Playoff Previews: Cleveland vs Boston

The Main Story — Cleveland’s Big Men

Cleveland’s Starting Lineup

Mo Williams + Anthony Parker + LeBron James + Antawn Jamison + Shaquille O’Neal

The Boston Celtics will outplay the Cavs while this lineup is in the game. The combination of Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison and Shaquille O’Neal makes Cleveland vulnerable defensively particularly against strong point guard play in pick and roll situations + transition offense. Look for Boston to create a lot of problems in both of those areas through Rajon Rondo early in games.

2010 Cap Space: New Jersey

This is a follow up post due to the higher than expected cap figures

New Jersey Nets Salaries

Contracts above $5 million

• Devin Harris – $8.98 million

Devin Harris is the only contract above $5 million on the Nets books at the moment. He has three more years left on his contract.

Rest Of Team’s Salaries

• Yi Jialian – $4.05 million
• Brook Lopez – $2.41 million
• Terrence Williams – $2.21 million
• Courtney Lee – $1.35 million

2010 Cap Space: Chicago Bulls

This is the final edition accounting for both the midseason trades and the higher cap figure

Initial Post — click
After Midseason Trades — click here

Chicago Bulls Salaries

Contracts above $5 million

• Luol Deng – $11.35 million
• Kirk Hinrich – $9 million
• Derrick Rose – $5.55 million

Luol Deng has four years left on his increasing contract while Kirk Hinrich has only two seasons left on his decreasing deal. Derrick Rose will be entering the third season of his rookie contract.

2010 Cap Space: New York

This is the final edition accounting for both the midseason trade and the higher cap figure

Initial Post — click
After Midseason Trade — click here

New York Knicks Salaries

Contracts above $5 million

• Eddy Curry – $11.28 million

Eddy Curry holds a player option for the 2010/11 season and is a lock to pick up that option. That will the final year of his contract.

2010 Cap Space: Miami Heat

Follow up post following the higher than expected cap figures

Miami Heat Salaries

Contracts above $5 million

• Nobody

Rest Of Team’s Salaries

• Michael Beasley – $4.96 million
• Daequan Cook – $2.17 million
• Mario Chalmers – $850k

2010 Tax Concerns: Charlotte Bobcats

Charlotte Bobcats Salaries

Contracts Above $5 Million

• Tyson Chandler – $12.6 million
• Gerald Wallace – $9.6 million
• Boris Diaw – $9.0 million
• Stephen Jackson – $8.45 million
• Nazr Mohammed – $6.88 million
• DeSagana Diop – $6.48 million

A sub-total of $53.01 million for six players. Tyson Chandler and Nazr Mohammed are both expiring contracts.  Boris Diaw has two more seasons while the other three — Stephen Jackson, DeSagana Diop and Gerald Wallace — have three years left remaining on their contracts.

Ginobili Skip International Play This Summer

Yahoo Sports reports

Manu Ginobili says he will not play for his native Argentina this summer at the world championships in Turkey.The San Antonio Spurs guard said Friday he is skipping the tournament because his wife is scheduled to give birth to twins next month, and because he wants to stay healthy.

The 32-year-old spent the last two summers recovering from ankle injuries. Ginobili said he was looking forward to his first good preseason with the Spurs in two years.

That is great news for the San Antonio Spurs.

2010 Tax Concerns: Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic Salaries

Contracts Above $5 Million

• Rashard Lewis – $19.57 million
• Vince Carter – $17.52 million
• Dwight Howard – $16.65 million
• Jameer Nelson – $8.1 million
• Marcin Gortat – $6.32 million
• Mickael Pietrus – $5.3 million

A sub-total of $73.46 million for six players.

That total brings us over the luxury tax by $5.5 million already. Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis will earn a combined $37.1 million next season. Wow, on both counts.

First Round Thoughts

Boston vs Miami

Wade To Point Guard

Miami is getting absolutely nothing out of their point guards and they are getting man-handled by a bigger stronger tougher Boston team down in the paint.

Miami should counter this by going big with Dwyane Wade at the point alongside Quentin Richardson and Dorell Wright on the wings. Try to use their size on the perimeter to limit penetration, to make passes more difficult, and to apply aggressive double teams where necessary.

Miami should also use James Jones as the main backup wing to limit their need for a point guard in different lineups.

2010 Tax Concerns: Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz Salaries

Contracts Above $5 Million

• Andrei Kirilenko – $17.82 million
• Deron Williams – $14.94 million
• Memo Okur – $9.95 million
• Paul Millsap – $7.6 million

A sub-total of $50.31 million for four players. Andrei Kirilenko will be an expiring contract. Memo Okur will be beginning his two year extension while Deron Williams and Paul Millsap will have three years remaining on their contracts respectively. Williams has a player option on his final season.