The words - "on paper" - are always cautionary, a good way to temper expectations.

"On paper" this is the best Cavaliers team the organization has fielded since LeBron arrived in 2003. And I don't think anyone doubts that the paper version of this club will soon be up and running at full capacity. But through three games, with a marquee matchup with the Mavs on Monday, the Wine and Gold have struggled to find their identity.

LeBron James, as always, has played fantastic floor games through the first three games - he's flirted with a triple-double every night out and he leads the team with 9.3 assists. But his scoring average is double-figures below what it was last year.

The knock on LBJ - and I use the word loosely - has always been that he's too unselfish. He's been getting his teammates involved in a major way; doling out 13 dimes on Saturday night alone. But he hasn't found his own offensive rhythm and the Cavaliers, as a whole, have put together solid stretches on the road, but not quite a 48-minute run.

"We have a lot of new sets and having a new point guard learning the whole offense - we're still a work in progress," said James,  "We're going to have some turnovers; we just need to cut down on the unforced turnovers.

"We're still learning on the fly."

Cleveland turned the ball over 22 times in Boston and 18 more on Saturday night. LeBron had five of the 18 with Mo Williams committing four. Williams has been hard on himself over his slow start, but he's actually had a pretty solid troika of games - averaging 13.3 points and 4.3 assists heading into Dallas.

"Everything is a process, as far as team-wise," said Williams. "It's new scenery, a new team, new teammates, new system. Once I get to the point where I'm comfortable and I know my spots and the plays that get guys where they want to be, I think it'll be a whole lot better."

As Austin Carr said in his blog, however, the Cavaliers have to learn on the fly while simultaneously getting some victories. That's a tall order considering Cleveland's first three road opponents won 173 combined games last year. It's been baptism by fire.

After Monday's meeting in Texas, where the Cavaliers won last year for the first time since LeBron was in high school, the Wine and Gold play five of the next six at home, including four against Division rivals. Carlos Boozer and Carmelo Anthony come to town in the other two. 

It's just a matter of time before the Cavaliers start to gel for four quarters. When they do, the eagerly-anticipated team "on paper" should start translating it to the hardwood.