As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game
being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players
from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy
those odds.
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team
along with the Portland Trailblazers and Buffalo Braves. Throughout the
franchise’s history, the Cavaliers have yo-yoed between being a lottery team
and one that reaches the postseason and contends for championships. The
franchise has reached five NBA Finals, getting swept by the San Antonio
Spurs in 2007. The Cavaliers reached four straight NBA Finals from
2015-2018, all against the Golden State Warriors. The Cavs lost three of
the four matchups with the lone winning coming in 2016. The Cavs
became the first team in NBA history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win an
NBA Finals. The title was Cleveland’s first in a major sport since the NFL’s
Cleveland Browns won the NFL Title in 1964.
Today, I put together a Cavaliers Dream Team. There are some rigid criteria
in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have played for the
Cavs for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions. Since the free agency
era began 30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals
don’t make this list. This roster is all-encompassing from all eras.
Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team. This is
basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first
consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number of All-NBA
seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping immensely.
While I understand it is hard to compare eras, I’m not going to convolute
this discussion.
Generational reminders
Being on the Cavs during a season of being a championship contender does
not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the Cavs during a
bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on this team. Winning or losing
eras, all high-level performers get considered.
To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into positionless
basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players encompassing all eras. The
starting lineup will be position specific, after that it will be the best of the rest
with four years playing for the franchise being the first requirement.
So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t just tell
me he should be there and why, tell me who you would remove. Before you
make a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the
list at that position?”
Starting five
Point guard: Kyrie Irving
Irving’s 3-point shot that buoyed the Cavs to a seven-game upset victory
over the heavily-favored Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA finals.
Irving, who is now a Brooklyn Net, was a point guard who could be a
facilitator but he was also a prolific scorer.
During his time with the Cavaliers, Irving averaged 21.6 points, 5.6 assists
and 3.6 rebounds per game. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2012
with four of his six All-Star appearances coming in a Cavaliers uniform.
Irving helped the Cavaliers reach four consecutive NBA championships.
Shooting guard: Austin Carr
Much of Carr’s legacy is “what could have been” because knee injuries
ended up limiting what could have been a great career. Carr, however,
established enough of a body of work to deserve a starting lineup spot on
this team.
Carr was NBA All Rookie first team in 1972 and an NBA All-Star in 1974.
For his career, Carr averaged 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists
during his career with the Cavaliers. He is known these days as a color
commentator for Cavalier games.
Small forward: LeBron James
While it can be debated whether or not James is the best player ever to play
the game, he deserves to be in the conversation. His 11 years with the
Cavaliers covered two stints, the first of which brought extended postseason
success including an NBA Finals appearance. The second of which included
four straight trips to the NBA Finals with the title being delivered in 2016.
During his career with three different teams, James has averaged 27.2 points,
7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.
James, who recently led the Los Angeles Lakers to their 17th NBA
championship, is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career with four
NBA championships, four NBA Finals MVPs, for NBA MVPs, 16 NBA
All-Star appearances, 13 All NBA first-team selections, and 5 NBA All-
Defensive first-team selections.
Power forward: Larry Nance
You could make a case for Kevin Love to be the starting power forward but
Nance gets the odd ever-so-slightly. Nance is better known for his time with
the Phoenix Suns but he was tremendous as a Cavalier. Nance is best known
for his athletic dunking skills.
Nance finished his career with the Cavaliers as the No. 3 all-time leader in
blocked shots and also averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in
seven years with the Cavs. Two of his three All-Star appearances came in a
Cleveland uniform along with his NBA All Defensive first-team honors in
1989.
Center: Brad Daugherty
If not for a back injury shortening his career, Daugherty could have been a
Hall of Famer. Nonetheless his career achieved enough of a body of work to
be the starting center in this lineup. Daugherty was the No. 1 overall pick in
the 1986 draft and was part of Cavalier teams that were consistent contenders
throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
At the time of his retirement, Daugherty was the franchise's all-time leading
scorer and rebounder. James has since broken his scoring record as of 2008.
Daugherty was a five-time NBA All-Star in his nine seasons with the
Cavaliers. Throughout his career he averaged 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds
and 3.7 assists per game.
Bench (alphabetical order)
Terrell Brandon:
Brandon's numbers with the Cavaliers are actually deflated because three of
his six years were spent as a backup to Mark Price. Brandon, however, shined
when he had the chance. He blossomed into a two-time All-Star. During his
six seasons with the Cavaliers, Brandon averaged 12.7 points and 4.9 assists
per game. His final two seasons he averaged nearly 20 points her game to go
along with six assists.
Jim Chones:
Chones was a force on the front line. He averaged a double-double and two
seasons for the Cavaliers. His foot injury in the 1976 playoffs cost the Cavaliers
a realistic chance at a title that season. Chones never averaged less than 8.
4 rebounds per game. During his career with the Cavaliers, five seasons, he
averaged 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
World B. Free:
His birth name was Lloyd Bernard Free but became known as World B. Free
because he was known as “The Prince of Midair” as well as “All World.” Free
played for five different teams but during his time with the Cavaliers he
averaged 23.0 points per game. Free was the master at going one-on-one
with defenders and lofting up high arcing shots.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas:
You could make a case for Ilgauskas to be the starting center on this team
because similar to Daugherty, injuries kept him from being what he could
have been. Despite a multitude of foot and ankle injuries, early in his career
Ilgauskas was able to establish enough of a body of work to land a spot on
this team. Ilgauskas is a two-time All-Star and is the Cavaliers all-time leader
in blocked shots. He averaged 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks shots
for games with the Cavaliers.
Kevin Love:
Love is underappreciated in that he is often viewed as the third wheel for the
Cavaliers stretch of reaching for consecutive NBA Finals. Love, however,
was no less important during that run. Despite the Cavaliers rebuild, Love
remains with the franchise. During his time with the Cavaliers, Love has
averaged a double-double with 17.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest.
Mike Mitchell:
Mitchell played just four seasons with the Cavaliers and most of his career
with the San Antonio Spurs. Mitchell, however, enjoyed some productive
years with the Cavaliers. He averaged a double-double with 19.2 points per
game and 12.2 rebounds. His per game scoring average still ranks fifth in
franchise history for anybody who has played over 200 career games with
Cleveland.
Mark Price:
Price is one of the most underrated point guards of his generation, if not in
NBA history. He was a tremendous 3-point shooter and free throw shooter
as well. All four of Price's All-Star appearances came as a member of the
Cavaliers. He is third all time in NBA history in free throw shooting
percentage at 90.4%. As a Cavalier, Price averaged 16.4 points and 7.2 assists
per game.
Michael “Campy” Russell:
Russell played seven seasons with the Cavaliers and was an All-Star in 1979.
During that season he averaged 21.9 points per game. For his career in
Cleveland, Russell compiled a scoring average of 16.1 points and 5.1
rebounds per game. In his first season, 1976, Russell helped the Cavaliers to
their first winning season and first playoff appearance in franchise history.
That season the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals before
losing to the Boston Celtics.
Robert “Bingo” Smith:
Smith got the name “Bingo” so as to avoid confusion with two players
named Bobby Smith that he played with at Tulane. This was one of the
Cavaliers first true superstars and helped transform the franchise from an
expansion team into one that reached the playoffs. During his 10 seasons
with the Cavaliers, Smith averaged 13.3 points per game.
John “Hot Rod” Williams:
Williams earned the nickname “Hot Rod” because of making engine-like
noises during games. Though Williams never earned any All Star
recognition, he had nine impactful seasons with the Cavaliers while being
Eastern Conference Champion contenders in the late 80s and early 90s. He
was NBA All Rookie second team in 1987. As a Cavalier, he averaged
12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
Head coach: Lenny Wilkens
The case could be made for Tyronn Lue, who delivered the franchise’s
only championship, he only lasted for less than four years. Mike Brown
could also be a candidate but it's hard to go against Wilkens, who was a
Hall of Fame player who turned into a Hall of Fame coach, which is a
rare feat. Wilkens is not only one of the best coaches in NBA history but
the best in franchise history. Wilkens took over a team that won just 31
games in his first season and turned them into a playoff team five of the
next six years. Wilkens remains the winningest coach in franchise history.
The biggest problem his Cavalier teams faced were the Detroit Pistons
and the Chicago Bulls.
Team: 2015-2016
Lue took over for David Blatt, who was fired at midseason, and the franchise
won they're only championship. This title, however, was not just for the
franchise it was for the entire city of Cleveland, which had not won a
championship in a major sport in 52 years. The three-point shot by Irving
in Game 7 to defeat, becoming the only team in NBA Finals history to
overcome a 3-1 deficit, the Golden State Warriors will forever be
remembered. Though the Warriors got the better of the Cavaliers and three
out of those four seasons, 2016 remains a special time for Cleveland sports
fans. That Warrior team won an NBA record 73 games in the regular season.
No comments:
Post a Comment