In a span of 24 hours, the postseason outlook for the Cavaliers went from bleakness to exhilaration.
Before general manager Koby Altman's Feb. 8 roster transformation, fans wondered if the Cavs would even make the playoffs, an unthinkable notion for a LeBron James-led team.
After three trades involving four teams, most believed the Cavs are headed for their fourth consecutive NBA Finals. The mood on the team's flight to Atlanta that afternoon was euphoric.
Trailing the Toronto Raptors by 6 { games with 26 to play, the Cavs might not secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors (41-16) have 13 of their final 25 games at home, where they boast the league's best record of 24-4 (.857). The third-place Cavs (34-22) have 14-of-26 at Quicken Loans Arena, where they are 20-7 (.741, second in the East, seventh in the league).
But as James said on TNT after being selected MVP of Sunday's All-Star Game, "You get me into the playoffs, one seed or eight seed, I got a chance to go to The Finals."
There is no question the Cavs are better equipped to capture the franchise's second championship, a suggestion that seemed laughable on Feb. 7. There are reasons for optimism, but there are also areas for concern.
On the plus side:
Engaged LeBron: The arrival of 25-year-olds Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. and point guard George Hill, 31, who has been to the playoffs in eight of his nine previous seasons, has reinvigorated James as Altman predicted.
James said Sunday on TNT he would do whatever it takes to fast-track their integration, even if it means watching film together or going over sets. That means James will get a chance to become the leader the Cavs need, and not just for the newcomers. James knows that every game might not be as good as their first two together as they figure out roles and learn the system, but talent might cover up some of the new Cavs' flaws.
An engaged James who is taking command means he'll give the Cavs the best chance to win, as even his 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 3-point victory for "Team LeBron" in the All-Star Game proved.
Locker room issues solved: The two reported instigators in the Cavs' finger-pointing locker room meeting on Jan. 22 were Isaiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade, among the six sent out at the trade deadline. Problems could arise down the road _ it is, after all, sometimes a challenge playing with the drama-craving James. But it felt like the air had been cleared following impressive road victories over the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder with the four newcomers on the court.
Youth movement: Yes, Channing Frye was a locker-room favorite and Wade has a huge international following. But the Cavs opened the season with the oldest roster in the league and had been showing their age for the better part of two seasons. As Altman explained, when you build a roster around a Big Three in this day and age, you're usually filling out the roster with older veterans. Even after Kyrie Irving was traded, that was still the core. The infusion of youth along with a title-driven Hill should help the Cavs regain the hunger that had been missing since they won 18 out of 19 in November and December.
Guards who can defend: James might not have played with a guard as defensively adept as Hill in either of his Cleveland incarnations. Hill joining the starting lineup has lifted a huge burden off J.R. Smith, usually assigned to the opponent's best backcourt player. Smith is still willing, but now can cede some of those minutes to Hill. Hill struggled on defense with the Sacramento Kings _ his current 112.9 defensive rating this season ranks 207th out of 239 guards on the NBA list _ but he lost motivation while caught in a youth movement in Sacramento. Hood, a lefty, is known for his 3-point shooting, but he has a nearly 6-foot-9-inch wingspan that should prove useful as he develops.
Versatility: The athleticism of Clarkson, Hood and Nance to go along with that of James and Jeff Green offers many rotation options for Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, who seemed limited when he had players with injury issues (Thomas, Derrick Rose), consistency issues (Iman Shumpert) or who were bad fits (Jae Crowder).
The Cedi effect: One reason for Wade's departure was the team's plan to give more playing time to rookie Cedi Osman. Osman's ceiling might be debatable, but the Cavs learned the effect a hustling overachiever can have on his teammates when they didn't resign Matthew Dellavedova after the 2015-16 season. Osman has a naivete that has already captured fans' hearts. James, Green and Kyle Korver are big fans.
Belief in Altman: Players who wondered if Altman was in over his head or had doubts because he's not the same type of commanding presence as predecessor David Griffin might feel differently now. Owner Dan Gilbert has been consumed for weeks by his son Nick's recent brain surgery. Altman proved he has his finger on the team's pulse and was creative enough to get reportedly shaky trades finished.
The positives seem to outweigh the negatives when it comes to the Cavs getting back to The Finals, but concerns remain.
Enough firepower: The Cavs might have enough offense to beat the Celtics or Raptors, but do they have enough to prevail in a seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets? In that instance, the Cavs would need Smith, Korver, Clarkson, Hood and Hill sizzling from long range.
Rim protection: Nance, 6-9 and 230 pounds, is the Cavs' best defensive big man. They need more from Tristan Thompson. As valuable as Kevin Love is, a timely stop like in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals seems rare. The Cavs still have two open roster spots, so this need could be filled through what is expected to be a healthy buyout market.
LeBron's health: At age 33, James looks as good as ever physically. But he's played in all 56 games and might need a night off at some point. The Cavs have also practiced more this season as they tried to help Thomas in his comeback from a hip injury. Thomas is now a Los Angeles Laker, but that will continue with the roster remake.
Love's return: Love might not return from a broken left hand until the final two weeks of the regular season, which means Lue will be tinkering with his plan and rotations right up to the start of the playoffs. Before departing for the All-Star break, Lue seemed confident there will be time to figure it out, perhaps with a clear picture already in mind.
"We have a lot of work to do," James said Sunday night in Los Angeles. "Obviously winning championships is what it's all about. I'm looking forward to getting back to our guys. I know they're excited, and that's going to be my mindset. But we'll see what happens."
No matter what happens, Altman put the Cavs in position to achieve their ultimate goal and injected hope into a seemingly hopeless situation.
