JJ Redick explains why the Cleveland Cavaliers are “the ...

J.J Redick labeled the Cleveland Cavaliers as “the franchise to ... Subscribe to our YouTube channel for untold stories and hot takes on ... LatestNewsFreeAgencyTradeRumorsOldSchool2010s2000s1990s1980s1970s1960s1950sOffTheCourtInternationalAboutTermsofServicePrivacyPolicySearchfor:SharepostClicktoshareonWhatsApp(Opensinnewwindow)ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow)ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow)ClicktoshareonLinkedIn(Opensinnewwindow)ClicktoshareonReddit(Opensinnewwindow)ClicktoshareonTelegram(Opensinnewwindow)TheClevelandCavaliershavefivemorewinsthanlossesforthefirsttimesinceNovemberof2000whennothavingaplayercalled‘LeBronJames’ontheroster.ThatmeansCavaliersfansarewitnessingorganicteam-likesuccessasopposedtothebluemoonedleveledluxuryobtainedfromdraftingtheknockoutpickofthemillennium.For20years,theironlyformulafornotbeingacompletejokewasbeingfortunatethatoneofthebestplayersinhistorywasborninAkron,Ohio.Butthatperspectivedeprivedthefansofwitnessingexcellentcoaching,eliterostermobilization,freeagentsignings,andmore,allbecausethefanbasewasneverexposedtothatlevelofprofessionalismwithintheirownteam.LeBron’sgreatnessmadetheformulasosimplebutsounrepeatable.Now,withtheslamdunkthatwasdraftingEvanMobley,alongwiththesurprisinglybalancedrosterofbigsandsmalls,thisteammayhavealittleofboth. J.JRedicklabeledtheClevelandCavaliersas“thefranchisetowatchintheEast”onanESPNsegment.ButIstilldon’tknowwhatwasmoresurprising.ESPNtalentagentsrecognizingthevalueofRedick’stakesorESPNactuallycoveringClevelandbasketball.Eitherway,hoorahforESPN. FacedwiththetoughestscheduleintheNBAbywinningpercentage,the17-12Cavaliersaremoreofa20-9teamadjustedforinflation.Buthowdoyouexplainthisjumpfromanabysmal22-50runtheseasonearlier?Ifyou’vepaidattentiontoallbutfourgames,youwouldknowtheanswerliesinEvanMobley.Outofthefourgamestherookiehasmissed,theCavslostinthree.Theonlyothergamehemissed,theytrampledtheRockets.Mobley’sdefensiveversatilityandabilitytoswitchontosmallerguardshavebeenthekeytosolvingwhatmanyskepticspredictedtobetheCavaliers’biggestproblem.ThatbeingmatchinghimalongsideJarrettAlleninamodernizedtwintowersetupwouldpushthetwointhewayofeachother.Butinstead,theyseemtohavesolvedthePortlandTrailBlazerprobleminoneseason.Whenyoubuildyourteamaroundtwosmall,defensivelylimitedguards,youneedtalldefensivefirstbigmentocancelthemout. AllsignspointtotheCavsshippingCollinSextonassoonaspossiblesincehewas“veryavailable”priortotheseasonevencommencing,accordingtoTheAthletic’sJasonLloyd.Butnowthathehasbeensidelinedfortheremainderoftheseason,it’sallbutaguaranteehewon’tbethefifthmemberofthe2018DraftClasstosecurethatmaxextension.LuckilyRickyRubiohasbeenanexcellentreplacementinaveteranrolethatreallysuitshisskillset.Speakingofoldheadspeopleforgotexisted,KevinLovewentfromtheguywhostaystoolongatthepartyonceeveryonehaslefttoanamazingfigureheadaroundthelockerroom.ButtheCavsstilllackwings,andI’mloweronIsaacOkorothanmost.Still,it’sgreatthatCavaliersfansareexperiencingwhatatypicalwell-runteamfeelslike. ThisiswhatotherESPNanalystshadtosayaboutCleveland’s8-2streakintheirlast10games:“EverytimeLeBronJameshasleftClevelandwhenheleavestheyalwaysendupinthelottery.Nowthey’refinallydoingsomethingspecial”,saidKendrickPerkins. “J.BBickerstaffshouldbeoneoftheleadingcandidatesforCoachOfTheYearifthiscontinues”,saidRichardJefferson. “JarrettAllenshouldbeintheAll-Stargamethisyear,”saidJ.JRedick. Enjoyit,Clevelandfans. ClevelandCavaliers(109)EvanMobley(4)JJRedick(42)Enjoyedreadingthis?SubscribetoourYouTubechannelforuntoldstoriesandhottakesonlatestbasketballnews