Fluke

I hate to say this, but I think the Cleveland Cavaliers run to the Eastern Conference Championship last year was a fluke. I wanted to believe they were a team on the rise, and a team capable of dominating the East for years to come. After all, it was finally our turn, right? Well, after watching most of their games this year, I'd have to say "wrong."

The good news is LeBron is showing up to play every night. Man, he is putting on a show. His absence was a big factor in their 5-game losing streak, no doubt, but what that streak really revealed is how little help there is around him. The rest of the squad is made up of role players. He has no one else that can take over the game.

Z, Gooden, and Gibson play their roles well. Hughes, with that ridiculous salary, terrible judgment with the ball, and poor shot, is an absolute albatross. Either Pavlovic was a fluke last year, or his holdout really set him back. Varejao is back and contributing, at least. I give credit to guys like Newble and the two Browns, because they at least put forth the effort when called upon. The bottom line is that this roster sucks, and they don't have the salary cap flexibility to improve it. The only way they could is to get rid of Hughes, but at 13 million for the next two years, that ain't going to happen.

There's a chance that they could come around, when Pavlovic gets his legs, and Hughes finds a productive role, but since some other teams in the East (namely, the Celtics) improved, and he Cavs stood pat, making the playoffs will be a struggle.

Well, at least I'm back in my comfort zone...