Out of Pocket Cavs predictions 23-24

[Cavatt]

We already started posting in the 22-23 thread, but we should start a new one for this year. This thread is meant for crazy predictions, so you don't have to argue with people, just post your own.

Mine are

ECF Appearance
Emoni Bates looks like a lottery pick and is playable sooner than expected
Darius Garland starts chucking 3's now that he is flanked by Donovn and Strus
Ty Jerome locks up backup pg
Niang just destroys off the bench and our bench is one of the best in the league

 

[bigfoot5415]

60 wins
Garland jumps to 24 & 11
Mobley 20 & 10
Strus looks like one of the best FA signings of the offseason

Cavs acquire a legitimate piece at the deadline when trading away Wade & Rubio.

 

[DeeThree]

Porter Jr will make a difference

 

[Dr No]

Positive side crazy prediction - Strus, Niang, & Jerome are all better than advertised. Okoro and Mobley find reliable outside shots. Wade stays healthy. DG & DM develop fabulous chemistry. Allen becomes an asshole (in a good way) on the court. We become one of the top 3 point shooting teams in the NBA while maintaining our defensive excellence. We win > 55 games and reach at least the ECF.

Negative side - The opposite of everything I just said.

 

[jjvors]

I'll repeat what I said on the other thread, only amp it up. I gave my most conservative expectations there.

I'll give a range from my conservative expectations to my top expectations.

Mitchell - No decline, better chemistry with DG this year: 28-5-5 to 30-5-6
Garland - Steady improvement. 23-3-8.5 He'll get more assists from our better 3-point shooting.
Mobley - Dramatic improvement offensively. 20-9-4, with 1.5 bpg and 1.5 spg
Allen - Steady double-double: 14-10-3 with 1.5 bpg and 1.0 spg
Strus - Feasts on open 3s: 14-4-2 He averages 3+ 3s made per game, shoots 8+

That's 99 ppg from our starters. Our bench'll average 12-24 ppg. We could lead the league in offense, defense, and point differential.

LeVert will continue to be a good 6th man. He'll get about the same averages and time as last year.
Okoro will show some progress in 3 point shooting, and will continue to be a good defender. He'll be Strus' backup
Porter will be the surprise bench star of the year, backing up Garland.
Nyang will be the 1st big off the bench.

We'll be 3rd-2nd seed this year. We'll win the 1st round and maybe the second round. I don't see us getting past the ECF.

 

[cabs]

22-60 + team relocates to Cincinnati

 

[foucault87]

Jim Chones

 

[shoes22]

I have a negative prediction unfortunately. I believe Jarrett Allen will regress even more offensively (he'll still be good on defense, but not as good as the last two years), and will be traded next summer.

 

[shoes22]

To balance this out with a positive prediction...Darius Garland will have an All-Star season this year, by numbers. He'll be on the bubble of making the actual team though, just because the league is stacked at PG.

 

[Cavatt]

I have a negative prediction unfortunately. I believe Jarrett Allen will regress even more offensively (he'll still be good on defense, but not as good as the last two years), and will be traded next summer.

Allen was taken out of the Dunker spot by the coaches to get Mobley more touches close in. His decline last year was partially because of that.

I think he came in out of shape last year. I don't think he will do that this year

 

[Dr No]

I have a negative prediction unfortunately. I believe Jarrett Allen will regress even more offensively (he'll still be good on defense, but not as good as the last two years), and will be traded next summer.

Someone's offense is going to be negatively impacted if Strus & Niang are going to get up shots (they ain't here for their defense). Also, we will surely be looking to expand Mobley's offensive game as well. Even if we play a little faster, there are only so many shots to go around. I don't see DG, DM or LeVert taking less shots, so I expect Allen's offensive output is likely to go down some. He could actually expand his game but have a decrease in numbers. Its just the way we are structured.

 

[buzzdog]

Someone's offense is going to be negatively impacted if Strus & Niang are going to get up shots (they ain't here for their defense). Also, we will surely be looking to expand Mobley's offensive game as well. Even if we play a little faster, there are only so many shots to go around. I don't see DG, DM or LeVert taking less shots, so I expect Allen's offensive output is likely to go down some. He could actually expand his game but have a decrease in numbers. Its just the way we are structured.

A different possibility: Mobley and JA both benefit from the presence of Strus and Niang because of the outside shooting threat improving spacing around the paint, plus the opportunities from put-backs off misses. The improved spacing should help the P&R game as well, with the kick-out threats being actual threats versus guys the defenses sag off of.

 

[guitarguy]

This is the year, right? That Mobley has to even make another step. Yeah, we know he's a defensive savant, but will he make a real next step towards becoming a superstar? And really if he doesn't... this experiment might fail.

So for predictions, if we don't force the fact that Mobley is the hub on offense (lumps and all at first)... then I believe our ceiling is pretty limited. This is a coaching issue.

But let's say 2 predictions -

1) Mobley securely moves into offensive hub mode. Cavs win 50 games, and make it to ECF.

2) Mobley doesn't move to hub, more or less the same as last year, and we win 53 games, but lose in the first round again.

Yeah, I did have the record less with the "better" team, because I think the temptation will be to do what "works" instead of what is better in the long run.

 

[bleedwineandgold03]

jbb becomes Phil jackson and starts running the triangle offense and lamar Odom signs with us

 

[DeeThree]

Guys listen, I don't want to score nobody but we're winning the 2024 NBA Finals.