Cavaliers-Suns dribbles: LeBron returns

Tipoff: US Airways Center, Phoenix, 9 p.m. EST.

Records: Cavaliers 19-19; Suns 22-18.

TV: FOX Sports Ohio. Radio: WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 FM La Mega, AM 1590 WAKR (Akron)

Projected Starters

Cavaliers: C Timofey Mozgov; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG J.R. Smith; PG Kyrie Irving.

Suns: C Alex Len; PF Markieff Morris; SF PJ. Tucker; SG Goran Dragic; PG Eric Bledsoe.

Injury Report

Cavaliers: G Iman Shumpert (shoulder) out; C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) out.

Suns: None to report.

Dribbles

1. Most importantly for the Cavs, the Suns and the entire NBA is that LeBron James returns after missing the previous eight games. I suspect LeBron and the Cavs' medical team would prefer if LeBron waited until Thursday at the Lakers ... but the Cavs are 1-8 overall in his absence. Poor LeBron could no longer bear to watch.

2. James appeared totally healthy in practice Monday, according to several of his teammates. He certainly looked sharp. But James admitted he was a little sore afterward. That is likely still lingering. Cavs coach David Blatt said he hopes to keep LeBron's minutes in the low 30s. Let's see if that actually happens, because the Cavs need a stinkin' win, man.

3. This will be LeBron's first game as a 30-year old. This will be LeBron's first game with Timofey Mozgov and J.R. Smith as teammates. And it will be LeBron's first game since Kevin Love has been playing his best basketball of the season (even though the Cavs aren't winning). What's it all mean? I don't know. I don't expect the Cavs to win, though. Still too much newness.

4. That said, you can go ahead and freak out if you want. I'm not worried about the Cavs. With James, they're 18-11. They're better now with the new additions. They can win 45 games and still reach the Finals. I will stick to that until it doesn't happen.

5. Basically , there isn't a team in front of the Cavs that they can't beat in a seven-game series. It's not like they'll have to face a monster in the East. The Bulls, Wizards, Hawks and Raptors are all nice teams. But they ain't the 1986 Celtics. No one is that far ahead of the Cavs. You may not believe it, but I don't care. I do. And these are my dribbles.