From Distance: (Insert Term)

four point play….

1. With the NBA off-season coming to a close, we can finally start thinking about things that don’t entirely make us want to slam our heads in frustration. Yes, fans, the 2019-2020 Cavaliers are likely to be an abject travesty. The talent that the squad does employ is either too old (and/or fragile), too young (and/or dumb), or simply too terrible, (and/or Jordan Clarkson).

We could pretend that this season will be a pleasant surprise. We can imagine potential Cedi Osman strides, Darius Garland 4-pointers, and classic Minnesota Kevin Love box scores. In this theoretical universe, Collin Sexton understands defense, continues to make his open threes, and leads the team via energy and heart.

Mathew Dellavedova comes off the bench to connect with a rejuvenated Tristan Thompson recalling their alley-oop chemistry of years gone by. John Henson continues to expand his range, becoming a poor man’s Brook Lopez.

Jordan Clarkson harnesses his scoring ability by deftly responding to the defense to drop sweet dimes. Kevin Porter Jr. shows that he is the steal of the draft by playing bully ball against smaller guards while swarming on defense.

I get signed to a 10 day contract, throw down on Rudy Gobert, and immediately retire as the greatest Cleveland athlete of all-time.

Yeah, none of those things is going to happen.

More likely, Sexton tries to take more threes off the bounce, thus hurting his overall average and compromising his mechanical stroke. Garland struggles out of the gate as a skinny tween trying to play against men. Cedi plays exactly like he has in recent seasons, aka, occasionally great on D, adequate on O, but in no way an All-Star caliber player.

And, Kevin Love gets traded to a contender near the deadline for some combination of terrible contracts and draft picks.

And that is all okay. 

2. Unlike last September, in which I foolishly picked the Cavs to sneak into the Playoffs, I am all-OUT on this particular iteration of Cleveland basketball. The hiring of John Beilein curbed any optimism I might have been able to harness going into this season. The fact Jordan Clarkson remains on the roster officially killed it.

Beilein might end up being a better NBA coach than I anticipate, but the likelihood that he will be anything other than average in his first season is incredibly low. Rookie coaches don’t fare particularly well when they come from other leagues. Being about 120 years-old also doesn’t inspire great confidence.

A buddy of mine recently met Beilein and Darius Garland. His takeaways were not horribly encouraging. He said that Garland is just too small for the NBA and that Beilein expects the team to be terrible.

Yep.

It can be a productive season if the Cavs can follow the Nets’ blue-print from the last few years. Play an actual system, build confidence in guys who may have lost it in previous stops, and trade away anyone who may have decent trade value for flexibility and picks.

If Koby Altman and John Beilein are able to accomplish those things, the season can be a success.

Listen, I love me some Kevin Love. In a different world, it would be wonderful to see the Cavs win about 45 games via smart play and Kevin Love MVP style domination. I don’t even necessarily think he in incapable of putting up such a monster season.

But, the existence of Jordan Clarkson signals to me that the team does not want to win this season. Talk of starting Garland and Sexton together further provides fodder for that sentiment. If that is the case, trade our beloved champion, Love to a team that can really utilize his skills. It would be wonderful to see Kevin on a real contender without having to deal with the LeBron type nonsense.

3. For as terrible as the Cavs’ season is likely to be, the NBA season on the whole should be an absolute delight. Do you have any idea who will make the Western Conference Playoffs? I am really high on Dallas, and they are still almost a lock to finish with the third best record…in Texas.

The East is clearly top heavy, but there is certainly intrigue. None of the 2019 Playoff teams looks to fall out of the race this year. And yet, some teams will.

I strangely like Orlando more than I probably should. They still lack wing talent, but their size is overwhelming. Many of their younger players should be ready to make a leap.

Atlanta made a terrible choice with the Doncic trade, but they do have a lot of young talent. Trae Young and John Collins have them poised to make a Kings like run this season.

4. So yes, I am thankful that basketball is returning. I have had about enough of the mean-spirited interaction that Americans now call “political discourse”.

Here is a cheat sheet for you.

If you make fun of someone’s looks, voice, dress, cultural background, way they move etc, you are not making a political argument. You are just being a (“mean person”). Feel free to insert your preferred term.

A political discussion should focus purely on the ideology at hand.

If you don’t agree with Greta Thunberg’s message, I suggest you read more, but ultimately I respect your opinion, without actively subscribing to it.

But, if you make fun of her person, her face, speaking voice, you are no longer anything but a (insert term of your choosing).

Same goes for Liberals who make fun of Trump’s hair and hands. That does absolutely nothing but make it clear that you are simply not a good dude.

There are plenty of things to discuss heatedly. You can get actively angry at policy and the like. You can scream at another over the incredibly difficult issues our country and world face. But, if that little mean-spirited smirk comes across your face when someone on the news is making fun of another human being, maybe you aren’t as “good” as you think you are. You are just a (insert term).

We can be better.