Post by flats on Sept 15, 2013 20:01:49 GMT -5
The Cavs are the only team worthy of your attention for the next year. Allow me to present my case:
Baseball fucking sucks, so the tribe can drop dead.
The Buckeyes don't play ANYONE this year - so nothing is going to happen until they get handed a National Championship shot because they're undefeated and then get totally smashed by Bama.
The Browns.
So obviously there's no one else worth watching. Now let me explain why the Cavs aren't like all the others.
The backcourt. Kyrie's a transcendent player. An old school game that no other PG is quite playing at the moment. Wall and Rose are athletic freaks that can drive and dunk and all that. Chris Paul is as polished as can be. But Kyrie is just... unique. Passes like Magic. Special from behind the arc. Funky little driving layups and bank shots that remind you of Earl the Pearl and Tony Parker. Speed and strength aren't exceptional - but his vision, intelligence and quickness allow him to play with a creative swagger that makes opponents look silly. If he can add defensive toughness to his resume, this time next year the debate over best PG in the NBA will be down to him and Paul.
Dion Waiters is working his ass off, and has a great attitude. Here's a read on him. www.fearthesword.com/2013/9/3/4685946/cleveland-cavaliers-guard-dion-waiters-stays-hungry-if-not-humble-in
He needs to improve his shot selection and stop settling for jumpers. But if he doesn't the Cavs have an answer in my next point...
Free Agents. If Waiter won't keep the ball on the floor and fight to the rim then they can sit his ass and put in Jarrett Jack. Come to think of it, if Kyrie won't get back on D they can bench him and put in Jarrett Jack. Or if both those guys do what they need to they can just enjoy having a veteran monster of a sixth man coming off the bench for them to play the Ginbli in San Antonio / Jason Terry in Dallas role. He's a legit player, who can bring this team something they haven't had since Delonte West was enjoying his most frenzied manic periods.
And that's not even the most important free agent. Andrew Bynum is now a Cav. When healthy he's the best center in the NBA. And he was never better than the year he played for Mike Brown. At 26 years old he should just be entering his prime. There have been rumors that he was interested in playing in Cleveland for years, and its finally came about. People say that Cleveland can sign stars - but if Bynum can get back into form he'll be a legitimate #2 star to Kyrie, and the Cavs may have the best players at the 1 and the 5 in the league. With a TEAM option for a second year on top of it. And if he can't play? Who gives a fuck? We're only paying him 6 mil, and it was money we had to spend anyway to reach the salary floor. Who the fuck else did you want to give 6 million to? Antawn Jamison? Drew Gooden? Luke Walton? Sebastian Telfair? (I'm serious - those Cavs castoffs are really the top FA's left out there).
Canadian PF's. Anthony Bennett is a unique player. He has a build you don't see very often, but should be well suited... ok, I'm just gonna say it, unfortunate racial connotations be damned: Anthony Bennett is a fucking GORILLA. He's strong as an anvil, his arms reach his knees, and when he dunks he hangs on the rim and swings like Ace at a key party. He's the height and weight of LeBron. He doesn't have that kind of speed or quickness, so he probably can't guard the three, but he should still be an exciting guy to watch in the post, and he's got a respectable outside shot as well, which could set up some pick and pop stuff with Kyrie.
The other young PF to watch is Tristan Thompson. Deceptive athlete. Great attitude. Hard worker. How hard of a worker? He switched his fucking shooting hand this summer. And his FT shooting has increased by 20%. In ONE offseason. That's insane. That's not Tiger reworking his swing. It's Hefty Lefty saying "Call me Righty." It's Mariano Rivera going "I think I'll try a submarine motion this year." I'm not aware of any athlete attempting such a complete overhaul of their game in any sport in such a short period of time. And early feedback is that it's actually working. That shit's craaaazzzyyyy, and worth watching.
The Organization. 4 top 5 picks, all 22 or younger. An owner who trusts his GM, and has shown he is willing to spend whatever it takes to win. A GM with a scouting system he believes in, who has built up a roster filled with young talent, brought in big time FA's while maintaining a ton of cap space, and has collected a bushel of first round picks over the next few years. We can use the picks or trade them for established talent. Andy is still on the roster as a valuable player or trade chip. Grant has shown that he has the balls to buck conventional wisdom when making his picks and trust his own eyes. And he's been right often enough to feel optimistic.
And the organization expects to win. This year. Say that about another Cleveland franchise. The front office has been aggressive but not stupid. And the Eastern Conference is ripe for the picking, with Boston Milwaukee and Atlanta all appearing to be uninterested in making a return trip to the playoffs and eyeing a high lottery pick instead. If Bynum can play this is a team that could be around come the 2nd round of the playoffs. That's the best deal in town.
Baseball fucking sucks, so the tribe can drop dead.
The Buckeyes don't play ANYONE this year - so nothing is going to happen until they get handed a National Championship shot because they're undefeated and then get totally smashed by Bama.
The Browns.
So obviously there's no one else worth watching. Now let me explain why the Cavs aren't like all the others.
The backcourt. Kyrie's a transcendent player. An old school game that no other PG is quite playing at the moment. Wall and Rose are athletic freaks that can drive and dunk and all that. Chris Paul is as polished as can be. But Kyrie is just... unique. Passes like Magic. Special from behind the arc. Funky little driving layups and bank shots that remind you of Earl the Pearl and Tony Parker. Speed and strength aren't exceptional - but his vision, intelligence and quickness allow him to play with a creative swagger that makes opponents look silly. If he can add defensive toughness to his resume, this time next year the debate over best PG in the NBA will be down to him and Paul.
Dion Waiters is working his ass off, and has a great attitude. Here's a read on him. www.fearthesword.com/2013/9/3/4685946/cleveland-cavaliers-guard-dion-waiters-stays-hungry-if-not-humble-in
He needs to improve his shot selection and stop settling for jumpers. But if he doesn't the Cavs have an answer in my next point...
Free Agents. If Waiter won't keep the ball on the floor and fight to the rim then they can sit his ass and put in Jarrett Jack. Come to think of it, if Kyrie won't get back on D they can bench him and put in Jarrett Jack. Or if both those guys do what they need to they can just enjoy having a veteran monster of a sixth man coming off the bench for them to play the Ginbli in San Antonio / Jason Terry in Dallas role. He's a legit player, who can bring this team something they haven't had since Delonte West was enjoying his most frenzied manic periods.
And that's not even the most important free agent. Andrew Bynum is now a Cav. When healthy he's the best center in the NBA. And he was never better than the year he played for Mike Brown. At 26 years old he should just be entering his prime. There have been rumors that he was interested in playing in Cleveland for years, and its finally came about. People say that Cleveland can sign stars - but if Bynum can get back into form he'll be a legitimate #2 star to Kyrie, and the Cavs may have the best players at the 1 and the 5 in the league. With a TEAM option for a second year on top of it. And if he can't play? Who gives a fuck? We're only paying him 6 mil, and it was money we had to spend anyway to reach the salary floor. Who the fuck else did you want to give 6 million to? Antawn Jamison? Drew Gooden? Luke Walton? Sebastian Telfair? (I'm serious - those Cavs castoffs are really the top FA's left out there).
Canadian PF's. Anthony Bennett is a unique player. He has a build you don't see very often, but should be well suited... ok, I'm just gonna say it, unfortunate racial connotations be damned: Anthony Bennett is a fucking GORILLA. He's strong as an anvil, his arms reach his knees, and when he dunks he hangs on the rim and swings like Ace at a key party. He's the height and weight of LeBron. He doesn't have that kind of speed or quickness, so he probably can't guard the three, but he should still be an exciting guy to watch in the post, and he's got a respectable outside shot as well, which could set up some pick and pop stuff with Kyrie.
The other young PF to watch is Tristan Thompson. Deceptive athlete. Great attitude. Hard worker. How hard of a worker? He switched his fucking shooting hand this summer. And his FT shooting has increased by 20%. In ONE offseason. That's insane. That's not Tiger reworking his swing. It's Hefty Lefty saying "Call me Righty." It's Mariano Rivera going "I think I'll try a submarine motion this year." I'm not aware of any athlete attempting such a complete overhaul of their game in any sport in such a short period of time. And early feedback is that it's actually working. That shit's craaaazzzyyyy, and worth watching.
The Organization. 4 top 5 picks, all 22 or younger. An owner who trusts his GM, and has shown he is willing to spend whatever it takes to win. A GM with a scouting system he believes in, who has built up a roster filled with young talent, brought in big time FA's while maintaining a ton of cap space, and has collected a bushel of first round picks over the next few years. We can use the picks or trade them for established talent. Andy is still on the roster as a valuable player or trade chip. Grant has shown that he has the balls to buck conventional wisdom when making his picks and trust his own eyes. And he's been right often enough to feel optimistic.
And the organization expects to win. This year. Say that about another Cleveland franchise. The front office has been aggressive but not stupid. And the Eastern Conference is ripe for the picking, with Boston Milwaukee and Atlanta all appearing to be uninterested in making a return trip to the playoffs and eyeing a high lottery pick instead. If Bynum can play this is a team that could be around come the 2nd round of the playoffs. That's the best deal in town.