By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
October 22, 2010
Wrapping up the preseason and looking ahead -- not just to Wednesday night's opener, but way ahead -- in regard to the Cavaliers.
1. Here's what was really good about the preseason: The pace was what Byron Scott wanted, the guards were really good at both ends of the floor and the Cavaliers won. They won totally meaningless games against opponents who were less than interested in winning and lost to a Euroleague Team, but they won six of eight games and executed nicely in doing so. The outstanding play of Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson not only allows Mo Williams extra time to get right mentally and physically but it allows the team to entertain thoughts of eventually moving Williams and in the meantime allows the Cavaliers to continue to try to play at a breakneck pace and dare teams to keep up. There was obvious progress in grasping the offense almost across the board and embracing Scott's mentality and points of emphasis. It's a team that's going to play fast, play hard and compete like crazy while having enough flexibility to adapt.
2. Here's what was just OK -- or, maybe more accurately, up and down -- in the preseason: The Cavaliers didn't get to play a single game at full strength due to various injuries and issues. Preseason is for tinkering and resting veterans, anyway, but a team with a new coach would have liked a couple chances to play its best eight guys together for at least a half. There is some depth but maybe not enough; there were times Jawad Williams scored but didn't exactly look comfortable in the offense, and it remains to be seen just how much this team will be counting on consistent offense from 35-year-olds Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker, both of whom provide great leadership but neither of whom will create much for other guys off the dribble. Anderson Varejao's early absence provided minutes and chances for Ryan Hollins, who doesn't seem destined for stardom but does seem to fit this system. Neither the starting lineup nor the rotation seem set, which can be a good thing if the guys still battling for jobs and minutes stay hungry. J.J. Hickson ended up as the preseason leading scorer and showed flashes of outstanding play, but ended the preseason on the bench and in the doghouse with Scott lamenting a lack of focus and seeming baffled as to how maybe his most talented player hasn't entirely grasped the offense.
3. Which leads us to what's concerning as the Cavs turn the page. Scott essentially said he's tired of Hickson being a kid thinking he can show up and be successful in a man's league. He can't. It takes maturity, focus and drive, and paying attention or being interested half the time doesn't cut it for any player, no matter how much raw talent he has. If he can't count on Hickson for improved consistency he can't count on a certain lineup or minutes count, and that drives coaches crazy. Scott has been refreshingly blunt about what he likes and doesn't likes from his team, and he knows he needs consistent focus and effort if the Cavs are going to prove national doubters wrong. Last weekend he talked about margin for error and the importance of consistently playing hungry, and you'd think a team full of guys looking to redeem/establish themselves, both individually and as a team, would be giving max effort and max attention to the little things a new coach is preaching.
4. Let's look at the big picture. I know the Anderson Varejao trade rumors are a topic of discussion, but I have a hard time believing the Cavs would move him right now unless they were getting an absolute steal in return. They're going to have to defend and rebound in order to run the way Scott wants them to run, and Varejao is a big part of that -- especially if Hickson keeps spending time on Planet J.J. I do believe there will eventually be trades and movement, but I wouldn't put Andy on top of that list. Then again, with a new coach and new general manager and new start on almost every level of the organization, nothing would surprise me. While the Cavaliers are going with the "all for one, one for all" slogan for themselves, I'll go with that: Nothing will surprise me. Not winning early. Not losing a ton. Not making one trade or making five.
5. I think Scott likes his starting five (six, with Jamison/Hickson up in the air). I know he likes Sessions and Gibson and the way they've asserted themselves as leaders. I know he likes the overall attitude as far as embracing the underdog/counted out role and the way the team has made strides. It will be a while before we know how guys react to certain situations in real games, how Hickson handles his coach's challenge, how Jamison handles whatever role he ends up playing and how the Cavs will go once they get tired legs and face tough road games. There are going to be nights when the shots drop and this team scores a bunch. I think there are going to be nights when Mo and Andy lead the way and the Cavs win games most think they won't. There are also going to be rough patches, and the decisions that lie ahead must be made with the future in mind. Could this team win 40, 45 games? Probably. Is it more important that Scott keeps teaching, keeps evaluating who fits and Chris Grant makes the right deal when he decides to use that trade exception? Absolutely. So, until then, we'll watch and wait and, because we're Clevelanders, we'll believe. For a while, anyway. I figure it's going to be fun, and I know nothing is going to surprise me.
