NBA 30 Teams/30 Days Preview: With LeBron, shot at a title is real - or is it?
Editor's note: This is the 30th and final of Sam Amico's 30 NBA team previews entering the 2014-15 season.
Projected Starters
C Anderson Varejao; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG Dion Waiters; PG Kyrie Irving.
Key Reserves
C-F Tristan Thompson; F Shawn Marion; PG Matthew Dellavedova; G-F Mike Miller; G-F James Jones; C Brendan Haywood; SG Joe Harris; C Alex Kirk; PG A.J. Price; F Lou Amundson.
Coach
David Blatt, first year. It's not often this type of utter unknown is brought to the NBA. And the questions about Blatt are fair, as he's never played or coached in the league in any capacity -- until now. Overseas, he was known as a defensive guru (or so he says). Here, he's known as an offensive guru (or so we say). So far, Blatt looks like a little of both. But how well will he relate and get his message across to NBA players? Does he have the necessary patience to understand you're not going to win all 82 games -- or really come anywhere close? Can he manage substitutions, personalities, and the league's biggest star in LeBron James? Today, Blatt is nothing more than the NBA's biggest mystery. Only tomorrow will tell us for sure.
Strengths
Regardless of who won MVP last season, James remains the NBA's best player. No one is really a close second. He does everything, and he does almost all of it better (sometimes significantly better) than everyone else. He possesses size, speed, strength, a very reliable jumper and is the best passing forward since Larry Bird. The Cavs have LeBron and no one else does. Advantage, and a major one, to the Cavs. ... Love is the only player in the NBA capable of leading the league in both 3-point percentage and rebounding. His passing is almost as accomplished. At 23, he was a top-five player. He's 26 now. If he gets back to that former level, this thing is over. The Cavs will run everyone out of the gym. ... Irving was a top-10 point guard under stifling former coach Mike Brown, and will likely be top three in this situation. He always plays his best with really good players around him. ... Waiters is coming along nicely as a fourth option. He only needs to improve his shot selection. ... Varejao and Thompson are quality rebounders who will get plenty of open looks next to the Big Three and Waiters. ... Marion and Dellavedova add toughness, determination and willingness to defend anyone, anywhere.
Weaknesses
The guys on this team don't know each other very well, and you have to wonder about chemistry. The Cavs are almost like an expansion team, only with really good players. ... Varejao and Irving were healthier last season, but it remains easy to doubt their durability. ... "Rim protector" is a stupid term and the entire concept is overrated. But it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for the Cavs to find a guy who can block or alter shots once in a while. ... The starting backcourt's defense has been atrocious.
Outlook
This team begins and ends with James -- because the team with the best player almost always has the best chance at a championship. But these aren't the Heat of 2010. Love, Irving, Waiters and Thompson are huge pieces, and not one has played in so much as one playoff game. So how will they fare on the game's bigger stages (read: the playoffs and perhaps Finals)? It's an interesting question, because here you have a team with guys who have done nothing, combined with guys who have done tons, combined with a coach who we know so little about. One thing is for certain: The Cavs and their fans should have tons of fun seeing how it all plays out. And that, really, is all we know.
