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Cavaliers #5 in Power Rankings

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MarkPrice25

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The Cavs have made the move from 10th to 5th in ESPN's Power Rankings. They still trail Detroit, San Antonio, Dallas (all of these are understandable) and the Clippers. I believe the Clippers will fade and if we can somehow put up an impressive win at Indiana on Thanksgiving, everyone will jump on our bandwagon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2006&week=3
 
Even Will Perdue is saying nice things. Didn't he say three weeks ago, the Cavaliers would finish ninth and not make the playoffs?

Cavs One-Half Game Behind Pistons

When you look at the standings does it surprise you that Cleveland is pushing Detroit? Well, if you've seen them play you would know that they're no joke. Just the maturation of LeBron alone is going to make them better.

But it's the addition of the free agents, most notably Larry Hughes and Donyell Marshall, that's going to allow this team to do something it has not done in eight years . . . make the playoffs.

So let's not talk about their past, but focus on the present and the future. We all know that Larry can score (Nine consecutive points in a span of 2:23 in the fourth quarter vs. Washington last week and 36 points against the Sixers on Saturday, both wins). But his biggest impact just might be on defense. Let's not forget he was last season's steal leader (2.89 per game) and a member of the NBA's All-Defensive First Team.

When coach Mike Brown fully passes on his defensive philosophy to this team, their hopes will ride on how Larry and the team can slow down the likes of Dwyane Wade, Rip Hamilton, Vince Carter and the Pacers.

Where does Donyell fit into all this? If he continues his current pace (11.4 ppg, 8 rpg) we might be talking Sixth Man of the Year. Yes, it's early, but this crafty veteran has always had a knack for rebounding (7.3 rpg career average). He also has the range to be considered a legitimate 3-point threat (40 percent over the last two years).

Just imagine Damon Jones (another free agent addition), Hughes, LeBron and Donyell on the perimeter with Ilgauskas in the paint. Who do you help off of? What's your defensive rotation? Plenty of long nights for opposing coaches.

The only downfall for this team prior to the playoffs might be their division. The Central could be the toughest, from top to bottom, in the league.

This is just the beginning for the Cavs. By the way, did you notice LeBron had a triple- double the other night?

-- Will Perdue
 
Way to go Will Perdue. Change your mind 3 weeks into the season. From no playoffs to a solid playoff team. Do they just give these jobs away at ESPN?
 
changing his mind is a heck of a lot better than charlie rosen - who still doesn't put the cavs in his top 10 east teams
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...YF?slug=sk-rankings112105&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Here are THE REAL power rankings...

1. Detroit Pistons (8-1, Last week: 1) – The schedule finally caught up to the Pistons, but they're playing with a swagger.

2. Dallas Mavericks (7-2, Last week: 6) – Blowout wins over the Spurs and the Pistons. Impressive.

3. San Antonio Spurs (8-2, Last week: 3) – Injuries to Brent Barry and Michael Finley haven't slowed them down.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-2, Last week: 7) – Larry Hughes gets 37 in a win over Philly. This team is deep.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (8-2, Last week: 5) – Elton Brand is headed for his first All-Star appearance.

6. Milwaukee Bucks (5-3, Last week: 4) – The Bucks are pounding teams on the offensive glass.

7. Indiana Pacers (6-3, Last week: 8) – A blowout loss to the Bobcats has to concern Carlisle.


8. Memphis Grizzlies (7-4, Last week: 14) – Shane Battier has been a rock for the Grizzlies.


9. Denver Nuggets (6-5, Last week: 20) – After a slow start, the Nuggets are starting to put it together.


10. Washington Wizards (5-4, Last week: 2) – Tough week for the Wizards, but Caron Butler is playing well.


11. Golden State Warriors (6-5, Last week: 12) – Mike Dunleavy is really struggling after signing his contract extension.


12. Miami Heat (6-4, Last week: 9) – Bad news for the Heat: They're shooting 69 percent from the line without Shaquille O'Neal in the lineup.


13. New Jersey Nets (5-4, Last week: 19) – Through nine games, they've scored 857 points and given up 857. Guess that makes the Nets an average team.


14. Philadelphia 76ers (6-5, Last week: 10) – A team of streaks: Sixers lose three, win six, then lose two.


15. Phoenix Suns (4-5, Last week: 11) – Shawn Marion has eight double-doubles in nine games.


16. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-4, Last week: 15) – Kevin Garnett is shooting the lights out and doing everything else, too.


17. Seattle SuperSonics (5-5, Last week: 25) – Ray Allen is averaging 29 points during team's three-game winning streak.


18. Boston Celtics (4-5, Last week: 17) – Raef LaFrentz is stretching defenses with his deadly shooting.


19. Sacramento Kings (4-6, Last week: 24) – Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic are starting to come around.


20. Chicago Bulls (4-5, Last week: 16) – Ben Gordon is shooting just 35 percent from the field.


21. New Orleans Hornets (4-5, Last week: 21) – The Hornets' two leading scorers are 6-foot (Chris Paul) and 5-11 (Speedy Claxton).


22. Houston Rockets (3-7, Last week: 22) – Tracy McGrady is back on the shelf, and the Rockets are getting crushed by a nasty schedule.


23. Utah Jazz (4-7, Last week: 13) – Is Carlos Boozer ever going to play? Injuries are killing the Jazz.


24. Los Angeles Lakers (4-6, Last week: 18) – They're shooting just 43 percent as a team.


25. Portland Trail Blazers (3-5, Last week: 23) – Darius Miles (19.1 points per game) seems to have found a home.


26. Charlotte Bobcats (3-8, Last week: 26) – Not a bad first start for Raymond Felton: 18 and 10 in a rout of the Pacers.


27. Orlando Magic (3-6, Last week: 27) – The Magic are dishing out only 16 assists per game.


28. New York Knicks (3-7, Last week: 28) – Channing Frye is playing with a lot of confidence for a rookie.


29. Toronto Raptors (1-9, Last week: 30) – The Raptors are off the schneid … whatever that means.


30. Atlanta Hawks (0-9, Last week: 29) – Salim Stoudamire has been a bright spot in an otherwise dreary situation.
 
this has to be one of the highest ratings this franchise has had in years. the hawks are 0-9 Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :thisguy: hawks record. we dont suck anymore. :king:
 
hey cav in cali, some of us, ehem ehem, happen to live in atlanta, so please have mercy on their souls, or if i happen to live here... our souls... dammit cali, i hate u
 
The yahoo sports ranking is the best one, im not sure if steve kerr wrote it but that guys pwnz. At this point there is no way the clips are better than us, they are doing very good for sure but I think are wins are much more impressive.
 
longtimecav said:
Am I the only one to notice talk of Diop replacing Dampier in the starting lineup for the mavs? I really need to watch a Mavs game :confused:
Click to expand...


He's down to 275 pounds...he was around 325 most of his time in Cleveland. He has had a couple of good games....i think he had 16 boards and 6 blocks the other night in 37 min off the bench. He is still a "self-check" on the offensive end. The guy always had good timing and the long arms to be a great shot blocker. Dampier has gotten off to a poor start and Diop has played decent. That said Dampier had 18 & 16 in his last game so Diop may not be starting anytime soon.
It is truly amazing what the fear of unemployment will do to a guy's work ethic. Diop had everything at his disposal to succeed in Cleveland. He was just never willing to put in the effort. He was the player that showed up later and left earlier than everyone else. It took the fear of not getting another contract to get him to finally workout....it will be interesting to see if it lasts. I'm glad we let him walk, it gave us the flexibility to get much deeper. We may not have been able to get Jones & Marshall if we signed Diop to an extension. He wouldn't be getting the minutes here that he is getting in Dallas either....it was time to part ways.
 
What Max says is true. I suppose you could call it fraud. Basically he collected a paycheck for all the years in Cleveland and then started to play..
 
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