Why do the Cavs look so good without James when 92% of ISH said they'd be trash?

[Heat007]

3-1 in the preseason despite missing 40% of their starting lineup. Boobie is emerging as a 6th Man of the year candidate. Ramon Sessions has provided stability from the PG position that the team hasn't had in nearly 10 years. Jamison will probably come off the bench. The team goes 9-10 players deep, easily.

Need more?

Cavs, frankly, are a very diversified bunch that no team can look to one player to contain in order stop them. Yes, they'll have issues against teams with size, but 60% of the NBA plays small a majority of time. So it won't hurt them that much in the regular season.

So why can't this team win 45-50 games??

Is it because you idiots want to act like James did everything for this team EXCEPT stunt individual growth from player's on this roster?

Why do you people do this? James is a ball-dominant player that will be exposed in his time in Miami, but that's a conversation for another day.

Because they totally suck ?

[Javat_90]

Its plain evident that team was made for Lebron. Enough to compete for the rings? I think the Orlando Magic in 2009 were their real kryptonite, that front-court mismatch was awful for the Cavaliers.

That team wasnt as bad as some Lebron homers state to be. The thing is, Lebron lacked a real and legit second option who could step up in the playoffs and share the load with him. He lacked a Kevin Mchale, a Scottie Pippen or a late Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Thats the problem.

Those Cavaliers remind me a bit of the 90s Rockets, in the sense of being perfectly built around the superstar, but lacking any other all-stars. The thing is, its easier and more effective to do this building around a Center, rather than a Forward.

But as I was stating, those teams were not awful, not even close. They consisted of pretty good role-players, who knew clearly what they had to do, provided defense, outside shooting and some interior presence. Thing is, all of them worked around Lebron, they were not designed to create their own shot, they were like the different parts of a car who totally fail and dont work without their engine (Lebron).

Lebron James has proven to be a complicated case. One of the most dominant players ever? yes. One of the hardest players to build around? also yes. Its his style, his all-around dominance, and the position he plays in what makes it difficult to build a ring-winning championship team around him. I still think even if this current Heat has more superstars than the 08-10 Cavs, the Cavs were actually better built for Lebron than the current Heat are.

Perhaps readjusting little things in his game: his post-game, learning to play better without the ball, learning to catch-and-shoot...etc, that would him easier to build around.

[Mamba]

cavs would've won it all last year if mike brown new how to coach. they just needed Hickson to start, and antawn jamison to come off the bench for scoring. thats all they freaking needed. hickson started soo many games last season, was a great compliment to shaq and lebron by not really having plays ran for him, the great rebounding and the hustle defense. they would've owned the celts if mike brown wasn't an imbecile.

[Javat_90]

cavs would've won it all last year if mike brown new how to coach. they just needed Hickson to start, and antawn jamison to come off the bench for scoring. thats all they freaking needed. hickson started soo many games last season, was a great compliment to shaq and lebron by not really having plays ran for him, the great rebounding and the hustle defense. they would've owned the celts if mike brown wasn't an imbecile.

Thing is, Mike Brown`s offense was based on Lebron-centered type offense, and ironicly, thats probably the best type of game that suits Lebron. Thats the drama of his game and his career.

Mike Brown could have done more of course, but at the end of the day, the system was designed that way, mainly because of Lebron James.

And the Celtics knew it, the best defensive team in the league, knew that the only and most effective way to shut-down the Cavaliers was shutting down completely Lebron. Make him insecure with the ball in his hands, clog the lane so you force him to pull the tough jump-shot, and make him commit turnovers.

Celtics defensive-coaching in that series was incredible, besides Lebron`s quitting and so on..., it was the Celtics defense on Lebron that shutted down the Cavs. And not every team knew or had the weapons to display that kind of defense, the Celtics had the keys and the weapons.

[Pinkhearts]

ashbelly needs help