West Makes Cavs' Deeper

A few weeks ago, we were a little concerned about the Cleveland Cavaliers.  While there are still some things to worry about, the recent play of the team has eased them.  The Cavs have won four out of five, seven of ten, and since a 0-2 start, they have emerged victorious in 15 of their last 19 contests.

LeBron James is shooting less, passing more, and is a more efficient player offensively, if you can believe that.  He is shooting over 50% from the floor for the first time in his career, and he is averaging one more assist per game than his previous career best. 

This makes sense because he won’t turn 25 years of age until the end of this month. 

However, even with the success of the team and its superstar, there still are improvements to be made, and the key is the continued good performance of guard Delonte West.

The wine and gold are winning games, but when West is playing well, there are times when the Cavs look unbeatable.  Take Sunday’s game in Milwaukee, for example.  West came off the bench and scored 14 points in a row during a stretch in the 2^nd quarter.  His play was a key to a 29-0 run that basically put the game away before halftime.

West isn’t an all-star player, but he does everything well.  He can handle the ball, play solid defense; shoots well from the perimeter, and is even a good post up player.  We all knew how important he was to the team last season, but his absences this year re-emphasizes these points. 

Other guys have emerged this season because of West’s problems, and that will help the team in the long run because it improves the depth.

Daniel Gibson still isn’t the most reliable ball handler, and Mike Brown hasn’t asked him to do much of that since the beginning of the season.  However, Gibson is playing very well.  His shot has been very effective, and he has started to show the ability to take the ball to the basket and score, which will help him create room for his jumper. 

He looks like the Gibson who starred in the playoffs during his rookie season, helping the wine and gold get to the Finals.

The other player who has stepped up was Jamario Moon, who is a similar player to West, minus the ball handling skills.  Moon is a good defender, can make shots, and his athleticism is off the charts. 

These two guys allow Mike Brown to go ten deep, which he might think is a bad thing, but it is really a plus.  The Miracle of Richfield team had similar depth (and an aging veteran pivot man, too) and it will help in the playoffs because the normal wear and tear of an NBA season will be lessened.

JK