Atlanta Hawks
Matt McHale: Basketbawful
Hoopinion: Peachtree Hoops

Charlotte Bobcats
BrettL: Queen City Hoops 
Ziggy: BobcatsPlanet

Miami Heat
Darren Heitner: SportsAgentBlog.com
Gregory Broome: The Peninsula is Mightier

Orlando Magic
Ben: Third Quarter Collapse

Washington Wizards
Rashad: Hoops Addict
HoopsAvenue: HoopsAvenue
Mike Prada: Bullets Forever
Truth: Truth About It Dot Net

Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com

Denver Nuggets
Jeremy: Pickaxe and Roll
Nick Sclafani: The Nugg Doctor

Minnesota Timberwolves
Derek Hanson & Staff: TWolves Blog
Andrew Thell: Empty the Bench
wyn: Canis Hoopus

Oklahoma City
xphoenix87: BallerBlogger
Zorgon: Blue Blitz
Royce: The Thunderworld  

Portland Trail Blazers
Mookie: ...a stern warning
Benjamin Golliver: Blazers Edge
Coup and SJ: Rip City Project

Utah Jazz
UtesFan89: The Utah Jazz
Basketball John: SLC Dunk

Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com

Part 3 of the NBA Bloggers Season Preview takes a look at the Central Division, something near and dear to us Cavaliers fans -- 

Chicago Bulls
Nels: Give Me The Rock
Matt: Blog-a-Bull

Cleveland Cavaliers
Rock: Waiting For Next Year
FTS: Fear The Sword
David Friedman: 20 Second Timeout
Amar Panchmatia: Cavalier Attitude

Detroit Pistons
Brian Spencer: Empty the Bench
Natalie Sitto: Need4Sheed.com
Matt Watson: Detroit Bad Boys

Indiana Pacers
Tom: Indy Cornrows

Milwaukee Bucks
Jeramey Jannene: The Bratwurst
Frank Madden: BrewHoop

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!

The NBA Blogger previews continue, this time with teh SouthWest Divison -- 

Dallas Mavericks
Jake Kerr: Mavs Moneyball

Houston Rockets
grungedave and UofTOrange: The Dream Shake  

Memphis Grizzlies
Joshua Coleman: 3 Shades of Blue

New Orleans Hornets
Rohan: At the Hive
ticktock6 & mW: Hornets Hype
Ryan Schwan & Ron Hitley: Hornets247.com

San Antonio Spurs
Graydon Gordian: 48 Minutes of Hell

Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com

It all gets started today, unofficially at least.  The Cavaliers will open the 2008 NBA Pre-Season tonight at the Q against the Toronto Raptors(7PM, WTAM, No TV).  Like the Cavs, the Raptors revamped thier roster, bringing in Jermaine O'Neal, among others, in an effort to get Chris Bosh some help.

For the Cavs, the season kicks off with a renewed optimism and welcomed stability within the organization.  Last season, despite coming off the team's first trip to the NBA Finals, the Cavs were in a bit of dissarray.  Larry Hughes was unhappy, Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao were battling the front office over contract issues, and Damon Jones was demanding a trade.  This season, the Cavaliers took care of contract issues during the summer, getting Delonte West and Daniel Gibson signed, sealed and delivered well before Training Camp.  Instead of Hughes, the Cavs brought in Mo Williams to be the offensive side-kick of LeBron James, and the attitude difference has been uplifting and refreshing to say the least.

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Some great websites are getting together to preview the NBA season.  Today, the Atlantic Division.  Check out any of the sites below for great insight into each of the teams!

Boston Celtics
Jeff Clark: CelticsBlog.com    
Jim Weeks: Green Bandwagon      
FLCeltsFan: LOY's Place
John Karalis: Red's Army
Dustin Chapman: Celtics 24/7

New Jersey Nets
Dennis Velasco: About Basketball

New York Knicks
Joey: Straight Bangin'
Seth Rosenthal: Posting and Toasting

Philadelphia 76ers
Dannie & Pete: Recliner GM
Jon Burkett: Passion and Pride

Toronto Raptors
Franchise: RaptorsHQ.com
Ryan McNeill: Hoops Addict
Cuzzy: Cuzoogle

Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com

Here is a snippet of quotes from yesterday's workuts from various sources around the web.  This is something I'll be doing daily here at FTS to keep every being said by the Cavs and about the Cavs in oe convenient place.  

Here we go!

LeBron James on taking it easy during Training Camp after a busy summer -- 

You learn from things that go on in your career and I definitely learned from [2006], I know how to approach this season.  I think I've prepared myself to start the season the best I can.  I think this year I have a lot of help so I don't have to put as much pressure on myself. I think I'll be fine.

LeBron on wearing #6(his Olympic number) during camp -- 

'I'll be No. 23 when the games start, but I like No. 6, too.

LeBron talking about the feeling at camp compared to the instability of last season -- 

The atmosphere has been great -- a lot better than the start of last season.  Everybody's here. It's a great feeling. I think everybody's focused and knows what's at stake here.

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The Cavaliers held their first official practice of the 2008/09 season yesterday, and were pleasantly surprised by what they saw, or felt.  Mike Brown, whose long, drawn out practices have worn at veterans at times in the past , announced that only one of the two workouts per day would be "contact" practices, allowing for some of the older guys to stay fresher and avoid wear and tear.  This is crucial for the Cavaliers, especially in the front courth where age is beginning to become a concern.

Both Cavaliers big men - Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace - had back issues late last season that surely affected their play during the playoffs.  While the Cavs addressed the age "problem" among their big by drafting J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson, both are likely not ready to make a huge impact this season, though I expect Hickson to become more and more important to the Cavaliers as the season wears on.

The old guys won't be the only ones to benefit from the kinder, gentler, Mike Brown training camp.  LeBron James is likely to see some extended rest during training camp in order to stay fresh after a summer filled with basketball.

For the Cavaliers it is going to be all about staying healthy, especially up front, and to Mike Brown's credit he is understanding that right from the start.  While the Cavs have plenty of depth in the back court, an injury to Wallace or Z could be a big blow.

Training Camp 2008 officially opened for the Cavaliuers yesterday as they held their annual Media Day.  Personally, I have been waiting a long time for this because I knew LeBron would get the chance to publically talk about the various rumors swirling around him.  Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.

After the jump are just some of LeBron's comments regarding everything from his future status in Cleveland to his affinity for pissing off local fans to his busy summer... 

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