They experienced first-hand the misery that was the 2010-2011 season and know just how painful it was for Clevelanders to watch their team fall from a championship contender to a laughing stock overnight.
Varejao has long been a fan-favorite and team leader, but his absence on the court is never a good sight and just seeing him back in uniform brings a little bit of hope to a city that loves to root for hard-workers who do things the right way.
Last season was a roller coaster ride for Cavs fans, and after all the adversity the team faced and all the obstacles they had to overcome, it was remarkable they were able to put up such a fight; but now the Cavaliers’ goals are clear and defined. From General Manager David Griffin, to coach David Blatt, to LeBron and everyone on the roster, it’s all about bringing home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
What I admire the most about the way this team is constructed is everyone knows their role. Timofey Mozgov knows he doesn’t have to score 20 points, Iman Shumpert knows he’s there for defense and hustle, new additions Richard Jefferson and Williams are fully aware of their strengths and weaknesses. The leaders have well-established positions and it seems like everyone is moving in the same direction.
Which leads us to Tristan Thompson… He may not be on everyone’s good side right now, and it’s easy to say he is over-playing his hand, not worth the money he’s asking for and so on and so forth. However, there is no doubt in my mind that when a deal is reached, Thompson will be just as valuable to the team as he was last season when the Cavs needed him most.
Even earlier in his career, before LeBron returned to Cleveland I compared Tristan to a poor man’s Dennis Rodman [in a good way]. He crashes the boards, and although he’s not a scorer he will get to loose balls, hustle, and bring energy with a motor that never stops. Today, he may be even more like Rodman when it comes to his unpopularity with fans due to his contract negotiations. But one key aspect of this whole situation to remember is that not every player on a winning team has to be beloved by all fans.
The coach doesn’t always have to get along with the star players at all times. Everything does not have to be sunshine and rainbows on the surface for a team to win a championship. All that matters is at tip-off, the off the court issues are set aside, and until the final buzzer sounds, it’s all about basketball.
There are some daunting opponents in the Western Conference this year.
The East appears to be improved as well. There will be points this season where we question coaching decisions, criticize players and accuse them of being overrated. But as long as everyone in that locker room is focused on the ultimate goal of winning a championship, and going to work with “championship habits,” as LeBron promised his team would have, the title is right there for the taking.
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