Countdown to training camp: A look into the future

bbwchingy0007 · Sep 24, 2008

Cleveland Plain Dealer said:

Today we take a look into our Cavaliers crystal ball and assess the Cavaliers through the lens of next June. A word of warning, though: what you're going to read are the extremes. They are not predictions. I don't really think Mo Williams will be Gilbert Arenas of 2006, but his game can be Arenas-esque at times. I also don't think that Zydrunas Ilgauskas will remind people of Chris Dudley, but this is a conversation of extremes. The truth will probably lie somewhere in the middle for most of these players.

Each player assessment is what could happen if everything goes right for that player and what could happen if things don't work out so well. For one or two players, the extremes may play out. But for most players, these assessments offer a ceiling and a floor that I'll use to evaluate them once the season comes to a close.

Daniel Gibson

His role: With Mo Williams and Delonte West in the fold, Gibson no longer has to focus on being the team's point guard. Now he's the primary shooter and, when he's healthy, he's one of the league's best.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "Gibson's star continued to rise this season as a top 5 three-point shooter in the league. It will only get better from here, too, as his ballhandling skills improved dramatically."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Another promising season cut short by injuries leaves the Cavaliers thankful they signed Mo Williams and brought back Delonte West, but wondering if they can count on the man who was formerly their most cold-blooded shooter."

J.J. Hickson

His role: He needs to bring solid rebounding and decent defense to the floor. While he showed promise in summer league, it was just summer league. You don't want to count on the 19th pick in the draft to be a huge presence in his first year.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "Hickson showed the promise Danny Ferry saw when he surprised observers by taking him with the 19th pick. He displayed a rugged and instinctual knack for rebounding and his low post game continued to grow as the year progressed."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "As for the Cavs' top selection, he spent the second half of the year toiling in the D-League and reminded everyone that he's a work in progress."

Zydrunas Ilgauskas

His role: Same as it's always been.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "While often the forgotten man, the Cavs wouldn't be where they are right now without Big 'Z.' And - surprise! - a full season playing next to Ben Wallace masked many of his defensive deficiencies."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "If you're wondering what aging centers often can look like, take a gander at Cleveland's former All-Star from Lithuania. He's clearly slowing down and the NBA appears to have passed him by."

LeBron James

His role: Do you really need to ask?

What we'll be saying if things go right: "Last year it was Kobe's turn to win the MVP. This year it's LeBron's. But don't think he didn't earn it, leading the Cavaliers to heights they've never seen and putting up numbers equally as historic as last season's."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Clearly, James' U.S. Olympic commitment, while noble, hindered both him and his team. It's not fair to say he mailed in much of the regular season, but to say he didn't take it as seriously as he should have would be far from a misstatement."

Tarence Kinsey

His role: An extra guard looking for minutes.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "Unlike this time a year ago, I am now able to point out to curious fans which one is Tarence Kinsey."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Who'd have thought Tarence Kinsey would start 50 games?"

Sasha Pavlovic

His role: He's the great unknown. Mike Brown likes big guards, so you have to think he'll be given a shot to win the starting two-guard job, but will he?

What we'll be saying if things go right: "A big key for the Cavaliers was Sasha Pavlovic returning to 2007 form. He finally figured out how to finish at the rim and his defense was outstanding."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Same old Sasha."

Wally Szczerbiak

His role: Ideally, he's trade bait. But maybe he serves as another shooter, at least for a while.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "The fact that Danny Ferry was able to turn Wally Szczerbiak into a scoring four at the trade deadline is a major reason the Cavaliers were able to get as far as they did."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Ever since coming to Cleveland, Szczerbiak hasn't been able to hit shots consistently. Now his contract is expiring and the Cavaliers - still over the cap even after the contract comes off the books - are stuck with nothing to show for him."

Anderson Varejao

His role: He needs to be an energy player off the bench, spending his minutes getting under opposing players' skin and hitting the boards.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "Fans spent much of 2007-2008 falling out of love with 'Wild Thing.' This year, they remembered why he was a fan favorite in the first place as he returned to the flopping, emotional energy player he is. On top of that, he continued to refine his offensive game and can even be a reliable scoring option at times."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Last season was not a mirage. In fact, it was a precursor to this year, a year where Varejao played like a player hoping to opt out of his deal and cash in elsewhere."

Ben Wallace

His role: Physical presence and six more fouls.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "He's not the player he was in Detroit, but one thing about Wallace is he's always known his role. This year was no different and he showed flashes of the old 'Big Ben' at times and was enough of an intimidating factor for the Cavaliers to remain strong defensively."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Wallace's game took a major step back this season and he is quickly becoming nothing more than an expiring contract to be dealt sometime next season."

Delonte West

His role: Backup point guard or starting shooting guard.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "Besides adding depth at a position previously bereft of it, West's knack for pushing the tempo and attacking the rim helped complement the shooting of fellow bench backcourt mate Daniel Gibson and allowed Mo Williams to play off the ball as well."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "We're beginning to see why West didn't stick in Boston and why he spent much of last season as a backup for a bad Seattle team."

Mo Williams

His role: Second scoring option.

What we'll be saying if things go right: "What Cavaliers fans are now beginning to realize is that they have in Williams a healthier, more stable version of Gilbert Arenas. Williams may not drop 50 like Arenas could when he was healthy, but his game is similar and he's found a way to mesh with LeBron and carry the Cavs to new heights."

What we'll be saying if things go wrong: "Williams joined the long list of shooters that just haven't worked in Cleveland. On top of that, the injury bug reared its ugly head and by the time he did find some semblance of a rhythm, it was too late."
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bbwchingy0007 · Sep 24, 2008

Nice little preview there. I think Pavlovic and Varejao really need to perform this year or they'll be out (possibly at the trade deadline), so they should be playing for their (Cleveland) lives.

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Countdown to training camp: A look into the future

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Countdown to training camp: A look into the future

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