7 Lottery Teams That Could Make The Playoffs

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Jan 13, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (17) defends a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the second half of the game at the Staples Center. 97-92. Lakers won Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers

This is the time for the Cavaliers to make their push. Kyrie Irving is the next superstar of the NBA. In a few years Chris Paul will relinquish his title as Point God and the young guns will go head to head for the rights to that silly superlative. Irving has a great chance to walk away with it. He doesn’t have the same transcendent point guard instincts and his defense is atrocious compared to Paul’s, but he shares that incredible poise and killer instinct, and that unquantifiable knack for the big moment that separates the stars from the superstars.

The Cavaliers have stockpiled exciting young players, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett to supplement Kyrie’s rise but they’ve also waded into the Free Agency circus to pull out a few surprises. Jarrett Jack is probably the best back-up point guard in the league, and when he’s not shooting you out of games he is one of the most clutch players in existence. But the elephant in the room is of course this: What of Andrew Bynum?

As recently as two seasons ago, Bynum was well considered to be the only true runner-up to Dwight Howard amongst centers. Bynum was accused of having attitude problems, as well as lacking the fire to take that leap over Dwight, who in all honesty, can’t do many of the things Andrew Bynum does half as well. Like many players that lost entire years, Bynum must prove himself and that quest ought to pay dividends for the Cavaliers as they make the great leap forward. Mike Brown was a poor fit under the bright lights of Los Angeles, but his second go-round in Cleveland should be a year of redemption for him as well. He’ll be able to do what he wants without the national media criticizing his every move and he’ll be doing it without a star player that openly loathes him (well, let’s hope). Oh yeah, Anderson Varejao. That guy is a pest!