The guys over at The Dream Shake were nice enough to take some time and answer some question about Cleveland's toughest opponent to visit the Q this season, the Houston Rockets --

FTS -- What is the over-all feeling Rocket's fans on the McGrady-Ming duo. There are a lot of regular season wins, but not a lot of post-season success. Why is that?

DS -- Well, for the first few years we all decided that it was because McGrady didn't have much help on the wing or at the power forward position. Then we got stronger in those areas, but Yao went down for the playoffs last season. I think most fans pin the playoff losses more on McGrady than on Yao, at least the past ones - he was the guy that said "It's on me" if we didn't advance in the playoffs, so everyone made him keep his word, and thus, he took the brunt of the blame. McGrady's supporting cast also played poorly in many of those postseason games, and especially in the finale against Utah last year when T-Mac had at least 40 points and we still lost. As for the overall feeling this season, we still hope for health, but when healthy, we like Yao to be the primary scorer and for McGrady to score when open, but to pass as often as he can - he's a gifted passer and could honestly average a LeBronian 7-8 assists a game if he decided to try to do that.

FTS -- What has the addition of Ron Artest meant to the team? He is controversial to say the least, has he been on his best behavior in Houston?

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CAVALIERS NOTES

• The statline won't really indicate it, but Mo Williams finally showed the Cavaliers, and the League, wahat he can do, hitting big shot after big shot in an early 4th quarter run that put the game away.  More importantly, perhaps, was the fact that Williams carries to offense in the 4th quarter while LeBron was getting his typical rest after the 3rd quarter.  Most times, that rest only last a couple minutes before Mike Brown is forced to get LeBron back in the game.  Last night, Brown was able to keep James on the bench an extended period of time while Williams and Co. put the game on ice.
• Speaking of James, it was his energy level, especially at the end of the 3rd quarter, that was the difference.  After a subpar performance in New Orleans on Saturday, James came out looking to attack the basket and get to the line.  The Cavs fed off the energy and raced to a 16 point advantage that sat at 9 at halftime.  The Cavs extended the lead at the beginning of the 3rd quarter before the Mavericks made the run every team makes against Cleveland in the 3rd quarter.  All of a sudden the game was tied at 63, and the Cavs had been outscored 21-12 in the period.  3:36 remained.  The Mavericks had gotten the Cavs to play their style and it was starting to show.  The next 3 minutes decided the outcome, and it was LeBron that led the way.  LeBron scored 7 straight, including 3 from the free throw line and the Cavs finished the quarter on a 9-3 run.
• The best move Danny Ferry made all summer was keeping Delonte West in a Cavaliers uniform.  West is doing a little bit of everything for the Cavaliers, and is playing the best ball of his career.  I have a feeling the $3.5 million the Cavs are paying him this year is going to look like cump change compared to the production the team is going to get each and every night -- 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals -- solid performance from the starting two guard.  Think about it.  What West is providing the Cavaliers is all the Cavs wanted from Larry Hughes, and they paid him ALOT more money and got none of it.
• Ben Wallace is back.  he has been a force defensively this year and last night was no exception.  Matched up with Dirk Nowitzki, Wallace grabbed 13 boards while holding Nowitzki to 8 points on 3/11 shooting.  Even more impressive when considering Nowitzki likes to play away form the basket.  Ben isn't playing the huge minutes he once did, but 13 boards(8 offensive) in just 22 minutes is efficient if you ask me.
• Cavaliers once again did a good job protecting the 3-point line.  The Mavericks were held to 20%(3-15)  shooting from deep, while the Cavaliers shot 35.7%(5/14).
• Every game the Cavaliers can play, and win, with LeBron playing less than 35 minutes is like buying time later in the season.  LeBron has played alot of basketball the past 3 years, and the Cavs need to get himas much rest as they can, especially early in the season when the team endures alot of road trips.

NEXT UP -- Home game Vs. Chicago (11/5)

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At 1-2, the Cavaliers have admittedly gotten off to a slow start.  I can't blame them, looking at who and where they have played.  3 games, three home openers, 2 of them on the road against elite teams in the NBA would be a tall task for any team.  Start with Boston on the night they celebrate their 17 World Championship, then on to New Orleans, a team that had the 2nd best record is the Western Conference last season. 

Not easy.

That doesn't mean the Cavs are without fault and disappointment.  Heading into another tough road game tonight, this time in Dallas, the Cavaliers committed turnovers are an alarming rate, starting with LeBron James, whose 13 giveaways in 3 games are tied for the most in the League.  The Cavaliers also fell apart in the final minutes against the Hornets, allowing over 100 points to a team playing without two of starting 5. 

That leads the Cavaliers to Dallas, and a tough week overall for the Wine and Gold.  After the Mavericks, the Cavaliers come home to face Chicago on Wednesday and Indiana on Friday before a return trip to Chicago Saturday Night.  4 games in 6 nights, 2 of which are on the road, isn't easy for anyone.

Luckily, the Cavaliers appear healthy.  Delonte West did bang his wrist during Saturday's game and was sent for precautionary X-Rays that were negative.  He is in line to start tonight against the Mavericks.

The Cavaliers also need to get Mo Williams going.  Williams has been putting alot of pressure on himself, most likely due to the fact that he was labeled the "missing piece" when the Cavaliers acquired him.  Coming off of off-season hernia surgery, Williams has yet to reach 100% and that has affected his play.  The Cavs acquired Williams becuase he was a good ball-handler, could hit the open shot, and run the floor.  So far, Williams has struggled with all three and the Cavaliers offense has grown stagnant at times, much like it has the previous few seasons under Mike Brown.

There are no panic buttons to press yet.  The season is young and the Cavaliers have done nothing but lose to two premier teams on the road.  Nothing to be ashamed of in Novemeber.  At some point, however, the Cavaliers need to turn 'it' up a notch.  No time like the present.

Cavaliers Guard Delonte West at last talked about the "personal reasons" that caused him to leave the team for two week earlier this month.  West has sought treatment for depression and a mood disorder that he says he has been dealing with his entire life.

"In a sense, you feel like a weaker man because you have to raise your hand and ask for help," West said. "But I found out over the last week that it made me a stronger person. I came back focused, and with the help of some medicine and talking with people on a regular basis, I'm back in good spirits".

West said the feelings of discontent got so great, so overwhelming, that he considered quitting basketball.

"I felt a feeling of anger and I just wanted to throw it all away and quit the team," he said.

It seems West finally realized he needed help after having a run-in with a high school official during a Cavaliers workout October 3rd.  West considered the incident a signal that he needed help.  Help is what West has received, in the form of therapy and medication.

West returned to the court last night during the Cavaliers loss to the Spurs.  West was elated just to be back.

"Being on the court felt like being on the playground as a child again," he said. "I had the time of my life last night."

Our thoughts go out to West, as well as our hopes that he has gotten the help he wants and deserves.

GO CAVS!

The Cavaliers came into Training Camp feeling great about who and where they were as a team.  No contract squabbles, no injuries, just huge expectations.  Three games into the pre-season things have drastically changed.  That Cavs have lost all three games, which in and of itself is not a concern, as LeBron tells us - 

The preseason is not about winning," James said. "You want to get some wins to feel good about yourself, but it's about learning."

Personally, I agree, and the Cavaliers have shown progress in all three games, especially on the defensive end.

My worries come off the court where issues seem to be mounting.  Injuries and excused absences have hampered the team's ability to get everyone on the same page.  Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic have played a total of 3 minutes the past two games due to injury.  For Pavlovic it is a sprained ankle, something he dealt with alot last season.  While the injury is not considered serious, the fact the a player like Pavlovic, who needs to find a rhythem in his game to be effective, continues to miss games has to be a concern to the Cavaliers.

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Last Years Record: 45-37
Key Losses: Joe Smith, Damon Jones
Key Additions: Mo Williams, J.J. Hickson

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?

This one is easy.  The Cavaliers finally made a move to get a premier point guard when they traded Joe Smith and Damon Jones in a three team deal to get Williams.  What Larry Hughes wasn't, the Cavaliers hope Mo Williams will be - a good compliment to LeBron James on the floor.  Unlike Hughes, Williams is a point guard and wants to bring the ball up the floor.  More importantly, Williams can also create his own shot and hit the open J, something that is extremely important with a player like James who demands so much attention from the defense.  Not to be understated is Williams' ability to hit free throws.  A career 85% shooter from the line, the Cavaliers have long been one of the worst teams in the NBA from the stripe and adding Williams should improve that statisitc.

One move that shouldn't get overlooked was the Cavaliers' ability to get their Restricted Free Agents signed.  Last season got of to a tumultuous start when Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao held out most of training camp.  Neither seemed to get into the flow and the team struggled a bit because of it.  This season, the Cavaliers were able to get deals done with Daniel 'Boobie' Gibson and Delonte West before the start of camp allowing the team to have it's full contingent of players right from the start.

2. What are the team's biggest strengths?

LeBron James.  Is there a bigger strength than that?  LeBron is still only 23 years old.  That means he will likely get better.  Scary.  Put James down for 30/7/7 every night and go from there.

If I had to look another direction, defense would be a strength as well.  Perhaps Mike Brown's greatest acheivement as coach of the Cavaliers has been getting James and Co. to buy into a defense-first philosophy.  Part of the reason was the Cavaliers just didn't have the talent to compete with better teams without playing strong defense.  Now with a roster that seems on the brink of greatness it will likely be a challenge to keep up the defensive intensity.  It all starts with James, however, and if he puts forth effort on the defensive end the rest of the team should follow.

3. What are the team's biggest weaknesses?

The Cavaliers are still a reletively young basketball team still trying to learn how to win, and win big.  People forget that GM Danny Ferry overturned over half the roster at the trade deadline last season and the Cavaliers were still able to push Boston to the brink.  With a full summer and training camp to get better, the sky is the limit.  That said, the Cavaliers need to show that they possess the tenacity of a champion, to put forth 100% effort, on a Wednesday Night, on the second night of a back-to-back, regardless of the opponent.  Much of that falls on James, who haas been known to take quarters, or complete games, off.  With more talent around him, and coming off a "Golden" performance in the Olympics I expect renewed leadership from James.

4. What are the goals for this team?

A Divisional Title, a top-2 seed in the playoffs and a trip back to the Finals.  The Cavaliers have the best player in the game and a decent set of pieces around him to make that happen.  The Cavaliers also possess a $13.5 million bullet in the form of Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract.  Should the need arise come February for the Cavaliers to make a move to bring in an impact player, Danny Ferry has the tools at his disposal to make that happen.  There is no reason to think a trip to the Finals is out of reach for this team, and who has the stones to ever bet against Lebron James in a 7-game series?  Yea, me neither. 


Predicted Record: 53-29

Feel free to give your own answers to the questions posed to me above in the comments!

I have September 18th marked off on my calendar as National Hyperbole Day.  Also, since this is my first post on Fear the Sword, I figure I need to make my pie in the sky optimism completely obvious.

This is the best Cavs team since 1992 - and the best Cavs backcourt for just as long.  The Mo Williams signing, the Delonte signing and the best draft since Lebron pretty much guarantee an easy path to a 2nd round match against an aging Celtics team or a Pistons team with no identity.

Think about it.  Just the backcourt for now.

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Keeping true to the words he spoke after acquiring Mo Williams in a trade last month, Danny Ferry was able to re-sign G Delonte West to a multi-year contract, ending a potentially nasty situation the Cavaliers didn't want a repeat of.

"We have consistently communicated our desire to keep Delonte as a member of this basketball team. His tenacity helps us on both ends of the floor and his defensive play certainly reflects how we want to play the game," said Ferry. "Contending teams need areas of strength and need depth. Having Delonte, Mo (Williams) and Daniel (Gibson) certainly creates an advantageous situation for us."

West has said all along that he wanted to stay with the Cavaliers, and he was visably relieved that the contract stalemate was over.

"This is the first time since I was offered a scholarship at St. Joes that I feel like I am valued as a person and a player. Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers have shown me that they value me as a person and a player and that was the most important thing to me," said West. "In that sense, this was not about a specific dollar amount. You can’t really put a dollar value on a person, their skills you can, but not their heart and what kind of person they are. My family is blessed and I feel a great relief to be able to concentrate on basketball now."

Acquired as part of the 3-team mega-deal last February, West went from seldom used bench player on a bad basketball team to the starting Point Guard on a team that made it deep into the playoffs.  West started all 13 games in the playoffs last season, averaging 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.8 minutes per game.

via www.delonte.com

With the deal done for West, the Cavaliers could have one of the deepest backcourts in the NBA.  While it will be interesting to see how all the pieces come together, I'd imagine keeping West also allows the Cavs to go get the piece they need with Wally's expiring contract still on the books.

After last year's double-debacle with Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Verejao, it was imperative that something, anything, got done before training camp.  Kudos to both Danny Ferry and West for knowing this and coming together.

[Note by FTS, 09/12/08 4:35 PM PDT ]According to ESPN.com, the deal is for 3 years/$12.5 million.  The 3rd year is a team option, which is important because that would mean the Cavs could walk away the same summer that LeBron is a free agent.  The Cavs are being as active as anyone in keeping flexibility that summer, with LeBron and D-Wade, among others, becoming free agents that summer.