By Sam Amico

CAVALIER ATTITUDE

I'll admit it. At first, I thought Cleveland's trade for Darius Miles was a bad idea. I figured letting Andre Miller go to the Clippers would only make the Cavaliers worse, that the deal would give fans another reason to stay away from Gund Arena.

Well, I think I'm right about the first part -- the Cavs probably won't win as many games this season. They'll probably only win between 20-25. And there's a good chance they'll finish last in the Central Division.

But I'm definitely wrong about the second, because Cleveland fans won't want to miss this team. That's right, the Cavs could become the first team in NBA history to lose more games than the previous season -- yet become much more fun to watch.

In fact, listen up Cavs fans, because I'm about to let you in on a little secret. This year's bunch will be the most exciting and provide the most hope for the future since 1986, when Brad Daugherty, Mark Price and Ron Harper were rookies.

Let's start with Miles. From what I've seen and heard after two preseason games, Miles is just so smooth. Rather than knock defenders from his path as he pounds his way to the basket, he sort of glides through the key. He reminds some observers of George Gervin, and has a better outside shot than even Cavs management expected.

Trust me when I say Miles is ready to join the likes of Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal as high schoolers who have turned into NBA men.

I especially like what Miles has said in Cleveland-area newspapers. Instead of acting like a pampered brat who is trading in the L.A. night life for the laid-back style of the Midwest, Miles has made it clear he is thrilled to be with the Cavs. Nobody would have blamed him if he acted disappointed -- but he's done just the opposite.

Of course, the Cavs will be more than just Miles. Second-year Clevelander Ricky Davis is athletic and plays with tons of passion, and rookie guard Dajuan Wagner has loads of scoring potential. Heck, it even looks like center Zydrunas Ilgauskus is ready to play 30 minutes a game.

`"Yeah, but Bimbo Coles is the point guard,'' is what a lot of doubters are saying. It's true, this organization has had some very good point guards in the recent past, from Mark Price to Terrell Brandon to Miller.

But I say Coles is exactly what this team needs -- a veteran who is willing to bring the ball up the court and pass to one of the three youngsters. Otherwise, Coles only needs to make a couple of shots and play good defense. Assuming his knees hold up, that's exactly what he'll do. The best part is that Coles will actually enjoy doing it.

So there you have it. Another newsletter, another day of me admitting I'm a dork. Most of all, it's me telling you that the Cavs had Andre Miller, and he's great. But now fans have another reason to root for the team, and his name is Darius Miles.

And I don't think I'm wrong when I say you're gonna love this guy.

MORE WINE-ING ABOUT THE CAVS

In case you missed it, the Cavs announced they'll be switching to their original color scheme of wine and gold following the season. Actually, the Cavs are calling it "a new expression of wine and gold," but Cavs fans don't seem to care. They're just happy that the Cavs listened to their pleas to go back to the colors that dominated the franchise's early years, and reminds the die-hards of The Miracle of Richfield season.

The Cavs get an A-plus on this one. I agree with general manager Jim Paxson when he says the only thing people really care about is the guys who are in the uniforms. But going back to the old colors proves that, despite all of the accusations, the Cavs haven't lost touch with the folks who pay a large portion of their bills.

I'm most excited about the fact that the team plans to use the word "Cavaliers" on its jerseys and merchandise again. What is a "Cav" anyway? A cousin to the "Mav" perhaps?

BLAZING A NEW TRAIL

The Portland Trail Blazers have become the Western Conference's forgotten team. And why not? The West already boasts the three-time defending champion Lakers, Sacramento, San Antonio and Dallas. Even up-and-coming teams like the Clippers and Seattle get more mention than the Blazers these days.

"That's because everyone's tired of writing about the Blazers' bad attitudes,'' one friend on the NBA beat told me. "I mean, how many times can you say a team has underachieved?"

In the Blazers' case, the answer is at least two.

Anyway, here's my point -- I consider Portland to be a real darkhorse. While everyone is focusing on the new Lakers-Kings rivalry (and it is a good one), the Blazers still have tons of talent. That list begins with young, athletic types such as Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells, and ends with crafty veterans like Scottie Pippen and Dale Davis.

They also have a heck of a coach, a guy who I believe is The Next Lenny Wilkens in Maurice Cheeks. Like Wilkens, Cheeks is a former outstanding point guard who turned into a soft-spoken but firm boss. He's the perfect man to get these guys to calm down and just play.

And know what? The Blazers might just be sick of all the talk. They probably like the fact that everyone says they're finished, that they've become the West's also-rans.

I'm not saying that Portland fans should start reserving seats for the Finals. It's just that I wouldn't be surprised if these guys ruined someone else's season. From top to bottom, the Blazers have more pure talent than just about anyone, and if you ask me, that includes the Kings.

LARRY ON LIFTING

Philadelphia coach Larry Brown knows a lot about injuries, as anyone who mattered for the 76ers last season spent way too much time on the bench in street clothes.

Anyway, Brown was asked on the NBA conference call why he thought players are injured more today than in the past. Part of his answer -- " I know people hate it when I say this, but I think a lot of it has to do with all of the weightlifting that's going on today. ... I think it creates stress on the muscles and injuries."

I agree. Why do basketball players feel the need to bulk up all the time? Why not win with quickness (again, I'm thinking of Darius Miles, Kevin Garnett, and especially, Allen Iverson).

I remember in 1989, when Boston's Larry Bird spent an entire summer lifting weights. He came to camp looking more fit and muscular than at any other time during his career. But six games into the season, Bird injured both ankles and had to sit out the rest of the way. I couldn't help but wonder if lifting weights had something to do with it.

Of course, Brown's theory doesn't explain the magnificent careers of iron men such as Karl Malone and Kevin Willis, both of whom lift religiously and are rarely injured. Plus, Iverson never touches weights, and he's hurt all the time.

RANDOM PRESEASON THOUGHTS

-- If Magic Johnson becomes part-owner of the Seattle SuperSonics, maybe he'll pull a Michael Jordan and put on a uniform for a new team. Hey, just throwing it out there. At any rate, Magic tells the Tacoma News-Tribune that he's "60 or 70 percent down the road" to becoming part-owner and administrator with the Sonics.

-- Antonio McDyess is out for the season with a kneecap injury. Marcus Camby is out at least a month with who knows what? Yep, sounds like New York and Denver can call this trade a draw. Actually, I feel sorry for the Knicks, because McDyess was arguably the game's most athletic power forward two seasons ago. As for the Nuggets, well, they knew what they were getting into with Camby.

-- A couple of weeks ago, I said the Phoenix Suns had a bright future (pun and cliche intended, so please laugh). To support my point, I talked about rookies Amare Stoudemire and Casey Jacobsen, as well as veterans Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion. But some Suns supporters e-mailed to say that I failed to mention the new assistant coaches as reasons for hope. It's true, as no less than Mike D'Antoni is among those who will be assisting Frank Johnson this season. D'Antoni coached the Nuggets during the lockout season and is considered the Phil Jackson of Italy.

-- To read more about D'Antoni and the NBA, buy my book, "A Basketball Summer: The Pro Game as its Played in the Offseason." You can purchase it on Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com. (Hey, someone's gotta advertise in this newsletter -- may as well be me).

-- New Washington forward Charles Oakley reportedly has lost 28 pounds since the start of last season. Oakley says he's the lightest he has been since his senior year at Virginia Union in 1985. After the Wizards acquired Jerry Stackhouse and Byron Russell, I thought, "Golly, all they need now is a veteran power player to work with the young big men." Oakley is that guy.

-- A lot of people expect the Detroit Pistons to be down this season, but I think Richard Hamilton could fit in as well, or better, than Stackhouse. In the long run, this could be a better deal for the Pistons, who also have Memphis' top pick next season.

-- Mamas, don't let your sons try out for the NBA if their first name is Khalid. That's because Khalids El-Amin and Reeves are two guys who I thought would be decent point guards in the league -- but instead have become minor league lifers. El-Amin was just released by Miami, and the Heat are thinking about starting Travis Best. I have no idea what happened to Reeves, a one-time standout at Arizona and high draft pick.

-- The Denver Nuggets are looking for folks to sing the national anthem for home games (no lie). I've already filled out an application for avid reader Craig Rudnick.

-- Does anyone know when we'll be able to listen to preseason games on NBA.com? Every time I click on the audio link, I'm automatically connected to the NBA Finals page from last summer. HELP!

MESSAGE TO READERS

First of all, I wanted to let you know that my NBA team-by-team capsules are coming next week. So keep an eye on those inboxes, kids. There may or may not be a regular newsletter, but you'll hear from me for four straight days, so I'm guessing it won't really matter.

Secondly, I have received a lot of e-mails in recent weeks asking why I write about the same teams over and over again. Others have asked why I offer so much support for the NBA, blah, blah, blah.

I'm not exactly sure that either of those accusations are entirely true, but you should know I write this newsletter for three reasons, in this order:

1. My amusement. 2. Your amusement. 3. To create discussion about the game I love.

Having said that, don't worry. I plan to write extensively about the Jazz, Raptors, Spurs, Hawks and Timberwolves in the coming weeks. I realize I've overlooked them lately -- but I love all of 'em just as much as the rest.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

FROM MIKE BECKER

Q: Does David Stern receive your newsletter? And if so, does he ever e-mail to let you know his thoughts?

A: Dear Mike, yes, the commissioner gets the newsletter. No, he hasn't e-mailed me -- although I've heard from a few people in the league office that he thinks I'm a moron. If so, well, he ain't the first.

FROM MANAV NAYYAR

Q: Who do you think will develop into a better player -- Chicago's Eddy Curry or Houston's Eddie Griffin?

A: Dear Manav, you always manage to come up with the most thought-provoking questions, and you didn't disappoint this time. I'm leaning toward Curry, but that's no knock on Griffin. It's just that, as I wrote this summer, Curry could become the NBA's second-best center by the end of the season. Griffin will also be very good, as long as he is patient with his playing time.

FROM MIKE KOVAK

Q: Don't you think it's time for NBA fans to move past Magic, Bird and Jordan? Let's just accept that all sports will never have an individual rivalry like Magic and Bird again, let alone the NBA. Also, do you think the Kings-Lakers rivalry has been the best one since the days of Magic and Bird?

A: Dear Mike, since you're a Pitt grad, how does this sound for a great NBA rivalry -- Denver center Mark Blount against our friend and point guard Vonteego Cummings, now in Cleveland? After all, each might play for the worst team in their respective conference. On a serious note, yes, I think the Lakers-Kings rivalry is becoming the best since the Magic-Bird thing. But I think the Kings will need to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs -- or the rivalry won't be anything more than the Knicks-Bulls in the 1990s, when you just knew New York wasn't gonna win.

FROM METE ACAR

Q: I like most of your opinions and love for the game, but don't you ever NOT like a player?!

A: Dear Mete, actually, I've never cared much for Joel Przybilla, but other than him you are right -- I think EVERYONE is swell.

SAM'S SLAMS

Readers Ian Schanning and Balazs Roman correctly pointed out that I was wrong when I wrote that New York, Chicago or L.A. had been to every Finals since 1990. Houston and Orlando met in 1995. ... Clippers guard Keyon Dooling finally appears to be healthy, but center Michael Olowokandi is expected to still miss a few weeks. ... Good move by the Bucks to match Dallas' offer for guard Michael Redd. Now that Glenn Robinson is gone, the Bucks need the scoring that Redd will provide. ... Word out of Oakland is that Mike Dunleavy Jr. might not start right away, and may not even play that much. Still, new coach Eric Musselman says he loves Dunleavy's potential. ... Thanks for reading everyone! As I write this, we are a mere 14 days from opening tipoff.

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HAVE A GREAT DAY!