[We conducted the following interview with Sam Greenspan . . . an L.A.-based, Cleveland-rooted comedian, who writes the brilliant website 11points.com. As is his nature, Sam took our questions and re-worked them into 11 points. He can't help it.]
W&GR: There are a lot of ways to look at the Cavaliers offseason. They could've potentially used Ben Wallace's expiring contract in any number of trades . . . but they pulled the trigger early on Shaquille O'Neal. Also, they could have added a more mobile post threat, a stretch forward, or a point guard, but instead they went with Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, and Leon Powe . . . role players that, in theory, address specific weaknesses of the team. How do you feel Danny Ferry did this off-season?
Sam: 1.) I love what Ferry did because, in my opinion, he addressed the two things that killed the Cavs last year and knocked them out of the playoffs. One: A dominating inside defensive presence and two: bigger, more athletic guys who can defend bigger, more athletic guards and forwards. Shaq (and, eventually, Powe) provide what we need in the middle; even at this age, Shaq is one of the few players who gives Dwight Howard problems. Parker is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard without an ego (read: he plays defense) and Moon is a super-athletic, tall forward who has a lot to prove. All of a sudden, the Magic can't destroy the Cavs anymore because of defensive mismatches. (Not even last year's Magic; this year's version is significantly weakened by replacing the playoff assassin Hedo Turkoglu with career-long underperformer Vince Carter.)
I think the Cavs had an incredible offseason. They're set up to win it now. (And when LeBron inevitably comes back, more concerned with his legacy than heading over to rebuild with the Knicks, in the future as well.) The only player I wanted who the Cavs didn't get was Charlie Villanueva, but snatching up Parker and stealing away Moon and Powe make up for that.
W&GR: Obviously, the biggest question mark with the team right now is Delonte West. There was the arrest, the unexcused absences from training camp, and of course his battle with a mood disorder. How concerned are you about Delonte this season? Do you feel that the Cavaliers will be fine without him for what could be significant patches throughout the season? Or do you expect Delonte's situation to stabilize in the routine of the season like it did last year?
Sam: 2.) I think the regular season is going to do wonders for Delonte West. The offseason is unstructured... exactly the opposite of what he needs. From October through June, West can completely escape into basketball. There are almost no off days. There's a 20+-member family with him at all times. Once the games start going, the wins start happening, the ball starts going through the basket, West can put all of his problems behind him and just focus on basketball. I don't think this is going to be a Pavlovic/Varejao situation where he's really not right for the entire season because he missed a little time.
W&GR: With the Delonte situation, along with the flu pandemic and the nagging injuries, the Cavs weren't able to really put in as much group work, in games at least, this preseason. Are you concerned that this might lead to a sluggish start in the regular season? Or do you think the Cavs, with a lot of their core in tact from last season, will be able to work things out on the fly with success?
Sam: 3.) I never put much stock in the preseason in any sport. I would've liked to see the team play together more, mostly to figure out how to work Shaq in. But it's the preseason. They're only partially focused. I don't expect the Cavs to roar out of the gate like they did last year – last year was one of those magical regular seasons. But I don't see them having any trouble establishing dominance in the Central division from day one. And I do see them winning the first game against Boston. (More on Boston coming later, by the way.)
W&GR: One issue that may be talked about more and more leading up to the trade deadline in February is the expiring contract of Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Some feel that since we sort of blew up our cap space for next year this offseason, that trading Z might be our last chance (for a while) at adding a significant piece under the salary cap rules. Do you think the Cavs would entertain trade possibilities regardless of how we're playing? What about if we're underperforming at the mid-way point?
Sam: 4.) Last year Ferry only half-heartedly tried to move Wally Szczerbiak at the trade deadline because he didn't want to mess up the team's chemistry. If the team is performing like they're supposed to, and like I believe they will, I'm not sure they'd be willing to roll the dice on moving one of the franchise's cornerstones.
If they're underperforming, Z is as good as gone. Gilbert and Ferry (plus LeBron's contract situation) have made this a do-or-die season for the Cavs. It's championship or bust. Anything less than a 60-win pace at the trade deadline and they'll have to make a move.
W&GR: We shared our take on this a few weeks back, but is there a player that you could see having a surprising year . . . either good or bad . . . this year?
Sam: 5.) This season is Daniel Gibson's last chance. To adapt a quote from a song by Gibson's new girlfriend Keyshia Cole, "If he ain't gonna treat [us] the way he should, then let him go." Are we ever going to see the Gibson who iced the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2007 again? Will he ever develop enough defensive skills to get real minutes under Mike Brown? Can he shoot .400 from threes and get LeBron's full trust again? Personally, I'm pessimistic. Maybe that's just the battered Cleveland fan in me though, seeing this as a Derek Anderson-Fausto Carmona fall from grace situation.
For some reason I'm not feeling like Mo Williams is going to take a big step forward this year (or backward). I feel like he's going to get a little more lost in the shuffle with Shaq absorbing the spotlight as LeBron's number two, but still put up his scoring in the high teens.
W&GR: Is there an "X-factor" that you could see emerging this season?
Sam: 6.) I think the X-factor will be the big men. Shaq and Z are giants, but slow. Varejao got his contract, so will he stop trying to force his offense and just play the role he's born to play? Is Moon the defensive player I think he is, one who'll guard the Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu types? What can Powe, Jackson and Hickson contribute? If these guys all play well, this team will be hard to stop.
W&GR: Which team scares you the most in the East? Boston? Orlando? Atlanta? Milwaukee?
Sam: 7.) Orlando, by default. I think the Cavs are going to run away with the East.
I've considered Vince Carter's game to be garbage for five or six years now. He's a six- or seven-step downgrade from Turkoglu. The fact that they gave up Courtney Lee to get him makes the situation even more ridiculous. Lee is awesome. Carter is selfish, unmotivated and way past his prime. Disastrous idea. As for their other upgrades, I don't think Matt Barnes will fit right – he couldn't stick in the two biggest run-and-gun offenses in the league, how's he going to fit into one where there's even more discipline required? Brandon Bass is unproven. And resigning Gortat to huge money... um...
But, even after all that, I still think they're scarier than Boston. Rasheed Wallace is the exact wrong guy for this team. They won their championship by buying into Doc Rivers' whole "unity" thing. So adding a guy who won't stop jacking up ill-advised threes and getting technicals – that just doesn't make sense. We still haven't gotten the real story on what's wrong with Garnett, but I think there may just be too many tough miles on that odometer. I don't think they come close to having the horses to compete with the Cavs, Magic or Lakers.
There's no one else in the East that's even a blip on the radar.
W&GR: After the season, there's the infamous LeBron James free agency. Do you have a gut feeling on what he might do or what his thought process might be? Do you think a title would factor into his decision? Or, on the flip side, would a disappointing finish (like a second round exit) have an impact?
Sam: 8.) As I said before, I really see him staying. Since he was 15, LeBron's been thinking about his legacy. Being the savior of Cleveland, his hometown, and bringing it its first championship since 1964... rather than leaving a city in need of a hero to take a pay cut to leave its entire sports scene in disarray... is more of a legacy than even New York can provide. New York is a rebuilding team. LeBron did that garbage already. The Cavs are posed to finally start winning championships with him, to finally get him on pace to compete with Jordan, with Magic, with Kobe (and to at least tie Wade). If he goes to New York, he's at least two or three years away from them contending. Does he really want to wait 10 NBA seasons to start winning titles? Staying with one franchise is what the true legends do. Winning titles and, yes, revitalizing a struggling city in the process is what true legends do. Even if the season's a disappointment, I see LeBron playing out his career in this city.
W&GR: Since the organization might play a role in LeBron's decision (as we just discussed on this site), what letter grades would you give Dan Gilbert, Danny Ferry and Mike Brown up until this point in their time with the Cavs?
Sam: 9.) I give Gilbert an unequivocal A. He's willing to do what almost no other owners are: Pay the NBA luxury tax in a brutal economic time. His wallet has been open since day one to make the Cavs a championship team. He cares about winning and hasn't pulled any of the "Cleveland is a small market" crap that the Dolans have. I want him to own the Cavs for a long, long time... and hopefully buy the Indians and the Browns too.
Ferry gets a B from me. I love the roster as it stands now... might be one of the deepest teams ever... but it was a hell of a road to get here. Signing Larry Hughes was a disaster and a panic move... but managing to unload him took more skill than any GM should ever possess. He's manufactured a hell of a lot and I feel comfortable with him running the show.
Mike Brown gets a B-. It's been an even rockier road than Ferry. He has managed to get the players to buy in to his defensive schemes... but offensively, the team is far too prone to fall apart. To drop into LeBron playing one-on-four. I wonder a bit about the mental toughness he's instilling – he's such a player's coach that the guys have to generate the toughness themselves. And that can be a dangerous thing. I'm not in love with Brown, but I'm absolutely opposed to switching coaches at this point... so we've got him for a while, might as well get used to it.
W&GR: What is your favorite Cavalier shtick. It could be something with a player, the team as a whole, the front office, the announcers, or the fans. In other words, what small thing do you find amusing about following the Cavs these days?
Sam: 10.) It used to be Drew Gooden confusedly staring at his hands after he hit a few jumpers in a row. I did love the "family photo" shtick from last season though. And, for whatever reason, I also love the fact that Austin Carr has just degenerated into spouting ridiculous catchphrases.
W&GR: Do you have a prediction for the Cavs 09-10 season? East finish? Playoff finish?
Sam: 11.) I think this is the year. The Cavs win about 62-65 games, get the number one seed, and beat the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals (after again sweeping the first two rounds). They meet the Lakers in the Finals and win the title in Cleveland in game 6.
I don't know if that's misguided optimism, blind fanboyism or just pure hope... but I can't see this season ending any other way. The Cavs are insanely deep at every single position, can throw every different look at you (huge big men, athletic big men, fast guards, three point bombers, running, playing halfcourt) and, yes, have the best player in the NBA.
It's time for LeBron to start winning championships. And that begins now.
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