Question 1: What are the greatest offensive teams in the "modern" era (let's say since the 3pt line)? '86 Celtics, '87 Lakers, '05 Suns, a recent Spurs or Heat team, or some other team?
Question 2: What shared characteristics do these teams have? What was unique about each?
Question 3: How likely is it that the Cavs join this conversation by the end of the season? Why?
Zach Lowe has suggested several times that the upcoming Cavs roster has the potential to be the greatest offense ever (he mentioned this on Simmons new show and podcast as well). Here's why it's plausible:
1. LeBron is probably the single best offensive player ever. If not the best, then certainly top 5 all-time.
2. Kevin Love, for all of his defensive warts, is a top 5 offensive player in the game today. More importantly, he's a unique offensive talent for his size and position. Despite never having any real talent around him and never playing in a good system, he has the 23rd best ever offensive rating. Offensively, his most similar player may be Dirk.
3. Kyrie Irving is a special offensive talent, despite his lack of efficiency so far in his career. The reasonable hope is that the combination of another year of development, in a more much functional and talented offensive system, with 2 other elite players, will allow him to reach new heights in efficiency.
4. David Blatt appears to have a "borderline genius," Spurs-like offensive system, emphasizing constant ball movement, spacing, screens, etc., which seems ideal for a LeBron led team.
5. Unlike the LeBron-era Heat, which were elite offensive teams, the Cavs' pieces appear to be a perfect fit. LeBron and Wade were always an awkward offensive pairing, given their redundant skills, Wade's rapid aging, and Wade's lack of 3 point range. Bosh's offensive game didn't work that well until he started expanding his range. Unlike Wade, Kyrie has the potential to be an elite long range shooter, including off-the-ball, while still having the on-the-ball dynamism to get to the rim and create offensive himself. More speculative, there's less likely to be an alpha class with Kyrie and LeBron, like there was with Wade and LeBron. Then there's Love, who is like '13-'14 Bosh, only better in every way. Better 3pt shooting, better passing, better post game, and much better rebounder, who has the size and skill to allow the Cavs to "go small" without sacrificing nearly as much as the glass. How can you possibly defend a Love-LeBron-Miller-Waiters-Irving offense? Or Love-LeBron-Miller-Jones-Irving?
The combination of shooting, athleticism, passing, and rebounding at multiple positions in an apparent sophisticated offensive scheme, with a multitude of specialized 2nd and 3rd-tier players, could be the greatest offensive ever. It's easy to imagine Love grabbing defensive rebounds and firing perfect full court passes to LeBron and Irving. Or LeBron surrounded by 3-4 great three-point shooters and free flowing ball movement. Or an unbeatable LeBron-Love pick-n-roll game.
The biggest questions concern how quickly the team will gel. Will it take a 1-2 years, like the Heat team? Or will the Cavs immediately reach their potential, like the '07-'08 Celtics?
I think the Celtics are a better comparison. They gelled immediately, mostly due a perfect fit of players working in a sound and innovative defensive scheme.
Whatcha all think?
Question 2: What shared characteristics do these teams have? What was unique about each?
Question 3: How likely is it that the Cavs join this conversation by the end of the season? Why?
Zach Lowe has suggested several times that the upcoming Cavs roster has the potential to be the greatest offense ever (he mentioned this on Simmons new show and podcast as well). Here's why it's plausible:
1. LeBron is probably the single best offensive player ever. If not the best, then certainly top 5 all-time.
2. Kevin Love, for all of his defensive warts, is a top 5 offensive player in the game today. More importantly, he's a unique offensive talent for his size and position. Despite never having any real talent around him and never playing in a good system, he has the 23rd best ever offensive rating. Offensively, his most similar player may be Dirk.
3. Kyrie Irving is a special offensive talent, despite his lack of efficiency so far in his career. The reasonable hope is that the combination of another year of development, in a more much functional and talented offensive system, with 2 other elite players, will allow him to reach new heights in efficiency.
4. David Blatt appears to have a "borderline genius," Spurs-like offensive system, emphasizing constant ball movement, spacing, screens, etc., which seems ideal for a LeBron led team.
5. Unlike the LeBron-era Heat, which were elite offensive teams, the Cavs' pieces appear to be a perfect fit. LeBron and Wade were always an awkward offensive pairing, given their redundant skills, Wade's rapid aging, and Wade's lack of 3 point range. Bosh's offensive game didn't work that well until he started expanding his range. Unlike Wade, Kyrie has the potential to be an elite long range shooter, including off-the-ball, while still having the on-the-ball dynamism to get to the rim and create offensive himself. More speculative, there's less likely to be an alpha class with Kyrie and LeBron, like there was with Wade and LeBron. Then there's Love, who is like '13-'14 Bosh, only better in every way. Better 3pt shooting, better passing, better post game, and much better rebounder, who has the size and skill to allow the Cavs to "go small" without sacrificing nearly as much as the glass. How can you possibly defend a Love-LeBron-Miller-Waiters-Irving offense? Or Love-LeBron-Miller-Jones-Irving?
The combination of shooting, athleticism, passing, and rebounding at multiple positions in an apparent sophisticated offensive scheme, with a multitude of specialized 2nd and 3rd-tier players, could be the greatest offensive ever. It's easy to imagine Love grabbing defensive rebounds and firing perfect full court passes to LeBron and Irving. Or LeBron surrounded by 3-4 great three-point shooters and free flowing ball movement. Or an unbeatable LeBron-Love pick-n-roll game.
The biggest questions concern how quickly the team will gel. Will it take a 1-2 years, like the Heat team? Or will the Cavs immediately reach their potential, like the '07-'08 Celtics?
I think the Celtics are a better comparison. They gelled immediately, mostly due a perfect fit of players working in a sound and innovative defensive scheme.
Whatcha all think?