Lebron James' Best Dunks

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/top_plays/2009/09/14/nba_091409_lebron_dunks.nba/

This guy is a physical freak.

But I like it :)

Cleveland's Future

Being a Lebron's fan, I check Cav's record and status sometimes. Although I'm not as crazy for Cav as for Warriors, I do make sure I read all their news on ESPN to follow their works. In any case, I do hope that Lebron can get a ring somewhere.

Last season, the Cavs ended with 66 wins and swept first two rounds. However, it ended its championship run with disappointment after game 6 against the Orlando Magics. The main reasons are:

1. Dwight Howard's dominance inside the paint

2. Because of D. Howard, the swing men got more chance to shoot outside

The inside-outside plays totally destroyed the Cavs. That's why the front office made several moves, hoping that they will help in the coming season.

Let's start with last year's starting lineup:

Point guard: Mo Williams

Shooting guard: Delonte West

Small forward: Lebron James

Power forward: Anderson Varejao

Center: Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Besides Lebron, no one can really make to the starting lineup in another team, besides Mo Williams maybe. But then again, besides lebron no one can be a go-to player in this lineup. Therefore, it's almost a miracle that they got 66 wins. You may say that it was due to some good team work and good defense or whatever, but mostly it was Lebron's performances that really saved them. I'm not saying other players are bad players, but compared to starters on other teams, Cav's starting lineup does seem a little weak.

After the disappointment last season, this offseason is really busy for the front office. They acquired several veteran players, hoping it will help in the coming season, especially against Orlando. The most important reason for all these moves is that they want to get the ring for the coming season so they cane make sure that Lebron stays in Cleveland after 2010.

Lebron made a comment about being a free agent in 2010, after he's off his contract. He was being ambiguous about what he is going to do. He tries to put pressure on Cleveland so that the office will do everything to keep him. Smart move, but I don't really see him being on another team (NY? really? you really think he's going to NY? I doubt it....)

Therefore, the office, being afraid of losing Lebron, traded several big names:

1) Shaq O'neil:

There are pro's and con's about this trade. many, including the front office, think that adding into the rotation will add size aka defense inside. If they face Orlando again, maybe Shaq is a good add becasue he can probably stop Dwight Howard inside. Also he might be good against other big players. Overall, he's good inside.

Then again, he's 30+ and is not as in shape as he was anymore. Although he said that his mission in Cleveland is to "win a ring for the king", it's still hard to say that he won't want to take over and be the star himself (like he did last season in Phoenix). Because he is 30+, he is not as atheletic as he was before. Judging from what he did in Miami (missing practices for no reason), there's no guaratee that he will fit into the team that well. After all, team chemistry is really important.

He is considered the biggest move of this off season ( or you can say Artest & Ariza swap? Rasheed Wallace going to Boston? Richard Jefferson? Vince Carter?) But I do think that his effect is the biggest (Cav's championship, Lebron's staying in Cleveland, etc)

We cannnot say whether it's a good trade or not until season starts, though, so we should just wait and see.

2) Jamario Moon & Anthony Parker:

These two players are for parameter force for sure. Adding these two does add more power outside, and they can be good bench or starters. I personally think they are good adds.

3) Leon Powe:

Leon Powe shows his ability two years ago in the final against the Lakers. Powe shows really good athletism and also good skills. Although Powe probably won't be back until later of the season, he can be a good bench sharing minutes with Varejao. I really like this guy, and he's from California XDDDDDD

I hope I can see him play more often.

So the new starting lineup in the comins season might be:

PG: Mo Williams

SG: Delonte West

SF: Lebron James

PF: Anderson Varejao

C: Shaquille O'Neil

and the second unit should be

Daniel Gibson

Anthony Parker

Jamario Moon

Leon Powe

Zydrunas Ilgauskas (I have problems spelling his name.....)

It looks pretty good to me if I don't consider the other big two in the east.....but I do think that the Cav's have a good chance winning the Eastern Conference. The rest is the fight against......the Lakers if nothing goes wrong. Lebron vs. Kobe, people have been waiting for this for a long time. Last season Lakers were 2-0 against the Cavs, and we will see how this season will go.

One thing that's worth talking about is that the Cavs didn't have a good record against the big teams (namely Lakers, Celts, and Magics), so they will test how well the new rotation is by playing against these teams.

Good luck Cavs, and good luck Lebron.

2009-2010 Western Conference Forecast

Article from EPSN:http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=OffseasonPredictions09-WestStandings

Western Conference is still crazy, just like how it was last year and two years ago.

well....now Golden States is out of picture, i really don't know what to expect in west. and what's with portland? i really think Denver and Dallas should be before Portland. I'm not saying Portland is bad or anything, but I do think Denver and Dallas can be better. Also, I'm pretty sure the 8th seed has to win at least 45 games. I mean, come on, it's almost a western tradition now. I do think Lakers are gonna repeat its championship run, yet it will be hard repeating getting the title. The eastern big threes got some big moves (not saying swapping Ariza and Artest is not big but still) and are likely to stop Lakers. I think, besides GS's games, I'd watch more games of eastern conference.

Hope for Golden States:

1) Anthony Randolph:

seeing him in summer league really gives us a lot of hope, but Don Nelson is known for not giving chance to young players. Therefore, i really hope he will get enough minutes to show what he really has. Again, I know that summer league sometimes doesn't really mean much (look at Marco Belinelli few years ago......), but it really seems like he has something to prove. Golden States' front count is never strong. Counting on Biedrins or Turiaff alone is too big of a risk. If Randlph has something, let him show it. I do wanna see more inside plays. Run-and-gun is fine, but it would work better inside.

2) The back court:

aka Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. These two are both shoot-before-pass players. If both are gonna start, who's gonna be 1 ? Or if there's really gonna be a 1?

It is true that a team doesn't really need a true point guard, and Warriors don't pass much anyway, but having a good point guard does help (looking back in 2006 and 07 when Baron Davis was still around, at least he passes sometimes......). Now both are not truly point guards, so I don't really know what is going to happen and what the style (what kind of run-and-gun) would the Warriors have this coming season.

3) Stephen Jackson's Future:

Jackson recently announced that he wants to be traded to be a contending team. Knowing that GS is probably not gonna be good for another 2 or 3 years, it is reasonable for a 31-year-old to want to feel more secured. I do hope Jackson can stay on the team, knowing that he can be a nice link between front and back court (he averaged 6.5 assists last season). He, however, does dribble too much sometimes, and I'm not a big fan of his fade-away three's.

All in all, he's a good player and provides good leadership (although he's known for getting technical fouls as well)

4) Don Nelson:

Well, my only hope here is that he can focus on coaching and stop fighting for power against the front office. Do your job Nelly, you are not good for those jobs that require writing or speaking anyway, so just be a coach, and please use your young players. Their growth is important.

5) playoff run:

Work hard Warriors!!! Although you guys' records are not that pleasant in recent years, but we still support you!!!!! Good luck in the coming season!!!!!!!

A little knowledge: in basketball, we usually use numbers to represent your positions

1: point guard

2: shooting guad

3: small forward

4: power forward

5: center

i hope i dont get it wrong......

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