NBA Season Preview - Cleveland Cavaliers

Mark Rawden, and his associates over at Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com), are running their own NBA Season Preview for each team in the NBA prior to the beginning of the regular season. Here's a look at the the 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers, and a Q&A with Brendan Bowers from Stepien Rules and Tariq H Ali from Cavs News: (http://www.examiner.com/x-10630-Boston-Celtics-Examiner~y2009m10d14-NBA-Season-Preview-Cavs-QA-with-Brendan-Bowers-from-Stepien-Rules-and-Tariq-H-Ali-from-Cavs-News) What are your thoughts about the Cavs as the season approaches? How do you feel about their playoff/title chances? Brendan Bowers, Stepien Rules: Cleveland has not won a professional sports championship since 1964...that’s 45 years if you do the math. I know, it’s been rough. To me, this season's Cavaliers are not only the best opportunity Cleveland has had for a that title in those last 45 years, but they could very well be the best chance Cleveland has going forward for the next 15 years as well. We kind of need this one. The goal is an NBA title, and I see the Cavs as one of five or so teams who could legitimately claim an NBA title as a realistic goal.Tariq H Ali, Cavs News: After an amazing season that ended in a heart-breaking loss to the Orlando Magic, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry immediately took care of Ben Wallace's wish to retire by trading him to the Suns and in exchange, the Cavaliers received Shaquille O'Neal. With that and all the other moves the organization made, it only show the fans how committed they are to bringing a championship to Cleveland. Anything less than that would probably be a disappointment. Do you feel that holes in the roster still need to be addressed, and if so, can they be addressed?TA: I think Danny Ferry addressed many of the weaknesses on the roster from last season. The Cavaliers added wing size in Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon, and hopefully they can deal with the likes of Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. And of course, Shaquille O'Neal, who is already a HUGE upgrade to Ben Wallace. BB: A stretch four, along the lines of a Lewis, Villanueva, or Odom would be nice, but you can't expect to have everything. I think the Cavaliers needed to get tougher inside - which the Magic exploited to no end last year - and they did that with Shaq and to a lesser extent Leon Powe - assuming health. Adding Parker and Moon gives the Cavaliers depth in the backcourt, and also gives them the best bench they have had in the LeBron James era. The Delonte West situation is concerning though for obvious reasons, but also from a roster standpoint. If he misses considerable time, I don't see Daniel Gibson stepping up and filling that void. How do you feel they compare with the Celtics, and the rest of the Eastern Conference? To read the rest of Mark's Q&A, click here. (http://www.examiner.com/x-10630-Boston-Celtics-Examiner~y2009m10d14-NBA-Season-Preview-Cavs-QA-with-Brendan-Bowers-from-Stepien-Rules-and-Tariq-H-Ali-from-Cavs-News)