West’s Problems Put a Hole in Cleveland’s Backcourt

Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer echoes the concerns over West, and worries about the future of the Cavs backcourt:

The Cavaliers will do everything within their power to help West, who has admitted to a history of depression and a bipolar mood disorder. With the blessing of the team, West missed 10 days of training camp last season when he went into a treatment center for his mental illness. The primary concern for Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, General Manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown is to work with West and his doctors, creating the best environment for the 26-year-old guard to handle his emotions.[...]

The image of West on a Can-Am Spyder motorcycle with a shotgun stashed in a guitar case slung over his back - and a Beretta 9 mm in the waistband of his pants along with a Ruger .357 Magnum strapped to his leg - is scary to anyone who cares about West. [...]

But with these question marks hanging over West, the Cavs’ backcourt is not a strong as it appeared only a few weeks ago.

The whole story is a good one, from one of the better basketball writers around. And with West’s future up in the air, it’s a reminder that much of Cleveland’s success--and who knows, struggles this year would certainly have a bearing on Lebron’s impending free agency--rests on the abilities of Delonte West. There are some serious problems to be dealt with, here--both in West’s life, and, it seems, the Cleveland lineup.