Tim Bontemps and Chris Fedor join the podcast to discuss topics such as the Heat and Sixers' inability to make trades, James Harden's stand-off, the Clippers' role, Tyler Herro's strengths and weaknesses, the Sixers' options with James Harden, the Cavs' recovery after last year's defeat, the pressure on JB Bickerstaff, Cleveland's change in tempo, and the team's plans against top wings.
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Quick takeaways
The Miami Heat have roster uncertainty and may struggle to compete against top teams in the Eastern Conference, but their toughness and coaching could lead to a deep playoff run.
The Philadelphia 76ers face uncertainty with James Harden's commitment and availability, which could jeopardize their chances of a deep playoff run; their success depends on the development of Tyrese Maxey and creating a winning culture.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have heightened expectations and must integrate new additions to improve their offense; they aim to play at a faster pace, improve shooting, and diversify their offensive strategies to be more successful.
Deep dives
Unpredictable season for the Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are heading into the season with uncertainty surrounding their roster. While they have made some changes and have a deep team, they lack a consistent scoring threat and may struggle to compete against the top teams in the Eastern Conference. However, the Heat are known for their toughness and coaching, and they have the potential to surprise and make a deep playoff run.
Philadelphia 76ers face James Harden dilemma
The Philadelphia 76ers are facing a dilemma with James Harden. As of now, there is doubt about his commitment and availability for the upcoming season, which creates a cloud of uncertainty around the team. If Harden is not fully engaged with the team, it is unclear how the Sixers will perform, and their chances of making a deep playoff run may be in jeopardy. The team's success will rely heavily on the development of Tyrese Maxey and their ability to create a winning culture.
Cleveland Cavaliers under pressure
The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the season with heightened expectations. After a successful regular season last year, they faltered in the playoffs and were eliminated in the first round. Now, they face the challenge of integrating new additions and improving their offense, which struggled in the playoffs. The pressure is on for the Cavaliers to prove that they can be a legitimate contender and to avoid a potential disaster scenario involving Donovan Mitchell's potential departure. The team will also need contributions from Darius Garland and Evan Mobley to alleviate some of the pressure.
Cavaliers aim for faster pace and shooting
The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to play at a faster pace and improve their shooting this season. They have added players like Max Truus and Georges Niang to provide shooting around their two big men, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. The team aims to increase their offensive efficiency and create more spacing on the floor. The early returns from training camp indicate a focus on these areas, with an emphasis on playing fast and taking early threes. The Cavaliers hope that these changes will lead to a more successful season and a stronger playoff performance.
Enhancing Offensive Diversity and Spacing
The Cleveland Cavaliers have recognized the need to improve their offensive strategies in order to be more successful in the playoffs. They have realized that their offense became too predictable in the past, relying heavily on high pick-and-roll plays. To address this issue, the Cavaliers have made changes to their personnel and playing style. They are focused on adding more shooting, spacing, and off-ball movement to their offense. The addition of players like Max Trues and George Nieang, who can provide outside shooting and floor spacing, is expected to open up driving lanes and create more opportunities for their guards. They also plan to use Evan Mobley more as an offensive hub and initiator, allowing Darius Garland to play off the ball and reduce his burden. By diversifying their offensive approach and making it less predictable, the Cavaliers hope to make their offense more efficient and less dependent on their star guards.
Balancing Defensive Priorities and Matchup Challenges
While the Cleveland Cavaliers prioritize offensive improvements, they understand the importance of maintaining a strong defensive presence. Last season, they ranked first in defense, despite some rebounding deficiencies. However, the Cavaliers acknowledge that they need to adjust their defensive strategies to better handle matchups against elite wing scorers. The coaching staff aims to utilize Evan Mobley in a different defensive role, experimenting with him guarding perimeter players in specific situations. They also plan to rely more on individual defenders to take on their respective matchups rather than cross-matching excessively. This approach allows the Cavaliers to focus on improving their offensive versatility without sacrificing their defensive capabilities. It will be crucial for them to strike the right balance between offensive enhancements and defensive adjustments in order to achieve success, particularly in the playoffs.
Zach and ESPN's Tim Bontemps discuss the Heat and Sixers after neither was able to make a trade (yet), the James Harden stand-off, the Clippers role, much more. Then Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com hops on to preview the Cavs.
Hawks bet (1:02)
Heat outlook (5:00)
Like the over on 44 wins for Miami (14:54)
Tyler Herro’s strengths and weaknesses (20:39)
Sixers options with James Harden (31:03)
Similarities between ’23-‘24 Sixers and ’18-’19 Raptors (35:59)
The Tyrese Maxey breakout is coming (42:54)
Chris Fedor on the Cavs (54:34)
How does Cleveland recover after last year's defeat (57:30)
Who starts at the 3 for Cleveland? (1:00:00)
Pressure on JB Bickerstaff (1:03:30)
Change in tempo in Cleveland (1:07:20)
Are we going to see less Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley lineups? (1:11:35)
What is Cleveland's plan against top wings? (1:15:00)
Will Evan Mobley's defensive role change? (1:22:00)
