NBA JAM: CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neate looks at the Central Division, specifically the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Last season: 50-32, 4th in Eastern Conference, lost to Detroit in second round of playoffs
Coach: Mike Brown
New faces: Shannon Brown (first-round draft pick), David Wesley
Funny-looking white guy: Scot Pollard
Blogs: Mistake By The Lake

Quick: Before LeBron James, who was the last NBAer to improve his scoring average by 10 points over two seasons after putting up at least 20 a night his rookie year?

Wilt freaking Chamberlain, that's who, and remember, Wilt didn't come into the league straight from high school, he played in a league that was much easier to dominate than the one LBJ is determined to lord over. (We're not sure if LBJ's social life, though, can quite match that of Stilt. You know what I'm talkin' about.)

Coach Mike Brown has been stressing defence and more movement on offence -- no more of standing around and watching LBJ do his thing. The Cavs are probably aware that James' early career arc doesn't look much different from Michael Jordan's. That is to say last season's Cavs, like the late '80s Bulls teams, didn't have a real point guard and didn't really play as a cohesive unit. Heck, they even lost to the Pistons, Jordan's old nemesis, in the playoffs last season.

The Cavs have until 2009-10 -- the last year before LeBron is eligible to go free agent and likely command the largest contract in NBA history -- to do something about that. It's hard to see how they go anywhere -- third round or later -- until GM Danny Ferry acquires a better point guard.

For now, Larry Hughes is likely going to have to shift over from shooting guard to the point. However, Cleveland may have a backcourt of the future in their two draft choices, No. 25 pick Shannon Brown out of Michigan State and No. 42 selection Daniel Gibson, a point guard from Texas. Both are rough diamonds, but file those names away.

Meantime, the Cavs are deep enough up front to play with anyone in the East. Drew Gooden and Zydrunus Iglauskas are a nice combo at the 4 and 5 spots, and ex-Raptor Donyell Marshall provides rebounding and outsite shooting off the bench as James' backup at small forward.

Also in Central: Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks

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