So what are the Cavaliers gonna do about their backup point guard spot?
Well, if that’s the No. 1 concern entering the season, let’s just say the world champions are in great shape.
All the fun begins again Tuesday, when the banner is lifted to the heavens (or at least the rafters in The Q), the rings are received, and LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the rest take the floor.
The opponent is New York, the game is at 8 p.m.
Until then, the only pressing question appears to be who will caddy for Irving. And by pressing, understand we’re talking about maybe 10 minutes a night.
The rest of the time, it will be either James or Iman Shumpert, or maybe even J.R. Smith. It probably won’t be Tristan Thompson or Chris “Birdman” Andersen.
Other than that, it sounds like fair game.
“It’s going to be a work in progress,” coach Tyronn Lue said after the Cavs’ final preseason game Tuesday in Columbus. “We will keep mixing and matching until we find the right combination.”
One of the candidates is 5-foot-9 rookie point guard Kay Felder. But Felder was a second-round pick, and rarely are second-rounders ready to become key contributors on championship clubs.
That’s not to say Felder can’t do the job in Year One. Remember, the guy he’s replacing, Matthew Dellavedova, was never even drafted.
But even the Cavs will tell you that Felder needs time — that it wouldn’t be fair to Felder or good for the team to force him out there. Not yet.
Felder himself even admits that life in the big leagues has been quite the adjustment. Not surprising, as Felder played at little Oakland (Mich.) University, a member of the same Horizon League in which Cleveland State plays.
“This game is definitely faster and more aggressive than in college,” Felder said of the NBA. “You have freak athletes that you have to watch out for. It’s definitely a different game and will take some getting used to.”
So, where will the Cavs go from here?
It’s about the only pressing question, it seems, entering the Year after the Championship. It’s not one that needs answered today. It doesn’t even need an answer in January, or March.
But the Cavs will need to forget it out before the playoffs get here.
The good news is, they’re not overly worried about it. As Lue has said, the Cavs plan to eventually find the right combination.
Bottom line: If the Cavs aren’t yet concerned with the point guard position, then you shouldn’t be, either.
After all, this is a team that has proven to be worthy of our trust.
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