Cavaliers went 19-63 last season, including a record 26-game losing streak, after the departure of LeBron James. Cavs hope the return of veterans to good health and the addition of promising youngsters will make this season better.
The Cavaliers hope that veterans Antawn Jamison (4) and Anderson Varejao (17) can stay healthy this season and stabilize the frontcourt.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers begin their 42nd NBA season on Monday, Dec. 26, when they host the Toronto Raptors at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavs are coming off a dreadful 2010-11 campaign. Going into last season, it was assumed Cleveland would fall from what had become its perennial contender status, after the departure of veterans such as centers Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Oh, yes, LeBron James had also left Cleveland. On July 8, 2010, during ESPN's infamous telecast of "The Decision," free agent James announced, "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat."
After a respectable 7-9 start to last season, though, nobody could have imagined the depths the Cavaliers would plummet to. Cleveland lost 36 of its next 37 games. The historic collapse began with a 10-game losing streak, was interrupted by a solitary win, and was punctuated with an NBA-record 26 losses in a row.
The Cavaliers, riddled by injuries much of the season but indisputably lacking in talent, finished 19-63.
This season, due to the lockout as players and owners wrangled over a new collective bargaining agreement, NBA teams will play 66-game regular season schedules instead of 82.
The Cavaliers hope that veterans such as center-forward Anderson Varejao and forward Antawn Jamison will stay healthy after being sidelined for much of last season.
They're curious to see how soon and how much point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Tristan Thompson can help. Irving was the first overall pick in the June draft and Thompson was No. 4.
They think Omri Casspi can maybe help fill the void at small forward. Casspi, who reportedly drew the interest of some contenders before last season's trade deadline, was acquired from Sacramento during the offseason, with the Cavaliers sending J.J. Hickson to the Kings.
Knowing that both disappointments and pleasant surprises await the Cavs and all teams, how many of their 66 games do you think the Cavaliers will win this season?
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2011/12/cleveland_cavaliers_what_will.html
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