CLEVELAND - And here we are; five months after the Cleveland Cavaliers unceremoniously lost to the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. Now, a new NBA season is upon them, one that will quite possibly dictate the future of the franchise.That's no overstatement.
LeBron James, the prodigiously gifted juggernaut of the Cavs enters his 7th pro season tonight as Cleveland opens the 2009-10 campaign against the rejuvenated Boston Celtics. James more than anyone will control the direction of this season for his team, though he is also the man with the most uncertainty. With new addition Shaquille O'Neal, the Cavs figure to be much better in the paint this season than in years past. Problem is, O'Neal will be a very worn 38 years old in March and is in his 18th season. He is still a major presence and great interior target for James to deliver the ball to, but his age and durability will without question enter into the equation at some point no matter how in-shape he might be.
O'Neal is only the biggest addition, but there are others. Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker joined the team in the offseason and will deepen the bench greatly. Though currently injured, former Celtic spark plug Leon Powe will also provide inside depth, though he isn't expected to play until February.
And then there's the tenuous situation with starting point guard Delonte West, who has had a very erratic and tumultuous offseason. West missed every game of the preseason and several practices and was arrested on weapons charges in the past several weeks. Just yesterday, his wife filed domestic abuse charges against him. It has also recently been disclosed that he suffers from bipolar disorder. Needless to say, his status remains up in the air.
Of course, it all comes back to LeBron, who will be inundated all season with questions about his 2010 free agency. In many ways, James' teammates, his coaching staff and Cavs management will all have their feet to the fire all season in hopes of winning their 1st NBA title and presumably entice their star pupil to stay put. Without knowing how O'Neal's aging body will hold up for an entire season and not knowing the outcome of the West debacle, this season begins with a ton of question marks. It's also anyone's guess as to how long it will take for the new additions to gel with everyone else.
But on the other hand, James is destined to be even better than he was last season, when he captured his first league MVP award. Clearly, he's either the best player in the league, the best talent in the league or all of the above. Expect him to continue his searing dominance and sheer force of will which will prove once again to be Cleveland's biggest asset when facing any team in the NBA. Also, O'Neal is still a major factor and a potential game changer in the paint who will only flourish playing alongside James.
Their most glaring weaknesses from last season have effectively been eradicated. They have more length, strength and post presence than before. Additionally, O'Neal's arrival enables Zydrunas Ilgauskas to play less minutes and remain fresher off the bench. Add in Anderson Varajeo and the improved J.J. Hickson and the Cavs have a very formidable frontline. Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson are sharpshooters from the guard position and Moon and Parker are solid swingmen that give the team more speed and versatility.
The bottom line is simple. The Cavs have many questions, but many more answers and could very well be the trophy holders in June.
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