Brazilian's game is a carbon copy of Boozer's when he donned the wine and gold. If Varejao stays healthy and is given the minutes, he can replicate Boozer's numbers of 15 and 11 when the latter was a Cav. Plus, he's only 24-years old. Ilgauskas is 31 and in the twilight of his tenure.
4. Anything else you want to say about the Cavaliers?
The talk has been about the Bulls adding Ben Wallace and about Miami possibly repeating. This Cavs team is every bit as good as anybody in the league. They possess, without any question, the best player in the East. Only Kobe Bryant is a better player right now than LeBron. This ballclub lost Hughes and Varejao for a combined 100 games last year and still won 50 games. Add to that the fact that they were bringing in three new free agents, had a new head coach, and employed a new general manager. Anybody not expecting Cleveland to improve on its 50-32 mark from last year and go deeper into the playoffs this Spring is just not paying attention.
5. Who wins the NBA Finals this coming season (besides your team, that is)? Just give me a team name at least.
San Antonio Spurs.
Amar, thanks for taking the time out and shedding some insight on what to expect from the Cavs this upcoming season!
MY TAKE - Things Go Right If These Three Things Happen:
1. Drew Gooden becomes a double-double player.
2. Someone else other LeBron becomes an effective point guard, enabling James to set up more and become even more of a scoring threat.
3. Larry Hughes actually stays healthy, which would really be more gravy on the meat since the Cavs proved they could win without him because of that LeBron guy.
MY TAKE - Things Go Wrong If These Three Things Happen:
1. If the day comes when all of the media outlets are talking about LeBron James' season-ending injury.
2. Eric Snow or Damon Jones are the starting point guard by the end of the season.
3. Anderson Varejao is known more for his hair than his play, which was outstanding last season coming off the bench.
