NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Eastern Conference Forecast

2.  Cleveland Cavaliers — 58-24

It still  hasn’t dawned on me, yet.

Each time you sit back and think about what the Cavaliers have accomplished here, you aren’t as amazed and surprised as you would’ve been in 2009 or 2010.  It’s become the casual tradition to join All-Star forces in pursuit of that “super team.”

Then, I snap back into the reality of Cleveland; the city, the history, the expectations.

This town isn’t supposed to be a free agency destination.  When it’s not occupied by a two-time champion that grew up down the street, it’s not one.  It’s winters are frigid.  There’s little to zero aspects of nightlife and entertainment.  Cleveland doesn’t offer the same bonuses as South Beach or the Pacific Coast.

But, when there’s a LeBron James, there’s a way.

Somehow, Kevin Love, Shawn Marion, Mike Miller, James Jones, Brendan Haywood, and possibly Ray Allen will have joined James in his hometown.  That’s all in a one month period.

How bittersweet this has to be for LeBron, though.  Certainly, he went from saving Miami time and time again in the playoffs to not having to put this Cavaliers team completely on his back with scoring.  Nonetheless, everyone expects a championship.  That was inevitable, but it’s the price David Griffin and the Cavaliers have to pay for assembling this semi-truck of a team.

Heading into the season with just Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, Dion Waiters, and Anderson Varejao by their sides, it was okay if LeBron and Kyrie Irving didn’t complete a championship task right away.  Seriously, James wrote in his letter that such a unit wouldn’t be ready to raise the gold during their first year together.  It was supposed to be a building block, and LeBron was the new foundation.

Now, he’s faced with the same exact pressure that laid on him during 2010-11, where he “played with a lot of hate” and wanted to prove that he could enter the pot of greatness — winning his first ring.  It didn’t happen the way he wanted.

What’s going to happen when they fall short with this  loaded roster, European system, and depth around the wings?  Are they going to blame the defense, and acknowledge that they need a more trustworthy center?  LeBron takes pride in defensive pressure, so he can’t even let that become the case here.  He wanted Love to join “the land” all along, so he must be the vocal leader he grew to be in Miami.  He has to stress the defensive end first, before the scoring bursts enter the conversation.

Did James make the right choice?  10 out of 10 times, anyone logical will say yes.  His mentality is in a happier place, and he can play for a team that has a chance against the Western Conference contenders again.

He’ll just have to learn that this upcoming season will be identical to 2010-11.  Expect bumps and bruises, media scrutiny if things get out of hand for a week stretch, and a whole lot of adjustment.  These aren’t his 2003 draft class friends that he elected to join up with.  They’re younger guys — for the most part — trying to learn the ropes.  He can’t approach them the same way.