The NBA playoffs begin this weekend, which means — hallelujah! — the "real season" is only hours away.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who racked up a league-best 61-21 record in the regular season, have one of the most gifted all-around players (LeBron James) in the game's history, a future first-ballot Hall of Fame center (Shaquille O'Neal) and a strong cast of role players. This includes lithe 206-cm forward Jawad Williams, who paid his dues in far-flung outposts in Spain, Israel and the NBA Development League, as well as a successful stint with the JBL's Rera Kamuy Hokkaido in 2007-08 before finally securing a regular paycheck from the Cavs this season.

Williams played in 54 games and averaged 13.7 minutes per game with a modest 4.1 points-per-game average and 1.5 rebounds per game this season. He scored a season-high 17 points on Feb. 9 against the atrocious New Jersey Nets and also filled in as a starter in six games to spell James and other Cavs regulars when called upon to do so by coach Mike Brown.