An inauspicious start for the Cleveland Cavaliers

It’s hard to tell what’s the bigger surprise -- the fact that the Cavs won 66 games last year, or the fact that they’ve started the season 0-2. Although the Celtics and Raptors were two competitive opponents to start the season against, this certainly isn’t the start people were expecting. In fact the Cavaliers, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, are the first team in NBA history to lose the first two games of the year after winning 65 in the previous season.

There are several things to look at before hitting the panic button. For one thing, it’s only two games in. This team will have five-and-a-half months to gel and synchronize. Also, we’re not seeing this team at full-strength. Leon Powe and Delonte West will give the Cavs a much-needed boost when they get back, and if the Cavaliers are indeed able to trade Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Stephen Jackson, then that’s a whole extra 40 points per game that’ll be added to the roster. Granted, I don’t know why the Warriors -- who only play young, small, quick people -- would want to trade for a 7-foot-3, injury-prone 34-year-old who recently said that he’s thinking about retirement... but hey, since when have the Warriors ever done anything that made sense?

The point is that there’s still a ton of time left to see if this roster will work out. One thing is clear, however -- this team has to stop being the LeBron James Show if they’re ever going to get anywhere. Mo Williams and Shaquille O’Neal have not played great in their first two games, and if someone else can’t take up the scoring load once in awhile, then this team will have the same problem they had last year. Williams has been particular atrocious; the 7-22 shooting is bad enough, but to produce only five assists in two full basketball games is downright pathetic for a point guard. He can’t just be a jump-shooter; he actually has to create some of the offense and do a little passing, otherwise Shaq is never going to be utilized properly.