News and information on Delonte West of the NBA.

Tonight at 7:30PM EST, The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Boston Celtics as both teams get the 2009 – 2010 season underway.

Here’s the latest Team Report from Yahoo! Sports:

When the Cavaliers were rudely ousted from the playoffs last year by the Orlando Magic, general manager Danny Ferry knew what he had to do. Ferry knew he must find a center to deal with Orlando’s powerful center Dwight Howard. He also realized they needed to find some defensive-minded athletic wing players.

He was able to trade for Shaquille O’Neal and sign free agents Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. Those parts were added to a 66-win team, best in the league. Now the Cavs feel they are poised to make a serious run at their first NBA championship.

They already have perhaps the best player in the league in LeBron James. Of course, he’s coming off a season when he averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists en route to his first Most Valuable Player Award.

They also have two other former All-Stars on the roster in point guard Mo Williams and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. They have a talented and deep roster that is battle-tested. Just making it to the Eastern Conference finals this year won’t do. Expectations have grown so large, if they don’t win a ring, it could be a disappointing season.

On paper, they don’t have many weaknesses, even though the Delonte West situation might fester all season. He’s been dealing with personal problems throughout training camp.

COACHING STAFF: Head Coach — Mike Brown, 5th year overall, all with Cavs (211-117). Assistants — Mike Malone, Melvin Hunt, Chris Jent, Hank Egan.

LAST SEASON, REMEMBERED: 66-16 (1st in Central), Lost in the Eastern Conference finals to Orlando.

THIS SEASON, PREDICTED: 63-19 (1st in Central), beat L.A. Lakers in NBA Finals.

POSSIBLE CHANGES, PREDICTED: The offense might go through C Shaquille O’Neal, a big change from what it has been in the past. New offensive coordinator Mike Malone is exploring ways to best utilize the big man. F LeBron James has never played off a player of this caliber before, so it’s something to keep one’s eye on.

Expectations are high… Let’s look at that prediction from Yahoo! — 63-19 (1st in Central), beat L.A. Lakers in NBA Finals

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Yahoo Sports reports:

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Delonte West skipped a second consecutive training camp practice Tuesday night and the front office is unsure when the troubled shooting guard will return to the team, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

West, who has a mood disorder, had been expected to be an important part of LeBron James(notes) and Shaquille O’Neal’s(notes) supporting cast this season. The Cavaliers could punish West with a fine or suspension, but that doesn’t solve the bigger issue for a franchise under immense pressure to deliver a title. Truth be told, the Cavs can no longer count on him.

The Cavaliers had considered the possibility of trading West, sources said, but his recent instability makes that an improbable scenario.

After an arrest on a weapons charge two weeks ago in Maryland, West was already facing possible legal action and a certain league suspension. West had three loaded and concealed guns on a motorcycle jaunt across a suburban Washington, D.C., highway. Last season, West left the team for several weeks to get treatment for his lifelong battle with mood disorders.

Beyond the fact that he’s in his Cleveland apartment, one associate said, the reason for West’s absence is still a source of speculation for Cavs general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown. West attended the Cavs’ media day availability Monday but was an unexcused no-show for both of Tuesday’s practices at the team’s facility in suburban Cleveland.

Ferry didn’t immediately respond to a text message.

“On a personal note, you always hope he’s doing well,” Brown told reporters Tuesday morning. “But I have to continue looking forward and coaching this team.”

Ferry has gone to great lengths to help West battle his demons, but this is a vital season for the Cavaliers. With the investment in Shaq, and James’ pending free agency next summer, Cleveland can ill-afford to let the drama surrounding West get in the team’s way.

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Delonte West and the Cleveland Cavaliers have swept another series, this time eliminating the Atlanta Hawks just as they had with the Detroit Pistons in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoff series.

With the sweep, the Cavaliers become the first team since the 1995 Miami Heat to complete sweeps in each of their first two series. Unlike the Heat before them though, these Cavaliers have won each of their first eight games with double digit leads. The Cavaliers will now rest up as they wait for either the Orlando Magic or the Boston Celtics – two teams that head into game five tomorrow night in Boston, tied at two games a piece.

In tonight’s series finale, the Cavs won by a final score of 84 to 74. LeBron James was the game’s high scorer with his 27 point effort. Delonte West scored 21 points on 7 for 13 shooting while also pulling down 4 rebounds, dishing 6 assists and coming up with one steal.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to beat up on the Atlanta Hawks, as they now have a 31 point lead with about six minutes left to play. It’s a certainty then that the two teams will head to Atlanta for Game 3 with Cleveland up two games, having defended home court successfully.

Delonte West left game two after having been poked in the eye. ESPN sideline reporters have confirmed that Delonte will remain out for the remainder of Game 2 with what’s simply being diagnosed with a poked eye. The Cleveland Cavaliers will treat his injury carefully because of the sensitive nature of the eye area.

Delonte put up 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists before leaving Game 2 in the third quarter of play.

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