Cleveland Cavaliers: Mission Possible, Bring the Ring for the King

Mission Possible: Bring the Ring for the King

Cleveland Cavaliers

By Josiah Israel Albelda

OUTLOOK

Grizzled pivot man Shaquille O’Neal comes to Cleveland this season with two missions: to bring the King a ring and to make sure the King stays in his Ohio kingdom.

After being stunned in six games by the Orlando Magic last year, the Cavaliers try to bounce back this season with higher expectations, especially with the arrival of the Big Cactus, touted to be one of the best big men to ever step into the big league.

While Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic, who both were not vital cogs in the rotation last year, are gone, the boys of coach Mike Brown are expected to step up the competition a notch higher with the acquisitions of high-flying Jamario Moon and steady guard Anthony Parker.

Still, the defense and the firepower that the Cavaliers showed to streak to a league-best 66-16 record last year will center around reigning NBA MVP LeBron James, who is gunning for a second straight trophy.

For Cleveland to at least equal their sterling 2008-09 slate, James and the rest of the pack should work more on their defense and continue to improve on their three-point shooting. Mo Williams needs more than another All-Star year and Delonte West has to cope with his personal problems to be able to contribute big time.

X-FACTOR

While James will always be the face of the Cavaliers, O'Neal will be the key to whether the team will surpass their achievements last year. He was added to give Cleveland the heft and height it needs to counter the bigs of Orlando, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Diesel's physical conditioning and pacing will be crucial to the success of this five.

PREDICTION

64-18 (1st/2nd in the East)