The Milwaukee Bucks will continue preseason play tonight in Cleveland as they play a division foe — The Cleveland Cavaliers. To better get to know the Bucks fourth opponent of the preseason, we look to Fear the Sword writer Chris Manning to answer on all you need to know about David Blatt and the Cavs.
BTBP: So how about them new look Cavs? LeBron James, Kevin Love, Ray Allen, insert veteran minimum championship caliber free agent here. After four months of anticipating what could happen, what does it feel like for fans in Cleveland to actually watch this team take the floor this preseason?
Manning: Well, first off, Ray Allen is not a Cavalier. At least not yet.
Secondly, it’s still surreal. Media day and the first few preseason games created an excitement of sorts. But until the Cavs take the floor in their home opener against the New York Knicks, I don’t think it will feel real. Until we see LeBron, Love, Kyrie and the gang on the floor at once, it’s going to feel the same way you do on Christmas morning: Excitement you can’t quite process until you actually see it for real.
BTBP: Do you have happy dreams when you go to sleep of Kevin Love’s outlet passes to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving? What kind of bonus is that offensively for the Cavs? Will it play a role in the style of offense David Blatt runs?
Manning: Only once and the pass was to Dion Waiters. It’s definitely a bonus, but I don’t think we know yet what it will provide in Blatt’s offense. We haven’t seen the full playbook yet, so we don’t exactly know how much the Cavs will push the ball up the floor off rebounds. But when they do, it’s going to be exciting to watch – especially when you consider that James, Waiters and Irving can run the floor and be excellent outlets for Love.
BTBP: Is there a relief knowing that Anthony Bennett will never eat another cheeseburger as a member of the Cleveland Cavs? In all seriousness, does it sadden you to see Bennett and Andrew Wiggins out of the Cavaliers organization?
Manning: It does. I love Bennett’s upside and I think he’ll thrive up north. Wiggins is freaking Wiggins and he’s already making highlight plays. But in reality, with LeBron back, it might be best for both to get to grow organically as opposed to under championship expectations from the day one. Still, both players fascinate me and they make the Timberwolves one of my league pass teams this season.
BTBP: Cleveland is projected by many sports betting agencies to finish with anywhere from 55-58 wins this season. Do you see them being able to do this with all the new variables in place?
Manning: I think it’s a fairly reasonable number. The East outside of Cleveland and Chicago is relatively weak. This is especially true when you consider that the Wizards will be without Bradley Beal for roughly eight weeks. The Cavs also should feast on who they play teams not named the Bulls within the division, meaning they’ll rack up tons of easy wins. I wouldn’t guarantee that many wins, but it’s possible.
BTBP: All the media pundits are also talking about how key pieces (Blatt, Love, Irving) don’t have NBA Playoffs experience. I don’t see this as a major issue, considering what LeBron James brings to the table.
Manning: Nor do I, especially with LeBron, Shawn Marion and Mike Miller’s prior experience on contenders. In the end, I think Irving, Love, Waiters and the rest of the lot will have some growing pains. But I don’t think we can say that it’s that big of deal. In my mind, the Cavs have the right mix of upside and veteran savvy.
BTBP: Speaking of The King, do you buy into all this talk that his game is on the downfall? People look to injuries last year and how he cant continue to perform at the level he’s had to. I personally don’t buy it.
Manning: I don’t. He’s still 29 years old, perhaps the most physically impressive specimen in the NBA and still improving in some ways. I think it’s important to note here that, in the last few months in Miami, LeBron was carrying a huge part of the load. When the Heat made it to the Finals, it was essentially LeBron taking on San Antonio by himself at times. The decline is going to happen, but not yet. It’s kind of scary to think that, even after 11 years in the NBA, we have not seen peak LeBron James yet.