The Cleveland Cavaliers finished dead last in the Eastern Conference with 19 wins a season ago. While it is possible that Cleveland will not eclipse that mark this season, it might have more to do with the 66-game schedule (rather than the usual 82 games) than because the Cavaliers are regressing.
Cleveland is projected to at least take baby steps forward, ranking 27th in the season's first NBA Power Rankings by Britt Robson of SI.com.
No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving is projected to be the goods at point guard, a place for the post-LeBron Cavs to plant their flag. Otherwise, if last season is any indication, Byron Scott's team will scrap even if its suspect talent is decimated by injuries. With tall and rugged swingman Omri Casspi added to the brutish style of second-year power forward Samardo Samuels and the antic but effective energy of center Anderson Varejao (until he's traded), the Cavs will win some games on grit and guts over tired opponents during this compressed schedule.