Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

[SpacemanSpiff]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

we'll see in july, and lol @ rebuilding if lebron were to come to ny he wouldn't come alone he would definietly would come with a true #2 to begin with...

With the salary cap not rising like the Knicks and many other teams predicted, the Knicks aren't gonna have enough money for 2 max contracts. So probably no LeBron and Bosh combinations. Most industry experts are predicting around 23-25 million in cap space for the Knicks and 23-25 million as well for the Nets. The Heat will have around 18-20 million apparently. These numbers are all if no trades get made during this season which we know is unlikely.

In the end though, I think all this buzz about cap space is gonna prove to be irrelevant. LeBron is gonna care about his relations with his hometown and they're gonna be close enough to the chip where he wouldn't be able to justify going to NY to distance himself further from the ring. If he does go anywhere, it might be to Miami where he can point to playing with Wade to win a ring or if the Nets move to Brooklyn, since they'll have a hell of a lot more attractive pieces to work with as well (Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, and remember, they have 2 first round picks next year, Jazz have the Knicks' IIRC). I just don't see LeBron leaving though.

[TheGreatOne13]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

If their main reason for getting Shaq was to defend the low post, they would have been better off with Z and Big Ben. I mean Shaq does the same things defensively that Z does and he dosent stretch the offense at all.

[TheGreatOne13]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

With the salary cap not rising like the Knicks and many other teams predicted, the Knicks aren't gonna have enough money for 2 max contracts. So probably no LeBron and Bosh combinations. Most industry experts are predicting around 23-25 million in cap space for the Knicks and 23-25 million as well for the Nets. The Heat will have around 18-20 million apparently. These numbers are all if no trades get made during this season which we know is unlikely.

In the end though, I think all this buzz about cap space is gonna prove to be irrelevant. LeBron is gonna care about his relations with his hometown and they're gonna be close enough to the chip where he wouldn't be able to justify going to NY to distance himself further from the ring. If he does go anywhere, it might be to Miami where he can point to playing with Wade to win a ring or if the Nets move to Brooklyn, since they'll have a hell of a lot more attractive pieces to work with as well (Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, and remember, they have 2 first round picks next year, Jazz have the Knicks' IIRC). I just don't see LeBron leaving though.

I really see Lebron joining the Nets next season if the Cavs dont win it all. They have two potential all stars already and a ton of young talent(Terrence Williams). Its a way better destination than the Knicks, who after everything is settled and done probaly wont even have an all star player on their squad next season.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

Their main reason was to have a go-to post presence to take some pressure off of LeBron, especially in late-game situations when the opposing team KNOWS that the ball will be in his hands and he will be the one trying to beat them. Any GM with half a brain knows that Shaq isn't a great one-on-one defender at age 38 and always has been a horrible pick and roll/team defender, so hopefully that's not what Ferry was thinking when he pulled the trigger.

I think Shaq can still provide some of that offensive firepower, but as we saw last night, that will only be reliable against certain teams (namely, not the ones they actually are trying to beat in the Magic and Celtics who have very big and/or athletic post presences). They'll look unstoppable some nights (I'm worried about my Nuggets against them, for example) but will look like they did last night against the best teams and teams with strong post defenders... They're still a team unable to score when it matters and a team that doesn't really have another reliable option to score aside from LeBron as far as the Celtics, Lakers, and Magic are concerned.

They definitely need to move Big Z and/or Shaq this season though... they can't get over the hump with the team as-is IMO. Powe coming back will help out a bit, but that's not enough, especially when Boston and Orlando both improved in significant ways.

[TheGreatOne13]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

Their main reason was to have a go-to post presence to take some pressure off of LeBron, especially in late-game situations when the opposing team KNOWS that the ball will be in his hands and he will be the one trying to beat them. Any GM with half a brain knows that Shaq isn't a great one-on-one defender at age 38 and always has been a horrible pick and roll/team defender, so hopefully that's not what Ferry was thinking when he pulled the trigger.

I think Shaq can still provide some of that offensive firepower, but as we saw last night, that will only be reliable against certain teams (namely, not the ones they actually are trying to beat in the Magic and Celtics who have very big and/or athletic post presences). They'll look unstoppable some nights (I'm worried about my Nuggets against them, for example) but will look like they did last night against the best teams and teams with strong post defenders... They're still a team unable to score when it matters and a team that doesn't really have another reliable option to score aside from LeBron as far as the Celtics, Lakers, and Magic are concerned.

They definitely need to move Big Z and/or Shaq this season though... they can't get over the hump with the team as-is IMO. Powe coming back will help out a bit, but that's not enough, especially when Boston and Orlando both improved in significant ways.

Exactly. Boston and Orlando improved in places where they needed improvement. To me Shaq does not improve this Cavalier team and like what other posters have been saying, Rasheed would have been a better fit.

[JBH3]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

Mo played well during the regular season but in the playoffs he damn neared disappeared...his shooting percentage and ppg dropped. He's a good player but not good enough to be the #2 player when it counts.

Wow. I didn't know we draw conclusions based on a players first ever postseason AS a #2 option. ok.

[55]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

If they do it will be pictures of Lebron waving goodbye.

Boom, roasted!

[vaballer34]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

Wow. I didn't know we draw conclusions based on a players first ever postseason AS a #2 option. ok.

Let's use your excuse for a quick second...now if that's the case then why make him a #2 option? If Mo has not shown he's capable of stepping his game up during the playoffs then why put the pressure of being the #2 option on him?

Mo was brought in to make life easier for Lebron during the regular season AND postseason. Mo is not capable of being the #2 option for Lebron.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

I know we love melodrama, but we're a little early aren't we, lol? Give some credit to the champs. They shot the lights out from 3, and most of those were contested. Great game by those guys.

Its going to take awhile for Brown to figure this rotation out, but I am pissed The Grimmace was too stupid to poud them with Shaq early in the second, instead of letting the old Deisel sit for about 30 minutes real time, only to bring him in when he's least efficient late in the halves. Shaq was doing fine early, and we were handling the PnR. Mike Brown again with bad decisions...You don't play Shaq late, you sit him and go with your defenders down the stretch. Even in his heyday Shaq was protected from late game situations, and with Bron on the bench to start the 2nd and 4th it was was absolutely ludicrous to have Shaq there also. Terrible rotations last night.

We need West badly as Boobie is still largely useless, and Moon and Parker are still lost on offense so, we have a long time before we can really judge this team. Unlike the C's and La La, the Cavs aren't just adding peices, they've changed who they are in a fundamental way, and it's going to take time. Worst case scenario we dump the big guy's contract and cash in on the depressed market.

Bron really has to stop turning the ball over and missing FT's late tho. That hurts us in close games time and time again.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

The champs?

Not even the champs of their own conference

[PVarck31]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

Can the guys who know whats going to happen after one game please PM me the season outcome. I need to place some bets.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

The point is that Shaq didn't fill a hole at all. They should have gone after someone like Sheed that actually fit their need.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

The point is that Shaq didn't fill a hole at all. They should have gone after someone like Sheed that actually fit their need.

How do we know that Cleveland didn't?

I'd wager Sheed picked Boston over Cleveland.

[GP Mercy]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

Can the guys who know whats going to happen after one game please PM me the season outcome. I need to place some bets.

The Cavs win the next 50 games in a row, but lose the final 31, ending the season at 50-32. They then proceed to win the NBA Championship, sweeping each team they face, and winning by a 20+ margin every game.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Cavs + Shaq = not going to win it all

The champs?

Not even the champs of their own conference

Celtics. As in "give the Celtics some credit"