Must See TV!

We’ll all be filled with curiosity not only tonight, but for remaining two months of the regular season and beyond, to see how the new Cavaliers meld with the rest.

No one knows how quickly, from Danny Ferry and Mike Brown to the new guys themselves...chemistry on and off the floor is an elusive carrot that every team chases.

In Detroit and San Antonio, the corporate blueprint has been the road map...and in Cleveland, the Cavs' version is being crafted...and it's around LeBron James and Mike Brown's defense.

I think Ben Wallace will thrive in this system, which demands paint protection. Ben is still a dominant off-the-ball defender, and in his first practice session looked lively. For those in Chicago, who overpaid in the first place, the expectation of the man known as “Body” to score is unrealistic. Ben was most successful under Larry Brown, when he got a few low post touches to keep defenses honest. The rest was typical Ben dirty work, which he thrives on...rebounds, blocks, and toughness.

The Cavs now have three of the top 16 offensive rebounders in the NBA in Ben, Zydrunas and Anderson. Joe Smith, for a 4th big is no slouch either.

Mike is still toying with different starting combinations tonight, and as the game goes on, will work combos by feel.

I’m really interested in watching Delonte West. He will bring a different kind of perimeter defense than Larry Hughes. Like Larry, he is long, just not as big…while Larry was more of a passing lane defender and could guard big 2’s. Delonte is a ball pressure battler...it’s how assistant coach, Michael Malone spotted him as a high school junior outside DC. Michael, who was an assistant at Manhattan College in New York, was scouting another player from Delonte’s high school when he was mesmerized by a feisty left handed guard, who refused to back down and never stopped. Michael eventually told Delonte, you will play in the NBA some day if you continue this work ethic. For the longest time, Manhattan was the only scholarship offer Delonte received until St. Joe’s of Philly came along.

Must see TV tonight on FSN Ohio…see you then!