Rick Noland: This Cavs team has what it takes to win title
Rick Noland | The Chronicle-Telegram
For better or worse, I’m old enough to have seen every squad in the Cavaliers’ 39-year history, with this being my 23rd year covering the team for this paper.
As a high schooler in 1975-76, I listened to Joe Tait on the radio as Nate Thurmond, Jim Brewer, Bingo Smith, Jim Cleamons and Co. beat Washington in seven thrilling games and, after losing starting center Jim Chones to a broken foot, nearly upset the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
I was there in 1988-89 when Ron Harper, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, John “Hot Rod” Williams and Co. stormed out of the gate to start the season, only to lose to Chicago in the first round of the playoffs on Michael Jordan’s infamous Game 5 buzzer-beater.
I was there in 1991-92 when the Cavaliers of Price, Daugherty, Williams and Larry Nance matched the 1988-89 team’s 57 regular-season victories, only to lose to the Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals.
I was there in 2006-07 when LeBron James led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance, where they were unceremoniously swept by a much, much better San Antonio team.
I was there last year in the Eastern Conference semifinals when James nearly led the Cavaliers to a Game 7 win against Boston, which went on to win the title.
I was also there for John Lucas, Milt Palacio, Darius Miles, Edgar Jones, Mel Turpin, Kent Benson, Paul Mokeski, Dirk Minniefield and many, many others, but that’s a story — or 10 stories — for another day.
Having seen the good, the bad and a whole lot of the ugly, I can tell you that no team in Cavaliers history has been in better position to win a title than the 2008-09 edition.
The 1988-89 team, which went 6-0 against the Bulls in the regular season, had more top-tier talent, but it didn’t have the mental and physical toughness when it mattered most.
(Remember, this was at the beginning of Jordan’s ascension. The Bad Boy Detroit Pistons were the top team in the East back then, and it’s doubtful the Cavaliers would have beaten them in a seven-game series even if they had gotten past Chicago.)
Those Cavaliers also didn’t have James, whose remarkable skills and underrated mental toughness give Cleveland a legitimate chance to beat anybody at any time, anywhere.
More on that in a bit, but first a little reality check.
We all know the Cavaliers are 14-3 and have won five straight and 13 of their last 14.
We all know that with New York coming to town on Wednesday (get ready for another round of questions about James’ future, folks), Indiana paying a visit to Quicken Loans Arena on Friday and a game in Charlotte on Saturday, those numbers could — and probably should — grow to 17-3, eight straight and 16-of-17.
Amazing, isn’t it, how easily a team can compile a great record by stealing a road victory or two and winning all the games it should?
That’s what the current Cavaliers are doing, and it’s what they didn’t do in coach Mike Brown’s first three years, when season victory totals were an underachieving 50, 50 and 45.
Of Cleveland’s 14 victories this season, just four — at home against Denver (12-6), Utah (11-7) and Atlanta (10-6) and on the road against New Jersey (9-7) — have come against teams that had plus.-500 records prior to Monday.
Totaled, the Cavaliers’ 14 wins have come against teams with a combined record of 91-112 (.448). That drops to 49-86 (.363) if the four plus-.500 clubs are taken out of the mix.
Cleveland’s three losses — in Boston, in New Orleans and in Detroit — have come against clubs with a Ruthian mark of 35-14 (.714).
If you want to look at the negative side — or at least be concerned about something — you can say the Cavaliers are 0-3 against teams with legitimate title aspirations.
However, let’s also remember there were extenuating circumstances in two of those games.
Boston was playing its season opener, getting its championship rings, raising a banner and letting Paul Pierce filibuster in an emotional pregame ceremony.
Against Detroit, the Cavaliers were playing on the road for the second straight night and led by double figures before resorting to some old bad habits — read: standing around and watching James — in the second half.
That leaves the loss to New Orleans, which was without Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic, as the lone clunker of 2008-09.
Since then, the Cavaliers have played exceptional basketball. They’re not only still one of the best defensive teams in the league, they’ve been top-notch at the offensive end as well.
The Cavaliers are also 9-0 at The Q, which ties for the best home start in franchise history. For what it’s worth, the 1988-89 and 1991-92 teams went 37-4 and 35-6, respectively, at home, and they share the franchise record for most regular-season victories (57).
Because of its ability to protect its own turn, this Cleveland team has a chance to win the Central Division for the second time in franchise history (1975-76).
Because it defends so well as a team, Cleveland, at worst, should have a chance to win some big games down the stretch, especially since James is one of the best closers in the league.
Because it has guys who can make shots — Mo Williams, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the currently struggling Daniel Gibson — Cleveland could secure one of the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
James and Brown are right to think the Cavaliers can beat anybody on the road, but you think Game 7 against Boston last season might have ended a little differently if it had been played at The Q instead of TD Banknorth Garden?
Of course, we are still approaching the first turn in this long horse race. Injuries could hit. A slump might occur at some point. Above all else, a great regular season will mean nothing if Cleveland bombs in the playoffs.
Right now, though, the Cavaliers are doing all the right things.
Brown is coaching better than he’s ever coached.
Ben Wallace is rebounding and defending.
The explosive Williams has been everything the Cavaliers hoped for.
The rotation is more set and consistent than it’s ever been in James’ six years in Cleveland.
James has been James.
A special chemistry and togetherness seem to be forming.
A lot of pieces and parts are there, so could this finally be the season the Cavaliers put it all together?
Only time will tell, but right now you’ve got to like this team’s chances.
Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net.
| |
|
Filed by Rick Noland | The Chronicle-Telegram December 2nd, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 4% |
 Email this story
 Print this story
Read comments and discuss this story
Report an innappropriate comment
|
In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement
and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here. If you are registered, click here to log in.
Write a Comment