2016 Cleveland Cavs: Best team in NBA history

[chad pfeifer]

My Model has them 83 and -1

My model has the Cavs getting trounced in the finals to the Spurs 'team ball'.

[Sledge187]

Love always gets hurt.

[stevenash]

Love always gets hurt.

He made 77 starts last year.

[meader99]

The way the NBA is now, if you want to put superstars together, it is a 4 year window. LeBron is the best player in the world RIGHT NOW and in his prime. He's probably the oldest 29 year old in the NBA. He's been to 4 straight Finals combined with Olympic basketball. He doesn't have time to wait for Wiggins to develop. James, Love and Kyrie are arguably a better "Big Three" than the one LeBron just left. Love doesn't have to be a leader on the Cavs, LeBron is. Love doesn't have to take the big shot, LeBron and Kyrie do. All Love has to do is what he did in Minnesota. His scoring may go down a little, but his rebounding probably goes up. If the Cavs want that Championship, now is the time.

[stevenash]

Cavs are going to have to give up Wiggins to get Love.
Pretty much a given.

Now, given that four year window that the aforementioned poster mentioned, will Love, who is now entering his prime, will still be in his prime in four years be better than Wiggins in four years.

Love is proven already, Wiggins is a raw prospect.
Cavs are pretty much win it all in the next couple of years mode.
You want to go to war with Love or Wiggins in a NBA final?
You can't have both

[Cuse0323]

Cavs are going to have to give up Wiggins to get Love.
Pretty much a given.

Now, given that four year window that the aforementioned poster mentioned, will Love, who is now entering his prime, will still be in his prime in four years be better than Wiggins in four years.

Love is proven already, Wiggins is a raw prospect.
Cavs are pretty much win it all in the next couple of years mode.
You want to go to war with Love or Wiggins in a NBA final?
You can't have both

I want the guy who can play D and create his own shot. Wiggins better at both already.

[stevenash]

Wiggins better at both already.

Before playing minute 1 of NBA ball?

[Cuse0323]

Before playing minute 1 of NBA ball?

Well, only because Love's D is nonexistent and it's pretty obvious that Wiggins can create his own shot much easier.

You never know, but in those two aspects I think it's pretty clear already.

[k13]

Ain't hard to create a shot....I could do that. ...

Lot tougher to hit 50%...

[Cuse0323]

Ain't hard to create a shot....I could do that. ...

Lot tougher to hit 50%...

And? Love hasn't even come close to that either while getting open looks not creating his own.

[rm18]

Love can create in the low post but not off dribble really

[stevenash]

And? Love hasn't even come close to that either while getting open looks not creating his own.

Love hits 45 percent from the field, but he's not low post Shaq either. Love takes a lot of 3 point shots. He's not going to lead the league in FG%, he is pretty much with Melo is, (here it comes, lol) but he is Cuse, same across the board stats.
They both hit 45 percent, they both are pretty good from 3 point, check it out, even FT's.
Melo may have a slight edge on offense, rebounds are total different story. Love actually grabs rebounds on both ends.

http://stats.nba.com/leadersGrid.html?Season=2013-14&PerMode=PerGame&Scope=S&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StatCategory=PTS&pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=25&columnOrder=RANK%2CPLAYER%2CGP%2CMIN%2CPTS%2CFGM%2CFGA%2CFG_PCT%2CFG3M%2CFG3A%2CFG3_PCT%2CFTM%2CFTA%2CFT_PCT%2COREB%2CDREB%2CREB%2CAST%2CSTL%2CBLK%2CTOV%2CEFF

Kevin Love changes the way defenses play though, and speaking of defense, he won't win any 'D' awards, he plays better defense then people give him credit for.

[meader99]

And? Love hasn't even come close to that either while getting open looks not creating his own.

Hard to believe a guy can score 25 points a game in the NBA and not create his own shot. He may not be bale to blow by his defender, but he can get his shot. Love fits this team better than Wiggins currently. LeBron and Kyrie can get to the hole at will.... The Cavs could use Loves ability to stretch the floor and take defenders out of the paint opening up those driving lanes. The Cavs will also benefit greatly from Love's rebounding and ability to get the ball up the court off defensive rebounds leading to many more fast break opportunities. Wiggins is not the messiah, and he's no "sure thing."

[Cuse0323]

Love hits 45 percent from the field, but he's not low post Shaq either. Love takes a lot of 3 point shots. He's not going to lead the league in FG%, he is pretty much with Melo is, (here it comes, lol) but he is Cuse, same across the board stats.
They both hit 45 percent, they both are pretty good from 3 point, check it out, even FT's.
Melo may have a slight edge on offense, rebounds are total different story. Love actually grabs rebounds on both ends.

http://stats.nba.com/leadersGrid.html?Season=2013-14&PerMode=PerGame&Scope=S&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StatCategory=PTS&pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=25&columnOrder=RANK%2CPLAYER%2CGP%2CMIN%2CPTS%2CFGM%2CFGA%2CFG_PCT%2CFG3M%2CFG3A%2CFG3_PCT%2CFTM%2CFTA%2CFT_PCT%2COREB%2CDREB%2CREB%2CAST%2CSTL%2CBLK%2CTOV%2CEFF

Kevin Love changes the way defenses play though, and speaking of defense, he won't win any 'D' awards, he plays better defense then people give him credit for.

I don't mind the comparison as they are similar in some ways but it's crazy that people put Love above Melo when he's never made the playoffs yet gets no hate for that. I don't care if Melo has the worst record in the playoffs, he's had bad teams too but the difference is that he carried those teams to the playoffs every damn year except this last one. Which was arguably his best year ever just nothing went right around him. Love only needs 66 playoff games to match Melo. I guess for some it's better to never make it at all than to make it and do poorly.

I wouldn't say slight edge on offense, Melo plays 1 on 5 and still scores. You say Love changes defenses but what player gets more focus than Melo? Love can have the rebounding edge but I don't see anything else that he does better, maybe equal in some categories. It's a fruitless argument, people see what they want to see...myself included. I'd like to think I'm objective since I watch the NBA daily during the season while others just hate on it and choose their opinions but who knows.

I don't think Wiggins is some messiah, just don't think Love is good enough to trade him away along with Bennett, another player and a 1st round pick.

I do agree Love is a good fit though since he will be the 3rd option and have open shots while not having to create his own. That phrase again. He's built to be an option, not the option. Still, what they give up doesn't justify what he brings, IMO.

[STAX]

For the past few weeks I have been against trading Wiggins for Love... but now I have changed my mind. I am a Cleveland fan, and I really want a fukking title. If he get Love now, we win multiple titles in the next 4-5 years... even if Wiggins is the next Lebron, he wont be Lebron for at least 3-4 years, and that window may be shut for a title. I think we could possibly win one or two with the team we have this second, but it is far from a given. If we get Love tomorrow, Cleveland gets a title or two or three... Give me the title, even if it means giving up a future MVP.

Perfect scenario... Dont trade for Love, keep Wiggins, and get Love as a free agent next season. Too much gamble involved in that though... give me Love now, give me a title now, Ill sleep fine.

[STAX]

C Anderson Varejao
PF Kevin Love
SF LeBron James
SG Andrew Wiggins
PG Kyrie Irving

By the end of 2016 the Cavs will be widely considered the best team in NBA history. Might have 4 starters in the All Star game too. Might win 80 in the regular season.

OK, so the best starting 5 in NBA history is now the 2014/2015 Cavs...

C Anderson Varejao
PF Kevin Love
SF LeBron James
SG Dion Waiters
PG Kyrie Irving

Best starting 5 in NBA history... 4-peat starting now

[jsmithj88]

OK, so the best starting 5 in NBA history is now the 2014/2015 Cavs...

C Anderson Varejao
PF Kevin Love
SF LeBron James
SG Dion Waiters
PG Kyrie Irving

Best starting 5 in NBA history... 4-peat starting now

yea ok ...........

[UntilTheNDofTimE]

OK, so the best starting 5 in NBA history is now the 2014/2015 Cavs...

C Anderson Varejao
PF Kevin Love
SF LeBron James
SG Dion Waiters
PG Kyrie Irving

Best starting 5 in NBA history... 4-peat starting now

Looks like a layup drill for OKC, Spurs, or clippers. Zero interior defense.

[STAX]

LeBron been first team NBA defense 5 out of last 6 years... Varejeao been 2nd team All defense in is career.... Love averages over 12 reb. a game for career... our interior D will be fine... I know everybody gotta nitpick at that lineup but... Only gotta hold opponent to 110 anyways cuz we prolly score 120 a game

[rm18]

Waiters is not going to start probably Dellavadova

[STAX]

Waiters is not going to start probably Dellavadova

no way... i agree he may not start but it wont be Dellavadova...

[Cuse0323]

Just got worse.

Matty D over Waiters?

Thread makes more sense that you're a Cavs fan, STAX.

Zero defense, enjoy.

120 a game. Unreal, NBA fans are the best.

Who the hell defends on that team...it's going to be fun to watch the failure.

They may make the finals but get destroyed by the West.

[existential]

OK, so the best starting 5 in NBA history is now the 2014/2015 Cavs...

C Anderson Varejao
PF Kevin Love
SF LeBron James
SG Dion Waiters
PG Kyrie Irving

Best starting 5 in NBA history... 4-peat starting now

Varejao blows
Love plays zero defense
LeBron great but only has 3 years left of peak time
Waiters is a chucker and doesn't get along with Kyrie
Kyrie is highly overrated, allergic to defense, and a poor floor general

This starting 5 has no shot at the title, welcome to reality.

[laclippers504]

???

[DUBnation]

Name 3 former Duke players that were NBA stars, win valuable prizes.

Grant Hill? Cory Maggette, Boozer, Irving, Luol Deng. Maybe never certified stars but borderline..

So what kind of prizes we talkin? lol

[ace888]

In the offensive side Cavs is very strong now but i agree that they have no interior defense. Love gets so many rebounds but that is all he does in the defensive end

[k13]

Books added 2 wins for love......

[ace888]

he can make it