Cavs are hanging tough

I don't know if any of you have noticed this, but after last night's 101-93 win over the 76ers, the Cavaliers are back to .500 at 5-5, and if the season ended today, they'd be the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This despite the fact that many of their better players have missed some time with injuries: Mo Williams has missed five games, Antawn Jamison three games, Anderson Varejao two. This is really not a bad team at all, ladies and gentlemen, despite all the predictions that they'd be one of the NBA's worst.

By the way, can you think of anyone who predicted they'd be about this good before the season started? I can. Me. Not to toot my own horn, of course ...

How have they done it, despite the lack of a superstar? Balance. J.J. Hickson is currently the club's leading scorer, at 15.2 a game, but Williams has averaged 14.6 in his five games, and Boobie Gibson is putting in 14.2 off the bench. Jamison and Ramon Sessions are also in double figures. Varejao is leading the team in rebounds, at 8.9; and we're also getting solid contributions from guys like Anthony Parker, Ryan Hollins and Jamario Moon.

Can you guess without looking who leads the Cavs in player efficiency rating, the complex calculation developed by ESPN's John Hollinger to take into account everything a player contributes to his team? I would have guessed Williams or Jamison, or possibly Varejao. Hickson and Gibson would be next, if those were wrong. Probably about the eighth guy I'd have guessed would be Ryan Hollins. But that's who it is.

I'm starting to get kind of excited about this team. I don't think they'll contend for a championship or anything like that, but this is a pretty good team. If they stay healthy, they've got a chance to do some special things.