All in all, going 3-2 on a five game road trip out west is a successful trek. The only disappointment was the Utah game where unknown Sundiata Gaines, hit a three with Anthony Parker guarding him well, otherwise the wine and gold would have gone 4-1 on the trip.
Still, the Cavs ended the trip with the best record in the Eastern Conference, and with a favorable schedule to come, it will be very difficult for the Celtics, Magic, or Hawks to overtake Cleveland and finish the season with the #1 seed.
The Cavaliers play 11 of their next 13 games at home, a streak that extends past the All-Star game, well into February. There are some tough opponents on the slate, including three games against playoff teams this week at the Q against Toronto, the Lakers, and the surprising Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Kevin Durant.
After a couple of road games next week, the wine and gold return to downtown Cleveland for five straight home contests. That’s a very long home stand by NBA standards.
Now the debate is whether or not the Cavaliers have enough to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Cleveland after the playoffs. It says here they do, but that doesn’t mean GM Danny Ferry should pass on an opportunity to make his team better. There were some in the media who panicked after the loss to Utah (WKNR host from 6-9 PM was one), but it was one loss.
It’s more important for the wine and gold to operate their offense properly down the stretch of games. They have lost more games because of that than the more play of individual players. That’s why it’s not necessary to make a move.
Also, remember that basketball is the ultimate team sport, and bringing in a significant player may cause more harm than good. You also need to keep in mind the salary cap, meaning that Antawn Jamison’s mega-salary for next season would hamper Ferry from making a big move in the off-season.
Another thing to be aware of is that the Cavs will get another role player after the all-star break in Leon Powe, who should return from his knee injury around that time. All of the home games on the schedule during this period will give Powe a chance to practice and get on the same page as his new teammates.
If Ferry can make a move that makes sense, why not do it? However, screwing up the chemistry is something that cannot be overlooked. Remember how the Cavs started the season? Everyone was shocked at two straight losses.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are ready to win a title. They were last season as well, but they have made changes to address the weaknesses that showed up in the Orlando series last summer. This team has different ways to beat teams, they have shown that ability already in putting together a 31-11 record thus far.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 