Our Depth

[pinoycavsfan]

kyrie, love, shump, av are all injury prone players. the cavs need all the depth they can have.

 

[rabman_gold]

Well, I understand my way isn't perfect. Just a little more thought-provoking. Even for all the injuries, all-stars, and players with (and without) talent, it's still close to the most "real" depth we've ever had in our history. Makes me hopeful we can finish the year we've been hoping to have since 1964.

Looking at the roster up to this point (I'm assuming Tristan is on the roster at the beginning of the season):

C-Mozgov, Andy, Kaun
PF-Love, Tristan
SF-LBJ, Jefferson, JJ
SG-Shumpert, Smith, Harris
PG-Irving, Mo, Delly

If Andy, Love, Shumpert, and Irving are all injured for the majority of the year, we still have 3 "real" big men who can contribute (I assume Kaun won't be as worthless as Perkins and/or Haywood), 2-3 others who can play spot minutes as a power forward in rotations, 2-3 players who can hold down the fort at the guard positions.

That's almost 7-9 guys who can play in the worse case scenario (those late 80s/early 90s teams only had that much to begin with). And we still have the TPE exceptions (and doesn't count guys who could break out).

There's hope. Doesn't it just warm you guys up for the season?

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

it's still close to the most "real" depth we've ever had in our history.

Agreed, which was the whole point of this thread. The "context" you've illuminated (I disagree with your method but the overarching point is shared) is understood, inherent. We've become so accustomed to seeing shallow Cavs teams, the roster heading into this year is, well, nearly revelatory in its scope. It'll be eye-popping if we actually do snag another name talent.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

The place went ballistic over RJ's posterizing dunk. Mo is an experienced tactician and floor general at the PG spot. Kaun is a monster who will be an able backup for Moz once he gets comfortable in our system. Andy will bring unexpected hustle and scoring if he can remain on his feet, which shouldn't be a problem in a reduced role. Once this team gets healthy we are the scariest and, yes, deepest squad in the league.

Licking my chops over here.

 

[cavsfever]

If we get and stay fully healthy and TT actually signs we are crazy deep. Then imagine if Jared Cunningham turns out to be actually good...

but right now we are not deep, we have three of our starting five recovering from major injuries, three players who seem to get injured every year, and our sixth man is having a monumental temper tantrum about not getting overpaid. I'm gonna be nervous until we are lifting the trophy.

 

[PedroFlu]

Holy shit, best case scenarium if TT signs and Cunningham can actually be part of the rotation for a few minutes:

Kyrie/Mo/Delly
Shump/JR/Jared/Harris
LBJ/RJ/JJ
Love/TT
Mozgov/Kaun/AV

With:
Mo being able to play as an offensive SG;
Delly as a defensive SG;
Shump as a defensive SF;
JR as an offensive SF;
LBJ as a complete PF;
TT as defensive small ball C/PF;
AV as an offensive C/PF;

This is an utterly complete roster. Scary good.

 

[The Oi]

They're literally one of the most talented teams of all time.

Barring catastrophic injuries to two of the top 3 again, there is no reason this team shouldn't cruise to a championship this year.

If ever there was a team that could lose 1-2 games throughout an entire playoffs, this is the one.

 

[Jordan]

They're literally one of the most talented teams of all time.

Barring catastrophic injuries to two of the top 3 again, there is no reason this team shouldn't cruise to a championship this year.

If ever there was a team that could lose 1-2 games throughout an entire playoffs, this is the one.

The talent is up there with the Lakers team that only lost one game throughout the entire playoff series. I totally agree with that.

 

[HurricaneKid]

I love this squad too. But we are going to roll out:

Mo Williams
JR Smith
and possibly Kaun

as starters on opening night.

Lets pump the brakes until we get everyone back in and incorporated into the team. Once healthy I will feel a lot better about everything.

 

[The Oi]

The talent is up there with the Lakers team that only lost one game throughout the entire playoff series. I totally agree with that.

And it's actually a more talented NBA than at that time. Cavs happen to be in the less talented conference, making it easier to get out.

Maybe they'll go fo fo fo fi.

 

[PedroFlu]

It's very talented but also very flexible, with basically all kinds of players a coach could want to change playing style/players/scheme/adapting to different things.

It's all on health. Coaching wise, Blatt proved last playoffs that he can train a great defense, so coaching is not an issue anymore, as it was last season.

 

[Binkster]

I love this squad too. But we are going to roll out:

Mo Williams
JR Smith
and possibly Kaun

as starters on opening night.

Lets pump the brakes until we get everyone back in and incorporated into the team. Once healthy I will feel a lot better about everything.

You're missing the point and the overarching discussion. On paper and when healthy we are arguably the deepest and likely most talented team in the NBA. Save some major injury, we will be at full tilt before the Playoffs with a roster that nobody wants to face.

Imagine this roster, fully healthy in the 2015 Finals. Do we lose 2 games?

 

[cavsfever]

But the point is that we don't have depth until we actually have depth. Depth only counts when it is on the court, not rehabbing an injury or holding out of camp. I'm as excited as anyone about the theoretical possibility of this lineup but I won't breathe easy till I see it on the court. Holding the Finals trophy.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

The part that excited me the most is the the team has a good balance of young and old. We have some younger players that have upside and if they improve we could be a deep team.

Delly - We know who he is, but if he continues to improve his shot, he is a great player for depth and is a boarderline rotation player.

TT - He is a young big who can rebound, and is starting to understand defense. He is a player that is not in his prime yet, and will see vast improvements on defense if he can take the mental leap forward.

KI- Is already an All Star, and is only entering his 5th year in the league. He has plenty of growth left.

Love - Entering his Prime, but a year under his belt in the system, should lead to better results on the floor.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

But the point is that we don't have depth until we actually have depth. Depth only counts when it is on the court, not rehabbing an injury or holding out of camp. I'm as excited as anyone about the theoretical possibility of this lineup but I won't breathe easy till I see it on the court. Holding the Finals trophy.

At the time I created this thread, Shumpert wasn't hurt and Kyrie's recovery time table was unknown.

It should go without saying though that none of this is applicable without health...