With the Central Division title just about wrapped up after Sunday night’s destruction of last year’s division champs, the Pistons, the Cleveland Cavaliers know they will be one of the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference. Now, the wine and gold are playing for positioning, trying to get the top spot in the conference, and thus home court advantage until the NBA finals.
What should we be watching for in these last 27 games? Here are some questions the Cavs need to answer…
· Is Delonte West the answer to the team’s defensive struggles? I say yes. Having a guard who cannot control penetration breaks down your entire defense. West keeps his man in front of him; something Daniel Gibson has not been able to do. If the big men don’t have to leave their men to pick up guards, the interior defense will be better as well. West adds a lot with his offense, but his defense makes the Cavs an elite defensive squad.
· Will GM Danny Ferry add another big man? I think Ferry will take the same tact he used at the trading deadline. That is to say, if the right fit is there, the Cavs will sign him. The Cavaliers could use another banger inside, particularly defensively. Joe Smith would be a good fit with his solid defense and intermediate jump shot. A guy like Mikki Moore, who likes to hang around the perimeter, would not.
· Will Daniel Gibson return to form? Last night’s game notwithstanding, Gibson has been bothered by a toe injury and his shot is not the same as in his first two years. Right now, Gibson looks like someone who will not be able to help this team in the playoffs. Since West is back in the lineup, maybe it would be best for Gibson to sit out some games to get his foot healthy. His shot making is the key to getting playing time. His defense and ball handling are not good enough at this juncture.
· Will J.J. Hickson be a contributor? It depends on whether or not Danny Ferry adds another big man. If he doesn’t, Mike Brown should start giving the rookie some consistent minutes to get him ready for the post-season. I don’t see Hickson getting 10-12 minutes per game in the playoffs, but he could be an energy guy if he continues to improve.
· Are the Injuries Over? Let’s hope so. None of the NBA’s elite teams (Lakers, Celtics, Magic, and Cavs) have had the injury problems Cleveland has suffered. Yes, Andrew Bynum is out for LA, Kevin Garnett is out for Boston, and Jameer Nelson will miss the rest of the season for Orlando. However, no team was missing two starters for a good chunk of the season. The Cavs are now 25-4 with both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West in the lineup. Giving rest to the older players down the stretch may help stave off any nagging injuries.
Starting tomorrow, the Cavs have a brutal road trip facing four playoff teams in Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, and Miami. It would be ludicrous to expect four victories. A 2-2 record would be great. After this stretch and a road game in Boston next week, the schedule lightens up a bit. The only road games of consequence for the rest of March are games at Phoenix and Orlando.
On the other hand, maybe a 3-1 trip would gain the wine and gold some respect nationally.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 