Time to Panic in Cleveland?

Two games into the NBA season and the Cleveland Cavaliers are 0-2, making some fans wonder is it time to panic? With 80 games remaining on the Cavaliers schedule and Lebron James still on the roster, the answer to that question is no. But there should be some concern if you are a supposed witness.

The Cavaliers signing of the 37-year-old Shaquille O’ Neal in the off-season, left some scratching their heads, including yours truly. Why general manager Danny Ferry would go out and sign Shaq, who is clearly past his prime and has an ego the size of well, himself, to a roster that seemed to get along magically last season is anybody’s guess. Shaq doesn’t exactly bring a stellar work ethic with him to Cleveland, just ask Kobe Bryant.

In his debut against the Celtics, the big space eater looked lost at times. He already admitted in the LA Times earlier this week that he is not that familiar with the Cavs playbook, and it’s showed.

In his first two games with the Cavs, Shaq is averaging 11 points and 8.5 rebounds. What’s more telling is the Cavaliers are averaging just 90 pts/gm through the first two. For some reason, Ferry and head coach Mike Brown insist on playing a half-court game with the most explosive player in the world in Lebron James on the court. This baffles me and I’m sure it frustrates the King.

And how would you like to be Zydrunas Ilgauskus? You’ve battled back from numerous foot injuries to be a part of this team and this is the thanks you get. At this point in his career, O’Neal has no desire to defend the pick and roll, and his lack of free throw shooting only makes him a liability in the fourth quarter.

The big fella is more concerned with owning a gun and a badge after basketball, than he is with winning championships. And what may have seemed like an off-season splash may turn out to be one of the biggest goofs in Cleveland sports history. Did last year’s team really need this? They didn’t lose to the Magic in last year’s playoffs because of lack of talent. Stan Van Gundy simply out coached the NBA coach of the year Mike Brown. But instead of tweaking the roster here and there adding a legitimate second scorer to help out Lebron (Mo Williams isn‘t it), Ferry and company went for the headlines and the early returns are not good.

Again, it is a long season and maybe the Cavs will figure it out and turn things around, but even if they do, I don’t see them beating either Boston or Orlando. They’ll get another chance to enter the win column against the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at Target Center in Minneapolis. Oddsmakers and the betting marketplace look for the Cavs to get on track tonight, as they opened as an (-11 ½) point favorite, but it has since been steamed up to (-12.5) at most offshore books with a couple of (-13)’s in Vegas. Bet the Cavs at your own risk. Good luck to all.