2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 38th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers were the defending Eastern Conference champions, and were coming off of an NBA Finals defeat to the San Antonio Spurs, where they were swept in four games.
In the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards in the First Round in six games, advancing to the Semifinals, where they would lose in seven games to the eventual NBA champion, the Boston Celtics.
Key dates
- On June 28, the 2007 NBA draft took place in New York City.
- On July 1, the free agency period started.
- On October 9, the Cavaliers' pre-season began with a 62–81 loss to Washington Wizards.
- On October 31, the Cavaliers' season started with a 74–92 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
- On November 2, the Cavaliers signed Sasha Pavlović to a multi-year extension.
- On November 2, the Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks 110–106 for their first win.
- On November 27, the Cavaliers handed the Boston Celtics their second loss of the season.
- On December 5, the Cavaliers matched the offer sheet of the Charlotte Bobcats to retain Anderson Varejão and waived Demetris Nichols.
- On January 17, the Cavaliers defeated the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio for the second straight year.
- On January 23, a victory over the Washington Wizards gave the Cavaliers a season-long five-game win streak.
- On February 21, in a three-team trade, the Cavaliers acquired Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, a 2009 second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls, and a trade exception, plus Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West from the Seattle SuperSonics.
- On March 5, LeBron James scored 50 points against the New York Knicks which led to victory.
- On March 10, an 88-80 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers put the Cavaliers a season-high 10 games over 0.500.
- On May 2, the Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards 105–88 to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
- On May 18, the Cavaliers fell to the Boston Celtics 92–97 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Draft picks
- 1st round pick acquired from Toronto and traded to Charlotte as part of Sasha Pavlović deal. Used to draft Jared Dudley.
- 1st round pick traded to Boston and then to Phoenix as part of Jiří Welsch deal. Used to draft Rudy Fernández.
- 2nd round pick traded to Orlando and then to Houston as part of Drew Gooden deal. Used to draft Brad Newley.
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Playoffs
Player stats
Regular season
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 8 | 0 | 11.5 | .265 | .294 | .667 | 2.4 | 1.1 | .25 | .00 | 4.1 | |
| 11 | 0 | 25.8 | .449 | .452 | .714 | 1.7 | 2.5 | .64 | .18 | 9.0 | |
| 13 | 13 | 30.2 | .479 | .000 | .818 | 7.5 | 1.6 | .38 | 1.08 | 13.1 | |
| 13 | 13 | 42.5 | .411 | .257 | .731 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 1.77 | 1.31 | 28.2 | |
| 5 | 0 | 5.2 | .200 | .286 | .000 | .0 | .2 | .00 | .00 | 1.2 | |
| 5 | 0 | 4.0 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 1.2 | .0 | .00 | .20 | .6 | |
| 8 | 0 | 13.9 | .385 | .444 | .667 | 1.3 | .1 | .25 | .00 | 3.5 | |
| 13 | 0 | 20.2 | .486 | .000 | .636 | 4.6 | .5 | .38 | .54 | 6.6 | |
| 13 | 13 | 28.8 | .376 | .323 | .929 | 1.8 | 1.5 | .15 | .08 | 10.8 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2.7 | .500 | .500 | .000 | .3 | .3 | .33 | .00 | 1.0 | |
| 13 | 0 | 18.5 | .407 | .000 | .429 | 5.2 | .7 | .62 | .08 | 4.1 | |
| 13 | 13 | 23.4 | .515 | .000 | .350 | 6.5 | 1.2 | .62 | 1.08 | 3.2 | |
| 13 | 13 | 34.8 | .400 | .429 | .854 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 1.15 | .46 | 10.8 |
Awards, records and milestones
Awards
- LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from November 19 through November 25.
- LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played December 31, 2007 through January 6, 2008.
- LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January 2008.
- Mike Brown was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for January 2008.
- Daniel Gibson, 33 points, was named the MVP of the Rookie Challenge Game during NBA All-Star Week on February 15, 2008.
- LeBron James, 27 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, was named the MVP of the NBA All-Star Game during NBA All-Star week on February 17, 2008.
- LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from February 18 through February 24.
- LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February 2008.
Records
Milestones
- On December 17, 2007 LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to score 9,000 points.
- On February 11, 2008 Drew Gooden grabbed his 2,500th rebound as a Cavalier. Gooden is the 9th Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On February 11, 2008 Larry Hughes scored his 2,000th point as a Cavalier. Hughes is the 44th Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On February 13, 2008 Žydrūnas Ilgauskas blocked his 1,100th shot as a Cavalier. Ilgauskas is the 2nd Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On February 20, 2008 Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored his 9,000th point as a Cavalier. Ilgauskas is the 6th Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On February 20, 2008 LeBron James played his 15,000th minute as a Cavalier. James is the 8th Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On February 22, 2008 Zydrunas Ilgauskas grabbed his 2,000th offensive rebound as a Cavalier. Ilgauskas is the team leader in offensive rebounds.
- On February 22, 2008 Damon Jones hit is 300th three pointer as a Cavalier. Jones is the 6th Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On February 22, 2008 LeBron James grabbed his 2,500th rebound as a Cavalier. James is the 10th Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On February 27, 2008 LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to score 10,000 points.
- On March 19, 2008 LeBron James dished his 2,500th assist as a Cavalier. James is the 2nd Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On March 26, 2008 Žydrūnas Ilgauskas grabbed his 5,000th rebound as a Cavalier. Ilgauskas is the 2nd Cavalier to reach that milestone.
- On March 29, 2008 LeBron James made his 500th three point shot as a Cavalier. James is the 4th Cavalier to reach that milestone.
All-Star
- Daniel Gibson participated in the 2008 Rookie Challenge Game on February 15, 2008 and was named the MVP.
- Daniel Gibson participated in the 2008 Three Point Contest on February 16, 2008 and finished in second place.
- LeBron James started the 2008 All-Star Game on February 17, 2008 and was named the MVP.
Transactions