Originally Published: October 20, 2009
Expert predictions: Cleveland Cavaliers
Predicted Finish For Cleveland Cavaliers: 2009-10
| ANALYST | COMMENT | PREDICTIONS |
|---|---|---|
 |
J.A. Adande, ESPN.com | Adande's picksLeBron will find that less is more now that Shaq can handle the inside buckets for him. No matter where LeBron ends up next year, he may never have a better team than this one. |
Central: 1 |
 |
Jon Barry, ESPN | Barry's picksThe addition of Shaq, provided he's healthy, gives Cleveland a viable post-up option to take pressure off of LeBron. The Cavs will roll through the regular season. |
Central: 1 |
 |
Chris Broussard, ESPN The Mag | Broussard's picksLast year's collapse in the Eastern Conference finals only made LeBron hungrier and more willing to expand his game. Now, opponents can expect to see him in the post more. Scary. And look for a resurgence from a truly motivated Shaq. |
Central: 1 |
 |
Chad Ford, ESPN.com | Ford's picksThe Cavs were the best team in the East before collapsing against the Magic, and they've gotten even stronger in the offseason. Shaq and Anthony Parker should help shore up their bench. Still, they lack the athletic bigs to match up with the Magic in a seven-game series. |
Central: 1 |
 |
Jemele Hill, ESPN.com Page 2 | Hill's picksLeBron will add another MVP, but the Cavs won't have the best record. Shaq's arrival drew the headlines, but Moon and Parker were fantastic additions. The Cavs now have size on the wing, which will help if they face the Magic again. The question: Is the sandbox big enough for LeBron and Shaq? |
Central: 1 |
 |
John Hollinger, ESPN.com | Hollinger's picksAdditions of Shaq, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon addressed the matchup problems they had last year against the size of the Magic and Lakers. If they can sidestep drama surrounding the most coveted free agent, they'll win the East. |
Central: 1 |
 |
Jalen Rose, ESPN | Rose's picksLBJ is the best all-around player in the game. He probably could average a triple-double. Shaq wants his fifth ring. Mo Williams can play with the best of them at the point. Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker will have perimeter impact. |
Central: 1 |
 |
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com | Sheridan's picksOpening night at home against the Celtics should be a blast. Let's see how the teams' difference in depth plays out in that opener and over the course of the season. Right now, I rank the Cavs a solid second in the East. Boston just looks better. |
Central: 1 |
 |
Marc Stein, ESPN.com | Stein's picksThey can't really prove anything until the playoffs. They also have to manage a complicated Delonte West situation as well as the ceaseless LeBron 2010 talk. Gonna be a long regular season no matter how many games the Cavs win. |
Central: 1 |
 |
David Thorpe, ESPN.com | Thorpe's picksI think the Parker addition was their best summer move. Even though he and Shaq have been added to an excellent team, the issues with West, plus the time it might take to digest all that "The Daddy's" world entails, could lead to enough losses to cost them one of the top two spots. |
Central: 1 |
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- Hollinger: All-Underrated team
