In reading Terry Pluto’s recent piece, it is uplifting to hear favorable words about the upcoming NBA season. Partially due to the fact that we have the best player in the league, and others because we have come so far over the past four years.
Here’s a prediction: The Cavaliers will not let the fans down this season.
Well, that is definitely a relief. Somewhat. On a case-by-case basis though, it may be something that is tough to gauge. But in the same, is not winning an NBA title enough at this point?
I feel that some fans willingly accepted the sweep at the hands of the Spurs two seasons ago. We overacheived, and we surprised many. It was great to just be there – especially as a fan with playoff tickets that season. But the step back last season left a sour taste in many mouths.
In a city that is starving for a championship, we have been so close, so many times. Again, in the same, we are currently wrapping up what is widely considered a disappointing season with the Indians and are stuck in the middle of one of the worst disappointments in the Browns. Terry lays out plenty of solid reasons why this season will be one to remember. However, was it not a similar situation before this year’s version of the Tribe and what was supposed to be the Browns? While we’re stuck waiting for the next season of the NBA to roll around, my question is: what would be considered a success in your eyes?
Are we in the mode of “Championship or Bust?” Or given the Tribe’s inevitable quest for a .500 season, coupled with the Browns’ inevitable quest for at least one win, are will will to taper back our expectations?
Let’s hear it…
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1701 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
The Cavs improved in the offseason by getting a real point guard in Mo Williams and a potential draft steal in JJ Hickson. Damon Jones and his antics are gone and Hickson should be able to provide the same offense, defense and rebounding as Joe Smith. The team that took the Celtics to 7 games last year is basically intact.
The key to this season is keeping everyone healthy.
Not worrying about contract negotiations also helps.
Team has moderate success. Team makes key offseason acquisitions that appear to “fill the holes.” Big expectations follow. Does this script sound familiar? It should–it’s called Cleveland sports, 2008. How has that worked out so far? The Tribe, Buckeyes, and Browns have all (for various reasons) withered under great expectations. I would rather be the underdog or the darkhorse–roles Cleveland teams seem much more comfortable with–than be considered a favorite. Any chance of a media blackout on all things Cleveland sports, just to avoid any problems? All these recent failures have pushed me to the brink.
I am.
Steven King is an excellent story teller in my opinion. Often the endings suck, but you spend 10-15 hours (or however long it takes to read a book thoroughly enjoying it and the last 1/2 hour sucks, is it a waste of time?
I would love to see us have a strong regular season. Instead of one where we consistently fail against the bottom 1/3 of the league. If they just show up for every game 50 wins should be easy, 55 realistic. I’d be happy here.
I don’t EXPECT us to win the championship. If we lose in the semi’s or finals in 7 games then I’ll be disappointed sure, but content with the season. This could obviously change depending on how the season plays out.
I think that the Cavs have been and continue to be our closest and best chance for this city’s national championship. That being said, we should sell the farm(s) of the Indians and Browns for the Cavs
I definitely expect a very strong regular season. Gilbert has even come out and said how important the regular season is.
I expect an eastern conference championship this year
60 wins.
and a hell of a shot at the larry o’brien.
It’s still Lebron’s team, Mo will definitely help and J.J. hopefully sooner rather than later. I think you have to high expectations as long as players stay healthy (don’t worry I knocked on wood as I typed that).
The cavs don’t worry me at all. We not gonna win 60 games but we going to the finals. It might take the team a few months to gel wit mo and then when they trade wally it’ll give us a good player atleast. We got a stacked team and if we don’t be good on the offensive end of the floor say goodbye to mike brown. Hickson gonna be a problem i’ll predict that right now. When i say problem i mean in a good way for us and a bad way for the opposition. Lets get it cavs!
i feel good about this season, but as its been stated, we also felt that way about the indians and the browns.
however, the cavs have been in the playoffs the past 3 seasons, the browns and indians have not. the cavs have a certified beast of an all star who has shown that he can win a game by himself if he has to, the browns and indians do not. the cavs made some key trades and signings to improve, while the indians and browns made suspect ones.
i think those help when considering the outlook of the 2008/09 season.
I don’t see why the Browns, Indians and Buckeyes choking would have any bearing on the Cavs, who play a completely different sport. I know this is Cleveland and we’re all about curses, but baseball teams do not have any effect on basketball teams and vice versa.
With that said, I honestly think this will be the most enjoyable year of Cavaliers basketball in the LeBron era. Whether that means a championship, I don’t know, I’m just going to enjoy the ride and see what happens.
There are a lot of great teams in the West, so if the Cavs make the finals, are competitive but lose, then I will be content with that. But making the finals should be a bare minimum requirement to a successful season. The East is ours for the taking. I am not worried about the Cavs having a bad regular season like the Indians or Browns because the NBA is so predictable, while the NFL and MLB are most certainly not. The NBA season is very long and half of the teams make the playoffs, and we all know that Lebron and Mike Brown know how to win playoff games. I would be disappointed with a .500 season but that would still be good enough for a 5 seed. But when you consider all the team went through last year and how this team won’t have to deal with many of the same issues, you can’t help be be assured that this team will return to the 50 win plateau once again with relative ease
I think resisting to inflate the party balloons until AFTER the season starts is a good idea. It’s okay to have great hopes for this team, but having expectations is different. I think this team still has alot of challenges before them. The Celtics are champs, Detriot is aged but still Detriot, Orlando is impressive, and a couple other teams are at least trying to be competitive–and who’s to say that one of them won’t have a breakthrough year? And lets not forget the western confernce is pretty good I hear. This team has a lot of talent….but talent is WORTHLESS if there is inadequate focus or drive. I remember the year the Cavs went to the finals something that the would start every game with a chant or speech about winning it all. That is the sort of focus to start with. If the Cavs have a great preseason, and have a great start, then I will start expecting. Until then, I am putting my urge to expect a championship on hold for after the season starts.
That said, GO CAVS!
@ Jordan: More of an impact on fan expectations than the team’s actual play.
You know, i’d say i’d be pretty happy with just another trip to the finals, even if we don’t win the championship. However, we would HAVE to have a good showing in the Finals. No sweeping crap. If we’re going to the finals, we better push it to 7 games and that 7th game better go down to the wire. And it better be an epic series. More importantly, I want Lebron’s supporting cast to have career best playoff stats this year. No more of this, “Oh the Cavs would have won if Lebron wasn’t the only one who showed up”. If another team beats us, i want it to be because both teams were playing at their absolute best, but the other team just barely eeked out enough for the W. Also, if we have to lose the final game of the finals, i hope the other team has home court advantage. Don’t lose the championship in Cleveland.
But now that that’s said. GIMME A CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!
It’s the sixth year of the LeBron era…SIXTH! We have now entered the “championship or bust” portion of LeBron’s career. The supporting cast around him – although still not up to par – is still the best that he has had in his career. He has a legitimate and versatile backcourt to work with and a deep frontcourt rotation.
I’m not the one who says “win a title or LeBron will leave!”, as I think that the LB leaving talk is nothing but overhyped BS. But the Cavs have to look at the next two years as winning the Larry O’Brien trophy back to back. They have spent three years taking their lumps and losing at the hands of championship teams. The time to take that next step and bring a parade to the shores of Lake Erie is NOW.
Should add, I won’t be happy “contending” if we blow winnable games because of poor game/player management.
We take teams lightly and lose every year it seems