Cleveland's Finest

JR Smith Kyle Korver Jason Terry JJ Redick Mo Williams Ray Allen

I can agree with kingfish's top 5. He wasn't ignorant enough to put Denver over Cleveland. Orlando and Cleveland are debatable so I can accept those.

I really think Kleiza is the guy we should be targeting. He was awesome for Denver and is a physical beast. Can shoot the 3 too. Looks like Joe Smith isn't gonna be resigned so far.

A lot said our defense would take a hit when we got Mo last year. Now we have a bigger man to guard the teams with bigger men. He's also a quality blocker. And a good defensive rebounder. He does have defensive strength to ya know.

How can you overrate Shaq? Look at him this past year. I just don't see how a huge drop off can be expected.

So expect a huge year from Vince because the offense doesn't change. But expect Shaq, who made the all-star team and got 3rd all team NBA honors (Vince didn't get anything close to that last year), to score 8 ppg and rebound 5 a game and suddenly drop off because you don't think they'll learn to use him effectively. And you're telling me Shaq won't be motivated like VC? He's gotta show up Dwight this year, get his fifth title before Tim and Kobe, show the doubters like you he can still play, and win a ring for the king. I guess people like you will keep him even more motivated He'll never lose his size and for that he'll be just as good. Lol...I think i've lost my whole rep in this thread. Amazing how a team can lose so much respect. Guess it's the LeBron haters ganging up.

LeBron will be a year older and Mo will have had a year of experience with us under his belt. His stats were just on par with Jameer. Andy can help defend the pick and roll. I highly doubt Mike Brown won't go over how to defend a pick and roll after what happened in the playoffs. And we got anthony Parker to help defend the size in Lewis.

Were you by any chance on TopSportsTalk forums, or TST last year before it ended? I think I might remember you writing an article for the TST news thing we did.

VC replaces Lee? Than who replaces Hedo..... Cavs didn't lose weapons. Sasha and Ben weren't weapons. We gained an inside presence, championship background, and power in Shaq. We gained depth, length, and shooting in Parker. Sasha was never consistent. Looking at Parker's long career in the game, I think he deserves atleast the belief that he'll produce. Orlando lost the weapons that got them past Cleveland. How do the Cavs run a different offense? Were we a fast paced team before? No....Now when LeBron dribbles for 20 seconds and then shooting...he can rather pass to Shaq. Imo...the Cavs have the two most dominant forces in NBA history. LeBron and Shaq are the strongest and most impactful players on the court and therefore command double teams. Boobie, Wally, Parer, West, Z, and Mo will shoot when the double comes.

Well it looks like we have no sure deals discussing right now. I don't know how much better of an offseason we needed. We got a 17 and 8 future hall of famer for nothing. Our roster needs no more shakeups of major doings.

This is a good deal. But it's not by default getting Bass gets a title.. Just a solid replacement for Gortat. Bass has proven though he can play.

So Orlando loses Gortat and Battie...gains Bass and Ryan Anderson. They lose Hedo.....gain VC. They lose Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee....gain who? The Cavs lose Ben Wallace....gain Shaq. They lose Sasha....gain Danny Green and Anthony Parker. That's where I'm lost. Tell me what makes the Cavs somehow worse than last season all the sudden. Also...Cleveland has just as good if not a better frontcourt than Orlando. We have Z who can shoot the ball. Name a big for Orlando who can do that. Andy, Shaq, and Z are every type of big man wrapped into a rotation.

Apparently the Pistons, Bulls, and Heat are favorites for homecourt advantage and the Cavs are now a 5-8 seed team from reading the absurd posts in this thread.

West has more above average teams but they have also many teams on the decline. Suns, Rockets, even Hornets beginning to dwindle. Mavs aging as well. In the East, you have the Cavs, Celts, and Magic, as well as the teams on the verge of becoming great such as the Bulls and 76ers (led by young stars in Rose, Iggy). Also, Toronto and Charlotte are now playoff contenders. Washington has refueled and is rid of injuries. So many teams got better in the East. In the West, the Spurs, Mavs, and Lakers got better, but what's left really? Phoenix and Houston aren't the same (assuming Tmac is traded or isn't the same Tmac). The Jazz and Blazers really haven't improved. The Jazz have actually gotten worse since making the WCF in 2007. Dallas is aging even more by losing Bass and Wright. Portland, unless they get Millsap, really didn't do much to improve. I just think the East teams have done a better overall job in improving their teams over the offseason and from the results of the 08-09 season. And in the East, you can say Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando can make the finals. But is Denver or Dallas really going to surpass SA or LAL in the end and make the finals? Just can't see it. Sure, it can, but just saying. I still don't see Denver or Dallas as elite teams.

LeBron has the lockdown defense. I dunno how much more of an upgrade we need defensively. We kept the Pistons and Hawks under 90 points in 8 games and had the lowest opponent ppg in the league. LeBron and Gerald are too similar. I just can't see them on the court together. They are one in the same athletically. That's also why I didn't want Artest. Just bulky strong guys like LeBron.

Remember that post of yours when the season ends lmao. I guess I can only like that once again we're being looked down on. Cav writers are calling the Shaq deal the first sure thing in awhile. You think management is stupid enough to not to what they're gonna get from him? The Larry Hughes deal was risky. The Mo Williams deal was risky. In the LeBron era, this is the surest move we've made. But yet again we still aren't good enough. But I'm all for proving it again this year. Lemme guess..Flash...you probably think we'll finish with under 50 wins and Detroit will overtake us? The Nuggets beat two mediocre teams to advance and the Lakers laziness allowed them to win 2 games. They aren't elite. The Cavs are on of 4 elite organizations right now. (Boston, Cleveland, LA, and San Antonio) Of any team in the league, we have the longest current streak of advancing past the 1st round and I see no difference next season. We'll make the ECF and won't blow any home games and we will win the title because Shaq gives us the FIRST big force inside. Z was never a big force. He was a sharpshooter and he never was a presence in the paint. Shaq only adds presence to the paint. And I'm sure he'll set picks and let LeBron occupy the court when he drives. Shaq isn't stupid enough to ruin this franchise because he just isn't and Cavs management knows him.

Verajao would defend Duncan because he can defend better. We were the best defensive team in the league last year and Z isn't that good of a defender to begin with. So how is Shaq gonnabe a problem. Mo adjusted well last year. And when I see Shaq score 17 and rebound 8 I just don't see how he "doesn't" fit in with an offense. And if you think shaq is taking the ball out of LeBron's hands, then you gotta be kidding me. Go to youtube and watch the WHOLE press conference.

I really don't want this deal anyways. seriously....how many 15 plus ppg scorers do we need? That would hurt the team as far as evening out playing time.

All I know is we got a guy who was third team all nba last year as well as an all-star (look at his stats). For a 36 year old, how much more did the Suns want from him last year? And our offense isn't run and shoot or give to Shaq like Pheonix's......so why bring that up.

Not every teams gonna win a ring lmao. I just don't see ow the Cavs got worse in the offseason. We were 2 wins away from the finals. Not like we got swept in the first round. It's amazing how people are so quick to suddenly take us out of the top 5. It amuses me that a team that loses nothing is suddenly put to the bottom. And you guys think the Magic got better? The Spurs and Celts will have injury troubles with their age and SA lost depth with their trade. If you think the Cavs are not in the top 5 you might as well ban yourself from this forum because you are an idiot. That's how serious I am about this pathetic assumption.

They will release because all of you people bandwagon on hating him. Chris Broussard said he asked the kids at his camp about it and they said LeBron had nothing to do with it.

So let me get get this straight....a team wins 66 games....then signs Shaq and Anthony Parker and they are supposed to suddenly be a bad team? If anything all the marks are putting Celtics/Lakers already. We blew out Denver last year and beat down Portland and Detroit. Getting Shaq and Parker only makes us better. Seriously........Cavs management is the best in the league and they really know how to trick you guys. Last year no one thought we'd be the best....this year no one thinks we'll be in the freaking top 5? We will win the east. Boston is older than [expletive] and they'll have injury troubles and they still don't have Big Baby or Leon Powe. Orlando lost their true playmaker and Lee.

Lol...does the whole board hate him because out of the hundreds of games he's played he decided to walk out in one of them? And in the hundreds of playoff games he's played he walked out in just this one? The Cavs didn't show up in Game 6 and they just disappeared. LeBron apologized and that's all he can do to make up for it.

Imo...Orlando has downgraded so much. They lost Hedo's height and strength and now the Cavs can guard Carter better height wise with Delonte and Parker. Also.....the key contributors to Orlando's success in the playoffs: Hedo, Lee, and Alston...all gone. Sure, Anderson will pick up Battie's minutes, but Orlando IMO lost too many role players in the backcourt and they lost a lot of their shot creaters in Lee and Hedo. Boston and Cleveland only gained and Orlando was the only team that lost this offseason so I'm afraid you have to put them at the 3 by default. If Orlando can get Big Baby or Lee then I'd say who knows. And Gortat's physicality is really gonna be missed. Now who's the legit backup for Dwight? Orlando can still make and win the finals and by getting Vince they did get better in some areas....but for now I'll put them at the 3 seed because they lost the most this offseason of the big 3 in the East.

Lol...seems like Portland never gives up much in any trade and this will follow suit. This is probably their Plan B if they don't get Andre Miller.