Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-2010 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

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Cleveland Cavaliers 2008-2009 NBA Record: 66-16, 1st in Central Division

Cleveland Cavaliers 2008-2009 ATS (Against The Spread): 49-33

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends & Betting Angles:

• 10-2 SU, 9-3 ATS past 12 at home to Bulls

• 11-1 SU past 12 at home to Bucks

• 9-0 SU, 6-1-2 ATS past 9 at home to Pacers

• UNDER is 11- past 12 games vs Pistons

• 8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS past 9 at home Pistons

• 3-14 SU past 17 games as underdog

• 9-0 SU, 8-1 ATS past 9 within Central

Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-2010 Preview & Prediction

Lebron James has proven that he will attack his few remaining skill set weaknesses in order to increase his team’s chances to win an NBA championship, setting a fine example for his teammates to follow. Shaquille O’Neal is obviously highly motivated to win his fifth championship in order to have one more ring than Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, the two other preeminent winners of the post-Michael Jordan era. The Cavs face a lot of individual and collective pressure to surpass what they accomplished in 2009, but if they stay healthy and motivated, they have a great opportunity to win the championship.

Cleveland Cavaliers Coach: Mike Brown (5th season)

Cleveland Cavaliers Returning Players: Guards Daniel Gibson, Delonte West, Mo Williams; forwards LeBron James, J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson, Anderson Varejao; center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Cleveland Cavaliers Key Additions: Center Shaquille O’Neal (trade from Suns), guard Anthony Parker (free agent), forward Jamario Moon (free agent), guard Danny Green (draft), forward Leon Powe (free agent).

Cleveland Cavaliers Key Subtractions: Center Ben Wallace (traded to Suns), guard Sasha Pavlovic (traded to Suns), guard Tarence Kinsey (signed to play in Turkey), forward Joe Smith (signed with Hawks), forward Wally Szczerbiak (free agent), center Lorenzen Wright (free agent).

2009-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers Point Guards:

Mo Williams is Cleveland’s first top shelf point guard since Andre Miller played the position for the Cavs in the early part of the decade. Williams is not a traditional, pass first point guard, but he has the ability to create shots for himself and to create shots for his teammates. Williams set career-highs in scoring (17.8 ppg), 3-point shooting percentage (.436) and free throw percentage (.912, fifth in the NBA).

The Cavs still do not have a true backup point guard. Starting shooting guard Delonte West can slide over to the point guard position at times and Anthony Parker played some point guard for Toronto. Daniel Gibson is a shooting guard in a point guard’s body.

2009-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers Off Guards:

Delonte West is the most underrated player on Cleveland’s roster. In fact, even the coaching staff underrated him at first. Coach Brown candidly admitted that when the Cavs acquired West he did not realize just how versatile and skilled West is. Brown said West is so talented that the Cavs actually run certain isolation and post-up plays for him that were originally designed primarily for LeBron James. West is not great in any one skill set area, but he also has no skill set weaknesses. He is very tough and is an excellent defensive player.

Anthony Parker was a three-year starter for Toronto. Last season, he posted career highs in assists and steals. The Cavs can now start West and bring Parker off of the bench, start Parker and use West as a backup point guard/shooting guard and/or utilize a ‘small’ lineup featuring James at power forward playing alongside Williams, West, Parker and one big.

2009-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers Small Forwards:

James earned the first of what will likely be many MVP awards, averaging at least 27 ppg, six rpg and six apg for the fifth straight season, The Cavs were so deep and talented that James had the opportunity to sit out all or most of many fourth quarters, resulting in a career-low 37.7 mpg average.

James is widely regarded as a pass-first player whose best skill is his court vision, but the reality is that he has already proven to be
one of the greatest scorers in NBA history: he owns the third highest regular season career scoring average (27.5 ppg, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan) and the third highest playoff career scoring average (29.4 ppg, trailing only Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson). James won the 2008 scoring title and has ranked in the top four in scoring each of the past five seasons. James’ 35.3 ppg average in the 2009 playoffs is the sixth best single season playoff scoring average (minimum of 10 games played) in NBA playoff history.

James has evolved from a below average defensive player to an All-Defensive first team member who finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year balloting. During his time with Team USA, James observed Kobe Bryant’s work ethic on and off the court and drew the appropriate conclusions regarding how to train and how important it is to set the tone defensively. James also improved his free throw shooting and three-point shooting. His next task is to develop a consistent midrange jump shot.

When James is not in the game, Moon will be his primary substitute. Parker also will receive some minutes at small forward. The Cavs signed Leon Powe and once he returns from injury, he will split his minutes at small forward, and power forward in certain situations.

2009-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers Power Forwards:

Anderson Varejao does not post eye popping numbers but he is a very important part of Cleveland’s front court rotation. He is the team’s most mobile big; he rebounds, defends and works very well with James in screen/roll situations. The absence of Ben Wallace means that youngsters, Hickson and Darnell Jackson will have the opportunity to earn more playing time. In certain situations, the Cavs will utilize a ‘small’ lineup featuring James at the power forward spot.

2009-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers Centers:

Shaquille O’Neal cannot dominate on a night in, night out basis like he did during his prime, but last season he won his record 1st field goal percentage title, shooting a career-high .609. He still draws double teams and is an excellent passer from the post. O’Neal has not averaged 10 rpg since the 2005 season, but that is partially because his minutes have been limited; his 8.4 rpg last season — in just 30.0 mpg — for the Suns would have led the Cavs. O’Neal seemed to discover a Fountain of Youth in Phoenix but prior to that he had been injury prone for many years and also struggled to maintain an adequate conditioning level, so his health and fitness will be crucial factors for the Cavs this season.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas has started 667 of his 707 career NBA games. He will not complain about coming off of the bench, but it will still be an adjustment for him to so drastically change his role — and it will also be an adjustment for his teammates, who are used to having Ilgauskas spread the court with his perimeter shooting. The depth is strong.

Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Cleveland Cavaliers will finish 1st in the NBA Central Division .

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting

Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Championship Odds: +120

Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference Odds: +300

Cleveland Cavaliers 2008-2009 Betting Stats

Cleveland Cavaliers Straight Up: 66-16

Cleveland Cavaliers ATS: 49-33

Cleveland Cavaliers Home ATS: 27-14

Cleveland Cavaliers Away ATS: 22-19

Cleveland Cavaliers Record As Favorite: 63-8

Cleveland Cavaliers Record As Dog: 3-8

Cleveland Cavaliers Over/Under: 36-46

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