Well the Cavaliers take the floor tonight for the first time since the Browns beat the Saints, since the Indians season ended, and since a few other Cleveland sports happenings that I just can't seem to place right now.
While the basketball world, or more accurately, ESPN especially, gives manual pleasure to the new-look Miami Heat at every possible chance, let's look to see how the "new-look" Cavaliers might do this season, according to local and national writers who care enough to look at the team, or are contractually obligated to do so.
Below is a rundown of some predictions for the Cavaliers. They range from the comically low 12 wins projected by Kelly Dwyer on Yahoo a few weeks ago to the surprising 46 wins estimated by the PD's Terry Pluto. Most, however, seem to hover between the 30-35 win range, a season that would definitely be "torture" for Cavs fans, in the no-playoff, low-lottery position. We'll see.
| Writer | Projected Record | Eastern Rank | Comments |
| 41-41 | 8th | Unless an injury derails them, they will challenge for playoffs | |
| 30-52 | 12th |
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| Terry Pluto, PD | 46-36 | 6th | With hustle, they will surprise |
| 35-47 | 9th |
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| 35-47 | 8th |
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| Zac Jackson, Fox Sports Net (via twitter at @FSOhioZJackson) | 33-49* |
| Via Twitter at @FSOhioZJackson |
| Bill Simmons, ESPN (and Joe House) | Under 29.5 wins |
| Calls it one of their 5 “locks” in over/under |
| John Hollinger, ESPN | 29-53 | 13th | Size is their strength, but need breaks to make playoffs. Keep eye on Ramon Sessions. |
| JA Adande, ESPN |
| 15th | Says Cavs lost 13 of last 14 without LeBron |
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| 9th | Chip on the shoulder won’t take Cavs far enough | |
| Chad Ford, ESPN |
| 13th
| Hodgepodge collection of solid role players, will struggle to reach 30 wins |
| Zach Harper, Daily Dime, ESPN |
| 13th |
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| Tim Legler, ESPN |
| 11th | Not good defensively |
| Chris Sheridan, ESPN | 21-61 | 14th | And will struggle to reach 21 wins. |
| Marc Stein, ESPN |
| 12th | 30.5 a good over/under, won’t be surprised to see them do better than expected. |
| Michael Wallace, ESPN |
| 11th |
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| 11th | Could be fringe playoff team, or sink all the way to the bottom. | |
| 12-70 (predicted three months ago) | 15th | But admits he could be terribly, terribly wrong because the Cavalier are a professional team.
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| Last in central. Nothing the Cavs have done will replace LeBron. | |
| David Snipes, Sports Nickel | 15-67 | 15th | Cavs aren’t smart enough to make the smart trades to rebuild this year. Nothing they have fit. “Crap parts, crap team.” |
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| Last in Central, needs 23 wins to avoid single season win decline record. | |
| 28-54 | 12th
| Predicts that the Cavs “magically” land the #1 pick | |
| 35-47 |
| 35 wins would be a huge accomplishment. | |
| Kevin Pelton, Basketball Prospectus | Surprising playoff team |
| Statistical analysis shows that Cleveland would have won about 34 games last year even if all of LBJ’s minutes went to an average replacement (and Jamario Moon is better than that.) |
| Random Scout on ESPN | 32-50 to 36-46 |
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