****The Official 2014-15 NBA Thread****

"Stitches wrote:

Deng has been a 2x All-star (just like Kyrie).

I'm comparing to the Heat because that's what you're a fan of and the most easily relate-able to you. And yes, the Cavs goal is to be in that upper echelon of teams like the Spurs and Warriors and Rockets, but typically that takes time. The Rockets were the 8th seed when they got Harden, then 4th after they got Howard. The Warriors weren't a top seed right when they got Curry, or right when they got Thompson, or right when they got Draymond Green or Iguadola. They were 6th seed last year, and 6th seed the year before.

I doubt the Cavs would be satisfied with finishing a few games ahead of the Heat, but I'm not a Cav, so I might still get some satisfaction out of it.

Over 10 years. Kyrie is about to make it 3 of 5 years in the league.

You're not seriously comparing the two I hope.

"finfansince72 wrote:

I don't think the Cavs can be counted out just yet, I mean cmon now. The Heat would be much better off getting a lottery pick or two instead of counting on a free agent class in 2016.

Not true at all.

It's the cap space that's important. That gives you the flexibility to either sign free agents or take on salary in trades. And we will have all our picks going forward once we give this one to Philly after we make the playoffs.

"Desides wrote:

Cavs are in salary cap hell and have moved most of their future prospects in an attempt to win RIGHT THE HELL NOW, which so far is not looking very good.

Meanwhile, on the Heat, everyone except Bosh expires in 2016, allowing Riley the chance to pull a 2010 II.

So, yeah, the Cavs have a broken roster that doesn't live up to expectations, and no future assets with which to improve or build. You're stuck with this dysfunction. The Heat are going to make the playoffs while rebuilding. Again.

McBob's contract runs past 2016. And you have to figure rookie extensions for shabazz and Ennis, plus Whiteside is a free agent in 2016 and he may be a top guy available by then. But we'll have plenty of space and picks by the time that year rolls around.

"finfansince72 wrote:

I don't think the Cavs can be counted out just yet, I mean cmon now.

They definitely can, especially since Love and LeBron are on one year deals.

The Heat would be much better off getting a lottery pick or two instead of counting on a free agent class in 2016.

Not while Pat Riley is still in charge of the roster.

I think people recognize the first half of the reg season in the NBA is so irrelevant it won't generate much concern. If and when Clev gets ousted from the playoffs, then you will see the brigade of media hate.

"finfansince72 wrote:

You think they make a big trade or fire the coach? Or should I say do you see Lebron making a big trade or firing the coach? I still think the tank is on to get Mark Jackson there.

this is their roster. They either win with it....or major changes happen organically next season.

"Stitches wrote:

Finally cracking .500? They've been under .500 for all of 2 calender days recently, and like 17 days total this season and been ahead of Miami nearly all season I believe despite the Heat having the "better coach" and Riley, and not Dan Gilbert. Oh we have 3 All-stars? So do the Heat, in Wade, Bosh, and Deng (and two of those three have played multiple seasons together unlike the Cavs all-stars). I'm sure you'd pin that on injury issues though, while failing to recognize any of the same with the Cavs.

No, it is not some great accomplishment, but no one has said it was either.

We do have the better coach, and Riley. We also don;t have Dan Gilbert. Our projected starting lineup played 7 mins. total all season, and we lost 33 games from our starters and 20 from our best two players. We have played 13 different starting lineups due to injury.

So what's the Cavs excuse?

"Section126 wrote:

We do have the better coach, and Riley. We also don;t have Dan Gilbert. Our projected starting lineup played 7 mins. total all season, and we lost 33 games from our starters and 20 from our best two players. We have played 13 different starting lineups due to injury.

So what's the Cavs excuse?

Plenty of injuries, plenty of new pieces being added, a new coach trying to install his system.

"Section126 wrote:

this is their roster. They either win with it....or major changes happen organically next season.

They have the ability to add something with the $10M from Haywood's non-guaranteed contract next year and that is about it.

"schmolioot wrote:

Not true at all.

It's the cap space that's important. That gives you the flexibility to either sign free agents or take on salary in trades. And we will have all our picks going forward once we give this one to Philly after we make the playoffs.

They could still keep cap space and tank for a lottery pick lol, look at the 6ers and Knicks ...

If we are better off getting a lottery pick instead of going for 2016, then the Cavs should do the same as they are not better than us, we're about even and they have one of the best players in the league playing for them.

I don't think the Cavs are better than the 2011-12 Knicks.

"finfansince72 wrote:

They could still keep cap space and tank for a lottery pick lol, look at the 6ers and Knicks ...

There's more competition for the tanking slot than there is for the 7th or 8th seed

Here is why you go for the playoffs if you can:

Local Broadcast partner is guaranteed at least 2 playoff games in the 1st round.

They get 3X the ratings and bill 3X what they normally bill for Reg. Season games for these playoff games. The money they make on those two games alone, can pay for the entire production staff.

Just good business sense. Free Money. Keep your partner happy.

"Section126 wrote:

We do have the better coach, and Riley. We also don;t have Dan Gilbert. Our projected starting lineup played 7 mins. total all season, and we lost 33 games from our starters and 20 from our best two players. We have played 13 different starting lineups due to injury.

So what's the Cavs excuse?

Pretty much exactly those things but also integrating 3 new players in via trade.

I'm not saying the Cavs are some sleeping giant - but the argument was that the Heat were in a better spot right now. The Heat are hoping to do what the Cavs just did - but in 2 years.

"PhiNomina wrote:

Pretty much exactly those things but also integrating 3 new players in via trade.

I'm not saying the Cavs are some sleeping giant - but the argument was that the Heat were in a better spot right now. The Heat are hoping to do what the Cavs just did - but in 2 years.

It would seem that the Cavs are hoping to do what the Heat did the past 4 years.

"lmeister3 wrote:

It would seem that the Cavs are hoping to do what the Heat did the past 4 years.

Yes. They are. Not sure what that had to do with the "Heat are in a better spot than the Cavs moving forward" comment that was being argued, though?

"schmolioot wrote:

It is fun, but the coverage isn't the same.

If you think back to that 2010 season, literally every game was a life or death referendum on the entire Big 3 experiment and on LeBron's heart/clutch gene/legacy, etc.

Are the Cavs taking any sort of heat (no pun intended) at all? It certainly doesn't seem like it.

No one in sports media outside of South Florida respects the area as sports market. We didn't "deserve" LeBron, whatever the hell that means. We weren't supposed to put on that party for the fans once we signed LeBron & Bosh and they said they would try to bring many championships to Miami (what players/coaches/teams don't hope they win multiple championships? Were they supposed to say "we might not win anything"?) ). Once we signed LeBron, the narrative became "LeBron is selfish" and 'He can't win it all on his own", never mind that no All-Star ever won his own, not even the great Michael Jordan. All sports media(ESPN, ect) talked about was where LeBron should go next. Once he left Miami and returned to Cleveland, it was the "right decision". If he had signed with the Lakers or Knicks for example, those too would've been the "right decision". Anywhere but Miami. That city doesn't deserve LeBron, especially since their leader Pat Riley "betrayed" the mecca of the American sports world in New York. So now the Heat are "losers" with a fair weather fan base, because you know, there weren't Heat fans when we had Zo, Timmy, Rice, S. Smith and Seikely. And everyone feels bad for the Cavs rather than trashing them like the Heat whenever they struggled.

"PhiNomina wrote:

Pretty much exactly those things but also integrating 3 new players in via trade.

The trades were laughable attempts to fix the problem. You don't get to turn around and then claim that the trade itself was a problem.

"PhiNomina wrote:

Pretty much exactly those things but also integrating 3 new players in via trade.

I'm not saying the Cavs are some sleeping giant - but the argument was that the Heat were in a better spot right now. The Heat are hoping to do what the Cavs just did - but in 2 years.

They are. Because they are in Miami with a better coach and Pat Riley. So when they do what the Cavs just did...it would actually work out.

"Section126 wrote:

They are. Because they are in Miami with a better coach and Pat Riley. So when they do what the Cavs just did...it would actually work out.

Who do you anticipate the Heat grabbing in 2016?

"PhiNomina wrote:

Who do you anticipate the Heat grabbing in 2016?

I think they go nuts, and go all out for the very best players.

Me? I sign Conley and Horford to go with Bosh and an aged Wade.

"Launchpad McQuack wrote:

No one in sports media outside of South Florida respects the area as sports market. We didn't "deserve" LeBron, whatever the hell that means. We weren't supposed to put on that party for the fans once we signed LeBron & Bosh and they said they would try to bring many championships to Miami (what players/coaches/teams don't hope they win multiple championships? Were they supposed to say "we might not win anything"?) ). Once we signed LeBron, the narrative became "LeBron is selfish" and 'He can't win it all on his own", never mind that no All-Star ever won his own, not even the great Michael Jordan. All sports media(ESPN, ect) talked about was where LeBron should go next. Once he left Miami and returned to Cleveland, it was the "right decision". If he had signed with the Lakers or Knicks for example, those too would've been the "right decision". Anywhere but Miami. That city doesn't deserve LeBron, especially since their leader Pat Riley "betrayed" the mecca of the American sports world in New York. So now the Heat are "losers" with a fair weather fan base, because you know, there weren't Heat fans when we had Zo, Timmy, Rice, S. Smith and Seikely. And everyone feels bad for the Cavs rather than trashing them like the Heat whenever they struggled.

LeBron would've been the biggest villian in sports history had he signed with LA or NY.

"Fin-Omenal wrote:

LeBron would've been the biggest villian in sports history had he signed with LA or NY.

NO CHANCE.

Most of the media is in LA and NY.

he would have been portrayed as a Hero.

"Section126 wrote:

NO CHANCE.

Most of the media is in LA and NY.

he would have been portrayed as a Hero.

Maybe in those local markets but in general?? HELL no

"Fin-Omenal wrote:

Maybe in those local markets but in general?? HELL no

What Local Markets?

Fox Sports HQ is in LA. ESPN is basically a NorthEastern Network.

They would have portrayed it as "oh..he went to a great market...good for him..."

Instead...we got the BS we got the last 4 years.