Tristan Thompson 6th Man of the Year

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I doubt Bam plays much at the start of the season. Miami current bench unit likely looks like this most likely.

Tyler Johnson
Ellington
Richardson/Winslow (whoever doesn't win the starting job
McGruder
Olynyk

Word is McGruder starts.
Richardson 2nd unit SF
Winslow 2nd unit PF

 

[Gman]

It will be the best 2nd unit in the league, pretty easily imo...onc3 IT comes back this will be the starters and backups:

PG - I.T.
SG - J.R. Smith
SF - Lebron
PF - Crowder
C - Love

PG - DRose/Calderon
SG - Wade/Shump
SF - Korver/RJ
PF - Frye
C - Tristan

One thing about it, though, Cleveland's 2nd unit looks older than dirt.

They'll probably be fine when LeBron is on the floor because... LeBron. Other than that, I see a unit that will potentially struggle in multiple areas... offense, defense and running the floor.

 

[Shanemansj13]

One thing about it, though, Cleveland's 2nd unit looks older than dirt.

They'll probably be fine when LeBron is on the floor because... LeBron. Other than that, I see a unit that will potentially struggle in multiple areas... offense, defense and running the floor.

The 2nd unit is called the 2nd unit for a reason, do you really think Wade is playing more than 25 mins if that. They have veterans on the bench that will help come playoff time but that's why you mix and match, young players with veteran players.

Frye is 34
Wade is 35
Korver is 36
RJ won't see many minutes and that's if he is still on the team.

I don't see this being a big deal bc they have so much depth, if they relied on them more than I would be worrying.

DRose turned 29 today!!!

 

[gordontrue]

One thing about it, though, Cleveland's 2nd unit looks older than dirt.

They'll probably be fine when LeBron is on the floor because... LeBron. Other than that, I see a unit that will potentially struggle in multiple areas... offense, defense and running the floor.

Rose, TT, Wade, & Shumpert will get the most minutes off the bench. Only Wade is old. Those other guys are in their 20s.

 

[Gman]

DRose turned 29 today!!!

DRose's knees are 87.

 

[Gman]

Rose, TT, Wade, & Shumpert will get the most minutes off the bench. Only Wade is old. Those other guys are in their 20s.

Well, Rose has been robbed by injury... he's de facto old.

That said: when you phrases things this way, the bench doesn't really seem top notch. More middle of the road... good at 3 pt shooting in particular, but that's all that stands out aside from TT's rebounding.

 

[bksballer89]

Rose, TT, Wade, & Shumpert will get the most minutes off the bench. Only Wade is old. Those other guys are in their 20s.

Isn't Wade starting?

 

[gordontrue]

Well, Rose has been robbed by injury... he's de facto old.

That said: when you phrases things this way, the bench doesn't really seem top notch. More middle of the road... good at 3 pt shooting in particular, but that's all that stands out aside from TT's rebounding.

Cavs will be starting 5 guys who started last year. The first 3 guys off the bench will also be guys who were all very productive starters last year. (Rose put up 18/4/4, Wade put up 18/4/4, TT put up 9/9).

That's pretty good 1-8 depth if you ask me, once IT comes back.

From there, Korver, Frye, Shumpert, Green are great talent to have at your 9,10,11,&12 spot.

 

[gordontrue]

Isn't Wade starting?

Not sure yet. That's the only spot not decided yet... between JR and Wade.

Whoever comes off the bench will be a top-quality 6th man.

 

[bksballer89]

Not sure yet. That's the only spot not decided yet... between JR and Wade.

Whoever comes off the bench will be a top-quality 6th man.

Got it.

You do know when the Cavs are healthy that Shump is likely a bench warmer right? My guess is the bench rotation would look like this when they're healthy. Frye likely a bench warmer as well depending on matchups especially in the playoffs.

Rose
Wade or JR
Korver
TT

 

[gordontrue]

Got it.

You do know when the Cavs are healthy that Shump is likely a bench warmer right? My guess is the bench rotation would look like this when they're healthy. Frye likely a bench warmer as well depending on matchups especially in the playoffs.

Rose
Wade or JR
Korver
TT

Yeah, I don't think Shumpert will be in the top 8-9 once IT comes back. While IT is out though, him, Wade, JR, & Rose are the 4 guards who'll get playing time.

 

[shopson67]

Word is McGruder starts.

 

[Gman]

Cavs will be starting 5 guys who started last year. The first 3 guys off the bench will also be guys who were all very productive starters last year. (Rose put up 18/4/4, Wade put up 18/4/4, TT put up 9/9).

That's pretty good 1-8 depth if you ask me, once IT comes back.

From there, Korver, Frye, Shumpert, Green are great talent to have at your 9,10,11,&12 spot.

Fair enough, I guess. On paper, just looking at stat's, the bench seems pretty good.

However... a guy like Rose put up those stat's on a bad team, and Knicks fans in general complained about his overall play and defense. It wasn't "winning basketball."

I'm still skeptical that a combination of these bench guys... without LeBron on the floor with them... is as good in practice as they appear on paper.

But you make fair points.

 

[LogicMan]

Cavs have father time looking in the windows. DRose is not a young 29 and same for IT. That said I am guessing defense is not the priority for the bench, but to keep it close. If opposing team had some young but physical bench players then thats where Cavs will be vulnerable. Time will tell

 

[trojanfan12]

Here's the problem with the Cavs roster.

Since the 2010-11 season when he played 81 games. Rose has played in 39, 0, 10, 51, 66 and 64 games.

Over that same time, Wade has played in 49, 69, 54, 62, 73 and 60.

That's not a very good attendance record. Perhaps reduced roles will help them stay healthy and/or maybe you can rest them enough so they can be fresh for the playoffs.

But 1 or 2 injuries to the wrong guys could mean they end up playing a lot more minutes than is ideal.

 

[shopson67]

Yeah, I don't think Shumpert will be in the top 8-9 once IT comes back. While IT is out though, him, Wade, JR, & Rose are the 4 guards who'll get playing time.

I think they need more PG presence than just Rose in that rotation.

 

[gordontrue]

I think they need more PG presence than just Rose in that rotation.

LeBron

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

 

[shopson67]

LeBron

If you want to continue to wear him out, sure.

 

[trojanfan12]

If you want to continue to wear him out, sure.

To me, that's a big part of the issue in Cleveland. Every year, the Cavs try to put together a roster that will limit how much Lebron has to do. Every year, it seems like he has to do more.

If D-Wade and Rose can stay healthy and IT returns from his hip issue with no further problems...the Cavs should finally be able to have a season where Lebron could actually have less to do.

But if they can't, it's going to be more of the same. Even he has to wear down eventually....right?