Last night's game was disappointing, of course, since they played well for the first time this series, but couldn't throw the ball in the ocean. They would've won with a mediocre shooting night. Very tough to take if you're a Cav's fan. Plus, they got screwed on two missed calls on 3-pointers to end the first half and the game.
They've made big steps in the last two seasons, and they're young and not done. It'd be great to get an all-star big man, shooting guard, or point guard, but what would they have to give up to obtain one? I don't see them making major changes and don't think they should. The strategy is to build and improve each year and there's room to do so. Presently, the Cavs are a great, championship-caliber defensive and rebounding team. It's their offense that is, at best, inconsistent. But Gibson, Sasha, and Drew are learning to contribute and complement LeBron. If Shannon Brown comes through they'll have another weapon. Whatever Hughes can do to contribute will be a plus, but he's a big disappointment -- injured or not. But think about it. They're core are virtual babies -- LeBron (22), Gibson (21), Sasha (23), Anderson (24), and Drew (25). Individually they have work to do over the summer and as a team they can learn to work together over the next season. Coach Brown can learn from his mistakes (e.g., time-out management, being more vocal and playing the refs better), but the overall philosophy -- defense first -- is sound.
It's often the case that teams improve incrementally, playing deeper and deeper into the playoffs before breaking through. In just two years the Cavs have made great progress. Unlike other teams such as Indiana and NJ who made it to the finals in single years, the Cavs have a young core to work with and that have great room for improvement, especially on offense. I think the Cavs have a great chance to make it to the finals next year (Detroit's finished, Miami's old, who else is there except, perhaps, Toronto) and potentially for years to come. Like LA did in the 80's when the Eastern conference had the better teams, the Cavs can take advantage of the power shift to the west. And the sting of this year's loss (I'm afraid the chances of winning 4 straight against San Antonio are remote) and this lost opportunity will help them learn to bring intensity to every game (San Antonio's very good, but the Cavs were somewhere else during the first two games) and will motivate them next season. They cannot take this for granted of course and, one hopes, are learning what it takes to reach the finals and win them. If they do, given their youth, several finals trips and championships could be in the offing.
No reason not to be high on the Cavs' chances in the years to come. |
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