Training Camp Preview (Part 3)

Welcome to yet another edition of my four part segment on previewing the Cavaliers, while training camp gets officially underway. Part three will be focusing on the big fella’s, the men in the middle, the force down low, or as I like to call them, the centers.

After last season the Cavaliers had two future Hall-of-Famers depart town.  Shaquille O’Neal left to play in Boston, chasing another ring to add to his arsenal.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas left Cleveland after 12 seasons with the Cav,s to go play with LeBron in Miami.  Right there is two future Hall-of-Famers with over 40,000 points and 16,000 rebounds combined that just left town!

That leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers with two BIG problems if you know what I’m getting at. At the moment, the Cavaliers have only two true centers on the roster, so let’s take an in-depth look at them.

Centers:

Ryan Hollins—The young Ryan Hollins will finally look to find a home with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Entering his fifth season, Cleveland will be his fourth new home. Hollins will look to use his advantages over the past centers from a few years ago, as he explained. 

“I bring a different tempo; I’m slender, quicker, more athletic. Those guys are two of the top All-Star big men in this league and they’ve done so much in their time. But I’m going to bring that youth, that energy and hard work and try to create a name for myself.”

That he will; Hollins brings much more from an athletic standpoint than Ilgauskas and Shaq ever did.  He is faster and more athletic.  Hollins will look to use his gifts as an advantage under Coach Scott’s wing. With Scott’s up-tempo style offensive system, Hollins will look to use the running as an advantage.  Byron also expects and will demand consistent rebounding from Ryan if he wants to play significant minutes.

“Coach already has a system that he wants to play, and I’m definitely blessed to be a part of it and kind of fit that mold,” Hollins stating. “He’s not going to say, ‘Let’s walk the ball up the floor.’ He’s saying, ‘Let’s go, let’s run. Let’s get into pick-and-rolls.’ And that’s definitely the strong part of my game. When it’s time to execute (in the halfcourt), let’s execute. But definitely knowing that the first push is to run is going to be huge.”

Hollins is coming off his best season yet in Minnesota, where he averaged 6.1 points and 2.8 rebounds. He will look to continue to improve and also flourish under the “Princeton” as he will be needed to help bolster a slim frontcourt.

Anderson Varejao—Last season Andy was recognized as one of the Top 10 Defenders in the game. Just three seasons ago, Anderson Varejao was known as a "flopper” and a player who would get underneath a players skin. Varejao was a player that everyone hated and probably still does. However, Varejao was one of the best players for the Cavaliers last season. He boasted an astonishing +514 PER (Player Efficiency Rating). That +514 was third-best in the entire league. The “Wild Thing” turned into much more than just an annoying “flopper.”  But this season will be different; Players will be looking for him to be the man leading in the middle. He will no longer have Shaq and “Big Z” to look-up to. He must step-up his game and prove to everyone that he can play without LeBron.

Look for the Cavaliers to use Leon Powe, JJ Hickson and Antwan Jamison in the center position at times this season as well; The Cavaliers could decide to go with a small line-up. A team who will like to get up and down the floor fast, can sometimes effectively use smaller players. Either way you look at it, things are looking up for this team.  Very soon, we'll have a real idea of what we can expect from this year's Cavaliers.

All for One. One for All

Keep you heads up Cleveland

Will Manny Harris lead the Cavs to the promised land?

"Don't talk to me about aesthetics or tradition.  Talk to me about what sells and what's good right now.  And what the American people like is to think that the underdog still has a chance."  The late George Steinbrenner was once quoted as saying that, obviously talking about this year's Cleveland Cavaliers, and more specifically Manny Harris as a training camp invitee.

You might have several questions, all of which clearly demonstrate your lack of Association-related expertise.  Who exactly is Manny Harris, why are we talking about him, and what does this have to do with the Cavaliers?  I would like to reiterate, that all of the aforementioned inquiries clearly demonstrate your lack of basketball knowledge. 

Manny Harris was a legendary college basketball player celebrated for his memorable offensive-juggernaut status as a member of the Michigan Wolverines.  Manny was such a stud that he chose to declare himself for the 2010 NBA draft, after a promising junior campaign.  There were some who would question this decision, declaring him a raw product and unworthy of a draft at any position.  Really?  Sadly, the heroic Wolverine did just that, going undrafted in an unfathomable shock to his ego and basketball aptitude. 

Why would every team in the Association pass up the opportunity to draft who was essentially Clark Kent disguised in a Maize and Blue uniform?  I'll throw you some statistics;  Mull over each of them in amazement as we consider the utter ignorance of the front office executives who chose to waste their draft picks elsewhere.  Now we're all aware of the national powerhouse Redford High School in Detroit, so I won't bother explaining their mascot is affectionally known as a "Huskie."  Tell me more you say?

In High School alone, Manny became the first player to start for three consecutive Detroit Public School League championship teams since the feat had been accomplished by the sensational Jalen Rose.  In a single game, Harris recorded 52 points and 15 rebounds, a mere 48 shy of the mark Dajuan Wagner dropped during High School in New Jersey.  Okay, so he had one good game.. so what?  Let's also remember in that same season, Manny would go on to average 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.  I'll also have you remember I selected him in my HS Detroit League fantasy team that same year.  Talk about a steal in the 2nd round.

It would make sense then that Manny would be named 2007's Mr. Basketball in the great state of Michigan.  He received offers from Tennessee, UCLA, and Indiana just to name a few.. but he was always going to be a Wolverine.  He would not disappoint, and came into his freshman year ready to make the impact that was clearly expected of him.  He led Michigan in scoring with 16 points per game, set the record for free throws made in a season as a Wolverine, and also took home Big 10 Player of the Week honors. 

As a result of his efforts, the next year Manny was named a Big 10 preseason All-First team player.  Really?  They give out preseason All-1st team player awards?  Obviously, this award is coveted amongst the college ranks as it marks a significant achievement yet to occur.  Robbie Hummel was named Preseason Big 10 player of the year.  In a shocking revelation, some have pointed out that being named a Preseason All Big 10 nominee doesn't necessary translate to the actual season.  Fascinating, I know.  In both 2005 and 2007, only 2 players on the Preseason team would actually make the Regular season All Big 10 team.  I love those kinds of awards, (Preseason "Blogger of the Year") I'll take two please.

Manny actually did hold on to that award however, and impressed during his sophmore campaign.  So much so, that he became widely regarded as the top rated player in the Big 10.  Manny was content with garnering the recognition he deserved, and felt the need to open the season with a Triple Double just to confirm the hype.  Try to forget that came against Division II Northern Michigan, that's beside the point. 

There are several prominent theories, of which few are considered logical or even sensible, as to why Manny eventually went undrafted in this year's NBA Draft.  For starters, Manny has dealt with a serious injury issue regarding his ankle.  Apparently such a minor flaw can prove to be too big of a concern for the NBA scouts and talent development.  I still question their evaluation.  Depending on who you ask, Manny was fueled with rage and decided to unleash his anger in a domination of the NBA summer league with the Cleveland Cavaliers.  He would only see limited action however, due to the same nagging ankle injury and additionally he developed an issue with his hamstring.

The Cavaliers made the obvious move to allow Manny to try out with the team during this year's training camp, which began yesterday.  I believe I've convinced myself he deserves an opportunity to show what he can do, although he's what George Steinbrenner would consider "an Underdog." 

Byron Scott will likely fall in love with Manny's ability to run in an uptempo system, his smooth jumper, and offense-first mentality.  However, with Ramon Sessions, Mo Williams, and Daniel Gibson already fighting for playing time, there seems to be a log-jam at the guard position and Harris is likely the odd man out.  But my question still stands.  Will Manny Harris lead the Cavaliers to the promised land?  It's a strong possibilty.  That is, if he makes the team.

                   

How Byron Scott's system will succeed with the Cavaliers

Just a few months ago, Coach Scott decided to join the Cleveland Cavaliers as head coach, just days before LeBron James made his "Decision" on ESPN. With or without LeBron James, Coach Scott knew one thing. He knew that he would bring his system and style to whoever was on the roster, at this time of the year.

The "Princeton" is a system in which Coach Scott is going to bring to the Cavaliers. It's a system that focuses on tough defense and a fast-paced offense. An offense that will look to run and create more possessions for the young athletic team. A system that requires each and every player to be in fantastic shape as running will be key.

The Princeton also focuses on ball movement as well as player movement in the half-court offense sets.  In my eyes, this is key for the success of the Cavaliers this season. The ball will be consistently moving around and will create better quality shots. This, a vast improvement over last season's one man show (LeBron James.) Instead of watching James pound the ball in one spot for 22 seconds and then pass the ball off to a standing teammate, the ball will always be on the move. The Princeton is the style of offense the Cavaliers should have been playing for the past 3 seasons.

The new system will be very effective for this team, if the system can be properly executed. The Cavaliers have the players and coaches to have a fantastic season on the offensive as well as the defensive side of the ball.

The Cavaliers have a roster full of young athletic talent. Mo Williams leads the way, as the team will look for him to be a leader. A fast paced system will help him get open looks, as well as creating for others in the open court. Other guards such as Ramon Sessions and Boobie will also flourish under the Princeton.  The fast pace will create more opportunities for these players to find each other and get good shots on each possession.

The two players that I believe will benefit the most under Coach Scott will be Antawn Jamison and JJ Hickson. Jamison played under Eddie Jordan in which Jordan ran a similiar system. A run and gun system in which Jamison average 20 and 10 that season. At the age of 34, Jamison still has enough legs underneath him to possiblly post 20 and 10 numbers again, or maybe even better.

JJ Hickson is another young athletic player who will put up huge numbers under Scott. A player that showed he has all the potential last season will look to take his game to the next level with Coach Scott running the show. A strong finisher at the rim and very athletic, JJ could be considered a poor man's Amare Stoudemire by the end of the season.  A lot of experts predict Hickson to have a breakout season and his domination in the Summer league is solid evidence that just may be the case.

Byron Scott has all the young athleticism he could ask for. Now it is time to use his motion offense and employ the talent he has to help lead the Cavaliers to the playoffs. A system that I believe will succeed in Northern Ohio.  Good things are on the horizon.

All for One. One for All.

Keep your heads up Cleveland

Training Camp Preview (Part 2)

Welcome to the second addition of my training camp preview with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In my first part I previewed the guards in which Mo Williams & company will look to take control of this team. Now it’s on to the forwards, in which things will look a little different this season from than others in the past.

Without the former “King” in town, there's a big gap in the small forward position. Who is going to step up and take advantage of an open starting role? Who will try and fill LeBron’s shoes at the 3 spot? Let’s take a look at the candidates and the other forwards.

Forwards:

Jamario Moon—The highflying former globetrotter is one of three players that are in the running for the starting spot to replace LeBron James. Last season the high-octane jumper averaged close to 17 minutes a game, while scoring just under 5 PPG. Moon will have an advantage over the others because of his well known defense. He also showed Cavalier fans that he could shoot the ball from 3-point range. Moon is a high flyer and has enough athleticism to get him the starting spot.

Joey Graham—In 63 games with the Denver Nuggets last season, Graham played in just 12 minutes of action a night. The man with a 6 foot 7" 225 lb. body frame averaged 4.2 PPG and 2.9 rebounds a game. Graham showed last season that he could be a scorer in the league, scoring 21 points against Utah and 20 points against Golden State. However, inconsistency was Graham’s middle name and the Cavaliers will be looking for more from him this season. Graham is also known as a good defender, and that might help him make a case for a starting role.

Jawad Williams—Yes, the hometown native (not LeBron James) will finally have a chance to step out of the shadow. Williams signed a one-year deal this offseason to remain with the Cavaliers. Last season Jawad played in 54 games (six starts), and averaged 4.1 PPG while shooting a career best 39%, playing just over 13 minutes a game. Williams showed that he could shoot the ball extremely well last season and could stretch the floor. His offensive skills will be his best argument for the starting role.

Antawn Jamison— Do not sleep on the 34 year old veteran. Jamison will look to make big strides in Coach Scott’s up-tempo system. When Jamison played for Eddie Jordan in Washington, he averaged 20 a game. Jordan used the same style of offense Coach Scott will be using for the Cavaliers. Jamison could thrive in the system and by the end of the year could end up being in the starting role at the 3. There will be times in which Byron Scott will play Jamison a lot. But as of right now the word is he will be the sixth man, but likely could end up playing a huge role for the Cavaliers.

Christian Eyenga—Standing at 6 foot 6", I guess you could have put him with the guards but he is could also be used as a small forward. With his athleticism and length it would make more since to play him at the 3. Anyways, this young man out of Kinshasa, Dominican Republic of Congo has lots of upside. The young man is very athletic and can jump out of the gym. This season Eyenga will be learning the game and also also the language (English), and eventually could be a nice player in the upcoming seasons.

JJ Hickson—JJ Hickson will be a huge piece for the Cavaliers this season. The projected starting power forward will be one of the center pieces this year. A good finisher at the rim and a very athletic forward, Hickson has all the upside that any team wants in a player. No wonder why the Cavaliers wouldn’t trade him the past two seasons. Last season he showed glimpses of greatness yet at other times showed a lack of focus. This season the Cavaliers will look for that same greatness with 100% focus.

Samardo Samuels—I have high hopes for this kid. Consider at one time during his freshman year at Louisville as the best offensive forward the kid soon went undrafted. Samuels is another young gunner and has all the upside. Samuels has a lot of offensive tools in his arsenal and hopefully he will get a chance to show them. In a few years I bet Samuels will be a solid if not great player. This season may be more of the learning side, but he could earn himself some opportunities.

Leon Powe—Everybody is seeming to forget about Leon. Back in Boston, Leon was considered a great power forward before he got injured. While still young and stating that he is 100 percent back to normal, Powe is looking for a comeback season. A smart player who knows how to get to the line will be key for this man to get minutes. His hustle and determination, to go along with his experience playing with a former champion will also bring leadership.

With training camp right around the corner it looks like a three-man race between, Moon, Graham and Williams to take the starting role. However, don’t forget about Jamison as he might make some people question the previous statement.

All for One. One for All.

Keep your heads up Cleveland

Report: Brian Windhorst leaving Plain Dealer for ESPN to cover the Heat

Reports have surfaced that Brian Windhorst is "taking his talents" to South Beach to cover the Miami Heat.  This after ESPN offered him what I'm sure is a lucrative deal for his insider access of LeBron.  I'm not surprised, and I don't even really care.  Windhorst was always a LeBron lover.

Like LeBron, he chose to ditch the city that put him on the map.  Congrats Brian, we won't miss you.

Sincerely, the city of Cleveland

** I recently decided my comments about Brian were unfair and were rather rash and unfounded.  It's simply bad timing for another prominent name in Cleveland sports to be heading to Miami (and ESPN).  You can't blame him for choosing a bigger market and wanting to advance his career.  He deserves respect as does any other reporter.  I still stick by my statement that he is a LeBron lover.  And he might just regret this decision when the 8 seed Cavaliers upset #1 Miami in a playoff shocker of epic proportions.  Don't quote me on that.

The Wine & Gold Scrimmage - Friday, October 1st

This year’s edition of the wine and gold scrimmage will again be held at the University of Akron’s Rhode Arena, this Friday at 7:00 pm.   This will be a great opportunity to watch an entertaining intra-squad scrimmage.   The scrimmage is free with an entrance voucher. 

If you are interested in seeing the overlooked, underrated players on the Cavaliers' roster for the upcoming season, this is the best opportunity to do so.  It will also be an exclusive opportunity to see head coach Byron Scott take control of this team in the first public appearance of the season.  Unlike other teams that claim their goal and mindset will be to “run the ball,” Byron actually makes it happen.  This year’s team will be exciting to watch, as an uptempo pace is exactly what is needed.  No more watching an overrated player dribble the ball at the top of the key while the shot clock winds down.  Scott will have this team in shape and ready to run at every chance.  At the very least, this team will be fun to watch.

It will be interesting to see who can step up and take ownership of this team.  Obviously with the injury, Mo Williams will not be playing;  This will give Ramon Sessions an opportunity to show why he should be starting.  Will Jawad Williams make the proverbial leap to become the starting SF, or will Jamario Moon cement his starting position?  Does Ryan Hollins have the skillset to start at center in the NBA?  And will Anderson Varejao be able to create offense essentially on his own? 

This scrimmage will go a long way in determining who can play and who will be watching the games on the bench.  Personally, I’m excited to see Samardo Samuels perform either against or alongside JJ Hickson, both of which are talented but raw forwards in the Association.  I’m not sure if Eyenga will start the season on the roster or whether they will send him to the D-league to start out, but either way he has the talent and athleticism to become a special player in this league.

At this point with Williams out, everyone expects Jamison to take the role as veteran leader of the team.  Will he return to his All-Star form and average 20 points a game?  Looking at our roster, it certainly might be required of him.  The main question for Jamison will be whether or not he is coming off the bench.  The combination of Hickson, Varejao, Hollins, and Jamison will mean someone is not on the floor for the opening tip.  I’d like to at least see Scott try to play Jamison at the 4 and start Hickson at Center, with Varejao coming off the bench for his much needed spark.  I’m excited to see what the Cavaliers will be able to do this season; I don’t agree with anyone that says we won’t be able to compete. 

Like most people in this great city of Cleveland, I already have December 2^nd circled on my calendar.  But first things first, let’s have a good showing at the Wine and Gold scrimmage and set the bar high for the season.  We might be missing a superstar, but we gained a great coach and a new offensive philosophy.  We won’t have to worry about pleasing a self-absorbed primadonna.  I’m convinced we’re a playoff team, and you won’t be able to tell me otherwise.  Preseason starts in 8 days.   Is there anything better than Cavaliers basketball?

Training Camp Roster Set

Just days before the Cavaliers take court in Independence, Ohio the training camp roster was announced. Some players on the roster look familiar such as: Boobie Gibson, Mo Williams, Jamario Moon, Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao and more.

However, there are some new faces this season. Christian Eyenga, the first rounder in 2009 will be on the Cavaliers roster this season for the first time. Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins came over from Minnesota, and Samardo Samuels was picked up after an impressive summer league with Chicago. But just like any other year, the Cavaliers have invited some young players to see if they have what it takes to make the team.

Training Camp Invites:

Manny Harris--Manny was an All-Big Ten Conference guard who decided to forgo his senior year as he entered the 2010 NBA Draft; Harris went undrafted. In his time at Michigan, Harris earned, 1st team: 2009, 2nd team: 2008; 3rd team: 2010, and he was also named to the All-Big Ten team. Harris was also a scholar in the classroom earning him, Big-Ten Academic All-Conference in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. Harris was a part of the 2010 Summer League playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers but saw limited action due to an ankle injury, the same ankle that may have impaired his draft status.

Cedric Jackson--A Cleveland State native, Jackson went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft. He went on to play in the D-League with the Erie Bayhawks. In his time with Erie, Jackson averaged 14.7 PPG along with 7.6 APG and 4.6 RPG. Cedric is a versatile player that could find success in Cleveland.

Tasmin Mitchell--The former LSU Tiger will join the training camp invites. The 6 foot 7 inch 235 lb. forward will look to use his strength and scoring ability to make the roster. Mitchell finished his career third on the LSU’s all-time scoring list. Mitchell made the statement, "I feel very blessed. I got the first call from them right after the draft. I'm very excited."

Greg Stiemsma—With the Cavaliers looking to add big men to their roster, Stiemsma has a real chance of making the team. The 6 ft 11 inch, 260 lb. center went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After he left, he went on to play in the top leagues in Europe. In 2009-2010, Stiemsma played with D-League, Sioux Falls Skyforce. The big fella is known for his interior defense.

Loren Woods—Another big man that the Cavaliers invited. Woods will be the tallest at camp, standing at 7 ft 2 inches. Woods was drafted in the second round, 46th overall in 2001 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. For Woods' career, he has averaged 2.6 PPG and 3.2 RPG in 215 total games. Loren will look to make the team with a limited amount of big men.

All for One. One for All

Keep your heads up Cleveland

Cavaliers Update (Oh no Mo?)

In less than a few days the Cavaliers will open training camp without former leader LeBron James. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers will also open training camp without current leader, Mo Williams.

* According to Brian Windhorst's Twitter Page Mo Williams will be out until mid-October. “G Mo Williams suffered groin muscle injury in workouts. Had an MRI, which showed no tear. Expected to be out until mid-October.”

* Mo Williams experienced a right groin pain while working out at the Cleveland Clinic Courts located in Independence, Ohio. After examination from Dr. Richard Parker and an MRI results found inflammation. He is expected to participate in low-impact drills at training camp while also going through periods of treatment and rehab.

* More Mo—Mo Williams apparently was “misquoted” about considering retirement.

“Just need to put this out there to all my fans about the yahoo story about me retiring, since it's getting a little out of hand. I was misquoted or misunderstood however u want to put it. I will clear everything up Monday on media day. I was never considering walking away right now. And especially because LBJ left. It made a good story though. Though you know I will never walk away prematurely before my contract is up. That's absurd."

* The Cavaliers also just released their promotional schedule. Some promotions include: T-Shirt giveaways, McFamily Nights, Cavalier sweater vest night, Kids Day, CavFanatic night, Anderson Varejao Booblehead and many more. So make sure to check out the promotional schedule.

All for One. One for All.

Keep your heads up Cleveland

Byron Scott will lead the Cavaliers to the Playoffs.. This Year

Quite Frankly, I'm sick and tired of hearing about how bad the Cavaliers are going to be this year.  Seriously. 

I will agree, we are not the favorite in the Eastern Conference anymore.  Granted, we might not even be in the Top 5.  (I've got the Heat, Celtics, Magic, Bulls, and Hawks ahead of us.  In that order)

Although those teams look better on paper, this is the NBA and Cavaliers are still one of the Top 8 teams in the Eastern Conference.  Who's to say that on any given night Cleveland can't beat one of those teams?

We still have Mo Williams.  Mo Gotti is an underrated regular-season player and the only knock on him is his inconsistent defense during the playoffs.  With the new uptempo offense, Mo will have a much more significant role on this team and under the tutelage of Byron Scott, will be an offensive juggernaut this season.  Quote me on that.

Antawn Jamison is still a legitimate All-Star.  Jamison represents a versatile player who can play both the 3 and the 4 position.  Do you remember how good this guy was in Washington?  Sure, he didn't look great during the Boston series but then again nobody did.  It's hard to get your looks when the team defers to a single overrated player, who quits when the going gets tough. 

During the series with Chicago, where we actually looked like the #1 seed, Antawn averaged 19.4 points per game to go along with 7 rebounds.  Playing alongside the Akron Traitor.  He's still a perrenial All-Star and will benefit NOT having LeBron to worry about.  Unlike LeBron, he is not a selfish ego-maniac and is actually a good person.

Anderson Varejao is still the best hustle player in the game.  His ability to get under the skin of opposing players is one of his best assets, not to mention his constant energy and vastly improving offensive game.  I hope he takes out LeBron at least once this year.

We've already talked about 3 great players and still haven't even mentioned J.J. Hickson's name.  This guy is all-upside and has the ability to have the presence of an Amare Stoudemire, blocking shots and getting dunks left and right.  Many predict him to become one of the premiere offensive power forwards in the league.

I'm quite convinced that Byron Scott is confident that he can win with this group of guys.  I mean, how many years did LeBron fail in Cleveland?  You're telling me with the likes of Shaquille O' Neal, Delonte, Z, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and Hickson you can't win a championship? 

I think when LeBron really sat down and thought about it, he knew he wasn't good enough to be the man and couldn't win a ring without playing alongside another player of Wade's caliber.  What happened to the good old days when the best players wanted to beat the other team, not join them?

The entire time LeBrick spent in Cleveland, the organization bent over backwards for him and the focus shifted away from the franchise and team-mentality to worshipping a player who has never won anything.  How many rings did he bring to Cleveland?  Chances are if he had stayed he still would have failed, like he always did.

For 7 years, the Cavaliers spent significant sums of money attempting to find the Robin to LeBron's Batman, when LeBron was Robin the whole time.  He consistently made a mockery of himself by passing up game-winning shots to set up his teammates.  Sure, I understand trusting your teammates but you're LeBron James.  Make some shots.

Maybe the departure of LeBron will be a blessing in disguise, and the team won't have to worry about pleasing a player who refers to himself in the 3rd person.  Dan Gilbert is the greatest owner in sports and he intends to make good on his promise to win a championship "before the former self-titled King" wins one.

I'm excited about this season, and I refuse to believe the haters.  Wouldn't it make for a hollywood story if the Cavaliers ended up as the 8th seed and knocked off Miami in the 1st round of the playoffs on their way to a championship?  Call me optimistic, or unrealistic, I really don't care.  All I know is this organization is committed to winning and there will come a time when we do win a championship.  Boston is getting nothing but older, and karma will come around for LeBron and Miami.  Byron Scott is taking this team to the playoffs, and I'm not just talking about a 1st round appearance.  Don't be surprised if the Cavaliers go 12-5 in October and November.  Byron has done more with less in the past.

Training Camp Preview (Part 1)

A new feel for the 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers is on the horizon. Training camp is less than a week away and with so many changes that happened in the off-season, one has to wonder, how will the team react?

A quick review for all the rookies out there, it all began at the top of the food chain. Danny Ferry resigned, along with the firing of former head coach, Mike Brown. And all of that to go with the loss of number 23 as his talents were taken to South Beach, kind of a lot to deal with in a two month period. The Cavaliers sure did take a big hit in the summer of 2010, losing a good GM, head coach and LeBron James.

However, some of the dark days of Summer 2010 are behind the Cavaliers, especially with newly hired head coach Byron Scott and current GM, Chris Grant. The Cavaliers have made smart, strategic moves that will help them keep the winning tradition that was built in downtown Cleveland.

The Cavaliers will open training camp September 28^th with a completely different atmosphere than most are used to. There will be new faces (Sessions, Hollins, Graham, Eyenga, Samuels, Coach Scott and GM Grant) but the expectations should remain the same. Without LeBron James running the show in Cleveland, players and coaches will have to step-up and play beyond their comfort zones. This brings me to Part 1 of 4 in a special training camp preview to kick off the Cavaliers season and of course, CavaliersUnited.com.

Guards:

Daniel Green—This former rookie will have to prove to Coach Scott that he deserves some playing time. The former Tar Heel averaged just 2.0 ppg and 0.80 rpg in only 5.8 minutes. He is known as a three-point specialist that can stretch the defense. His shooting outside will help him win minutes over with Scott and could play into a very nice bench player for the Cavs. However, Green will have to earn every second he plays with other guards looking ahead of him.

Anthony Parker— One of the two oldest players on the Cavaliers roster. Anthony will provide leadership and be a mentor in the locker room. Parker’s outside shooting is pure and he showed it at times last season. Last years starting shooting guard averaged just over 8.0 ppg while shooting .414 from long distance. The guy can shoot from the outside, we all know that. However, Parkers biggest asset that may be overlooked is his defense. Sure, at times it looked shaky but what player’s defense doesn’t look shaky at times? Parker might be one of the better defenders the Cavaliers have and that will earn him minutes.

Ramon Sessions—One of the newest faces of the Cavaliers family, Ramon came from Minnesota in part of the deal with Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair. Ramon goes way back with Mo Williams. Teammates in Milwaukee, Ramon always looked up to Mo and enjoyed being his backup. Now in Cleveland, the two are reunited again but this time Ramon doesn’t plan on backing up Mo. He has in mind the two of them starting together in the backcourt. While that may or may not happen, Ramon is happy to be in Cleveland. Ramon averaged just over 8.0 ppg with Minnesota and 3.0 apg as well. Ramon is not much of a shooter from 3-point land but is has a very high IQ for the game of basketball and knows how to run a team. His drive-and-kick style will be key to open up shots for our strong outside shooting core. His hard work ethic and High IQ will be key in earning big minutes for the Cavaliers.

Boobie (Daniel Gibson)—If you don’t know who Boobie is by now then you aren’t a true Cavalier fan. Anyways, Boobie will be another key part of the Cavaliers this season. Remember back in 2007 when he WAS a big part of the team? In the post-season he was 2^nd or 3^rd option in the offense. He was simply on fire and couldn’t miss from anywhere on the court, and that all seemed to disappear as Boobie sat on the bench for the majority of last season. Boobie looks to get his “swag” back and is expecting a big season with LeBron gone. Another part to Boobie that may be overlooked is his defense. He is quick on his feet and gets right into the player. Boobie is expecting big minutes and with that sweet stroke of his and underrated defense, it will be hard for Coach Scott not to play him.

Mo Williams—In losing LeBron James this summer to the Miami Heat, Mo Willams was appointed the leader of this team. It will be interesting to watch this young man try to fill LeBron James' shoes as the Cavaliers leader. Will he succeed or fail? All this, on the shoulders of a point guard who considered retirement soon after hearing LeBron would no longer be his teammate. Mo Williams will be the most intriguing player to watch on this team. A former All-Star and solid contributor, all while playing as LeBron James sidekick. The question is, can he still play at that same level without LeBron? Can he average 15 points again or even more? Can he make all the right passes while still creating for himself? All of this is still to be answered, but for now Mo Willams is the man in Cleveland, like it or not. Hey, at least he wanted to stay in Cleveland.

Mo Willams will be our starting point guard, but who is going to fill the shooting guard role? Parker is the logical choice but don’t count out Ramon Sessions. Parker and Sessions could be battling it out in training camp for the starting two-guard. Stay tuned in for Part 2.

All for One. One for All.

Keep your heads up Cleveland

Cavaliers United is Live

This blog was created by Ben Jackson and Jake Dorow.  We are both currently interns at Quicken Loans in Downtown Cleveland.  Cavaliers United will follow the Cleveland Cavaliers in a post-LeBron era.  We will focus on game highlights, recaps, stories, and news relating to the Cavaliers.