Hard Workin' Team

Cavs Continue to Build a Winning Attitude

2012-02-15T22:27:00.001-05:00

Last season, the acquisition of Baron Davis and a draft pick--which turned out to be the #1 pick for Kyrie Irving--helped the Cavaliers move on from the drama of summer 2010 and begin re-establishing a winning attitude. In between summer 2010 and the Davis acquisition, the Cavs still had some talent, but they lacked an identity. With Davis in the locker room, the team became a more confident, more consistent team.

While the Cavs' record remains below .500 this season, their ability to stay competitive and come back from deficits in games this season is no coincidence. Unlike last season and many seasons past, this Cavaliers team does not give up on games. Until the final buzzer sounds, they believe they can win. They play together instead of in isolation; they do not just stand around and watch one or two guys do everything on offense or on defense. They play with energy and enthusiasm; they want to be on the court.

To help put things in perspective, let's look at a couple different scenarios from the past couple of years.

Two years ago, on national TV in the playoffs, the Cavs had what was believed to be a championship caliber team. They had the reigning league MVP, the reigning Coach of the Year, and a future hall-of-fame center. Yet, in the spotlight on a grand stage at home, in a pivotal Game 5 in a 2-2 series, the team lost by 32 points to the lower-seeded Boston Celtics. Whether it was just one individual or several individuals, someone quit during that game.

A couple weeks ago, a young, rebuilding Cavs team faced an aging but still championship caliber Celtics team. Despite a double-digit deficit for most of the second half, the Cavs kept battling. Riding a 12-0 run to close out the game, capped by a big shot by rookie Kyrie Irving, the Cavs made a comeback and won on the Celtics' home court. No Cleveland players quit during that game.

Playoffs or no playoffs, lottery pick or no lottery pick, this Cavaliers team is destined for success. It's not just about talent or luck; it's about attitude. To build a winning franchise with a winning culture, a team/organization/locker room must have a winning attitude. This team has it. As the Cavs continue to improve and keep on winning, they will face situations like they did two years ago. Unlike that team, however, this Cavs team will not have to question itself or motivate itself to keep competitive, as a winning attitude will be a driving force to bigger things ahead. As Nick Gilbert said after the Cavs won the draft lottery last year, "What's not to like?"

Cavaliers Get Their First Signature Road Win of the Byron Scott Era

2012-01-30T00:44:00.000-05:00

Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers went a dismal 7-34 on the road. Aside from an early season win at Philadelphia and a late season win at New York, the Cavs struggled immensely on the road. At home, their 12-29 record included some clear signature wins, including the season opener against the Celtics, the losing streak ending overtime thriller against the Clippers, and a pair of 'vengeance' wins versus the Lakers and the Heat.

Entering Sunday's game at Boston, the Cavs were 4-7 on the road this season. Wins at Minnesota and Phoenix and close games at Indiana and Miami already showed that the team was much better prepared for road games this year, but the team still needed a signature road win under Byron Scott. Tonight, the Cavs finally won such a game.

In franchise history, the Cavaliers have always struggled to beat the Boston Celtics. Entering tonight, the team had a 68-113 record all-time against the Celtics, including losing four out of five playoff series. The last playoff loss signaled the end of an era for the Cavs, who fell into a downward spiral during the middle of last season. In general, Boston/New England sports have cast a shadow over the more humble Cleveland sports, especially over the past decade. As such, a win at Boston is always something special.

The Celtics entered Sunday's game on a four game winning streak. This included a defensive gem versus the Orlando Magic in which the Magic scored the fewest points in their franchise history (beating a performance by the Cavaliers defense in December 1996); a comeback from 27 points down to beat the Magic again; and a solid win over the Indiana Pacers.

The Celtics have found ways to win without star point guard Rajon Rondo. Tonight, Rondo and Jermaine O'Neal were both out. While the Celtics were not at full strength, there are always injuries in the NBA. The best teams win no matter what the circumstances--such as the Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA Championship last season despite the midseason loss of starting swingman Caron Butler.

In the Cavaliers' case, they also had injuries to handle. With Daniel Gibson out, Tristan Thompson trying to find a rhythm in his second game back from an ankle injury, and Anthony Parker battling ongoing back pains, the Cavaliers were trailing for a large part of the game. In fact, they were down 11 points midway through the 4th quarter. Yet, the Cavs managed to regain composure.

While Omri Casspi and Alonzo Gee covered some of Parker's minutes, rookie Mychel Thompson--son of coach Scott's former Lakers teammate Mychal Thompson--stepped up as Parker's replacement down the stretch. Thompson made a couple jump shots off Ramon Sessions' assists and helped hold Ray Allen to four points in the 4th quarter.

Gee and Anderson Varejao both stole the spotlight on offense during the 4th quarter. On one play, Gee drove and had a sensational up-and-under baseline dunk. On another play, Varejao pretended to call a play with M. Thompson and then quickly drove for a score on two Celtics defenders.

Meanwhile, Varejao and Antawn Jamison put on a defensive clinic down the stretch as the Cavs closed the game out on a 12-0 run. Kevin Garnett--who had averaged 18.8 points per game versus Cleveland in the 2010 playoffs--was held scoreless in the 4th quarter with two traveling violations. Brandon Bass also turned the ball over after a defensive rebound, leading to a Cleveland timeout to set up the game-winning play.

In the end, people will remember Kyrie Irving's drive and spin move for the game-winning basket. What should also be remembered is what Varejao and Jamison did to help set up the game winner. As the Cavs set up a possible 1-4 isolation set for Irving, Jamison and Varejao crossed each other on the baseline, with Varejao curling to the top of the key to run a pick and roll with Irving. With the extra movement, Kevin Garnett abandoned the paint, leaving Avery Bradley and Brandon Bass to cover Irving. Had Garnett--a regular on the NBA's annual All-Defensive Team--remained in the post on the play, he likely would have altered or blocked Irving's shot to clinch the win for Boston.

One win later, the Cavaliers are still only 8-11 and remain underdogs to make the playoffs this year. Surely, more challenges are ahead. Arguably, this is the current Celtics' Big Three's last hurrah. Yet, in the current NBA, a team that can beat the Celtics can beat anyone. This win in Boston--the first signature road win of the Byron Scott Cavs era--is definitely special. In a couple years, such a road win could be the norm for Cleveland.

NBA Team Chemistry Rankings: 1st Quarter of Season

2012-01-17T20:48:00.000-05:00

With the 1st quarter of the regular season just about over, it is time to re-evaluate comparative team chemistry across the NBA. There still appear to be three tiers of team chemistry: the best (1st thru 10th), the next best (11th thru 23rd), and the rest (24th thru 30th). It should be noted that the Washington Wizards were an easy pick for 30th, as they entered Tuesday night with a 1-12 record and are getting outscored by 11.9 points per game.

Here are the updated team chemistry rankings (preseason rankings are in parentheses; end of last season rankings are in brackets). Further explanations are listed below the rankings.

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) [2]
Portland Trail Blazers (11) [6]
San Antonio Spurs (3) [5]
Philadelphia 76ers (13) [14]
Chicago Bulls (7) [9]
Indiana Pacers (6) [7]
Memphis Grizzlies (2) [3]
Atlanta Hawks (10) [10]
Denver Nuggets (26) [25]
Phoenix Suns (4) [8]
Utah Jazz (27) [21]
Cleveland Cavaliers (20) [26]
Orlando Magic (14) [23]
Los Angeles Clippers (15) [18]
Miami Heat (8) [12]
Minnesota Timberwolves (18) [30]
Los Angeles Lakers (16) [11]
Dallas Mavericks (5) [1]
Boston Celtics (9) [4]
Houston Rockets (19) [13]
Golden State Warriors (17) [17]
Milwaukee Bucks (24) [16]
Charlotte Bobcats (29) [22]
Toronto Raptors (30) [29]
New York Knicks (23) [24]
New Orleans Hornets (28) [15]
Sacramento Kings (12) [19]
Detroit Pistons (21) [27]
New Jersey Nets (25) [20]
Washington Wizards (22) [28]

The Oklahoma City Thunder remain the top-ranked NBA team in regards to team chemistry. Aside from a minor dispute regarding star point guard Russell Westbrook, they have a strong rotation with strong balance on the court and get along pretty well. Other teams continuing to play well together and win games are the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks.

Despite mediocre records, the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns get along as well as any teams in the NBA. The Grizzlies' blowout loss to the Bulls was more a fluke than anything; they continue to play competitively despite the loss of power forward Zach Randolph. In the Suns' case, they shot poorly to start the season but continue to move the ball around and play respectable team defense. As the shots fall, the Suns' record will improve.

The Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, and Cleveland Cavaliers all made substantial jumps in the rankings as they have proven to play well together and get along. While the Trail Blazers have made a smooth transition to faster play with Raymond Felton at point guard, the 76ers play strong defense, share the ball, and stay competitive in all games. In fact, the 76ers have lost their 3 losses by a total of 13 points. The Nuggets have done well since trading Carmelo Anthony, while the Jazz and Cavaliers have done a good job mixing young players with veterans.

On the other hand, the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks have all dropped in the rankings. The Heat remain vulnerable due to the offensive similarities of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, inconsistent low post play, and the lack of a veteran point guard. Meanwhile, the Celtics have lost too much youth over the past year. Their starting lineup especially lacks speed, with teams running on Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal. Regarding the Mavericks, they have made a number of changes to their rotation due to free agency and trades. It will take some time for the Mavericks to play well together consistently, but it is also possible that a large portion of this year's roster will not be with the team next year.

The Golden State Warriors are in an interesting situation. They have some players that play well together, but they are going through a bit of an identity crisis with new coach Mark Jackson. With Jackson's emphasis on halfcourt defense, they have cut back on fastbreak scoring and overall pace. In the long run, it is quite possible that Jackson will speed the pace back up while still emphasizing better all-around defense. With a 'best of both worlds' approach, the Warriors could become a playoff team this year.

While the Orlando Magic remain held down by Dwight Howard's uncertain contract/trade status, the Los Angeles Clippers lack balance in their lineup, including a lack of true low post play on offense (Blake Griffin plays like a shooting guard in a power forward's body) and an unsettled bench. The Toronto Raptors should get more comfortable in their new system as the season goes on, but coach Dwane Casey will probably need some additional roster moves to help improve the team's chemistry. The New York Knicks might not have quite as much hope, as they are riding individual talent and isolation-minded stars, which does not mesh well with coach Mike D'Antoni's offense.

While a large number of trades have left the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, and New Orleans Hornets in transition, youth movements need more time for chemistry building for the Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets, and Washington Wizards. A youth movement is going pretty well for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are playing steady, competitive team basketball under coach Rick Adelman with rookies Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams fitting in very well. Lastly, the Los Angeles Lakers are in transition. They could go up or down in the rankings depending on how well coach Mike Brown can mold the team together.

Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers: Pregame Notes

2012-01-08T20:47:00.003-05:00

The 4-3 Cleveland Cavaliers face their toughest test of the season thus far in facing the 5-2 Portland Trail Blazers. Based on their early season play, a number of analysts consider the Trail Blazers a possible "Cinderella team" in this lockout-shortened season. However, the Cavaliers have played well in all games against opponents not named the Toronto Raptors (more on this in a future article), taking a comparable Indiana Pacers squad to overtime. Here are some observations heading into tonight's game.

> Gerald Wallace: Wallace has averaged 20.6 points per game in 5 Blazers wins this season. In 2 losses, he scored only 1 point. While holding him scoreless is probably asking too much, Omri Casspi and Alonzo Gee are strong enough defenders to help keep him in check. It will be interesting to see how they cover him tonight.

> Raymond Felton: In looking to speed up their offensive play, Portland swapped former Cavalier Andre Miller for younger rising point guard Felton. The move has worked thus far, as players such as Wallace and Wesley Matthews play well in a faster pace. At the same time, Felton is not as good of a defender as Miller. In Friday night's loss to the Phoenix Suns, Felton struggled to guard Steve Nash. Look for Kyrie Irving and Ramon Sessions to attack the basket on Felton tonight.

> Blazers' Offense: As the Blazers have sped up their tempo this season, they tend to post up a player in the low post on the weak side and then have motion picks on the strong (right) side to generate ball movement. The Suns countered this on Friday night by double-teaming the post and covering the passing lanes. If the Cavs can stick with their defensive intensity tonight, they should be able to do the same. However, LaMarcus Aldridge will be a tough cover regardless. The Cavs may have to use up frontcourt fouls to slow him down.

> Cavaliers' Offense: As coach Byron Scott has said, the Cavaliers are at their best when they play aggressively on offense--which prevents the opposing defense from getting set. Portland plays a faster pace and has one of the best defensive frontcourts in basketball. With the day off yesterday, the Cavs should be ready to push the ball and run the floor. Doing so should work well in their favor.

Wrap-up: Cavaliers Defeat Bobcats 115-101

2012-01-03T23:03:00.000-05:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their second straight game to start the new year, defeating the visiting Charlotte Bobcats, 115-101. Here are some observations about the Cavaliers' performance from tonight's game.

Positives
>Moved the ball around well and had balanced scoring again tonight: 5 players in double-digits, 3 players with 8-9 points
>Countered against Charlotte's strong shot-blocking defense by pushing the ball and running the floor in the second half
>Hustled back on fastbreak defense today, with key stops including Kyrie Irving's block in the third quarter
>Held the Bobcats' Boris Diaw scoreless in 18 minutes
>Limited the opposing bench's guards to 6 points
>Irving, Antawn Jamison, and Tristan Thompson were very aggressive in attacking the rim
>Alonzo Gee and Ryan Hollins did a good job when called upon to substitute on defense
>Omri Casspi adjusted his coverage on Corey Maggette in the second half, playing back to defend against the drive and forcing Maggette to shoot off-balance jump shots
>Anthony Parker and Daniel Gibson showed a lot of confidence in their jump shots, hitting key 3-pointers in the second half
>Irving and Ramon Sessions showed very unselfish play, combining for 15 assists

Negatives

>Gave up too many points in the first quarter (34 points) - all to three players: Maggette, D.J. Augustin, and D.J. White
>Allowed 26 points from opposing point guard Augustin
>Struggled to handle Byron "B.J." Mullens, who had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in just under 18 minutes
>Did not close out on interior defense effectively until the middle of/late in the second quarter
>Lost the battle on the boards, being outrebounded 46-41
>Shot 15-26 (57.7%) from the free-throw line
>Casspi had 4 of the team's 9 turnovers in just under 19 minutes
>Hollins had 2 turnovers in a bit under 11 minutes
>Samardo Samuels was ineffective on defense, getting benched in favor of Hollins down the stretch

Side Notes
>Bobcats coach Paul Silas received a quiet but warm ovation during pregame introductions
>Mullens (Ohio State) and Derrick Brown (Xavier) made appearances on the court back in Ohio
>Cleveland Browns defensive starters Phil Taylor and Joe Haden received loud ovations from the crowd
>Announcer/Cavs legend Austin Carr also received a loud ovation during an instant replay stoppage in play

1st Week Team-by-Team Observations

2011-12-30T20:21:00.004-05:00

Atlanta Hawks: They are quietly one of the Eastern Conference's best teams. With primarily the same core group in place, their chemistry and team defense overcome their individual deficiencies. They are playoff-bound again this year, but they will need a breakout performance from someone--possibly the aging Tracy McGrady--in order to defeat the Heat, Bulls, or Celtics in the playoffs.

Boston Celtics: It is too early to panic regarding the Celtics' early season struggles. Paul Pierce is the heart of their offense and is a reliable matchup defender. The main change to their rotation should be to separate Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal--both big men can still rebound and block shots but lack speed and lateral quickness due to constant knee problems, leaving the Celtics weak against faster-paced play when they are on the court together.

Charlotte Bobcats: The Bobcats have a decent mix of veterans and young players with an experienced head coach in Paul Silas. However, they lack both a true point guard and interior scoring. Rugged team defense will keep them competitive, but more time and more personnel are needed to get them back to the playoffs.

Chicago Bulls: The Bulls did what they were supposed to do in the offseason: sign Rip Hamilton. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is one of the bright young defensive minds in the NBA; his defensive philosophy will continue to do wonders for this team. They may be better prepared to face the Heat in a playoff rematch, but they are still very beatable--the young players on the bench need to keep improving in order to help limit the starters' minutes.

Cleveland Cavaliers: They have an undersized, below average quickness starting lineup that is still trying to get acclimated with each other, with rookie Kyrie Irving running the offense. However, their bench is underrated with quickness and intensity. Although they are not looking to make the playoffs, they are laying the foundation for a competitive team in the next couple of years.

Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks will have some trouble covering for the loss of Tyson Chandler via free agency. However, with versatile acquisitions Delonte West, Lamar Odom, and Vince Carter, the team can utilize dangerous offensive lineups. Look for Shawn Marion to play some center at some point (like his time in Phoenix a few years ago) to help take pressure off Brendan Haywood and Ian Mahinmi. Should the team be unsuccessful in defending the NBA championship this year, a lightened payroll now opens up huge possibilities via free agency in the offseason.

Denver Nuggets: They are doing their best to compete while key rotation players remain out of the NBA until March due to Chinese basketball contract restrictions. However, there is no guarantee that Kenyon Martin or J.R. Smith will be back with the Nuggets. In their place, a combination of veterans and young players, including point guards Andre Miller and Ty Lawson, will keep this team in contention for a low playoff seed.

Detroit Pistons: They are in transition right now. Head coach Lawrence Frank prefers gritty defensive play, but recent free agent signings Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon do not fit. Likewise, Rodney Stuckey may be auditioning for a trade to teams such as the Bobcats and the Warriors.

Golden State Warriors: The Warriors are another team that quietly has developed a strong core group. With intelligent rookie coach Mark Jackson at the helm, they may sneak back into the playoffs this year.

Houston Rockets: There are no clear expectations for the Rockets. They were expecting to pick up Pau Gasol via trade but instead were left with a strong group of players, including Luis Scola and Kevin Martin. They are a balanced team that will also be competing for a low playoff seed in the West.

Indiana Pacers: They may be the most underrated team in the NBA. With a deep rotation, they should make the playoffs and challenge for the 2nd round.

Los Angeles Clippers: Unfortunately for the Clippers, expectations by fans and analysts were set too high. The Clippers lack a post-up game, with Blake Griffin relying heavily on scoring off the dribble with face-up moves. Furthermore, Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups both need to handle the ball to be effective. To balance things out, they should consider moving Caron Butler to shooting guard, acquiring a small forward, and pairing Billups on the bench with Mo Williams--allowing Williams to play some shooting guard like he did with Delonte West in Cleveland.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers are not an overwhelmingly good team like in years past, but they remain a very solid team. Head coach Mike Brown and his staff have proven true to their words of studiously watching game tape of their personnel. As last night's game versus New York was an indicator, the coaches know what spots and situations are optimal for each Lakers player, meaning they will run plays and sets specific to this. If they can avoid injuries, Brown could be a surprise candidate for Coach of the Year.

Memphis Grizzlies: Everyone remembers the Mavericks and Thunder, but numerous people seem to forget about the Grizzlies. Having taken down the Spurs in the playoffs last season, the Grizzlies have kept their core in place. They may still struggle when the opponents have a superstar talent in his prime (i.e. Kevin Durant), but they are well-equipped to take on most teams in the NBA.

Miami Heat: No one can question their ability to win during the season--they are already 3-0. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are two of the best raw offensive talents in the last twenty years; rookie Norris Cole is a good complement to this. As head coach Erik Spoelstra is a defensive mastermind, the Heat will continue to play an imposing team defense. Clutch shooting questions aside, the real test for them will be playing slower-paced matchup defense deep in the playoffs, as Wade and James thrive on playing help defense to force turnovers and create fastbreaks.

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings is still young, but a number of his peers are not anymore. The Bucks must get acquainted quickly with Stephen Jackson and make a push for the playoffs now; any hesitation may mean another rebuilding effort.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Everyone knows their offense will flow much better this year with the additions of Ricky Rubio and J.J. Barea. If Derrick Williams, Michael Beasley, and/or Darko Milicic can develop alongside Kevin Love, they may become one of the league's best frontcourts.

New Jersey Nets: Sadly, the Nets are caught in the intertwined pending free agencies of Deron Williams and Orlando's Dwight Howard. Ideally, they will acquire Howard and sign both players to contract extensions. If not, any progress made this year will be set back by the loss of Williams.

New Orleans Hornets: Head coach Monty Williams is definitely earning respect in New Orleans. While David Stern and the NBA front office pushed Williams and GM Dell Demps aside in the Chris Paul sweepstakes, Williams remains a talented young head coach with a hungry group of players. If the team can continue to develop chemistry, they may compete for a playoff berth.

New York Knicks: The Knicks might be the strangest franchise in the NBA today. Head coach Mike D'Antoni is an offensive guru who likes his teams to run; however, stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire fare better in slower-paced offensive sets and isolation plays. In Phoenix, D'Antoni benefitted from the defensive versatility of Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw; in New York, D'Antoni's best defenders are Tyson Chandler and Renaldo Balkman--neither of whom can guard all five positions. Without the right personnel in place, D'Antoni will have to finetune his game-to-game tactics in order to make the Knicks a true Eastern Conference contender.

Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder are one of the favorites to win the NBA Championship; a 4-0 start has further justified these expectations. They have defined roles and can play well on both sides of the court. Head coach Scott Brooks needs to continue to take advantage of the team's athleticism while helping his players further improve upon their weaknesses. At the same time, Brooks needs to help the team ignore the media's criticism of Russell Westbrook. As long as they stay focused, they should at least return to the Western Conference Finals.

Orlando Magic: Now that Chris Paul has settled down in Los Angeles, Dwight Howard may be the most powerful and the most coveted player in the NBA. He is a clear-cut superstar talent that stays healthy and stays out of trouble. The problem is, the Magic senses his departure and is now in flux until they can resolve this matter. As it stands, Ryan Anderson and Glen Davis seem poised to put together career years in order to keep the Magic in contention for the championship.

Philadelphia 76ers: Head coach Doug Collins silenced a number of critics last season, proving that young talented players will still listen to him despite his age. The 76ers remain an athletic team that likes to convert turnovers into fastbreaks. They have not made any major changes or improvements since last year, so players such as Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner need to take their play to the next level in order to keep pace with the other Eastern Conference powers.

Phoenix Suns: Despite an 0-2 start, the Suns still have as good of chemistry as any team in the NBA; the problem is that their deficiencies are too obvious now. They have added Michael Redd to gain leadership and steady outside shooting, but they need to add a veteran big man that can rebound and hit midrange jump shots to help Marcin Gortat and Robin Lopez develop. Head coach Alvin Gentry is well-respected around the league but otherwise underrated by fans and the media; he has 64 more games to get the team back on track. Stay tuned.

Portland Trailblazers: The Trail Blazers kept most of their core in place but lost Brandon Roy via career-ending injuries. They are still one of the best teams in the West, but they could greatly benefit from the recovery and return of Greg Oden. Oden's defensive presence in the paint could power the team into the later rounds of the playoffs.

Sacramento Kings: Head coach Paul Westphal now has Jimmer Fredette, Chuck Hayes, and J.J. Hickson to help him run his fast-paced offense. If all of the young players can continue to develop, keep a positive attitude, and limit careless turnovers and fouls, they could be a surprise qualifier for the playoffs this year.

San Antonio Spurs: Barring the injury to Manu Ginobili, last year's Spurs were poised for a deep playoff run as the West's #1 seed. However, just like last year, San Antonio is heavily reliant on the health of Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker. This year, the Spurs replaced combo guard George Hill with pure point guard T.J. Ford, meaning that second-year player James Anderson and rookie Kawhi Leonard will need to learn on the fly in order to keep the rotation strong and allow Richard Jefferson to focus more on defense at this stage of his career.

Toronto Raptors: Head coach Dwane Casey may be just what the doctor ordered for the Raptors. With mostly the same team in place, Casey's defensive genius--which helped the Mavericks win the NBA championship last season--could bring basketball relevance back to Toronto. If not, Casey will be prepared to work with an evolving roster in the years to come.

Utah Jazz: Head coach Tyrone Corbin is dealing with the transition of a system (Jerry Sloan's) that has been around Salt Lake City for a long, long time--a stretch in which Corbin started at small forward alongside John Stockton and Karl Malone. After trading franchise point guard Deron Williams last season, the team traded away key post player Mehmet Okur and did not re-sign top defender Andrei Kirilenko. The Jazz have a number of fundamentally-sound players but are a work in progress. As the Jazz are not expected to challenge for the playoffs this year, fans need to be patient to allow the front office and Corbin to re-shape the franchise.

Washington Wizards: The Wizards remain a young team, although they did bring back clutch shooter Roger Mason Jr. While hype has surrounded young players John Wall, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, and Andray Blatche, the team should spend some time developing swingman Jordan Crawford. If given a chance to play major minutes this season, Crawford has the scoring ability and versatility to be a franchise cornerstone with Wall. Regardless, the Wizards are still at least a couple years away from a return to the playoffs.

Cavaliers: Two Games in, 1-1 Record

2011-12-29T01:51:00.000-05:00

Despite going on the road, the Cavaliers played much better in game number two of the 2011-2012 campaign, beating the Pistons in Detroit. As was seen tonight under the guidance of coach Byron Scott and staff, tenacity on both sides of the court will serve this young Cavaliers team well. Those who watched the first two games of the season could tell the Cleveland defense improved from its opening night performance at home versus Toronto. Here are some other observations from the first two games.

Scouting is Critical: The Cavs did a good job of carrying over their scouting from the two preseason games into the game against the Pistons. The team forced the Pistons--who have a lot of players that like to score off the dribble--into some tough shots, including forced jump shots after ball swings with the shot clock winding down. Moreover, the Cavs exposed the Pistons' underdeveloped chemistry through smooth passing on offense. During the game, it was obvious that Detroit's roster is still in transition, as coach Lawrence Frank and staff need time to determine players' roles and executive Joe Dumars needs time to entertain trades of players such as Rodney Stuckey (regardless of his new contract) and Ben Gordon.

On the other hand, Cleveland struggled against the Toronto Raptors, who entered the opening game with nearly the same roster as last season. Aside from signing quiet sharpshooter Rasual Butler, the major change the Raptors made was bringing in head coach Dwane Casey, who served as Rick Carlisle's top assistant for the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Unlike Frank, Casey inherited a team that has defined roles. As DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani continue to develop as the team's future stars, strong guard play by Jose Calderon, Jerryd Bayless, and Leandro Barbosa remain critical to the Raptors' success. What Casey is adding is a focus on hard-nosed defense. In the opener, the Raptors' newly-emphasized defense made the Cavaliers' starters look lost. Calderon's veteran savvy carried over to the offensive end, with numerous pick and roll plays against Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao, and Antawn Jamison. As the Cavs struggled with the pick and rolls, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis controlled the boards for the Raptors. In the next matchup, the Cavs should be better prepared for Toronto.

The Bench is Important: In the preseason, Byron Scott mentioned that he has followed the NFL especially closely in order to understand the nuances of a lockout-shortened training camp leading into the regular season. In two games, Scott has proven true to his words. The team has used 11 players in meaningful minutes to start the season. While Cleveland's starting lineup may struggle against some tough matchups (such as Orlando with Dwight Howard), the bench looks prepared and equipped to challenge any bench in the NBA. As back-to-back games come during the schedule, non-rotation players such as Christian Eyenga should also get added to the mix to help keep the other players fresh.

Strong bench play is not new to Cavaliers history. Young players such as Terrell Brandon, Chris Mills, and Andre Miller earned their stripes off the bench before gaining promotion to the starting lineup, while veterans such as Nate Thurmond, Hot Rod Williams, and Bobby Sura played key minutes off the bench for successful Cavs teams. In 2006-2007, some may recall that the bench lineup of Daniel Gibson, Damon Jones, Anderson Varejao, and Donyell Marshall played well alongside #23--closing out some games en route to the NBA Finals.

The Rookies are Fundamentally Sound: Much has been said about Kyrie Irving's and Tristan Thompson's willingness to listen and abilities to learn. In two games played, it is clear that both players also enter the league with developed fundamentals. With strong ballhandling skills, Irving has shown the ability to run the offense smoothly and calmly while also attacking the rim. With solid footwork and hands, Thompson has shown the ability to stabilize the team on both sides of the court. Irving will do what he does more quietly while Thompson will make some noise in doing good things on the court. Overall, both players can create plays through athleticism and vision.

Play to Strengths: While Antawn Jamison's jump shot has been on and off to start the season, he has turned to his underutilized slashing ability--which brought him national attention back in college several years ago. Jamison has the ability to score off the dribble and draw fouls; he should focus on this while leaving the bulk of the perimeter shooting to strong spot-up shooters Omri Casspi and Anthony Parker. Furthermore, Jamison and Varejao are good scorers on cuts to the basket; in the Princeton offense, they should be looking for these kinds of baskets on every play.

On the bench, the Cavaliers absolutely must capitalize on Daniel Gibson's sharpshooting. While he does not have to be the leading scorer off the bench, his ability to hit timely shots should be considered as other players hit slumps over the course of the season. If Scott and the coaching staff spend more time working with Gibson on catching and shooting off cuts and screens (think anywhere from Rip Hamilton and Reggie Miller to Steve Kerr--or on Scott's previous teams, Keith Van Horn, Kerry Kittles, Lucious Harris, Peja Stojakovic, Morris Peterson, and Rasual Butler), Gibson could add a dimension to his shooting and score more points per game.

Improve on Weaknesses: Ramon Sessions and Alonzo Gee are turning heads with their improved play thus far. While Sessions looks more focused on defense, he is displaying a greatly improved jump shot. Combining slashing ability with consistent jump shooting will make Sessions very hard to guard on defense. The key for Sessions is to use his newly found jump shot selectively and continue to grow comfortable with it during games.

Meanwhile, Gee looks a lot more capable on offense. He has shown early on that he can distribute the ball from the paint and make pull-up jump shots. His decision-making was not quite as good in Detroit, as he appeared to look more for fadeaway shots than straight-up pull-up shots. If Gee commits to the short pull-up jump shot as a staple of his game, he could become a reliable bench scorer.

Obviously, other players need to make some improvements as well. In Omri Casspi's case, he needs to be more aggressive in looking for his shot. His skill set and instincts are reminiscent of the aforementioned Mills, who could shoot jump shots with the best shooters of his time but always looked to pass first. With proper ball movement, Casspi should get plenty of shots this season.

Balanced Scoring Works: In a different era, Byron Scott's "Showtime" Lakers had 5-6 double-digit scorers per game each year in winning NBA championships. Comparatively, the 80's Celtics had 3-4 double-digit scorers en route to winning NBA championships, a trend which carried over into the Jordan Era and Shaq/Kobe/Duncan Era. However, the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons--a team without superstars or surefire future hall-of-famers--had 5-6 double-digit scorers per game, both during the season and in the playoffs. As the Cavaliers have a roster that fits the mold of the 2004 Pistons and are running an offense with principles of Scott's "Showtime" Lakers, balanced scoring should be emphasized going forward.

NBA Regular Season Award & Stats Predictions

2011-12-25T11:48:00.002-05:00

Awards
MVP: Kevin Durant
Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving
Defensive Player of the Year: Rajon Rondo
Sixth Man of the Year: Shannon Brown
Most Improved Player: Shannon Brown
All-Star Game MVP: Derrick Rose

Stats Leaders (random order)
Points: Kevin Durant / Derrick Rose / LeBron James
Rebounds: Kevin Love / Dwight Howard / Blake Griffin
Assists: Steve Nash / Rajon Rondo / Chris Paul
Steals: Russell Westbrook / Rajon Rondo / Chris Paul
Blocks: Serge Ibaka / Josh Smith / Dwight Howard

NBA Championship Favorites

2011-12-25T05:21:00.003-05:00

The NBA Championship will likely be won by one of the following teams (in no particular order):

Eastern Conference: Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics
Western Conference: Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs

Why can they win the NBA championship?

Bulls: Witha healthy lineup, the team boasts stellar rebounding and defense, the reigningMVP (Derrick Rose), and a bonafide clutch playoff perimeter shooter (Rip Hamilton),giving the team more firepower than last season to challenge the other topcontenders.
Heat: The offense will benefit from LeBron James and Chris Boshposting up more this season, while key acquisitions Norris Cole and Shane Battiergive the team additional talent at the point guard position and a consistentwing defensive stopper; Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller remain strong benchcontributors.
Celtics: Playoff experience and team chemistry remainstrengths as an aging core seeks one more championship run while the risingstar point guard (Rajon Rondo) will demand more respect this season, possiblyearning Defensive Player of the Year honors in the process.
Thunder: Thisteam is young, energetic, talented, and cooperative with lots of heart, roomfor improvement, and a future league MVP (Durant); they have a deep rotationwith clearly defined roles, which stands out even more in a lockout-shortenedseason.
Mavericks: Led by a couple future hall of famers (Kidd,Nowitzki), they evolved from underdogs to NBA champions last year through highshooting efficiency on offense and clever defense, forcing opponents to take lower-percentageshots and limiting their free-throw shooting opportunities; they also did wellin replacing talent lost via free agency.
Grizzlies: They are a young, well-balanced team with a capablepoint guard (Conley Jr.), multiple scoring options, and a tough team defense thatled the league in forced turnovers last season; this combination of traitsenabled them to upset the #1 ranked Spurs and take the Thunder to a full seven-gameseries in last year’s playoffs.
Spurs: This is arguably the best coached team in the NBA, withthe team making the playoffs every year since drafting Tim Duncan in 1997; theteam retains most of its core players and was well-equipped last season to takeon every playoff team other than the Grizzlies.

Why will they have a tough time winning the NBAchampionship?

Bulls: They will stillbe heavily reliant on the offensive rebounding of Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer,and Taj Gibson and the long minutes of Rose; they also had injury problems lastseason, preventing Noah and Boozer from gaining valuable experience playingtogether on the court, and may have similar concerns regarding Hamilton this season.
Heat: Battier and Millerplay the same positions as James and Dwyane Wade, meaning they will likely sitout during various clutch time situations while James and Wade stay inregardless of the situation; furthermore, the team is leaning on Joel Anthonyand Eddy Curry for quality minutes at center and may need to make upgrades orplay Bosh and Haslem at center instead.
Celtics: Their BigThree may be out of gas, Jeff Green is out for the season, they traded awayGlen Davis, and they are not committing to Rajon Rondo as the centerpiece oftheir future; this leaves them vulnerable to both young,well-balanced, fundamentally sound teams with multiple scoring options (like the Grizzlies) and teams with comparable star power (like the Heat).
Thunder: RussellWestbrook needs to improve his clutch play while Kendrick Perkins has not yetfully embraced the team’s culture; the team as a whole needs to improve itsefficiency on defense, as almost all NBA champions since 1980 have ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions).
Mavericks: TysonChandler, J.J. Barea, and DeShawn Stevenson were key components to last year’schampionship team and will be missed while key acquisition Vince Carter has notseen a contending team improve upon his acquisition since his departure from Toronto (this includes the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns); in the meantime,Jason Terry’s unresolved contract situation may become a distraction.
Grizzlies: They are ateam of several semi-stars/stars but no superstars at the moment; it is debatable how muchmore room they have to grow as individuals and as a team.
Spurs: They have anaging core group and continue to have injury problems yet traded away keyreserve/substitute starting guard George Hill; last year, Memphis proved the Spurs are vulnerable toyounger fundamentally-sound teams with multiple scoring options.

NBA Team Chemistry Rankings: Preseason

2011-12-25T04:34:00.000-05:00

Christmas Day is here, meaning that the 2011-2012 NBA regular season is ready to begin! With several moves made by teams prior to and after the lockout, team chemistry has changed for most teams.

As always, team chemistry rankings are a relative concept; in evaluating this preseason's rankings, teams were believed to be in one of three tiers: 1st-11th, 12th-22nd, or 23rd-30th. For example, while the defending champion Dallas Mavericks rank 5th in the season's first list, the Miami Heat rank 8th; both teams have had some upgrades and changes to their rosters and appear to have about the same quality of team chemistry. By ranking, the Sacramento Kings are not that far behind at 12th, but their chemistry is thought to be quite a bit behind the Mavericks and Heat.

Ranking at the top is one of the teams favored to win the NBA championship this season: the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder made minimal changes to their roster and did a good job of creating better team balance in acquiring Kendrick Perkins last season. Similarly, the Memphis Grizzlies are another young rising team that functions very well. Both teams should be in the mix for the best record in the Western Conference.

Other young teams rising in the rankings are the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards. The Kings, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers should be especially exciting to watch this year with their key rookie additions.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles area teams and New York area teams (Clippers, Lakers, Knicks, and Nets) are all looking to improve their team chemistry and team capabilities this year. Of these four teams, the Lakers are the most likely to make additional roster changes to improve team balance while staying in contention for the NBA championship. At the same time, the Nets remain in the rumors in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, but the likelihood of a trade during the season has been weakened by the injury to Brook Lopez.

Here are the full preseason team chemistry rankings (previous rankings are in parentheses):

Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
Memphis Grizzlies (3)
San Antonio Spurs (5)
Phoenix Suns (8)
Dallas Mavericks (1)
Indiana Pacers (7)
Chicago Bulls (9)
Miami Heat (12)
Boston Celtics (4)
Atlanta Hawks (10)
Portland Trail Blazers (6)
Sacramento Kings (19)
Philadelphia 76ers (14)
Orlando Magic (23)
Los Angeles Clippers (18)
Los Angeles Lakers (11)
Golden State Warriors (17)
Minnesota Timberwolves (30)
Houston Rockets (13)
Cleveland Cavaliers (26)
Detroit Pistons (27)
Washington Wizards (28)
New York Knicks (24)
Milwaukee Bucks (16)
New Jersey Nets (20)
Denver Nuggets (25)
Utah Jazz (21)
New Orleans Hornets (15)
Charlotte Bobcats (22)
Toronto Raptors (29)

NBA Team Chemistry Rankings: 2010-2011 Closeout

2011-12-22T02:31:00.001-05:00

In sports, analysts and media outlets across the country regularly post power rankings. Likewise, analysts and media outlets also post preseason capsules to predict teams' regular season records. For the most part, these rankings are based on past and recent wins and losses, various statistics, and other subjective observations. Team chemistry is occasionally mentioned but oftentimes is completely excluded from these official ranking processes.

This season, I have decided to start posting periodic rankings of team chemistry across the NBA. This should give an additional perspective in regards to evaluating how well teams are developing, how well players are getting along, how well players function together within each team, and how much injuries and roster transactions affect teamwork. Isolating team chemistry as a separate evaluation tool may suggest how well teams are prepared to handle the challenges of playoff basketball. There is no standard statistical process for ranking the teams--like power rankings, my team chemistry rankings will consider past and recent wins and losses, various statistics, and other subjective observations.

To start, here is a closeout of the 2010-2011 season. In winning the NBA Championship as underdogs throughout the playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks claimed the top spot. While the Miami Heat were the runners-up, my observation was that there were several other teams in the NBA that had better balance and better on-court chemistry than the Heat. Please note that playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*).

Dallas Mavericks*
Oklahoma City Thunder*
Memphis Grizzlies*
Boston Celtics*
San Antonio Spurs*
Portland Trail Blazers*
Indiana Pacers*
Phoenix Suns
Chicago Bulls*
Atlanta Hawks*
Los Angeles Lakers*
Miami Heat*
Houston Rockets
Philadelphia 76ers*
New Orleans Hornets*
Milwaukee Bucks
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers
Sacramento Kings
New Jersey Nets
Utah Jazz
Charlotte Bobcats
Orlando Magic*
New York Knicks*
Denver Nuggets*
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Washington Wizards
Toronto Raptors
Minnesota Timberwolves

Quick Additional Takes on Recent NBA News

2011-12-14T23:40:00.000-05:00

Baron Davis Amnesty Clause Release: This was a tough call to make, as Davis brought leadership and confidence to the Cavs last year, not to mention the Clippers' #1 pick, which was used to draft Kyrie Irving. Davis will still be paid while his back injury heals, and his departure clears up space both in the salary cap and on the roster--a win-win for all involved.

It should be pretty exciting to see Irving, Ramon Sessions, and Daniel Gibson get their time--Sessions and Gibson showed very good court chemistry together last year. Likewise, the on-court chemistry of Anthony Parker and Omri Casspi should make the offense look a lot more fluent. Lastly, having Anderson Varejao back in the lineup with Tristan Thompson coming off the bench should help build up the defense's identity. Defense is as important to coach Byron Scott as it was to coach Mike Brown; many analysts and fans miss the fact that Scott's playoff teams in New Jersey and New Orleans ranked in the Top 5 in fewest points allowed per game.

Chris Paul Trade to Clippers: As the dust clears from the deal that finally cleared the NBA's jurisdiction, it is evident that youth and future potential were preferred over current abilities. As the GM and head coach, Dell Demps and Monty Williams would have loved to have Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin, and Luis Scola in their starting lineup with Goran Dragic backing up Jarrett Jack. A first-round draft pick added future potential. Should things have not been looking good after half a season to a season, the Hornets could have made additional trades of these capable players to make proper adjustments. In the end, it is hard not to feel at least a little bit sorry for Demps and Williams in this drawn out situation.

Regardless, the team needed to trade Chris Paul rather than watch him walk away via free agency. Eric Gordon is a younger option as opposed to Martin while Al-Farouq Aminu still has time to figure out his potential. Chris Kaman brings a skill set to the table that is comparable to Luis Scola, and his natural fit at center will allow Emeka Okafor to play his natural position of power forward. Add in a first-round pick and the Hornets received adequate compensation for their former franchise point guard.

Meanwhile, the Clippers gain Chris Paul, who is one of the best point guards in the game today. If he can stay healthy, he may go down as one of the best NBA point guards ever. His impact will be immediate, as he now gets to partner with Blake Griffin and Andre Jordan. Odds are that Paul and Chauncey Billups share a lot of time on the court together, causing mismatches for some opponents. If they can experience early success, there is a decent chance Paul spends several years with the team.

However, the injury bug has hit Paul a couple times during his career; he also tends to play through several nagging injuries. Paul is a great player now, but many guards with an all-out style are forced to scale back later in their careers (for example, Allen Iverson). Adding in the fact that Griffin had a major injury a couple years ago, the Clippers now have their futures invested in 2 good but risky players--similar to the days of the talented but injured Ron Harper and Danny Manning. Even staying healthy, the Clippers only have Paul under contract for the next 2 years. After 2 years, he could walk away from the Clippers, instead of the Hornets, with no compensation awaiting.

Bulls Sign Hamilton: The Chicago Bulls did something that a number of contending teams struggle to do after a disappointing ending in the playoffs: fill a need. Looking back, had the Bulls successfully landed Hamilton last season before the trade deadline, they may have been in the Finals versus the Mavericks instead of the Heat. Hamilton brings Reggie Miller-like sharpshooting and cutting to the lineup and is at the very least serviceable on defense. If his defense is subpar compared to his defense earlier in his career, his frequent movement on offense will still wear down opposing players and break the monotony of the Derrick Rose isolation sets. This also will help reduce the team's reliance on the offensive rebounding of Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, as the key to stopping the Bulls last season was less about stopping the MVP Rose and more about boxing out Boozer and Noah.

The Bulls still need to keep their post players healthy, though, and Hamilton joins the team coming off an injury-plagued season. Moreover, Hamilton became part of a counterculture forming in Detroit last season, so the team will need him to put the bad memories of a losing season in the past. If Hamilton can bring the mindset that he and his 2004 champion Detroit Pistons had, the Bulls could finally return to the Finals without Jordan, Pippen, and Phil Jackson leading the way.

Mavericks Trade Fernandez and Brewer, Sign West: The Mavericks may have brought Lamar Odom and Vince Carter to town, but Rudy Fernandez appears ready to have a breakout year. Sending Fernandez to Denver may be a move the team regrets down the road, but they recovered nicely by adding Delonte West. As for Brewer, he was used sparingly, so it makes sense to clear the logjam of swingmen that the Mavs have and also reduce payroll. The included second round pick may have been more filler than anything, as the team has not drafted well in recent years.

Meanwhile, the additions of Odom and West will help fill the void of super mismatch J.J. Barea, who helped power the team towards the NBA championship. Odom's and West's versatility on both sides of the court will blend well with the versatility of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, with their ballhandling skills taking some pressure off Jason Kidd. Similarly, their defensive abilities will help cover for the loss of DeShawn Stevenson, who could guard multiple positions. As it stands, the Mavericks made some good moves to help them in their pursuit of a second NBA championship.

NBA Early Pre-Season Moves Analysis

2011-12-11T20:17:00.001-05:00

The NBA has had a new active collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for only a few days now, but there have been a lot of roster transactions with more rumors, negotiations, and moves ahead. Here is a look at some of the early moves.

Irving, Thompson, and Casspi to the Cavaliers. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson and acquired Omri Casspi as potential franchise cornerstones. In the process, the team traded away popular rising post player J.J. Hickson. The Cavs have some decisions to make regarding the amnesty clause with Baron Davis, re-signing Anthony Parker, and trading Ramon Sessions. While Irving has drawn many comparisons to Chris Paul, the team would be better served to keep Davis or Sessions in front of Irving for at least his rookie year. While Paul had two full years of highly competitive NCAA basketball at Wake Forest, Irving had one injury-shortened season of 11 games at Duke. Past point guard apprenticeships for the Cavs include Mark Price (behind John Bagley), Terrell Brandon (behind Price), and Andre Miller (behind Brevin Knight). In Knight's case, he went from starting under coach Mike Fratello to All-Rookie First Team status to coach Randy Wittman's doghouse to journeyman over the course of a few years--no one wants to see that happen with Irving, so they need to groom him the right way. While Thompson will need to improve his free-throw shooting and jump shooting, his defense and offensive rebounding should be exciting to watch. Likewise, Casspi is a great fit in coach Byron Scott's Princeton offense, offering sharpshooting and unselfish team play. The Cavs still need to figure out the center position, with Anderson Varejao, Ryan Hollins, and Semih Erden currently being the only 3 options. It will be interesting to see what the team does with Davis and Sessions or if teams such as former coach Mike Brown's Lakers come calling about Varejao or Daniel Gibson.

Battier and Curry to the Heat. The majority of analysts and fans have said that the Miami Heat need help at center and point guard. In general, additional bench help and youth also are high priorities. The Heat have responded by trading for draft pick point guard Norris Cole on NBA Draft night, who should be a solid addition. The team has also re-signed point guard Mario Chalmers and sharpshooting swingman James Jones. For veterans, the team has added Shane Battier and Eddy Curry. Battier is a solid swingman and rotation player; his defense and perimeter shooting are his primary assets. However, on a Heat team that plays Dwyane Wade and LeBron James 37-43 minutes a game at shooting guard and small forward, it will be hard for Heat fans to watch Wade and James play inconsistent defense in key games down the stretch with Battier on the bench left to watch. James needs to play some power forward or Wade some point guard for the Battier signing to fully work. Meanwhile, Curry is a huge question mark. His fight with health and fitness problems the past few years may render him a non-factor, much like Jamaal Magloire and Erick Dampier last season. However, more help may be on the way if Chauncey Billups opts to sign with the Heat. Billups' floor leadership and clutch shooting would be a huge gain for the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Chandler and Bibby to the Knicks. After picking up Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrellson in the NBA Draft, the team waived Chauncey Billups to clear cap room, then traded Ronny Turiaf to bring in Tyson Chandler and signed Mike Bibby. The move to add Chandler to the New York Knicks rotation is overall solid. Chandler is a good complement to Amar'e Stoudemire because he will provide the power and defense that Stoudemire lacks. At the same time, Stoudemire did not mesh well with Shaquille O'Neal on coach Mike D'Antoni's Phoenix Suns roster, so the move might not go as smoothly as expected by analysts. Still, Chandler in his prime will likely complement Stoudemire better than Shaq did past his prime. Meanwhile, Bibby's play has declined quite a bit over the past couple of years, so moving Billups in favor of Bibby may be a net loss at point guard. Only the season will tell how much better--or, gasp, worse--these moves make the Knicks.

Odom and Carter to the Mavericks. The team is looking to move on without Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, and Peja Stojakovic and possibly J.J. Barea as well. In their places, the team has added Rudy Fernandez, Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, Brandan Wright, Andy Rautins, and draft pick swingman Jordan Hamilton. Of the outgoing players, Chandler is clearly the biggest loss. Now, had the team been adding Vince Carter by himself to be a cornerstone, the signing may have been viewed skeptically. However, the influx of swingmen and combo forwards gives the team lots of versatility, takes a large amount of pressure off the aging Carter to impress, and shows that the Mavericks want to keep winning games and championships--now and in the future. Furthermore, Odom's ability to play anywhere from point guard to power forward will help with opponents' mismatches, allowing the Mavs to create their own mismatches on the court. It should be a good season for Dallas; the postseason, as always, is to be determined. Beyond that, the team needs to extend its commitment to Jason Terry or else find a new franchise point guard to cover for his and Jason Kidd's eventual departures.

West and Hill to the Pacers. The Indiana Pacers were a rising franchise last year that changed head coaches midseason. Needing to add some veteran experience to bolster the roster, the team has added power forward David West and point guard George Hill; more moves are anticipated. The Pacers are picking a very good time to make moves towards championship contention and stability, as the East's best teams are mostly going the flashy route to build up their teams. On teams with a "Big Three" group of players, an injury, conduct concerns, or poor chemistry can break a team fast. However, the Pacers appear to be building up a deep, well-rounded team. If West, Hill, Darren Collison, Tyler Hansbrough, and potential pickups (like O.J. Mayo) can step up with Danny Granger, Indiana may be a force to be reckoned with in the next few years.

Butler to the Bulls. The Chicago Bulls have been relatively quiet thus far, adding steady rookie swingman Jimmy Butler in the NBA Draft. Butler's perimeter defense and spot-up shooting should fit in well and help and team compete with top contenders like the Heat and Celtics. The Bulls should see some additional moves before the season kicks off, with veterans such as Rip Hamilton adding much needed support to Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Carlos Boozer. There is a chance Dwight Howard could make it to the Bulls, but if the team refused to move Joakim Noah to bring in Carmelo Anthony a few months ago, it is hard to believe a strong enough trade package could be put into place to get Howard from Orlando.

Davis and draft picks to the Magic. Before the lockout, the Orlando Magic made nice NBA Draft pickups in Deandre Liggins and Justin Harper. After the lockout, the Magic made a nice trade in sending decent backup big man Brandon Bass to Boston for rising post player Glen Davis. The team was also able to release quirky former All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas via the amnesty clause. Unfortunately, the Magic also have a bit of a crisis going on, with Dwight Howard asking to be traded as soon as possible. It is not clear what a trade of Howard will bring back to Orlando, but the team needs at least one cornerstone in return or else risk falling back into rebuilding mode in the next 2-3 years. GM Otis Smith may fall victim here or could prove his true value to the franchise. Stay tuned.

Hickson, Salmons, Biyombo, Fredette, et. al. to the Kings. The Sacramento Kings found themselves in a win-win situation in acquiring J.J. Hickson from the Cavaliers. Both Hickson and Casspi should get good experience and exposure playing for new teams. Hickson may or may not start to start, but he offers good protection behind foul-prone youngster DeMarcus Cousins and inconsistent youngster Jason Thompson. While Salmons brings some veteran leadership and stable play at small forward, Biyombo and Fredette are both considered projects at the NBA level. Early on, the ceilings seem high for both players, so it will be interesting to see them playing alongside potential rising stars in Hickson, Cousins, Thompson, and point guard Tyreke Evans. Hopefully for the Kings, some of these young players reach their full potential. Otherwise, rebuilding efforts may end up taking place in a city other than Sacramento.

There are obviously more moves that have already been made and other signings/trades in the works--the outlandish multiyear offer by the Warriors to rising post player DeAndre Jordan is one. More news will be on the way in the days leading up to Opening Day Christmas Day. Again, stay tuned...

Consequences of the NBA Lockout

2011-11-21T00:09:00.001-05:00

As of midnight, the NBA lockout reached Day 144. The owners and players continue to differ on a number of issues, from Basketball Related Income (BRI) to salary cap and free agency rules. Commissioner David Stern has already announced the cancellation of NBA games through December 15th, with fears that cancellations could carry into 2012--or worse, the whole season will be lost.

Obviously, owners and players stand to lose in the short term with an absence of basketball games. No games means no money coming in, with players--as employees of the owners--no longer receiving paychecks. As a partnership--employers and employees--the differences regarding league rules, team operations, and financial obligations echo problems felt across the U.S. and international economies. Owners/employers want to run profitable businesses and make as much money as they can, while players/employees want to earn a fair share working in safe conditions and make as much money as they can. Yet, the economic and legal dispute between the NBA owners and NBA players carries much more weight, as a number of cities--and their people--suffer due to the lockout.

With the understanding that the owners and players (at least most of them) have a reserve of cash to fall back on, temporary hiatus is bearable for them. However, hundreds of underappreciated employees who assist with team operations, game operations, and the arena experience--many of whom NBA work is their primary source of income--are left facing not only the problems of the current extended recession but also the brunt of the lockout. In essence, the NBA lockout has created indefinite forced unemployment, minus any unemployment or retraining benefits. While owners and players argue over millions of dollars, other employees are missing out on the few dollars that come their way.

Who is right? Who is wrong? Who is to blame for the lockout? Yes, both sides--ownership and players--have made valid points. Again, their disagreements align with disagreements across multiple business industries. At the same time, both sides are to blame.

Owners have been complaining of league rules which enable them to competitively spend--or competitively overspend--in order to be the best in the league. Rules or no rules, owners and their hired personnel management (vice presidents of operations/general managers) are the ones who have offered a number of expensive and excessively unfavorable contracts to non-superstar and other underqualified players. To a large degree, the owners are victims of their own questionable decision-making. Expecting players to pay for ownership/management mistakes is troublesome. Moreover, BRI has been on the negotiating table for years--including during the 1998 NBA lockout; these issues could have been addressed in further detail the last time the Collective Bargaining Agreement expired in 2005. In the end, the current situation in the NBA is a lockout by the owners, not a strike by the players. The players are not playing because the Collective Bargaining Agreement expired and they got locked out of the facilities by the owners.

Meanwhile, the players seem unsatisfied with the amount of power they have gained over the past 2 decades. Player salaries have stretched out quite a bit. For example, John "Hot Rod" Williams' big payday via the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers in 1990 had him become the highest paid player in the league at $5 million dollars for the 1990-1991 season. Last season, the midlevel exception for average to above average free agents was $5.8 million dollars. Even if contract maximums (dollars, # of years) are lowered, the truth remains that the NBA has the most player-friendly contracts in American professional sports. Why? Because the contracts are guaranteed. A players can be cut in the middle of his contract, but he will still be paid for his base salary--unless a buyout clause was included in the original contract. Making the situation look worse for the players is that several players seem out of the loop regarding negotiations, or at best, are misinformed. For example, rising superstar Derrick Rose was quoted as saying that, "Back in the day, they were giving guys coming out of college multimillion dollar contracts, so why stop it now?" Those familiar with NBA rookie contracts know that rookie contracts are fairly limited in the NBA; bigger rookie contracts, including signing bonuses, are associated with the NFL and Major League Baseball.

Regardless of blame, it appears that the owners and the players have neglected the full consequences of the current NBA lockout and labor dispute. They may lose lots of money for not having basketball games, but the non-owners and non-players around them risk losing so much more. Much is said in business and in life about being able to tell the difference between what can be controlled and what is beyond control. In the case of the NBA lockout, people are suffering because circumstances that they cannot control are quite controllable by the owners and players. Hopefully, the owners and players can put aside their differences to truly be partners and truly do what is best for all involved. An agreement--even a short term one--needs to happen soon.

Coaching: Sticking with the Game Plan?

2011-10-21T00:27:00.000-04:00

Tonight's Game 2 of the 2011 World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals was a close and exciting game. After 6 1/2 scoreless innings, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 7th inning. Yet, the Rangers overcame the 1-0 deficit in the 9th inning to win 2-1. All 3 runs were scored after pitching changes, in which the nature of the substitutions was particularly interesting.

In the 7th inning, Rangers manager Ron Washington had an interesting decision to make. The Cardinals were preparing to use Allen Craig to pinch hit for starting pitcher Jaime Garcia. As Rangers starter Colby Lewis had thrown close to 100 pitches, coach Washington was looking to turn to his bullpen. His top choice to face Craig was pitcher Alexi Ogando, who held right-handed hitters to an impressively low .202 batting average during the regular season. While Ogando served mainly as a starting pitcher during the regular season, he has become one of coach Washington's top relievers in the playoffs. Yet, just last night, Ogando gave up the winning RBI to Craig. Sticking with the game plan, coach Washington went ahead and gave the ball to Ogando. As Craig did last night, he again delivered a go-ahead base hit against Ogando and the Rangers defense.

The Cardinals maintained the 1-0 lead, allowing Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to send in closer Jason Motte to finish the game. Motte has been a fairly reliable closer, saving 5 playoff games in 5 attempts. At the same time, Motte has not been the only pitcher to serve as the team's closer, with other options in the Cardinals bullpen. To Motte's and coach La Russa's dismay, the Rangers started the 9th inning with 2 hits, bringing power hitter Josh Hamilton to the plate with two runners in scoring position. Now, coach La Russa had an interesting decision to make. Should he let Motte face Hamilton, intentionally walk Hamilton and let Motte continue, or remove Motte from the game in favor of key veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes? Ironically enough, Rhodes started the season with the Rangers before being released and signed by the Cardinals. With St. Louis, Rhodes has also been reliable, but Motte is the closer. Quite arguably veering from the game plan, coach La Russa replaced Motte with Rhodes. On Rhodes' first pitch, Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the tying run and move the go-ahead run to third base. The Rangers proceeded to score the go-ahead run and eventually won the game 2-1.

In all playoff and championship game situations, teams face interesting circumstances and dilemmas. At times, managers and coaches must decide when to stick with the game plan and when to make appropriate adjustments. Tonight, fans and analysts alike may have questioned both managers' decisions to make the substitutions they made. In coach Washington's case, he stuck with the game plan and gave Ogando another chance to get Craig out. This did not work out in the 7th inning. Yet, overall, the Rangers still won the game. On the other hand, coach La Russa aborted the game plan by removing Motte from the game. Rhodes, Lance Lynn, and the Cardinals defense could not hold the lead, allowing the Rangers to come from behind for the win.

Had coach Washington made a different pitching decision in the 7th inning, the outcome may have been different. Likewise, had coach La Russa made a different pitching decision in the 9th inning, the outcome may have been different. Hindsight may be 20/20, but everything here is speculation. All that can be said is that, when critically challenged tonight, coach Washington stuck to the Rangers' game plan while coach La Russa altered the Cardinals' game plan. While the Rangers struggled to execute their plan but finished strongly, the Cardinals lost their edge at the end of the game when changing their plan. Again, coaches and teams face interesting circumstances and dilemmas in the playoffs; sometimes struggles can be overcome, while other times prompt changes need to be made. Perhaps tonight's events and outcomes are testimony to confidently stick with what has been working rather than prematurely making a change.

Remembering September 11th

2011-09-11T09:46:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago, the United States and numerous nations in the world experienced a great tragedy and losses from the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Now, ten years later, we continue to hold strong while also remembering the thousands of lives lost.

The world of sports offers support both in the sadness of lost lives as well as in the joy of the continuation of life and the additions of new life to this world. For years, sports and athletes have allowed masses of people comfort in taking time away from the stresses of daily life. Sports offer entertainment, health, and learning experiences. Sports are as much an escape from life as they are an embrace of life.

The values embraced by athletes and sports--teamwork, pride, humility, passion, hope, leadership, family, freedom, respect, joy--are values characterized across America and throughout the world. For all of the competition in sports, sports do offer peace to this world. It is amazing how many disagreements and conflicts are handled by the crafts of athletes to settle. Instead of billions of people arming themselves with weapons in an unsafe and militant world, athletes and teams take their marks at startling lines and at midcourt and midfield.

Today, while the NBA rests in offseason and lockout conditions, people unite in New York City and other places across the world to both grieve lost lives and celebrate the living. Likewise, NFL football teams, MLB baseball teams, tennis players, and others also do the same. The heroes are everywhere--on the battlefields, in the hospitals, on the streets, in houses, on the playing field. As much as we remember and must grieve, we must carry on and celebrate the life, beauty, and freedom of today and the future. To the athletes, teams, and fans entering the stadiums and arenas today: PLAY BALL!!!

Will the Cavaliers retire the jersey numbers of Z or Free? Yes for Z, Unknown for Free

2011-08-24T22:56:00.003-04:00

Currently, the Cleveland Cavaliers have six former players' jersey numbers in the rafters. They are: #7 (Bingo Smith), #22 (Larry Nance), #25 (Mark Price), #34 (Austin Carr), #42 (Nate Thurmond), and #43 (Brad Daugherty). Retiring radio broadcaster Joe Tait's 39 seasons with the team was also honored with the raising of a banner at the end of last season. There is a chance that #23 can be retired to the rafters someday, but that will require either the contrition of one star player or the emergence of another star player who goes on to wear that jersey for the Cavs.

As it stands, the two most likely former Cavaliers to have their jerseys retired in the near future are #11 Zydrunas Ilgauskas and #21 World B. Free. In drafting up the idea for this article over the past month and a half, it has since been learned that the team INTENDS to retire Ilgauskas' #11 sometime in the future. The secret was uncovered when it was revealed that #1 draft pick Kyrie Irving's request for #11 was respectfully denied. Meanwhile, Free was honored at halftime of a Cavaliers game in November 2005 as a team legend, coming just short of jersey retirement.

Originally drafted to play in Cleveland, Zydrunas Ilgauskas made several marks in the Cavaliers' team record book. He ended his tenure with the Cavaliers as the team's all-time leader in games played (771) and offensive rebounds (2,065). Ilgauskas is also 7th all-time in points (8,275--one place and over 1,000 points ahead of Nance) and 3rd in both total rebounds (4,387) and blocks (781). Z's 14.5 points per game rank 17th in team history while his 1.89 blocks per game ties for 2nd.

Along with Campy Russell, Ilgauskas is one of only two Cavs to play for Cavaliers' playoff teams in different eras (Price, Daugherty, Nance, Hot Rod Williams, Terrell Brandon, and Bobby Phills played in the overlapping Wilkens-Fratello era while Phil Hubbard played in the overlapping Karl-Wilkens era). In doing so, his career went through quite a bit of transition. Z started out as a somewhat unknown prospect that made his presence felt as a rookie prospect. His unique skill set, ability to compete with top centers in the league, and chemistry with players such as Shawn Kemp, Vitaly Potapenko, and Brevin Knight immediately made him a team cornerstone.

Unfortunately, injuries led Ilgauskas to evolve from agile rising star to crafty veteran--which is actually comparable to the career trajectory of his idol, legendary Lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis. Sandwiched in-between winning seasons were several losing ones. Yet, in the team's return to championship contention, Z was one of the few Cavaliers who had the respect of the decidedly departed #23--who memorably stood up for Z when Head Coach Mike Brown failed to play Z in a game in November 2009 that would have allowed him to become the all-time franchise leader in games played. Ilgauskas and #23 memorably met at half court when the team won the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals, realizing the impact the two of them had made on the franchise's history and the joy in finally bringing the team to the NBA Finals. During this time, Ilgauskas helped lead the team despite a heavy heart as he and his wife grieved the miscarriage of twins a few months earlier. Fortunately, Ilgauskas and his wife eventually adopted two Lithuanian boys.

With his career coming to a close, perhaps he can finally get an opportunity to play in the Olympics with Lithuania. Perhaps he can also retire a Cavalier, either through a one-year contract or a one-day contract.

As Ilgauskas partook in a Cavalier revival, so did World B. Free. Free had built up his stardom while playing for the championship contending Philadelphia 76ers, who had lost in the 1977 NBA Finals. Upon being acquired from the Golden State Warriors (where Free was featured on a cover of Sports Illustrated), he immediately brought a flash and presence that the Cavs had been lacking since the year of the Miracle at Richfield, when the team found its confidence with the acquisition of Nate Thurmond. A threat for 40 points every night, Free now ranks as the 10th leading scorer in franchise history in only 3 seasons played (6,329)! His mark of 23.0 points per game ranks 2nd all-time.

In hyping up the pending re-signing of the newly acquired Free, the team once flew Free to the arena in a helicopter and gave him the red carpet treatment. This attracted media attention that was rare to Cleveland sports at the time. As a star with the team for two more seasons, Free continued to help fill the seats as the team and the fans recovered from the eccentric ownership of former team owner Ted Stepien. Stepien's tenure as majority owner included, among other things, changing the team's fight song to a polka and allowing management to trade away a collection of first-round draft picks for marginal players--leading the league to implement the "Stepien Rule" to prevent such excessive trades. Ironically, the "Cavs for Mavs" movement in the '80s included sending the Dallas Mavericks multiple draft picks--until the Mavs returned the favor with the trade of Mark Price to the Cavs in 1986.

World B. Free's bold confidence and willingness to improve his defensive play helped the team overcome one of the worst starts in team history, a ridiculous 2-19 start in 1984-1985. The team finished strongly, earning its first playoff bid in 7 years. The Cavaliers played a very close series with the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1985 playoffs. The series was so close that the two teams actually scored the same amount of points despite a 3-1 Celtics edge. Free proved his "All-World" moniker by averaging 26.3 points per game, shooting 92% from the free-throw line, and averaging 7.8 assists per game, which was 2nd behind point guard John Bagley.

To this day, World B. Free carries the jersey number retiring endorsement of Joe Tait--who again credits Free for helping save the franchise. Free's return to Cleveland for his honoring as a legend in November 2005 brought some additional good luck to the Cavs as they would go on to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 8 years.

Despite Z's and Free's timeless memories, there remain counterarguments to the retirement of both players' jersey numbers.

In the case against Ilgauskas, it may be argued that he was never the best player on the team at any point of his career in Cleveland. Shawn Kemp, Andre Miller, Ricky Davis, and the artist formerly known as #23 allegedly hold the distinction of the team's best player in the seasons when Z was here. For example, Ilgauskas's All-Star season in 2002-2003 was tarnished not just by the team's tie for league-worst record, but also by the shameful triple-double attempt of Davis in which Davis shot at the wrong basket to try to obtain his 10th rebound. Furthermore, some may say that Z was not even the best player to wear #11. Point guard Walt "Clyde" Frazier wore #11 in his 2 seasons--both past his prime--with the Cavaliers. Meanwhile, Terrell Brandon wore #11 while serving as the backup to Mark Price. Upon switching to jersey #1, Brandon became an All-Star and was eventually named the NBA's best point guard by Sports Illustrated through a statistical ranking system. Off the top of the head, it seems that only Brandon, #23, and Shaquille O'Neal have graced the cover of Sports Illustrated while playing for the Cavaliers (again, World B. Free's cover appearance occurred while playing for the Warriors).

On the other hand, Free's time with the Cavaliers was much shorter than Z's time with the team. Free spent only 3 years with the Cavs, with 5 other players wearing #21 after him (including Gerald Wilkins and J.J. Hickson); Campy Russell also wore #21 for part of his career before Free's arrival. Formerly named Lloyd, the confident--more often considered cocky and arrogant--Free changed his name to World in self-tribute to his offensive abilities. Free's flamboyant style and lethargic defense caused him to clash with then rookie Head Coach George Karl. When Wayne Embry and Lenny Wilkens took over as General Manager and Head Coach, they did not see Free retiring with the Cavs. Instead, they gave him the option to take a massive pay cut and tutor the newly drafted Ron Harper or go elsewhere. When Free did not agree to those terms, Embry pulled any remaining offers off the table.

Neither Ilgauskas nor Free had a perfectly scripted career, with frequent arguments made by analysts and fans for and against their jersey number retirements. Ilgauskas's long tenure seems to have sealed the deal for his number's retiring, but Free's impact to help save a fading franchise gave the Cavs the chance to have coaches like Wilkens, Fratello, and Brown to lead the team to multiple playoff appearances. For all we know, no World B. Free in Cleveland could have meant no Zydrunas Ilgauskas in Cleveland. If the verdict is 'yes' on Z, perhaps it should also be 'yes' on Free.

Lesson Learned from ESPN Baseball Tonight's Pitchers' Roundtable Last Night

2011-07-14T12:24:00.006-04:00

With Major League Baseball finishing up its All-Star break yesterday, ESPN's Baseball Tonight aired a special "Pitchers' Roundtable" on TV last night. Having watched some of this program, I was thoroughly impressed by the knowledge and wisdom shared by the five former pitchers. The most important lesson I took away from the program applies not just to baseball players and coaches, but to all players and coaches as well as all students and teachers. The lesson, namely, is: "Different people have different learning styles."

There is a lot in society and pop culture about "different strokes for different folks". Yet, out on the court, in the classroom, and out in the workplace, there tends to be a focus on doing things one way. As this cliche goes, "there is one right way". Personally, I dislike such a philosophy, although I understand the practicality of it. If there is one "right" way of doing things, then evaluation of performance and progress is much easier to conduct. Anything that deviates from this one "right" way is, by definition, wrong. In the NBA, Phil Jackson and his staff made a living off former assistant coach Tex Winter's triangle offense.

However, the philosophy that "there is only one right way" ignores differing personality types, upbringings, and cultures and discounts the potential of human thought and innovation. Sure, offensive systems such as the triangle offense and the Princeton offense (run by current Cavaliers coach Byron Scott) are proven winners. Yet, the same offense for Phil Jackson that has produced 11 NBA Championships led Kurt Rambis and the Minnesota Timberwolves to a horrid 32-132 record in two seasons, with Rambis being officially fired this week. How could a system so successful for one coach fail another coach?

Well, the Pitchers' Roundtable last night brought up some very interesting points about different baseball pitchers' approaches to practice, game preparation, and in-game focus. Future Hall of Fame candidate Curt Schilling was known for having a dominant fastball. Oftentimes in baseball, it is believed by fans and players that a good fastball is not something really taught but rather self-developed and arguably something with which pitchers are born. Moreover, pitchers with good fastballs are thought to not need to study for games; rather, they just need to reach back and throw as hard as they can.

Yet, Schilling dispelled these notions. Schilling talked about how he learned to throw a different kind of fastball when he was in the Minor Leagues. This meant replacing a "two-seam" grip of the baseball with a "four-seam" grip. To get used to this, Schilling said he needed lots of practice. As he got older, he said he actually focused more on practicing his fastball as opposed to practicing offspeed pitches, which is what is typically associated with older pitchers who oftentimes have lost speed on their fastballs.

Furthermore, Schilling was a student of baseball statistics. He emphasized that "data doesn't lie". In fact, during his career he had a computer program developed for him to analyze data. Schilling talked about how he had six duffel bags full of notebooks on individual batter tendencies from his years pitching in the big leagues. Schilling admitted that fellow panelist Jamie Moyer was much better at reading hitters during games and making in-game adjustments than Schilling was. This was mainly because Schilling focused on pitching mechanics rather than paying attention to the hitters' gestures at the plate. To compensate, Schilling took very detailed notes and constantly watched footage of batters, including during team flights during the season. Furthermore, Schilling learned the tendencies of all MLB umpires, keeping track of the umpires' schedule so that he knew which umpire would be behind home plate when he pitched. This meant he knew umpires' interpretations of the strike zone (clearly, there is no "one right way" to call a baseball strike zone). He said he also found a website out in Las Vegas that reported total balls and strikes pitch counts of all umpires and how they called games and innings at different hours of the day.

The discussions that Schilling and the other panelists had should resonate with current Cavaliers coach Byron Scott. Coach Scott has a relatively young team with a few veterans. He has implemented the Princeton offense in Cleveland and is looking to regain the defensive edge that the Cavs had under Coach Mike Brown. What Scott needs to keep in mind is that each player has different learning habits and learning tendencies. As such, he needs to be sure to reach out to each of these players' styles. As it stands, the most successful Cavs' coaches--Bill Fitch, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Fratello, and Mike Brown--all found ways to reach out to different players. In the case of Fratello, he ran a slower paced offense with a team comprised of mainly veteran players and then sped the offense up for a team comprised of more younger personnel.

Meanwhile, former Cavs Coach George Karl also had an instance where he helped turn the team around when he adjusted his coaching style to his personnel. At one point, the team fell as low as 2-19. Coach Karl had remained committed to defense and defense alone despite the hesitancy of the team's players, including top offensive star World B. Free. After Karl and Free had a private meeting to help iron things out, the team made a nice recovery in order to qualify for the 1985 NBA Playoffs. After making it to the playoffs, the team--which had earlier questioned everything about Coach Karl--carried him off the court in joy and respect. In the end, the Cavs team that could not seem to get anything right ended up putting up a nice challenge in the first round to the eventual NBA runners-up, the Boston Celtics. Aside from Karl and the four aforementioned coaches, no Cavaliers coach has led the team to the playoffs. This message should resonate with Scott and any future Cavs coaches.

Following the departure of J.J. Hickson, Scott and the coaching staff need to pay attention to player developmental tendencies. In Hickson's case, he seemed to learn best from shadowing his peers, such as LeBron James. It will be interesting to see how some of the other Cavs develop. Will shadowing be best for them? Do they need physical on-court practice? Or how about video sessions and handwritten notes? Can they study the opposition prior to games, or do some of the players need to make analyses during the game? Can some players discuss what they see with each other in order to combine knowledge and wisdom?

With a young team looking to further develop an identity--which they seemed to lack until acquiring Baron Davis at the trading deadline--it is critical that Scott and staff tap into the learning capabilities of each player. While players such as Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson have had temporary labels placed on them--Irving as Chris Paul and Thompson as Ben Wallace or Dennis Rodman--the way they learn and develop, both through being coached and self-study, will determine the course of their careers. Labels are a quick picture and outside perspective of things, not the whole story. As baseball star Curt Schilling exemplified, everyone from star players to bench players needs to learn about his/her craft. In the Cavaliers' case, the franchise's attainment of its first NBA Championship depends on this.

Remembering the Last NBA Lockout

2011-06-29T17:30:00.004-04:00

Odds are that there will be another NBA lockout this offseason. Previously, there have been three NBA lockouts. In 1995, a lockout lasted three months but did not cut into the regular season. In 1996, the lockout was very, very short - only a couple of hours. However, the third NBA lockout in 1998 was the first work stoppage in NBA history. It ended up cutting out nearly half the 1998-1999 season; the result was a 50-game regular season schedule played in 90 days. There were sequences where teams played 3 days in a row. That is otherwise unheard of in the NBA.

A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday, June 30th) to further discuss NBA labor negotiations. Here's hoping to no lockout in 2011 or, at the very least, no lost regular season games in 2011-2012. Until then, here are some interesting story lines that were going on around the time when the NBA owners locked out NBA players in 1998. **Please be warned that some of the content is more mature in theme.**

> Choking Altercation & Suspension: During the 1997-1998 season, Latrell Sprewell served a 68-game season-ending suspension for his infamous choking altercation with then Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo. Sprewell had been an up-and-coming star at that point, while Carlesimo had much success coaching Seton Hall University's men's basketball team and moderate success coaching the Portland Trail Blazers. During a heated practice, Sprewell and Carlesimo got into a heated argument, leading to the incident. After the lockout ended, the Warriors traded Sprewell to the New York Knicks in a multiplayer trade that also included Knicks fan favorite John Starks. The Knicks would advance to the 1999 NBA Finals and fall at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs.

> Former NBA Jam Tag Team Scuffle: During a heated first round playoff series, former Charlotte Hornets star teammates Alonzo Mourning (Miami Heat) and Larry Johnson (Knicks) got into a skirmish, throwing more slaps than punches. As the two tried to grapple, Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy got into the mix, grasping onto Mourning's leg in hopes of stopping the fight.

> Second Three-Peat by the Bulls & End of an Era: In their final appearances with the team, icon Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson led the Chicago Bulls to their third consecutive NBA Championship and sixth NBA Championship in eight years. To close out the 1998 NBA Finals, Jordan again outmaneuvered rival defender Bryon Russell of the Utah Jazz and made a jump shot at the free throw line. With economics and the lockout affecting the team, Jordan went into his second retirement (later came back with the Washington Wizards in 2001), GM Jerry Krause pushed out Phil Jackson by not renewing his contract (Krause omitted longtime friend Jackson from his daughter's 1997 wedding but invited other Bulls' personnel)(Jackson went on to win his first of five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers starting in 1999-2000), Scottie Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets to try and help Charles Barkley win a championship (traded to Blazers in 1999-2000 and lost to Jackson's Lakers in 2000 NBA Playoffs; returned to the Bulls briefly before retiring in 2004), and Dennis Rodman was released (later to join the Lakers and be released by them in 1999). Also, Steve Kerr was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 (winning two more championships), while Ron Harper was released before the 1999-2000 season (winning two more championships with Jackson and the Lakers).

> Carrying on/Passing on the Torch: In 1996, Shaquille O'Neal left the Orlando Magic to join the Los Angeles Lakers, while draft prospect Kobe Bryant refused to play for anyone in the NBA other than the Lakers. In 1997, the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery, allowing coach Gregg Popovich to pair #1 pick Tim Duncan with former #1 pick David Robinson. In 1999, Phil Jackson joined the Lakers. The duo of Shaq and Kobe (with coach Jackson) and the duo of Duncan and Robinson (with coach Popovich ) would follow the Bulls' six championships/Houston Rockets' (Hakeem Olajuwon/coach Rudy Tomjanovich) two championships in the previous 8 years by winning the next 5 NBA championships. Robinson retired in 2003, while O'Neal was traded by the Lakers in 2004 after a loss in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons. Despite these moves and Jackson's temporary hiatus as coach of the Lakers (replaced by Tomjanovich), the Spurs and Lakers would win four championships in six years from 2004-2005 to 2009-2010. While O'Neal teamed with Dwyane Wade and coach Pat Riley to win a championship for the Miami Heat in 2006, Kobe and coach Jackson fell in the 2008 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics. Adding Tomjanovich to the four players and two coaches, at least one of these players/coaches was involved in the NBA Finals for two decades (1991-2010).

> Where's Daddy?: Former Miami Heat intern Grant Wahl emerged as a successful writer for the magazine Sports Illustrated, gaining mass attention with his 1998 cover story entitled "Where's Daddy?". A number of NBA players were revealed to have multiple children out of wedlock with multiple mothers. Included in this was All-Star Shawn Kemp, who was rumored to have been battling alcoholism during the 1996 NBA Finals. Kemp would emerge from the lockout at least 40-50 pounds overweight.

Meanwhile, Corrie Bird appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, seeking to regain contact with estranged father Larry Bird. Bird and high school girlfriend Janet Condra had a brief marriage in 1976-1977, in which Corrie was conceived and born. Corrie's story later was covered by the ABC news program 20/20 and Sports Illustrated. Fortunately, the father-daughter relationship has improved over the past few years.

In 2000-2001, other news emerged about a scandal involving strippers and a handful of players, including former NBPA president and All-Star Patrick Ewing. The scandal ruined Ewing's marriage.

> Crossing the Lockout Lines: Coach Larry Bird and the Indiana Pacers would headline the list of lockout violations, engaging in multiple practice sessions during the 1998 lockout. The move would benefit the team, as they would win the 2000 NBA Eastern Conference championship before falling at the hands of the Lakers in the 2000 NBA Finals. Bird stepped down as coach after the season.

Game 6 Preview: 2011 NBA Finals

2011-06-12T18:13:00.004-04:00

The Dallas Mavericks are 1 win away from becoming the 2011 NBA Champions. However, the Miami Heat are 2 wins away, with Games 6 & 7 scheduled for play in South Beach. Look for some possible coaching strategies and tactics below.

Miami Heat: Erik Spoelstra

> LeBron James could run more point guard today. This could mean Mike Bibby comes off the bench today, with Mike Miller starting.

> If not, Mario Chalmers could start in place of Mike Bibby as well. Chalmers has played well overall in this series.

> James Jones should get time today. He can hit shots in bunches and plays well with James. He might also draw the defensive assignments of J.J. Barea, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd.

> Udonis Haslem could also start today. Joel Anthony has done his job in logging minutes and covering players on defense, but otherwise he has not brought much to the table in this series. With him out, Zydrunas Ilgauskas could get time as the backup center, as he also plays well with James.

> Mario Chalmers could end up covering Jason Terry at the end of the game. This could shift LeBron James onto Kidd with Wade covering either Barea, Marion, or Stevenson depending on the Mavericks' end of game lineup. James has the ability to force a lot of turnovers on Kidd or at least neutralize Kidd's veteran 3-point shooting.

Dallas Mavericks: Rick Carlisle

> Keep the switch with J.J. Barea in the starting lineup and DeShawn Stevenson coming off the bench. If the Heat do run with Bibby off the bench, then they may need to put Stevenson or Stojakovic in to handle Miller.

> Continue to run plays with Jason Terry at the top of the 3-point arc. His presence at the top of the arc helps him to create space and neutralize the impact of double-teaming by James and the Heat.

> Keep Brian Cardinal in the rotation, even if Brendan Haywood is back in the rotation. Haywood is dealing with a nagging injury, while Cardinal brings versatility as a hardworking defender, good pick setter, and streaky jump shooter. If Haywood needs to stay inactive, then Ian Mahinmi should get some minutes as well, as he played well enough in Game 5 to warrant another look.

> Get Peja Stojakovic back in play. Although he has not yet earned his stripes in the playoffs, he also has not sat out and observed from the bench as he has in this series. He might bring a hot shooting touch into the lineup to close out this NBA Championship run for Dallas.

> Run the pick and roll with Kidd, Barea, and Terry at the point and Chandler, Haywood, Nowitzki, Cardinal, and Marion as the post player. The Heat defense prides itself on eliminating the opposition's movement; the key for the Mavericks is to keep the flow going on offense and avoid isolation sets unless the situation warrants it.

Dirk Yes, LeBron No?: 2011 NBA Championship

2011-06-12T16:34:00.003-04:00

In 2007, ABC queued up "It Ends Tonight" by The All-American Rejects early in Game 4 of the 2007 NBA Finals. This was the game where the San Antonio Spurs finished a four-game sweep of the Cavs. This was also the same game where Eric Snow tried to will the team to victory in between the 3rd and 4th quarters with a memorable speech.

In 2009, TNT queued up "It's Not My Time" by 3 Doors Down early in Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. In this game, the Cavaliers cut a 3-1 series deficit to 3-2. Then, they went down hard, falling behind early in Game 6. Delonte West tried to carry the team on his back, but it was not enough.

In 2011, what song will they queue up for Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals? Will LeBron James have proven that his South Beach rant ("Not one, not two, not three, not four. Not five, not six, not seven.") actually meant eight points and zero championships? Perhaps the song will be "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos.

Let's go Cavs! Let's go Mavs! Let's go Cavs for Mavs!

2011 NBA Finals, Game 5 Preview

2011-06-09T20:35:00.003-04:00

With the series tied 2-2, both head coaches--Rick Carlisle and Erik Spoelstra--and their staffs will do whatever they can to help their team gain an advantage in the pivotal Game 5 tonight. Here are some observations.

Dallas Mavericks

Positives from Game 4

DeShawn Stevenson transitioned nicely onto the Mavericks bench. On offense, Stevenson filled the void caused by Peja Stojakovic's recent slump. On defense, Stevenson served as Shawn Marion's backup in guarding LeBron James--again a void that Stojakovic and others could not fill in the first 3 games. Stevenson and Marion led the way in giving James multiple looks, angles, and pressures on defense.

In turn, J.J. Barea fit in nicely in the Mavericks starting lineup. Rather than continuing to struggle in his matchup with Mario Chalmers, Barea was matched up with Mike Bibby, who no longer has the quickness like Chalmers to shut down Barea.

Brian Cardinal made a valiant effort in filling some of the minutes that Brendan Haywood was unable to play on Tuesday night. While Cardinal looked rusty, he stayed active while on the court.

Jason Terry had a solid 4th quarter. It appears that Coach Carlisle was able to get Terry set up at the top of the 3-point arc and from the wing rather than just in the corner. As a result, LeBron James lost his favorable wingspan advantage and trapping capabilities that he and his teammates were using in the previous 3 games to slow down Terry.

Tyson Chandler had a fantastic game at center in Game 4. His physical play helped the Mavericks keep an even battle with offensive rebounds and also put more pressure on the Heat offense and defense to make plays to stop him.

Shawn Marion also scored nicely in Game 4. He did well with having strong ballhandling guards in at all times.

Adjustments

With Nowitzki feeling better, look for him to dominate the ball from the high and low post today. As he feels more comfortable taking shots, he opens up shots for Jason Kidd, DeShawn Stevenson, and Peja Stojakovic.

If James Jones plays for the Heat, Peja Stojakovic will likely get some time guarding him. His height is something that Jones has not faced much this season at the guard position.

The team will have to be careful with how they use Tyson Chandler in Game 5. With Brendan Haywood battling injury problems, Cardinal and Nowitzki become the primary backups for Chandler. An alternate play would be Ian Mahinmi, who could match up well with Joel Anthony and may be worth testing on Bosh and Haslem.

With Haywood out, Cardinal may also become a useful pick and roll play with Barea, Terry, and Kidd.

Miami Heat

Positives from Game 4

Dwyane Wade was well prepared to carry the offensive load for the Heat. Aside from a couple shaky plays down the stretch, he continued to score at will. Furthermore, he made his presence felt on defense, blocking a dunk attempt by Tyson Chandler in crunch time.

Chris Bosh kept a smooth offensive touch in also scoring well in Game 4. He and Udonis Haslem have actually caused more matchup problems for the Mavericks than Wade and LeBron James have caused.

Miami had control of the majority of the game, much like the first 3 games. The ability of Dallas to continue making comebacks every game may come into question in Game 5.

Mario Chalmers had 6 assists off the bench on Tuesday night. He also had 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Whether or not he is scoring, he is staying engaged in games.

The bench players all had positive +/- ratios. They are filling in nicely in relief of the Heat starters.

Adjustments

LeBron James needs to get re-engaged in the series. Look for more pick and roll and spot-up shooting opportunities for him. If Haslem and Howard are not able to run the pick and roll, Zydrunas Ilgauskas--if placed on the active roster--can provide a familiar look for James to get more comfortable. Likewise, the Heat should consider mixing in the sharpshooting of James Jones. His ability to stretch the Mavericks defense may also open things back up for James to make powerful drives to the basket, also giving Jones open looks from the 3-point arc.

Despite having a decent Game 4, Joel Anthony will likely see a cut in his minutes. Taking him out of play gives more time to Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem and also possibly James Jones and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. This also gives Coach Spoelstra the consideration to use LeBron James at center, a la Magic Johnson.

A possible alternate play tonight to also help James is to have him handling the ball early with some picks set by Mike Bibby. Bibby can then slip or curl out to set up for midrange jumpers and 3-point shots.

On defense, look for the Heat to make Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion carry more of the offensive load. Both players have scoring potential but also are past their primes.

Game 4: Heat at Mavericks

2011-06-07T20:52:00.002-04:00

The Miami Heat pulled out an 88-86 victory in Dallas in Game 3 to take a 2-1 advantage over the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. Word is that Dirk Nowitzki, among others, has already referred to Game 4 as a "must win game". Here are some keys on both sides to pulling out a Game 4 victory.

Miami Heat

Feed Wade the ball

Keep Haslem out of foul trouble

Continue to put James on Terry and Haslem on Nowitzki down the stretch

Continue forcing turnovers and scoring points off turnovers and aim to take the Dallas crowd out of the game

Do not let Barea or Stojakovic catch fire - neither has done so yet in this series

Dallas Mavericks

Make minor lineup changes - as of a couple hours before gametime, it appears that Barea will be starting at guard in place of Stevenson

Consider Brewer or Cardinal as a change of pace substitute - especially if Stojakovic struggles or Haslem dominates the paint

Get Terry the ball at the middle of the court/wings as opposed to the corners

Utilize Kidd's consistent spot-up shooting and passing ability, giving Terry, Stevenson, Barea, Stojakovic, Nowitzki, and Marion open jump shot or clean inside looks on cuts from Kidd passing from the wing

Make Bosh dominate the ball and convince him to take midrange jumpers off the dribble

Send a blind side defender on James when he drives to the hoop

Consider having Stevenson covering James more with Marion on Wade and Haslem in certain situations down the stretch

Game 2 2011 NBA Finals - Dallas Mavericks Possible Adjustments

2011-06-02T20:56:00.004-04:00

More Likely Adjustments

Jason Kidd to spend more time guarding Dwyane Wade

Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood to play some time together to help neutralize rebounding of Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony, and Juwan Howard

Use Peja Stojakovic to help give rest to Dirk Nowitzki

More usage of zone defense

Less Likely Adjustments

Play with smaller lineups - Dirk Nowitzki at Center; Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea playing at the same time

Put in Brian Cardinal - have him play physical defense, use fouls on Chris Bosh and LeBron James

Use Corey Brewer if J.J. Barea and Peja Stojakovic continue to struggle

Have Jason Terry and Shawn Marion run some plays to free up Jason Kidd and keep him out of traps set by LeBron James and other Heat players

News Clips

2011-06-02T19:31:00.005-04:00

Shaquille O'Neal announced his retirement yesterday.

Mike Brown is in as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kevin McHale is in as Head Coach of the Houston Rockets.

Jay Triano has been relieved of his duties as Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors.

Ricky Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves appear to have reached a contract agreement in order to allow the 2009 NBA Draft pick to leave Europe and join the team next season.

The NBA had a collective bargaining meeting yesterday for Commissioner David Stern, owners, and players. Last week, NBPA Executive Director Billy Hunter and the NBPA had filed an unfair labor complaint against the NBA's approach to labor negotiations over the past year, hoping to prevent a lockout from occurring again this offseason.

Can the Chicago Bulls Rally Back on the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals?

2011-05-25T18:26:00.003-04:00

The Chicago Bulls were unable to pull out a close Game 4 versus the Miami Heat, falling in overtime, 101-93. Now, the Bulls are one game away from elimination while the Heat are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.

The Bulls had finished with the best record in the NBA for the 2010-2011 season at a mark of 62-20. Furthermore, they had the league's 2nd highest ranked defense based on PPG allowed (91.3) while scoring 98.6 PPG (20th in the league). However, they have met their match in the Heat, who had the 6th best defense based on PPG allowed (94.6) while scoring 102.1 PPG (8th in the league). Aside from a 103-point outburst and 21-point victory in Game 1, the Bulls have not been able to keep pace with the Heat, who have increased scoring with each game (82, 85, 96, 101). The most the Bulls have been able to score in the last 3 games is 93 points, which happened only because Game 4 went into overtime.

The Bulls have their hands full in turning the tide in the series, needing 3 consecutive wins to advance to the NBA Finals. Here are some ways that the team can take Game 5.

1) Capitalize on Home Court Advantage

The Chicago Bulls were 36-5 at home during the regular season and are 6-2 at home during the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat were a solid 28-13 on the road during the regular season and are 3-3 on the road during the playoffs. In light of this, the Bulls need to build off the energy and enthusiasm of the fans early and run out to an early yet sustainable lead. If the Bulls can force the issue at home in Game 5, they can position themselves to retake control of the series tempo and momentum.

2) Re-establish Interior Dominance

Forward/center Chris Bosh has been waiting all season to play at the level of quality that he is playing right now. Likewise, forward/center Udonis Haslem has returned from injury in order to solidify the Heat's rotation. Their efforts combined with the rebounding of LeBron James, Joel Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, and Mike Bibby has neutralized the offensive rebounding and overall inside play of the Bulls. Now, with center Omer Asik out with a fractured left fibula, Kurt Thomas needs to return to the rotation and help Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Taj Gibson regain dominance of interior play in this series. Even if Bosh gets his share of points, the Bulls cannot let Bosh and the other Heat players to keep pace on rebounding, interior offense, or interior defense. Thomas in particular is an established shot blocker, so his defense should help support the defensive prowess of Noah and Gibson. On offense, Noah must step up and score to a level closer to Boozer and Gibson in order to put the pressure on Bosh, Anthony, and Haslem to play harder on defense and potentially risk getting into foul trouble. In winning the interior battle, the Bulls put less pressure on point guard Derrick Rose to carry the team to victory.

3) Use the Bench, Play Small, and Spread Out the Scoring

Regardless of Asik's injury, the absence of Kurt Thomas in this series has been somewhat confusing. Despite being past his prime now, Thomas still moves around as well as Anthony and Haslem do and needs to be in the lineup to help control the rebounding while also offering help defense on the driving LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Mario Chalmers. Meanwhile, Rasual Butler is a 3-point threat off the bench that, like Thomas, has been absent from the rotation in the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Butler's scoring ability can very well be used to complement the scoring of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer. Furthermore, Butler offers stronger defensive play than Korver and could be a good player to use to slow down a number of Heat players, including James, Wade, and Bosh. Overall, the Bulls can play with a small lineup, as long as their perimeter scoring is sufficient and their perimeter defense is sufficient. The biggest risk here is giving the opportunities for James Jones and Eddie House to join Mike Bibby, Mike Miller, and Mario Chalmers in knocking down three-point shots. Thus, Butler and Thomas--both former Heat players--must assert themselves if and when called upon in Game 5.

Lightning in a Bottle for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals?

2011-05-25T17:23:00.002-04:00

The Oklahoma City Thunder were within 5 minutes of tying the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals 2-2. However, they lost hold of a 15-point lead, allowing the Dallas Mavericks to force overtime. In overtime, the Mavericks took control of the game and won, 112-105, gaining a 3-1 advantage in the series. With the win, the Dallas Mavericks are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.

Down 3-1, the Oklahoma City Thunder must rally back and win 3 games in a row in order to advance to their first NBA Finals as a franchise in Oklahoma City. Their previous franchise NBA Finals appearances and lone NBA Championship were won while playing in Seattle as the Seattle Supersonics. The difficult endeavor begins with Game 5 tonight in Dallas. Here are some ways that the Oklahoma City Thunder can keep the series alive.

1) Contain Jason Kidd

As the oldest player on the team's roster and one of the team's co-captains, point guard Jason Kidd has put together a strong series for the Mavericks. He is averaging 11.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 8.3 APG, and 4.0 SPG while shooting .409 on 3PTFG and .900 on FT. He has also kept his turnovers and fouls down to 9 (2.3 per game) and 8 (2.0 per game) in the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals, respectively. His combination of steady offensive play and outstanding defense on Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant has enabled the Mavericks to take control of the series. The Thunder need to find ways to force Kidd to miss more 3-point attempts, commit more turnovers, and lose energy and intensity on defense. Using Kevin Durant at the top of the key to help run the offense has helped, but it was not enough to sustain a lead for the length of Game 4. Possible counters in Game 5 include Thabo Sefolosha, Eric Maynor, Daequan Cook, or, if especially bold, Serge Ibaka.

2) Contain Dirk Nowitzki

The more obvious problem for the Oklahoma City Thunder is the other Dallas Mavericks co-captain, forward/center Dirk Nowitzki. In Game 3, the Thunder forced Nowitzki to commit 7 turnovers, shoot 7-21 from the field, and score a modest 18 points. However, in Game 4, Nowitzki lit up the Thunder for 40 points, including 12-20 from the field and 14-15 from the line. One of the keys to slowing down Nowitzki in Game 3 was double-teaming Nowitzki frequently, including fronting him and playing strong denial defense to stop him from getting passes cleanly. In Games 1, 2, and 4, the Thunder used up a lot of fouls in guarding Nowitzki. This included 6 personal fouls on Nick Collison and 5 personal fouls on Serge Ibaka, as well as 6 personal fouls by James Harden. However, in Game 3, Ibaka, Collison, and Kendrick Perkins combined for only 4 personal fouls--including 0 fouls for Ibaka. On the defensive end, the Thunder need to either limit their fouls or use up their fouls wisely. They may consider adding Nazr Mohammed to the rotation for Game 5 to see if his agility can help contain both Nowitzki and center Tyson Chandler. They can also continue to mix usage of players from Russell Westbrook to Serge Ibaka in order to frustrate and confuse Nowitzki. On the offensive end, the Thunder may need to find ways to exploit Nowitzki on defense in order to get him in foul trouble. Nowitzki has had 3 or fewer fouls in each of the first four games of this series, so a combination of post-up plays, pick and rolls, and mismatches with Durant and others may be the cause of additional fouls by Nowitzki.

3) Contain Jason Terry

Although not a team captain, guard Jason Terry represents the third major threat of the Dallas Mavericks lineup. As the team's sixth man, Jason Terry brings high energy off the bench and causes some mismatches. Despite struggling in Game 4 with a 7-19 mark from the field, Terry closed out the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 assist. On the series, Terry is averaging 16.3 PPG on only a .375 mark from the field. He also has had only 10 assists in the series, with 6 assists in Game 3. However, he has committed only 7 turnovers in the series. Furthermore, he had 6 steals in the past 2 games after 0 steals in Games 1 and 2. In Game 5, the Thunder would be better served to make Terry one of the primary ballhandlers, forcing him to think 'pass first' rather than 'shoot first'. If the Thunder can get the ball out of the hands of Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea and make Terry, along with Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, handle the ball on as many plays as possible, this should disrupt the flow of the Mavericks offense.

The Miami Heat Even the Series 1-1 versus the Chicago Bulls

2011-05-19T14:27:00.003-04:00

Last night, the Miami Heat took control of Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, winning 85-75. With each quarter, the Heat held the Bulls to fewer and fewer points, capped off by an abysmal 10 point fourth quarter for the Bulls. Here are some aspects of Game 2 where the Miami Heat asserted themselves in order to tie up the series.

1) The Heat Defense Shut Down the Bulls

The Miami Heat held the Chicago Bulls to a horrid .341 shooting mark, including a 3-20 (.150) mark from the three-point line. The Bulls carried this frustration to the free throw line, making only 16 of 26 free throws (.616 mark). Amidst this, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer combined for only 16 points, while Derrick Rose shot 7-23 in earning 21 points and Luol Deng shot 5-15 in scoring 13 points. Overall, the Bulls had only 15 assists, compared to 23 assists in Game 1.

2) The Heat Starters Played with High Efficiency

The Miami Heat starters each had positive +/- ratios, with the lowest rating being LeBron James's +8 mark. Chris Bosh led the team with a +22 mark. Meanwhile, although Joel Anthony's stat line was modest, he maintained a +16 and only missed one shot (the only shot he attempted for the game). Dwyane Wade had a pretty strong box score, capping things off by making 8-10 free throws and committing only 1 turnover. Likewise, Mike Bibby had a quiet yet strong game in passing for 4 assists without committing any turnovers.

3) The Heat Won the Rebounding Battle

Simply put, the Heat outrebounded the Bulls 45-41. Although they gave up 17 offensive rebounds, the Heat did not allow the Bulls to convert on second chance shot opportunities as much as in Game 1.

4) Dwyane Wade and LeBron James Took Charge

In Game 1, the Chicago Bulls made Chris Bosh the Miami Heat's #1 scoring option. In Game 2, the Miami Heat said 'no way' and went back to feeding the basketball to Wade and James. Wade outplayed Rose on offense, scoring more points in taking fewer shots. Meanwhile, when LeBron James realized that the pick and roll with Joel Anthony and Chris Bosh was not working for him like it has in past playoff series with Anderson Varejao and the Cleveland Cavaliers, he called off the pick plays and created his own shots.

5) Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller Stepped Up

Sure, the +/- ratings show that both Haslem and Miller were each at -11. However, they combined for 15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 41 minutes of play. There are a number of role players looking to step up for the Heat, but Haslem and Miller--both injured this season--are the two players who can give the South Beach Big Three the most help in competing for the NBA Championship. While Haslem has won a NBA Championship before, Miller has years of experience and remains a sharpshooting. If Haslem and Miller can stay healthy in this series, then the Bulls bench will need to counter with improved play from Kyle Korver and the others.

2011 NBA Western Conference Finals, Game 1: Halftime Report - Matchup Problems Galore

2011-05-17T22:23:00.002-04:00

At halftime of Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Mavericks lead the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 55-48. This included a 16-3 Mavericks run to close out the first half. Throughout the first half, there appear to be a number of matchup problems for both teams. The Dallas defense in particular is playing a matchup zone that has completely flustered Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook. In the meantime, here are some possible lineup adjustments that both teams can make to neutralize opposing players.

Mavericks threat #1: Dirk Nowitzki
> Thunder counter: Thabo Sefolosha

Mavericks threat #2: J.J. Barea
> Thunder counter: Nate Robinson

Mavericks threat #3: Jason Terry
> Thunder counter: Russell Westbrook

Thunder threat #1: Kevin Durant
> Mavericks counter: Deshawn Stevenson

Thunder threat #2: James Harden
> Mavericks counter: Shawn Marion

We're #1! (And #4!)

2011-05-17T20:59:00.002-04:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers made some strong moves at the trade deadline last season, including sending popular All-Star guard Mo Williams and high-flying swingman Jamario Moon to the Los Angeles Clippers for veteran All-Star guard Baron Davis and a first round draft pick. Although some were skeptical of this trade on the Cavaliers' end, Davis brought leadership and stability to the Cavs. Now, the first round draft pick that came with him from the Clippers is the #1 overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft!

As was mentioned during last offseason, each successful era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball has begun with the acquisition of the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. First, the Cavaliers selected Austin Carr in 1971. Next, the Cavs chose Brad Daugherty in 1986. Then, the Cavaliers drafted LeBron James in 2003. Now, Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams head up a short list of potential #1 picks for the Cavs in 2011. Furthermore, like the 1986 NBA Draft, the Cavaliers have a second lottery pick. In 1986, the pick was Ron Harper. This year, the pick could be Kemba Walker. Regardless, the bold words of owner Dan Gilbert last offseason combined with the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery victories mark the beginning of the next successful era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball. Stay tuned...

Durantula and the Thunder Win Game 7 and the Series

2011-05-16T11:54:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to the Oklahoma City Thunder on advancing to the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals! Special props go out to Kevin Durant, who followed up his Game 6 struggle with an unforgettable Game 7 performance. In scoring 39 points, Durant overcame a defensive strategy revolving around stoppy him. Overall, Durant made all 9 of his free throws and also connected on 4 three-pointers. He, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Nick Collison highlighted a solid team effort and performance.

Also, congratulations are in order for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies upset the highly favored San Antonio Spurs in the first round and nearly became the first #8 seed in NBA Western Conference history to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Like the Thunder, the Grizzlies have a good mix of talent, youth, and experience that should make them contenders out of the West in the years ahead. Coach Lionel Hollins should be proud!

Season Predictions Revisited

2011-05-16T11:18:00.003-04:00

Predictions: 3/16; close on 2 others

Season MVP - Kobe Bryant - incorrect - winner: Derrick Rose
*Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin - correct
Most Improved Player - J.J. Hickson - incorrect - winner: Kevin Love
Coach of the Year - Jerry Sloan - incorrect - winner: Tom Thibodeau
NBA Championship - Lakers defeat Celtics, 4-2 - incorrect - winners: TBD
NBA Finals MVP - Pau Gasol - incorrect - winner: TBD
*Scoring Champion - Kevin Durant - correct
Rebounding Champion - Luis Scola - incorrect (22nd RPG/28th Total Rebounds) - winner: Kevin Love
>Assists Champion - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (2nd APG/3rd Total Assists) - winner: Steve Nash
>Steals Champion - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (2nd SPG/4th Total Steals) - winner: Chris Paul
Blocks Champion - Josh Smith - incorrect (15th BPG/t-14th Total Blocks) - winners: Andrew Bogut (BPG) and Serge Ibaka (Total Blocks)
Defensive Player of the Year - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (5th) - winner: Dwight Howard
All-Star Game MVP - LeBron James - incorrect - winner: Kobe Bryant
Long-Distance Shootout Champion - Dorell Wright - incorrect - winner: James Jones
*Rookie Challenge MVP - John Wall - correct
Slam Dunk Champion - Terrence Williams - incorrect - winner: Blake Griffin

2011 Eastern Conference Finals: The Chicago Bulls Win Game 1 Versus the Miami Heat

2011-05-16T10:15:00.004-04:00

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Miami Heat, 103-82, last night to take a 1-0 lead in the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. While the series is still young and the Heat can very well even up the series, here are some ways that the Bulls dictated the flow of Game 1.

1) Make Chris Bosh the #1 Option

All season long, Chris Bosh has been criticized for his lack of quality play. An All-Star for his talent and performance in the past, Bosh shifted away from his strong low post play and primarily focused on midrange jumpshooting this season. While this has been a normal tactic of Pat Riley-influenced teams--think Charles Oakley, P.J. Brown, and Udonis Haslem--Bosh relinquished his ability to score on offensive rebounds. In doing so, Chris Bosh immediately became known as the third member of the South Beach Big Three.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been a top-ranked defense all season. This is largely in part because of the nonstop hustle of Joakim Noah and the defensive brilliance of Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, who was a key assistant of Doc Rivers for the Boston Celtics. Thibodeau has been credited for helping contain both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in past series versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Thus, Coach Thibodeau and the team combined elements of defensive schemes to keep James and Wade in check while also using a strategy like the rival Atlanta Hawks did in guarding Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic this year in the playoffs. Different scenarios, yes--Bosh is thought of as the #3 option on the Heat while Howard is clearly the #1 option on the Magic--but the fact of the matter remains that no NBA team can win the NBA championship with only one player scoring a lot of points. Last night for the Miami Heat, they had four legitimate scorers: Bosh, Wade, James, and Mario Chalmers. Their other three scorers--Mike Bibby, James Jones, and Jamaal Magloire--combined for 10 points.

2) Have 5-6 Legitimate Scorers for Each Game

As the Miami Heat have shown that they can score points on any given day, the Chicago Bulls need to step up their offensive play for this series. That is, both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks lacked the offensive power to keep up with the Bulls' stellar defense, while the Miami Heat do have the firepower to test the Bulls defense. As such, scoring 70-80 points per game will not beat the Heat.

Last night, the Chicago Bulls had six strong scorers: Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Ronnie Brewer. Gibson and Brewer specifically played outstanding games last night off the Chicago Bulls bench. Add in the scoring ability of Kyle Korver and potential from Omer Asik and the other bench players and the Bulls look like they are ready to take control of this series.

3) Continue to Dominate the Boards

The most intriguing aspect of the Chicago Bulls is the team's ability to dominate the offensive boards and rebounding in general. Granted, both Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah missed extensive time this season, meaning that the team found a lot of success with having only one of the two players in the rotation at a time. However, the rebounding threats that both Boozer and Noah provide are not seen very often in the NBA. The pair combined for 23 rebounds in Game 1, including 12 offensive rebounds. The Miami Heat as a team only had 33 rebounds in Game 1, including a modest 6 offensive rebounds. Chris Bosh did his part with 9 rebounds, but the next best rebounders--LeBron James and Joel Anthony--were held to 15 points and 0 points, respectively.

4) Capitalize on Home Court Advantage

For the first time since 1998, the Chicago Bulls are in the Eastern Conference Finals. This includes having the new NBA MVP, Derrick Rose, who is not pre-occupied with trying to fill the shoes of Michael Jordan. After being spurned by LeBron James and Chris Bosh in offseason recruiting, Rose cemented his status as the team's best player, with Boozer becoming the Bulls' new low post threat. In turn, the fans have responded quite well. In Game 1, the crowd gave endless support to the Bulls, as they turned a 48-48 tie into a 21-point victory. If the Bulls can continue to play this way in Chicago, they will not feel the pressure to win all of the road games in Miami.

2011 NBA Playoffs: First Round Review

2011-05-02T20:57:00.004-04:00

So far, so good--the 2011 NBA Playoffs have been pretty exciting. Here are some thoughts regarding the results of the First Round.

Eastern Conference

1) Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers:

The Indiana Pacers are much like how the Oklahoma City Thunder were a couple years ago: young with a lot of potential. As such, the Pacers struggled to close out games versus the Bulls, blowing 4th quarter leads in Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3 and almost doing so in Game 4. The Pacers will need to make some decisions in order to determine which young players to keep and which players to trade for veterans to balance out the roster. This is further compounded by the pending departure of team executive Larry Bird, although former team executive Donnie Walsh may return if forced out of New York.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls showed that they have enough talent to challenge for the NBA Championship this year. Primarily, they combine the MVP leadership and play of Derrick Rose with the fierce offensive rebounding of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. While Rose initiates plays and team momentum, it can be argued that boxing out Noah and Boozer are the most important keys in beating the Bulls. Added to the mix are strong scorers Luol Deng and Kyle Korver as well as a number of other solid veterans and role players. Although the wins were not dominant, the competitive fire and clutch play of the Chicago Bulls was present in the First Round, with more to be seen in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

2) Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers

The Miami Heat continue to be somewhat of an enigma. The New Big Three of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh remain league leaders in a number of statistical categories. Yet, their inconsistency leaves them vulnerable. While Wade and James tend to find ways to get their points and contribute every game, Bosh has shown a tendency to fade out every so often, settling for a collection of jumpshots rather than attacking the low post like he did more often in Toronto. Furthermore, not much was mentioned about the drawbacks of the South Beach Big Three all coming from the same draft class (NBA Draft 2003). While other team core groups have more variance in experience levels and playing philosophies, Wade, James, and Bosh risk falling into bad habits together when they struggle. Despite all of their talent, the key to their NBA Championship run is the ability of veterans and role players to fill the gaps and outplay opposing players.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers were also a bit of a riddle. The heartwarming return of Coach Doug Collins was complicated by the Sixers' slow start to the season. They have a number of young players complementing veterans Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand. While Brand is arguably on the decline, Iguodala may still have some improvement left in his development. Granted, Coach Doug Collins may only have a couple more years of head coaching in him, so the team must continue to grow in 2011-2012 should they want to make a run at an NBA Championship in the near future.

3) Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have had an interesting ride the past couple decades. From the Patrick Ewing era to the Larry Johnson era, the team had some memorable playoff runs. Thus, the additions of Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony combined with the coaching of Coach Mike D'Antoni may have potentially signaled the start of another strong era of Knicks basketball. In the short-term, the trade to get Carmelo Anthony has proven to be neutral; that is, with or without 'Melo, the team was destined for defeat versus a talented but aging Boston Celtics team. The key here is how the trade for and presence of Anthony impacts the team in the long-term. It is clear the Knicks gave up a good amount of talent to land a cornerstone player, so Anthony must put to rest any doubts within the next couple years to move the Knicks from borderline relevancy to NBA Championship contention.

While the Knicks seem to be forming their new core group, the Boston Celtics are running out of time (as cliche as it sounds) with their current Big Three. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen remain critical pieces of another Boston Celtics NBA Championship run. However, this year's run relies on rising stars Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis and aging veterans Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal. While the O'Neals must fill the void created by the departure of defensive mainstay Kendrick Perkins, Rondo and Davis represent the future core of the Celtics. The Celtics are hoping that Jeff Green fits well in the long-term to help ease the pending declines of Pierce and Allen. Despite the roster concerns, the Boston Celtics remain a favorite in the East, and they can challenge the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks in whatever seven-game series presents itself.

4) Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic

Despite the changing over of head coaches to Coach Larry Drew and the trading of starting point guard Mike Bibby, the Atlanta Hawks overcame a major obstacle in their quest for an Eastern Conference title and NBA Championship run by knocking off the rival Orlando Magic. Guard Kirk Hinrich has proven to be a good fit into the Hawks' style of play, with fellow former Chicago Bull Jamal Crawford also filling a bigger void. Furthermore, the versatility of other players, including Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, and Zaza Pachulia make the Atlanta Hawks an intriguing team out of the East. Still, the team must overcome another obstacle in getting out of the Second Round, with Hinrich's/Crawford's former Bulls standing in their way.

While the Hawks seem to be surging, the Orlando Magic are stuck in a bind. They made gutsy trades to bring back Hedo Turkoglu and add Gilbert Arenas. However, they moved Coach Stan Van Gundy's favorite player, Rashard Lewis, and also traded away key frontcourt backup Marcin Gortat. As it stands, the Magic are now arguably a weaker team than before these trades, as they lost to the rival Atlanta Hawks this year in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Time is running out on the team built around Dwight Howard, as the Hawks finally used a strategy long recommended to fallen teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers in past playoff series: let Howard have his points and shut down Mickeal Pietrus, J.J. Redick, Jameer Nelson, and the other perimeter players. With Superman Howard's free agency pending in the near future, the Magic may need to consider finding a couple new cornerstone players.

Western Conference

1) Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs

Sadly, the San Antonio Spurs are becoming an aging NBA Championship team. As such, their slow starts to games showed a lack of urgency and proved to be a poor match against a young and hungry Memphis Grizzlies team. Statistically, Tim Duncan had the worst season of his career, so next year (lockout or not) will be interesting to see how Duncan rebounds from 2010-2011 and how Coach Gregg Popovich further evolves the team's strategy. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker remain strong cornerstones, with players such as George Hill, Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair, and Gary Neal representing a good up-and-coming young group of players and guys like Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner remaining key role players. The Spurs as is look like they have a couple more good years/NBA Championship runs in them.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies are similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder in that they have added veteran talent to support their still young talent. The post play of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol ultimately powered the Grizzlies over the Spurs, with Mike Conley serving as one of the league's best neutralizers for Tony Parker--i.e. Conley plays like another version of Parker. Even with Rudy Gay out, O.J. Mayo, Tony Allen, and others stepped their games up against the Western Conference's winningest regular season team this year. The Grizzlies will be facing something completely different in matching up with the Thunder, but the team's depth and balance--which was enough to supplant the #1 seed Spurs--may be enough to do the same to the Thunder.

2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets

Like the Celtics in the East, the Los Angeles Lakers remain a favorite in the Western Conference. Despite not claiming the West's #1 seed, opposing players and coaches continue to respect the Lakers as defending NBA Champions (Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich even named the Lakers as the best team in the West after his Game 6 elimination loss to the Grizzlies). Ultimately, any team with clutch stalwarts Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher can overcome just about any obstacle, with supporting cast members Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and Ron Artest reminding the league why they remain favorites to win the NBA Championship for a Three-Peat.

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Hornets put up a valiant effort following the untimely injury of post player David West. West looks to be out until at least the middle of next season, so Coach Monty Williams, point guard Chris Paul, post player Emeka Okafor, and others will need to figure out how to remain relevant in the always competitive Western Conference. While West and Okafor seemed to gel much better this season than last, the team will have to figure out how to improve their chemistry and play while also keeping a spot in the lineup warm for West. It should be an interesting offseason and 2011-2012 season for the Hornets.

3) Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland TrailBlazers

The Dallas Mavericks are one of the aging teams in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry remain in their primes, but Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion are on the decline. Other young players such as J.J. Barea represent some hope for the future of the Mavericks, but any possible NBA Championship run revolves around Coach Rick Carlisle and team superstar Nowitzki. Unfortunately, a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers means matchup problems in handling superstar Kobe Bryant, so the Mavericks will have their hands full in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Portland TrailBlazers seem to be a solid contender in the Western Conference. They have well-balanced play, from savvy veteran point guard Andre Miller to post player LaMarcus Aldridge. Brandon Roy followed up poor early series play with breakout performances the rest of the series. While Gerald Wallace was a steal of a trade acquisition, the retention of Rudy Fernandez and the rise of Wesley Matthews meant strong wing play and depth. However, the TrailBlazers did not take the route that Don Nelson and the Golden State Warriors used to knock off the Mavericks a few years ago in the NBA Playoffs by having swingman Stephen Jackson guard big man Dirk Nowitzki—this year, this role could have been filled by Jackson’s former Charlotte Bobcats teammate Wallace. Regardless, the First Round loss should not stand in the way of at least a couple more years of Portland TrailBlazers NBA Playoffs basketball.

4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a joy to watch. Coach Scott Brooks appears to have his team focused, hungry, and humble. Rising superstar Kevin Durant seems poised to build a winning NBA career legacy, with outstanding play down the stretch in a clinching Game 5 victory. Likewise, Kendrick Perkins has meshed well with the Thunder’s core group, including guard Russell Westbrook, swingman James Harden, and big man Serge Ibaka. The Thunder would have likely been the underdogs versus the San Antonio Spurs in a Second Round series, but instead they find themselves favored over the underdog Grizzlies. It is time to see how far this Oklahoma City Thunder team can go.

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets functioned much like their trade allies the New York Knicks fared this year. While New York ended the year with Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets started the year with him. Basically, the Nuggets shifted focus from superstar player and company to a collection of solid players. The team’s overall personality fit well with Coach George Karl in perhaps his last run at an NBA Championship. Unfortunately, sluggish play by key players J.R. Smith and Chris “Birdman” Andersen led to the unraveling of the team’s 2011 NBA Playoffs run, with Smith now appearing to be on his way out of Denver. With Smith possibly vacating the star status role formerly held by Anthony, it will be interesting to see who among the young players or incoming free agents will take command of the Nuggets’ lineup.

Thanks for the memories, Joe Tait!

2011-04-19T21:51:00.002-04:00

Well, the Cleveland Cavaliers did not quite qualify for the NBA Playoffs this year - first time in 6 years that there is no postseason play. This is punctuated by the end of the broadcasting career of Cavaliers radio broadcaster Joe Tait. Tait, 73, called 3,382 games in his NBA broadcasting career (not to mention additional games for Cleveland Indians baseball on television). His 39-plus years of service were acknowledged with the retirement of #39 by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In style, the Cavs won Tait's last game, defeating the multiple-time rival Washington Wizards (formerly Washington Bullets), with whom the Cavs battled in the 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Yes, Mike Snyder and Jim Chones did a great job covering for Joe Tait this season. However, Tait left a lasting legacy with the Cavaliers. A number of Joe Tait's memorable calls can be found on the Cleveland Cavaliers website. Special props go out to Craig Ehlo, perhaps the bearer of Joe Tait's greatest game-winning shot call. "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus - and he comes from Lubbock, Texas!"

Thanks for the memories, Joe Tait!!!

Twenty-Six is Enough

2011-02-10T19:47:00.003-05:00

Sadly, the Cleveland Cavaliers have fallen to 8-45 in losing their 26th game in a row. This includes 36 losses in their last 37 games, in which more sadly the 2nd of 36 losses came at the hands of the Miami Heat and new South Beach talent LeBron James. The Cavs have not lost this many games since the beginning of the LeBron Era under Coach Paul Silas, and they never lost this many games under the various rosters coached by Coach Mike Brown.

This team appears to have more overall talent than other struggling Cavaliers franchises, including the 2002-2003 squad that finished the season at 17-65. However, the 2002-2003 Cleveland Cavaliers did have two players who were consistently trying to lead the team: Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ricky Davis. This year, the Cavaliers have had different players try to carry the team on different nights. Earlier in the season, Mo Williams, J.J. Hickson, Anderson Varejao, and Daniel Gibson seemed to be the most dominant Cavs players. Currently, Antawn Jamison and Ramon Sessions are the two Cavs that are providing the most consistent on-court leadership and standout play.

Regardless of the overall poor play, the Cleveland Cavaliers do have some problems that they can overcome, whether in the short term or the long term. Here are a few.

1) The team has not won without Anderson Varejao. Anderson Varejao has become a linchpin for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although the Cavaliers are a subpar 8-23 in games in which Varejao is playing, the team is 0-22 without The Wild Thing in 2010-2011.

>Short-Term Remedy: The return of Leon Powe. Leon Powe has spent a hard 18 months recovering from previous injuries and surgery, but he is the Cavaliers player that offers the most Varejao-like blue collar effort on defense and the boards. If the Cavs have not ended the losing streak before Powe returns, they should end it when he does return.

>Long-Term Remedy: The retaining of Anderson Varejao. Analysts have long speculated that Varejao is most valuable to championship contending teams. That said, once recovered from injury he is one of the 'tradable' players on the Cavs' roster. While Varejao's rugged play might not grab the casual fan's attention, his leadership by example is worth keeping to build up the next successful Cavaliers era.

2) J.J. Hickson lacks chemistry with some of the current Cavs. J.J. Hickson remains a young player with lots of potential. While he still needs some polishing and training, he has shown some flashes of light this season. What should be noted is that last season, the key to his solid season was spending most of the prior offseason practicing with LeBron James. While Hickson retains good on-court chemistry with Anderson Varejao and Antawn Jamison, he lacks chemistry with some of his other teammates, especially Ramon Sessions.

>Short-Term and Long-Term Remedy: Have Hickson and Sessions spend extended time practicing together. There seem to be multiple miscues between Hickson and Sessions on the court. The bulk of the miscues appear to be miscommunications and misreads on the offensive end. With more familiarity, Hickson and Sessions should be able to capitalize on their skills and athleticism to make a formidable pick-and-roll combination.

3) The Cavaliers have not defended the 3-point line well. It is obvious that the Cavaliers have not been a good perimeter defensive team. This is mainly because Coach Byron Scott has recognized the team's lack of size and conceded perimeter defense in order to protect the basket. Still, this is an area that can be improved immediately.

>Short-Term and Long-Term Remedy: Practice more to develop better chemistry, and in turn, better communication while playing more assertive defense. The Cavs have played very passive defense. When opposing teams show good, continuous ball movement, the Cavs have watched 3-pointers fly, oftentimes without even raising a hand. Once the other team hits a few 3 balls, the fastbreak defense also begins to sag. While Varejao is the linchpin that hold the defense together, the team has a number of defensively capable players. While guards such as Daniel Gibson and Ramon Sessions can force a lot of steals, other players such as J.J. Hickson, Jamario Moon, and Christian Eyenga offer intimidating shotblocking capabilities. With good communication and assertiveness, the Cavs can convert these 5-point losses into 5-point and 10-point wins.

4) The Cavs lack an identity. As the "Chosen One", LBJ was the face of the franchise. Meanwhile, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was another face, as his heart and easygoingness resonated well with a multitude of teammates. Other guys, such as Delonte West and Ben Wallace symbolized toughness and grit while also having fun, while guys such as Damon Jones and Shaquille O'Neal mixed flash and talent with fun. Now, the Cavs have a collection of solid players wearing generic jerseys and acting too deferential to each other on the court.

>Short-Term Remedy: Assign roles and stick with them while playing with more pride. For the duration of full ballgames now, the Cavaliers walk and run up and down the court with their chins down and their shoulders sagging. They look defeated before they are even falling behind in games. When healthy, it appeared that Mo Williams was the clear-cut scorer while Anderson Varejao was the clear-cut defender. Without these guys, the rest of the Cavs need to step up. Antawn Jamison is a bonafide scorer, so he has claimed that role. Meanwhile, Ramon Sessions is a very athletic guard, so he has claimed that role. Now, the Cavs need Leon Powe to get healthy and be a key one-on-one defender while J.J. Hickson can become the top help defender. Daniel Gibson needs to play more like the all-around guard he was playing like earlier in the year, while Christian Eyenga needs to become the slashing swingman with a respectable midrange jumper. Anthony Parker needs to play a good all-around game as well, while Jamario Moon needs to be more aggressive on offense. Manny Harris needs to become a good perimeter defender, while Ryan Hollins needs to improve his footwork so that he can become a formidable post player on offense. The remaining guys--Joey Graham, Samardo Samuels, and Alonzo Gee--have different combinations of grit and talent. Coach Byron Scott and the coaching staff need to put all of these players in position to capitalize on their strengths rather than playing generic basketball while doing an average job running the Princeton offense and doing a subpar job playing passive defense.

>Long-Term Solution: Build up a contending team with a winning culture. The future success of the Cleveland Cavaliers depends upon establishing a winning attitude amidst a well-connected team. The Cavaliers need to identify their stars/cornerstones, whether these players are present now, play elsewhere in the league, or play in the D-League, college, or overseas. Again, the Cavaliers do not have the flashy Hollywood culture of Los Angeles, the winning traditions of the Lakers or Celtics, or the sunshine of the Miami Heat to use as recruiting tools. However, they do have the spending power of Owner Dan Gilbert a la Mark Cuban in Dallas to mix with the modest yet capable fan base/market comparable to teams such as the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, and Memphis Grizzlies. The Cavs also retain the rights to an unusually large trade exception for a few more months, which can be used to bring a star player or two to town. The keys to the long-term success here are developing a blueprint, sticking with it, scouting well, drafting decently, and giving the players and coaching staff adequate time to gel and excel. While each of the 3 successful Cavaliers Eras started with a #1 overall NBA Draft pick, the playoff runs emerged due to the mixing of veterans and young players, the mixing of stars and role players, and playing team basketball on both ends of the court. While the LeBron Era is named after LBJ, the Cavaliers teams of the last 7 years would not have done what they did without players such as Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Daniel Gibson, and Delonte West stepping up during the regular season and playoffs. Likewise, the Price-Daugherty-Nance/Wilkens to Fratello Era had as much of Price's, Daugherty's, and Nance's leadership as it did guys such as Craig Ehlo, Mike Sanders, Hot Rod Williams, Ron Harper, Kevin Johnson, Terrell Brandon, and Tyrone Hill to step up and play big. In the Austin Carr/Bill Fitch Era, the Cavaliers combined a number of stars, veterans, and role players, including Bingo Smith, Jim Chones, Dick Snyder, Campy Russell, and Nate Thurmond. Thus, whether looking at internal team models or external models such as the Duncan/Popovich Spurs and the Billups-Hamilton-Prince-Wallace & Wallace Pistons to rebuild, the Cavaliers need to realize the feasibility of putting together a winner when doing so in a reasonable manner.

NBA Clip-Its: 1/11/11

2011-01-11T22:16:00.004-05:00

Welcome Back Sasha: Good luck to Sasha Pavlovic on his 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Hopefully he picks back up in the league if this is where he wants to be. Perhaps he can find his way back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

More Than a 'Melo Power Struggle: Carmelo Anthony has made it clear to the Denver Nuggets that he wants to be traded. However, while he has made demands, agent Leon Rose and General Manager Masai Ujiri seem to be exerting even more power than Anthony. While Carmelo is reportedly accepting the fact that he might not be traded for a couple more weeks, his agent Leon Rose--from LeBron James's entourage--is doing everything he can to facilitate this trade, including bringing more players into the trade. While he has not been able to include Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets, he has been able to add another one of his clients: Rip Hamilton from the Detroit Pistons. Meanwhile, Ujiri is looking to comply with Rose in adding reluctant Chauncey Billups to the trade. Billups has publicly stated his desire to remain with in Denver for the rest of his playing career, which would hopefully lead him into a front office job with the Nuggets. Ujiri is also trying to trade away other expensive long-term contracts. In doing so, Ujiri has made the threat to the New Jersey Nets that he will send 'Melo to the New York Knicks if the Nets and Pistons fail to meet the Nuggets' trade demands. Now that Ujiri has made a large bet (possibly a bluff), it may be Nets owner/billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov's turn to put his money on the table.

Cleveland Ankle Injury Epidemic: Following the lead of the Cleveland Browns, the Cavaliers have seen their share of sprained ankles. Diehard Indians fans are now warning the Tribe players to beware of this epidemic. In the meantime, hopefully the staph infection epidemic from Browns' training camp a few years ago has been eradicated.

Planting the Seeds for the Future: While J.J. Hickson was previously identified as one of the possible Cavs' stars of the future, Manny Harris, Alonzo Gee, and Christian Eyenga have now risen to the forefront of the Cavs' attention--especially with multiple Cavs' guards and swingmen battling injuries. Entering the season, it could be said that the Cavaliers primarily needed a swingman and a big man to reassert themselves as contenders (mainly replacing LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas as the cornerstones of the previous Cavaliers era). Finds such as Harris, Gee, and Eyenga will be critical to the future success of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Upgrades, Chemistry & Competition: A number of teams have sought to upgrade their lineups over the past few years via free agency and trades. For example, during the most recent offseason, the Golden State Warriors added David Lee while the New York Knicks added Amar'e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic reacquired Hedo Turkoglu, who appears to remain an excellent fit alongside Dwight Howard in Stan Van Gundy's coaching system. Still, teams need to be able to compete come NBA Playoffs time. While the Cavs made the error of preparing to beat the Celtics only to meet the Magic and lose in 2009, then prepared to beat the Magic and Lakers only to meet the Celtics and lose in 2010, other teams need to make sure they can match up with their various possible opponents. Worse off than the 2009 & 2010 Cavaliers' playoff teams were the 2007 Dallas Mavericks, who went from 2006 NBA Finals runners-up to the best record in the 2006-2007 NBA regular season to first-round 2007 NBA Playoffs elimination at the hands of former Head Coach Don Nelson's Golden State Warriors. Upgrades to rosters are nice, but chemistry is better; yet, ultimately everything falls back to competition. While teams make move after move after move, other teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs remain perennial NBA Championship contenders.

Let It Snow: The winter weather is suddenly catching up to the NBA. While the Charlotte Bobcats and Memphis Grizzlies had a sparse crowd of 1,000 to 2,000 fans on hand at their game on Monday, the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks had their game today postponed. Hopefully, the league does not have any more problems with the weather and also does not have other games postponed--especially with a possible lockout on the horizon.

Rebuilding Isn't Easy

2010-12-24T20:40:00.003-05:00

League management, owners, and players have all expressed opinions on the expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement, the impending intense negotiations for a new CBA, and the potential for a lockout. Former Cavalier LeBron James further confused the NBA and its fans with comments today about possibly contracting the league and dispersing talent to other ballclubs. In the midst of all this confusion is a message that Cleveland Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert understands possibly better than most Cavs fans: rebuilding in the NBA is not easy. At 8-21, Cavs fans and NBA analysts are calling for the Cavs to blow up their roster and completely start over.

It is important to remember that the NBA is not the NFL or Major League Baseball. While the NBA has profit sharing to help smaller-market teams to keep up with the cash flow of larger-market teams, it does not have the out clauses that NFL contracts have. In the NFL, teams waive players annually in order to escape expensive player contracts; however, the NBA has guaranteed contracts. While the NFL has fair and intricate rules in setting up more favorable schedules for sagging teams to help league competitive parity, the NBA runs the same fair schedule every year with teams playing the same conference teams 3-4 times a year and teams from the other conference 2 times a year. Thus, the NBA does not allow for the 2-year plans of some NFL teams that go from league's worst to league's best, like the St. Louis Rams did in winning the Super Bowl for the 1999 NFL season.

Likewise, Major League Baseball is built on a system of only 8 of 30 teams making the playoffs. As recent as 1993, only 4 of 26 teams made the MLB Playoffs annually; in essence, the system is built with teams around the league understanding that many teams do not win--that is, qualifying for the MLB Playoffs is not by itself a marker for success or failure in an MLB regular season. Meanwhile, the NBA has allowed 16 teams to make the playoffs for multiple decades--which is greater than 50% of the teams qualifying for the NBA Playoffs annually. Furthermore, Major League Baseball has a large intricate Minor League system, while the NBA has a newly formed Developmental League. Moreover, MLB allows for trade imbalance, in which teams can pretty much trade anyone for anyone in order to become a top contender now or to trim payroll now for rebuilding a contender in 3-5 years. On the other hand, the NBA has a balanced trading rule required for teams above the salary cap. Thus, NBA teams cannot trade players as freely as MLB teams do.

The most recent Cleveland Cavaliers' rebuilding effort was an anomaly. The rebuilding effort relied on one major condition--the drafting of LeBron James in the 2003 NBA Draft. Had the Cavs not gotten the first pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, they would have ended up with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Darko Milicic, or Chris Bosh. It is very doubtful that Anthony, Wade, or Bosh would have stayed past the initial rookie contract, while Milicic was much more raw than the other three talented prospects. Cleveland fans embraced James much more than they would have embraced Carmelo, D-Wade, Darko, or Bosh had any of the latter four been drafted by the Cavaliers. With LeBron James joining Zydrunas Ilgauskas, former Cavs fans, non-Cavs basketball fans, and non-basketball sports fans packed the Gund Arena, later to be renamed Quicken Loans Arena.

Even with LeBron in place, Cleveland remained a tough free agent market. Like it or not, more NBA players than not do not seek out Cleveland annually as a free agent destination. Players seek out L.A. for the Lakers--not the Clippers--or other popular metropolis cities such as New York, Chicago, and Miami. This means that teams in major popular metropolis cities have a much, much better chance to successfully produce a rebuilding success. Other teams are not so lucky, seeing playoff runs lasting only 2-3 years--recent examples include the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. Other teams, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, and Sacramento Kings continue to struggle to turn the tide in their rebuilding efforts. Along with free agency, another message can be taken from these failed/short-lived rebuilding efforts: the NBA Draft is not as impactful as the NFL Draft or the Minor League Baseball System in providing the resources to rebuild a franchise.

Rather than looking at the franchise models of the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, or Heat, the Cavaliers need to look more closely at the recent successes of the systems of the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons. While San Antonio is a smaller, quieter city than Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and Miami, Detroit is a city struggling in a manner similar to Cleveland. Likewise, while the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, and Heat have a much flashier approach to putting their teams together, San Antonio and Detroit quietly built winners, relying on excellent scouting and bringing in more humble players and unselfish players willing to sacrifice personal statistics for team success. Rather than chasing after more raw, immature young players in the NBA Draft, the Cavs are better fit to find guys that want to play in Cleveland--like Daniel Gibson; find steady players like Andre Miller (a former Cav) and Rip Hamilton; or scout well and find hidden gems internationally like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

While the NBA is not the NFL or MLB, perhaps the Cleveland Cavaliers can also learn from the recent rebuilding of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. In bringing in new talent, Atlanta put an emphasis on signing and drafting former team captains. Rather than drafting raw hit-or-miss prospects, they have drafted a number of collegiate team captains in the past few NFL Drafts. This means that Falcons' players are more familiar with leadership, hard work, and winning. With the CBA bringing a lot conflict in the NBA, players are calling for players to come into the league from high school, while former players like Charles Barkley are calling for the league to change the draft rule to 2 years in college before being eligible for the NBA Draft.

Sure, Owner Dan Gilbert may have looked foolish to some in making his bold proclamations hours after LeBron James aired "The Decision" to leave Cleveland. However, he understood the need to reach out boldly to Cavalier fans to keep fan support, and he also understood that, in the NBA, rebuilding isn't easy. The teams that succeed the most in the NBA are the teams that spend the least amount of time rebuilding and the most time playing to win the game.

News Bits

2010-11-01T22:49:00.003-04:00

> Get well Joe Tait!

> Congrats to Al Horford on getting a contract extension before today's deadline. I am curious to see what happens when a core player for a team gets an extension before the season drags on...

> Predictions:

Season MVP - Kobe Bryant
Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin
Most Improved Player - J.J. Hickson
Coach of the Year - Jerry Sloan
NBA Championship - Lakers defeat Celtics, 4-2
NBA Finals MVP - Pau Gasol
Scoring Champion - Kevin Durant
Rebounding Champion - Luis Scola
Assists Champion - Rajon Rondo
Steals Champion - Rajon Rondo
Blocks Champion - Josh Smith
Defensive Player of the Year - Rajon Rondo
All-Star Game MVP - LeBron James
Long-Distance Shootout Champion - Dorell Wright
Rookie Challenge MVP - John Wall
Slam Dunk Champion - Terrence Williams

Let the New Era Begin

2010-10-27T21:50:00.003-04:00

The 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers did a number of things in winning their season opener. They defeated the Boston Celtics, who had knocked the Cavs out of the playoffs last year. The Cavs also won at home, where they last lost by 32 points to the Celtics in the foreshadowing Game 5 playoff loss. They won tonight with a new Head Coach--Byron Scott. And, they did it without superstar LeBron James.

The victory tonight was very refreshing. Coach Scott showed the poise of an experienced coach, and he did not shy away from making frequent calculated substitutions during the closing minutes of the game. He played the lineups that he felt gave the Cavs the best chance to win, with former All-Star forward Antawn Jamison accepting a role as a bench player. He did not give up on his players; Daniel Gibson, for one, kept shooting confidently, and the shots eventually fell for him.

The way the Cavs played tonight was reminiscent of the Cavs squads under former Head Coach Lenny Wilkens. The offense was fluid, and there were no egos limiting the offense's capabilities. The offense run by LeBron James--the offense of the Miami Heat that lost to the Boston Celtics last night--was not present tonight. People did not just stand around and watch LeBron like the Heat did last night down the stretch.

Likewise, the defense was pretty impressive. LeBron James was supposedly the Cavaliers' best defender, but that was not evident tonight. The team defense and individual defense played by guys like Anderson Varejao, Jamario Moon, J.J. Hickson, and Ramon Sessions kept the Celtics' players in check. It seemed like Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis were the ones trying to rally Boston, not the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Even the O'Neals--Shaquille and Jermaine (no relation)--were held in check. While former Head Coach Mike Brown's defense limited points allowed, Head Coach Byron Scott's defense forced more turnovers and scored more points off those turnovers.

Sure, the Cleveland Cavaliers no longer have LeBron James. They lost Zydrunas Ilgauskas as well, as Z was a link all the way back to the Mike Fratello/Wayne Embry days. Furthermore, this team does not have Jason Kidd or Chris Paul--premier pure point guards who ran the show for Coach Scott's championship contending teams in New Jersey and New Orleans. However, whether people realize it or not, this Cavaliers team just might have more talent overall than any of Coach Scott's previous rosters. In lieu of superstars, the Cavaliers have a roster full of capable players. Add in the fact that a lot of these players are hungry to prove themselves and hungry to win--the fist-pumping of Ryan Hollins exemplified this--and it is hard to see the Cavaliers crumbling like they did in the 2007 NBA Finals, or the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, or the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals. One win does not make a legacy, but a win like the one tonight opens the door for a new era and a new legacy to be written.

Zone Defense: The Rule Change Michael Jordan is Forgetting

2010-10-15T18:30:00.003-04:00

In accordance with the release of the new NBA 2K11 basketball video game, legendary Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan has returned to the media's spotlight. That is, Michael Jordan has caught the sports world's attention by saying that today's NBA rules would have allowed him to score 100 points in a game. No one is questioning Michael Jordan's uncanny ability to make plays, create shots, and score points.

Michael Jordan is right in saying that, overall, today's rules favor offensive players, particularly guards. Much less contact is allowed in defensive play; some of what was legal when Jordan played (such as forearms and handchecking) is now deemed personal foul-worthy. Furthermore, with a 30-team league, talent is spread out more than it used to be, and players--while on average are more athletic today--come into the league much less fundamentally sound.

However, Michael Jordan has forgotten about the re-emergence of zone defense in the NBA. True, no team is running a defense that only consists of varying zone coverages--one-on-one, "man-to-man" defense is still considered more manly than playing zone defense. However, much of what used to be called "illegal defense" when Jordan played is now permitted by NBA rules. The current "illegal defense" rule is known as "defensive three seconds". Aside from staying in the key on defense when nobody is around, in terms of placement and spacing, most coverage concepts are allowed. While Michael Jordan was a top ranked prospect in college, the absence of zone defense in the NBA really cultivated his game. Teams could double team him, but only to an extent.

When Jordan came back out of retirement in 2001, the new "defensive three seconds" rule was in place. While Jordan lacked the same physicality and agility he had in his earlier playing days, he kept the same shooting touch. Yet, his points per 36 minutes in his two years with the Washington Wizards were the lowest of his career. Despite reduced contact, defenses could play the veteran Michael Jordan differently than the 80's and 90's NBA players could. Maybe defenders could not defend Jordan as physically, but they certainly could double team and triple team him more freely. Add in the fact that the NBA has also cracked down on traveling violations, and even a young Michael Jordan would not be able to move as freely on offense like he did during his playing days.

In the end, Michael Jordan probably could have scored 100 points if he had tried--old rules or new rules. However, the now retired Air Jordan overestimates his ability to dominate under the new rules and underestimates the defensive advantages created by the return of zone defense and the reduction of "illegal defense" to a "defensive three seconds" violation.

A New 'Great' Era of Cavalier Basketball...When and Where??

2010-07-08T21:44:00.006-04:00

Basketball fans throughout the country--maybe even the world--watched as LeBron James announced his decision to play in South Beach and sign with the Miami Heat. He will be joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on what could turn into an old school dominant team--the type of team with multiple legendary players that more commonly existed before modern day mega contracts, free agency, and league expansion.

Fans across the country know about the 'bad luck' of Cleveland sports as well as the struggles of an industrial city. "The Decision" becomes the next misfortune amongst Cleveland sports tragedies. The other "The ____" moments in Cleveland Cavaliers history happened at the hands of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Otherwise, Cleveland is a football city first and a baseball city second. Historically, Cleveland professional basketball ranks third. The Browns can finish 2-14 and sell out all 8 of their home games. While the Indians cannot say the same about ticket sales, people still tend to know a little bit about what is going on with the team. The Cavs, on the other hand, are constantly forgotten. It is arguable that high school basketball matters more to the majority of Greater Clevelanders--this was the case before LeBron even set foot on the St. Vincent-St. Mary varsity basketball court. Before LeBron, the average Clevelander last cheered the Cavs on when Mark Price was there, or maybe Terrell Brandon, or if stretching it, maybe Shawn Kemp.

There have been three 'great' eras in Cavalier basketball history. Every era of success was born with a #1 overall draft pick. "The Miracle of Richfield" team was made possible in part to Austin Carr, who was the #1 pick of the 1971 NBA Draft. The team made its best run in 1976, when it defeated the Washington Bullets (who would win the NBA Championship in 1978) in an unforgettable 7-game series. Bobby "Bingo" Smith made the game-winning shot in Game 2, while Dick Snyder made the game-winning shot in Game 7. Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond was a key acquisition during the season, while the center he backed up--Jim Chones--brought hope to a team looking to get through the Boston Celtics en route to its first NBA Championship until he broke his foot in practice during the 1976 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Cavaliers had a bit of a spark with young Coach George Karl and flashy veteran World B. Free in 1984-1985, overcoming a 2-19 season to make the 1985 NBA Playoffs and fiercely challenge the defending champion Boston Celtics in a competitive first round series. However, it was the trade of Roy Hinson to the Philadelphia 76ers for the #1 pick in the 1986 NBA Draft that started a second 'great' era for Cleveland Cavalier basketball. With the #1 pick, the Cavaliers selected Brad Daugherty. They paired him with John "Hot Rod" Williams (1985 NBA Draft pick and out for that season due to NCAA point-shaving allegations), Ron Harper (an Ohioan and #8 1986 pick), and Mark Price (#25 1986 pick of Dallas, acquired by trade). Kevin Johnson (1987 NBA Draft pick) was traded in order to bring in Larry Nance, and the "Hard Workin' Town" Cleveland, "Hard Workin' Team" Cavaliers were solidified. The Cavs became good as the Browns had Kosar, Newsome, Matthews, Dixon, Minnifield, and company and the Indians had Carter, Snyder, Jacoby, Candiotti, Swindell, and company. They found themselves in conversations at similar levels to the Browns and Indians despite being in a football first, baseball second, basketball third kind of city.

However, the second Cavs era came at the same time as Bird's Celtics, the "Bad Boy" Pistons, and Michael Jordan's Bulls in the NBA's Eastern Conference. A couple game-winners by Jordan, with a trade of Harper and several injuries (especially to Daugherty) in between, prevented Coach Lenny Wilkens and the Cleveland Cavaliers from winning their first NBA Championship. Magic Johnson's declaration of the Cavs as "the team of the '90s" and Charles Barkley's similar respect of the team (not seen during 'the LeBron era') never resulted in an NBA Championship. 'The Curse of Ron Harper' on Richfield Coliseum was the equivalent of "The Curse of Rocky Colavito" and 'The Curse of Paul Brown' on Cleveland Municipal Stadium--there would be no championships won in either of these venues.

Mike Fratello came to town and did his best first with Price, then with Terrell Brandon, Tyrone Hill, and company, and then with Shawn Kemp, a young Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Bobby Sura, and a mix of veterans and rookies. The 1998 NBA Lockout hurt this team's chances of becoming more than a one-year success, as Z came back and broke his foot while "Reign Man" Kemp came back overweight and out of shape. Kemp's off-the-court struggles came to light via a Sports Illustrated article that aired out a lot of dirty laundry of NBA players. Ironically, Gordon Gund and Wayne Embry traded Ron Harper due to fear of potential problems (which never happened)--and got Kemp's bad baggage about 10 years later.

Competitive rebuilding under Jim Paxson, Randy Wittman, John Lucas, and Keith Smart brought consecutive losing seasons to Cleveland Cavalier basketball, including another game-winner by Michael Jordan (albeit with the Washington Wizards during the 2001-2002 NBA regular season) and the infamous "wrong rim" triple-double attempt of flashy swingman Ricky Davis. Before LeBron was drafted, Ricky Davis was the man, or at least he got more respect from the remaining Cavs fans, than a recuperating Zydrunas Ilgauskas did. However, this 'dark' era of Cavaliers basketball led to the Cavaliers' win of the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery--and, in turn, the #1 pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, budding prodigy LeBron James.

In this third 'great' era of Cavaliers basketball, Paul Silas gave two decent years as Head Coach, losing Carlos "Benedict" Boozer in the process. An arguably fluke of a trade brought Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao to Cleveland as worthy replacements. Then, once Mike Brown took over, the Cavaliers were ready to again be a championship contender. LeBron James won over the hearts--and wallets--of Clevelanders and basketball fans across the globe. Games started to sell out again, the Cavs put together a combination of veterans and young players, and the team made the playoffs the past 5 seasons. In fact, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the only team in the NBA to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs in each of the past 5 seasons. The Cavaliers lost in the 2007 NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs and were eliminated by the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics. The teams that eliminated them in 2009 and 2010--Orlando and Boston--both made the NBA Finals. Lastly, the Detroit Pistons team that eliminated the Cavs in 2006 won the 2004 NBA Championship, lost in the 2005 NBA Finals to the Spurs, and lost to the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat. Regardless of how 'the LeBron era' ended, it was a revival of NBA basketball in Cleveland and a memorable run.

It is good to hear owner Dan Gilbert's optimism, but how long can he hold this franchise together? He is a businessman; the Cavaliers' profitability was linked directly to the presence of LeBron James. The emerging questions now concern the fate of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. While Cleveland will struggle as a city, it still exists. In major professional sports, Cleveland still has the Cleveland Browns and the Cleveland Indians. As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the loss of LeBron James, the return of apathy to the Cavs by the average Cleveland fans, and an almost inevitable 2011 NBA Lockout could mean no #1 draft pick to propel the Cavalier franchise back to the NBA Playoffs in Cleveland.

To LeBron James's critics in Cleveland, LeBron's value to this franchise is much more than they realize--his presence revived the franchise. Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, or Darko Milicic could have been drafted by Cleveland in 2003--especially if the team had lost the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery--but none would have brought the enthusiasm to Cleveland Cavalier basketball that LeBron James has brought. Would any of these players stayed, as LeBron did, for 7 years? Those people burning LeBron James jerseys right now--how many of them even cared about Cleveland basketball in 2003? In 2002? In 1996?

Some Clevelanders just do not care anymore. For other fans, who still do care: like it or not, this could be it for Cleveland professional basketball. With a lockout looming and apathy likely returning to the surface, owner Dan Gilbert could lose his optimism and sell the team. Or, he could keep the team and move to another city. Seattle lost its team recently, yet the city still has some interest in having another NBA team. Legendary player and coach Lenny Wilkens, who both played for and coached the Cleveland Cavaliers, also did both for the Seattle Supersonics. Perhaps he could emerge as an advocate for moving the Cavaliers to Seattle.

Then again, there is still hope with the current Cavalier roster. GM Chris Grant can make some trades or sign a few free agents in the next couple of years to help Coach Byron Scott lead the team back to the NBA Playoffs. On the other hand, if history does really repeat itself as the cliche says, then a #1 overall draft pick is needed to start up the fourth 'great' era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball. In the case of the Seattle Supersonics, they got #2 overall draft pick Kevin Durant, then moved to Oklahoma City after his rookie season. So, while South Beach is not an option for the franchise, the thought of the "Seattle Cavaliers" is not unrealistic.

Will there be another 'great' era of Cavaliers NBA basketball? If so, when? And where??

Good luck in Miami, LeBron. Remember your roots, and maybe when you are 30 years old, you can come back to Cleveland as a free agent to finish the deed. While you now have Wade and Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Chris Paul, along with other Olympians, will not be with you in Miami. "The Decision" is what it is, or was--a process, an event, a semi-publicity stunt that showed your intrigue and value to the NBA and the overall sports world, as well as your marketing genius. But, "The Decision" is over. You are now away from home, outside of the protection that helped you make your ascent to stardom. Miami Heat fans will probably not be as lenient as Cleveland Cavaliers fans were when you made mistakes.

In an ideal world, you win the NBA Championship, and Cleveland also wins the NBA Championship. Then again, in an ideal world, the NBA Championship for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers is won "All Together". "One Goal." "Rise Up." "We Are All Witnesses." This is no longer the present. This is the past, and maybe this is in the future. But, until then, this third 'great' era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball is over, with the timetable for a fourth 'great' era unknown.

Which #6 Will It Be???

2010-07-07T18:47:00.003-04:00

Wine and gold? Red and black? Red and blue? Blue and orange?

The suspense has been on for more than a year. Most recently, the pending free agency of LeBron James has drawn as much attention as the Gulf oil spill, the 2010 World Cup, Wimbledon, and any other news headline. Finally, LeBron James will announce his decision Thursday night around 9PM on a TV special on ESPN. To LeBron's credit, he is using the extra publicity to raise money for charity.

Still, it is amazing how much attention he is drawing to himself. Yes, the hype has been built up with fellow 2003 NBA Draft picks Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, not to mention free agents Amar'e Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, and David Lee, pseudo-free agents Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce, and a number of other players. At the heart of it all is LeBron James--aka "The King", "The Chosen One", "LBJ", etc. The pride of Akron and Cleveland finds himself in demand by everyone from Cleveland to Miami to Chicago to New Jersey to New York to Los Angeles.

Who could fault him for leaving if he joins Wade and Bosh in Miami? Imagine if Boston's Big Three of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen played together as long as Wade, James, and Bosh could. It could be more like the Big Three of Bird, McHale, and Parish or the Showtime Lakers.

In Chicago, LeBron James could rejoin Carlos Boozer and team up with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. He could also join forces with Luol Deng, who was the #2 high school prospect behind LeBron James in the spring of 2003.

With New Jersey, LeBron could join the super wealth of Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z, as well as rising players like point guard Devin Harris and young coach Avery Johnson, a championship point guard in his own right.

New York? Los Angeles? There is some talent there, but definitely lots of media and press time. Amar'e Stoudemire is replacing David Lee in New York, which would have normally generated more attention. However, NBA free agency 2010 revolves around the temporarily independent LeBron James. Then again, Los Angeles basketball revolves around five-time Lakers champion Kobe Bryant. While LeBron has won the last two NBA regular season MVP awards, Kobe has won the last two NBA Finals MVP awards.

So, where will it be? #23 is already retired in Chicago and Miami (both for Michael Jordan), meaning LeBron's petition to switch to #6 make more sense for either of those cities or Cleveland. The #6 of Bill Russell and "Dr. J." Julius Erving is not retired in any of these three cities.

However, as Kobe is the current #1 basketball player in L.A., M.J. may always be the #1 basketball player in Chicago, while Wade will remain the #1 basketball player in Miami until he leaves the team or retires. In Cleveland, LeBron James is the greatest. They could very well retire his #23 already while he wears #6.

At some time between 9pm and 10pm Eastern Time tomorrow, it will be revealed. So, where will it be? Which #6 will it be??? Wine and gold? Red and black? Red and blue? Blue and orange?

Here's hoping that #23 becomes #6 in the process of winning 16 postseason games in one postseason and bringing a coveted championship to Cleveland. Win it with Cleveland, LeBron. Win it with Cleveland!!!!!

Game 7 2010 NBA Finals Tomorrow Night

2010-06-16T22:02:00.003-04:00

This year's NBA Finals has not disappointed. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have come in strong, with momentum shifting game by game. The two teams battle for the coveted NBA Championship in a decisive Game 7 Thursday night.

Prior to heading into this series, the Celtics-Lakers series--a rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals--brought back some memories of the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons series of the 2005 NBA Finals. Like the Celtics-Lakers series, the Spurs-Pistons series was a battle of championship teams. While the Spurs had won the 2003 NBA Championship, the Pistons had won the 2004 NBA Championship. The teams were fairly evenly matched, and that series went to 7 games as well. While the first 4 games of the 2005 NBA Finals turned into routes and blowouts, the series ended with 3 much closer games. This included a 96-95 overtime victory for the Spurs in Game 5.

Now, the Boston Celtics--2008 NBA Champions--get a second chance to close out this series. However, with the series tied 3-3, the Los Angeles Lakers--2009 NBA Champions--get one chance to close out this series. The game could go either way. History points in the direction of the Celtics winning the 2010 NBA Championship. On the other hand, in light of Boston center Kendrick Perkins's leg injury, the odds seem to be in the Lakers' favor. Regardless of the outcome, this has been a good series, and tomorrow night should be another exciting contest.

2009-2010 Cleveland Cavaliers: What Went Wrong

2010-06-11T02:04:00.002-04:00

Now that it is a little bit in the past, it is now time to look more in depth at what went wrong in the Cavaliers’ run for the NBA Championship this year. For the second straight season, the Cavs failed to make it to the Finals despite being one of the favorites to win it all. Overall, the Cavaliers failed to win the Eastern Conference’s bid to the Finals because they overreacted to last year’s loss to the Orlando Magic.

True, last year’s elimination was difficult to stomach—never had the Cavaliers had the best record in the NBA. At the same time, the Cavs did not lose that series by much. A number of people commented that the Cavs gave up too many points and rebounds to Dwight Howard; however, the same could be said about the Magic’s defense on LeBron James. The bigger issue in that series was that the Cavaliers failed to guard the perimeter well. Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston, and Mickael Pietrus all played a good series. Of the Cleveland defenders guarding these players, Delonte West deserved the most credit for playing undersized against point-forward Turkoglu—he kept the matchup as even as possible (although the defensive assignment arguably cut into West’s offensive production). Still, while the strong play was expected of Lewis, Turkoglu, and Alston, who were starters, bench player Pietrus’s ability to score at will was unacceptable for the highly-touted defense of Coach Mike Brown and the Cavaliers.

Once Cleveland was eliminated, GM Danny Ferry set his focus on retooling the Cavaliers again in order to get them back to the Finals. A big post defender…wing defenders…a stretch four…These were the alleged needs of the team in order to get past Orlando and back to the NBA Finals.

However, what started out as a small project turned into a radical change in the makeup of the team’s roster. Including trades and the draft, the Cavs had added 7 new players to the team entering the postseason. This began with “The Shaquistion”, in which the Cavs traded Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic for Shaquille O’Neal. Overall, this move was a decent move. The team traded a top flight defensive-oriented champion post player for a more well-rounded, hall of fame-bound champion post player. However, the trade did mean the loss of a combo forward/center post defender in Wallace as well as an inconsistent, yet potent young scorer in Pavlovic.

After this trade, assistant coach and “offensive coordinator” John Kuester was hired to be the head coach of the Detroit Pistons. In 2007, Kuester had replaced Kenny Natt (who had left to join friend Reggie Theus in Sacramento, and who is also a highly respected assistant across the league). In two seasons, Kuester was able to take the offense to the next level. Kuester’s offense revolved around the double point guard lineup of Mo Williams and Delonte West. West, in his own right, plays better as a shooting guard, yet typifies the prototypical combo guard—one who can excel at either guard position, especially on defense.

In addressing the concerns over the perimeter defense, Danny Ferry successfully recruited top midlevel free agents Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon to Cleveland. While both were/are known as solid all-around players and strong wing defenders, their presence meant the possible disruption of the Mo-Delonte backcourt. This was further complicated by the emerging emotional issues of West, who was arrested amidst a confusing motorcycle/gun incident. Likewise, Mo Williams got injured in the first half of the season, and after returning from injury, never seemed to regain his form. West was hurt during an overlapping period, meaning Mo did not have Delonte to cover up for his flaws/fill his gaps. Williams’s clutch play remained a concern, as was seen during a seemingly stressful situation in Miami, when he could not stomach to watch LeBron James shoot—and make—the game-winning free throws.

Despite making the roster even deeper, the last move that knocked the Cavaliers off-balance was the acquisition of All-Star forward Antawn Jamison. Jamison has had a great reputation around the league as a solid teammate, a consummate professional, and an outstanding citizen. He was the “stretch four” that Ferry and the Cavs coveted, and a player that LeBron had said would be a good addition to the team (aside from Amar’e Stoudemire). The move was considered better than a trade for Stoudemire, because the Cavaliers traded much less (they got Zydrunas Ilgauskas back) and did not force another attempt at the failed Stoudemire-O’Neal frontcourt that Phoenix used for a year and a half. Jamison brought a scoring intensity matched by few on the Cavs roster.

Yet, the addition of Jamison did a number of things to the Cleveland roster. Jamison immediately became a starter because Shaq was injured, Z was gone by league rule for 30 days, and Anderson Varejao brought more to the team off the bench. However, it should be noted that the last champions to acquire their #2 playoff scorer in the middle of the season were the 1995 Houston Rockets, who brought in hall of fame guard Clyde Drexler via a midseason trade. It should also be noted that these Rockets were defending champions, and the Drexler-Hakeem Olajuwon duo had succeeded previously at the University of Houston.

While, in theory, the Jamison-O’Neal frontcourt was a good idea, it turned out that they lacked the chemistry—both offensively and defensively—that Varejao, Z, and Wallace have/had over the past few seasons. The trademark defense of Mike Brown—highly characterized by the efficient post defense of the team before Jamison’s arrival—was no longer intact. Jamison’s presence meant the benching of young emerging forward J.J. Hickson (who had started 73 games this season), the Cavs all-time games played leader Ilgauskas (whose temporary departure, combined with Shaq’s injury/absence from the team, seemed to paralyze the team’s morale), and former Celtic hustle forward Leon Powe (who is recovering from injury last postseason/surgery last offseason after helping the Celtics win the 2008 Championship). Jamison’s presence, combined with the presence of O’Neal, Parker, and Moon, also meant fewer minutes for LeBron at the power forward position—which had been a key to success for both the 2008-2009 Cavs and the 2008 gold medal-winning U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball team. In light of his past play at power forward, it can be argued that LeBron James is a "stretch four".

Like Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison is a potent scorer who seems to level off in clutch time situations. Furthermore, this postseason was actually only Jamison’s second 2nd round appearance. In fact, Jamison has never played in the playoffs past the 2nd round. All of this, combined with the fact that NBA championship teams do not add their #2 scorer midseason, means that Jamison would have been better integrated as a bench player/bench scorer for the Cavaliers. Despite Jamison’s standout character and solid resume, it is debatable whether the trade for him was even necessary. Hickson had been playing well, Powe had just returned, Varejao plays better as a power forward than as a center, and Z had been having a good season as a ‘stretch five’.

Meanwhile, Coach Mike Brown overemphasized the integration of Shaquille O’Neal into the team’s rotation. Shaq is still a solid player, and in certain matchups, Shaq should be on the court frequently (i.e. vs. the Orlando Magic or the Los Angeles Lakers). However, O’Neal’s presence in the team’s offensive system was best used when James was not in the game. The preseason suggestion of O’Neal and Daniel Gibson playing together worked midseason when Mo and Delonte were out with injury, but Coach Brown did not utilize this lineup once the two guards came back, Shaq got hurt, and Gibson left indefinitely for the birth of his first child. When the postseason came around, Shaq had not yet played with Jamison. However, with Shaq being a future hall of famer and Jamison being a former All-Star, it was within reason to start the two together. On the other hand, Shaq’s main purpose on the Cavs was to guard Dwight Howard, who the Cavs would be facing only if they advanced to the Conference Finals.

In the end, the coaching staff did not seem to have a grasp of who the team’s clutch players were/are. The team’s depth was good in theory but detrimental in practice. There were just too many minutes and too few spots in the rotation. Even making the active roster list for each game was difficult—Jawad Williams, Sebastian Telfair, and Danny Green are all capable players, with Jawad showing that he has strong chemistry in the lineup with LeBron. Looking back, last year’s team that lost to the Magic was already good enough to win the championship. If anything, they needed one more wing player and one more post player (perhaps Parker and Powe) for good measure. Any other roster moves should have addressed chemistry and clutch play.

Two seasons ago, the retooled Cavaliers lost to the favored Celtics (who went on to the win the NBA Championship). Last season, the Cavs prepared for the Celtics, got the Magic, and lost. This season, the Cavs prepared for the Magic, got the Celtics again, and lost.

Now, Mike Brown is gone and Danny Ferry has left. Here’s hoping that LeBron James stays to finish unfinished business and win the NBA Championship for Cleveland.

NBA Finals 2010: Quick Prediction

2010-06-03T18:52:00.004-04:00

... The Boston Celtics defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2, in the best-of-seven series. Point guard Rajon Rondo is named MVP.

Rationale: Over the past 3 seasons, the Celtics have made their marks as championship contenders. This included getting stronger as the postseason carries on. Boston is a team that gains confidence with each round. Like 2 years ago, they came out strong once they eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers from the playoffs in the second round. As Coach Doc Rivers stated after the clinching victory over the Orlando Magic, "This starting five has never lost a playoff series."

In this rematch with L.A., Boston seems to have a lot more momentum going their way. Moreover, this is likely this Celtics group's last shot at the title, so they will make sure to win it while they are there. The Lakers, on the other hand, have at least 2 or 3 more good years together. Unlike the Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant is still in his prime. However, Rajon Rondo represents the hope and the future of the Celtics franchise, and he will cause matchup problems for the Lakers in this year's Finals.

Cleveland Clutch Performances in My Lifetime

2010-05-13T03:35:00.003-04:00

"The Cavaliers are one of three major sports teams in Cleveland. They continue to strive for their first NBA championship, joining the Indians and Browns in a championship-hungry city."

To come from behind in the 2010 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, the team and its fans need to have positive mindsets. Cleveland must truly be 'Believeland'. The Cavaliers were viewed as the favorites entering this series for a reason, and they can still turn this series around by winning two games in a row.

Here are some examples of clutch Cleveland play in my lifetime:

1. 1992 NBA Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semifinals: The Cavaliers trailed the Boston Celtics 2-1 going into Game 4. The original Big 3 of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, along with rising star forward Reggie Lewis, led a Celtics team balanced with veterans and young players. In the pivotal Game 4, the Cavaliers won the game in overtime, 114-112. Forward Larry Nance led the way with 32 points. The Cavs went on to take Games 5 and 7 and won the series 4-3. This was Cleveland's first victory over Boston in the playoffs.

2. 1995 MLB Playoffs, American League Championship Series: The Cleveland Indians trailed the Seattle Mariners in this series 1-0 and then 2-1. After achieving 48 come-from-behind wins, including 27 wins in their final at-bat, during the regular season, they were poised to come back in this series. In Game 4, the Indians put together a 7-0 shutout victory. This was the first of three straight victories. In Game 6, the Indians pitted veteran starter Dennis Martinez against Mariners' ace pitcher Randy Johnson. They won this game 4-0, in large part to a three-run 8th inning, which saw star outfielder Kenny Lofton scoring from second base on a passed ball. Veteran starter Orel Hershiser, former MVP of the 1988 National League Championship Series and World Series, as well as 1988 Cy Young Award winner and Gold Glove winner, was named MVP of the ALCS.

3. 1997 MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series & Championship Series: The Indians entered Game 4 down to the New York Yankees 2-1 in the series. With only 4 outs remaining before potential elimination from the playoffs, All-Star MVP catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. hit a game-tying home run off new Yankees closer (and soon-to-be Hall of Fame candidate) Mariano Rivera. Cleveland went on to win Games 4 and 5 to advance to the ALCS. In the ALCS, the team again trailed 1-0, this time to the Baltimore Orioles. With only 4 outs remaining before a potential 2-0 series deficit, outfielder Marquis Grissom hit a three-run home run to give the team the lead and, eventually, the win. Grissom followed this by scoring the game-winning run in Game 3. He scored on a botched squeeze play bunt attempt miss by shortstop Omar Vizquel that turned into a passed ball. Ultimately, Cleveland advanced to the 1997 World Series with an extra inning home run by infielder Tony Fernandez and a Jose Mesa strikeout of Roberto Alomar in Game 6.

4. 2002 NFL Season: The Cleveland Browns found themselves under .500 multiple times during the season, starting with an opening game debacle versus the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the team kept finding ways to win. Entering Week 14, the Browns were still in the playoff race with a record of 6-6. With their backs to the wall, they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars on a Hail Mary pass from quarterback Tim Couch to wide receiver Quincy Morgan and an extra point kicked by Phil Dawson. After a tough home loss versus the Indianapolis Colts, the team rebounded in dramatic fashion as Couch led a drive at the end of a road game versus the Baltimore Ravens to win by a score of 14-13. Then, in the last game of the regular season, running back William Green ran for a decisive touchdown, while linebacker Dwayne Rudd redeemed himself for the Week 1 debacle loss as he and the rest of the defense stopped the Falcons' offense at the goal line to close out the game. At 9-7, the Browns advanced to the playoffs for the first time in the expansion Browns era.

5. 2007 NBA Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals: The Cavaliers entered the playoffs winning the #2 seed on the last day of the season. They swept the Washington Wizards 4-0, then defeated the New Jersey Nets 4-2 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. The team dropped the first two games versus the Detroit Pistons by identical scores of 79-76, resulting in a 2-0 series deficit. Yet, the Cavaliers would go on to win the next 4 games to clinch their first Eastern Conference Championship. After Cleveland took Game 4 to even the series, Pistons forward/center Rasheed Wallace was seen throwing his jersey off a hallway wall, only to hit one of his coaches. Then, in Game 5, LeBron James put together one of the boldest performances in NBA Playoffs history as he scored 48 points, including the Cavs' last 25 points and the game-winning basket. Game 6 was clinched as Daniel Gibson scored 31 points while Rasheed Wallace fouled out and was ejected for complaining about the last foul called on him.

'Believeland', it is possible. We can come back. We can win Game 6. We can force a Game 7. We can win this series. We can go on our merry way towards winning the 2010 NBA Championship. One game at a time. One quarter at a time. Let's do this. Go Cavs!!!!!

Questions to Answer: Game 5 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

2010-05-11T11:14:00.003-04:00

The Boston Celtics took a 97-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 on Mother's Day Sunday. With the series evened 2-2, each team will need to step up its play in order to take the series. Here are some questions each team needs to answer in their bids to return to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cleveland Cavaliers

> Who are our clutch players?: More than anything, Mike Brown and the coaching staff need to better understand who the clutch players are on this team. As of now, the only player guaranteed end-of-game minutes is LeBron James. Aside from James, no one has won the coaching staff over with his consistently good clutch play. Anderson Varejao and Delonte West seem to be getting the most minutes aside from LeBron, but neither has taken over the end of a game this postseason. Jamario Moon seems to have climbed up the list of defensive clutch players, but he was nowhere to be seen on the court in the fourth quarter of Game 4.

If past experience is any indicator, Shaquille O'Neal should be getting more time down the stretch. O'Neal has 4 NBA championships to his credit, he played well down the stretch in Game 1, and he was making free throws in Game 4. Likewise, Daniel Gibson should get a chance to play. Gibson's sharpshooting abilities are reminiscient of playoff clutch shooters such as Robert Horry, James Posey, and Steve Kerr. He even hit some clutch shots this season during the big 13-game winning streak. It was Gibson's big Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons and Rasheed Wallace that powered the Cavs into the 2007 NBA Finals.

> How do we keep Rondo in check without letting Pierce warm up?: Putting LeBron James on Rajon Rondo is a huge risk in this series. Sure, LeBron can cover Rondo here and there; by default, he already does so on defensive switches. However, putting LeBron at the point guard position on defense takes him away from Paul Pierce, who has not yet had a good game in the series. This also moves James away from the basket, where he has become one of the NBA's best help defenders and shot blockers. Keep in mind that LeBron James is now the Cavaliers' best shot blocker.

In keeping LeBron on Pierce, Mike Brown needs to consider whether to use Daniel Gibson or Sebastian Telfair. Gibson has played sparingly and Telfair has been inactive throughout this postseason. However, either or both of these players can spark the Cavs' bench, keep up with Rondo, and possibly give Rondo and the Celtics' defense some matchup problems.

> Can Mike Brown effectively change the lineups and rotation?: Stagnancy has dogged this year's team and has been a cause of failure in Mike Brown's past. Coach Brown needs to be more open and more creative in the playcalling and roster use. The Cavaliers are a deep team. They had a 13-game winning streak, including 9 wins without Mo Williams or Delonte West, who were the starting backcourt for last year's 66-win team. When the lineup changed, Brown and the coaching staff altered the way the offense ran. During that stretch, Shaq, Gibson, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas stepped up as key contributors. Yet, as Mo Williams and others flounder, this has not been corrected during the playoffs.

Coach Brown also needs to look at the usage of Varejao and Leon Powe. Varejao played his best basketball this season as a power forward, not a center. Varejao played especially well with Z, as well as with Shaq when LeBron was not in the game. Meanwhile, Powe is a former Celtic. He knows their team. He also competed with Glen Davis for playing time. There was a reason Powe gave the Cavs and Lakers problems in the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Powe might not be as explosive as he was before his knee problems, but he has a knack for getting to the ball through rebounding and defense. He may be an option to guard Davis, Kendrick Perkins, and Kevin Garnett.

> What if LeBron's elbow causes trouble or he just goes cold?: The Cavaliers' offense has been too heavily reliant on LeBron James. There is nothing wrong with him having the ball at some point in almost every play--it is clear the offense runs through him. However, the team has been too stagnant on offense and needs to move around. Also, the team needs to hit more open shots. Here, Gibson and Z can help, as they can both hit open shots and are both familiar with how to play with LeBron. A third player to consider is Jawad Williams. Williams has found his way to the inactive list, but he does have good chemistry with James. He started hitting shots this season when Jamario Moon and Delonte West were out of the lineup.

> What can we do to get Mo Williams going?: As was seen in Game 1, Mo Williams feeds off his offense. Ideally, he will get on a roll in Game 5 by hitting a lot of shots and scoring a lot of points. However, it is imperative that Mo Williams plays better defense and makes better decisions while handling the ball. What has been most troublesome is that Williams has been missing free throws and other shots down the stretch during games. Coach Brown needs to figure out what Mo Williams's clutch value and clutch capabilities are. Otherwise, he may be limited to passer/inbounder in clutch situations, and Delonte West and/or Daniel Gibson need an opportunity to fill the clutch void at point guard.

Boston Celtics

> What do we do if Rondo or any of the Big 3 foul out?: Boston saw an interesting situation in Game 4: they had multiple players in foul trouble. Rajon Rondo even started the game with 2 fouls in 3 minutes. Yet, Cleveland failed to capitalize on this and did not exploit the foul trouble situation. When Ray Allen fouled out at the end of the game, Rondo, Allen, and the others had already taken command of the game. Even if the Big 3 is not scoring, they still bring a lot to the table. They are all steady all-around players and can all serve as decoys on offensive plays due to their abilities on offense. However, if the Cavaliers can create another foul trouble situation in Game 5, the Celtics will have to figure out if their bench can keep up with the Cavaliers' best players.

> What do we do if Rondo loses his touch?: As of now, the whole series for the Celtics is riding on the shoulders of Rajon Rondo. Rondo's consistency in the first four games has been a joy for their team and has earned the respect of Cavs fans and league analysts alike. However, if Rondo does not score or rebound as he has been, the Celtics absolutely need Paul Pierce to score, score, and score some more. Rondo's all-around play has helped cover up for the struggles of Pierce, who has been focusing more on defending LeBron James during this series.

> Can Rasheed Wallace or Tony Allen put together another big game?: Rasheed Wallace was critical to Boston's Game 2 win, while Tony Allen was critical to Boston's Game 4 win. Wallace provides value because he can cause matchup problems and stretch out Cleveland's defense. He can also get under opponent's skin with his physical play and trashtalking. Meanwhile, Tony Allen put together a nice Game 4. He earned a lot of fourth quarter minutes due to his ability to play with Rajon Rondo as a shooting guard. While T. Allen played well at shooting guard, he was not as effective as a point guard. Thus, there is some pressure on T. Allen to have another good game tonight, including improved point guard play. One thing to watch for is if Ray Allen becomes Rajon Rondo's backup at point guard for the rest of the series, with Tony Allen becoming exclusively Ray Allen's backup at shooting guard.

> What if Garnett cannot hold it together for 7 games?: Kevin Garnett's scoring does not win games. However, Kevin Garnett's passion, defense, passing, and rebounding does. Even when he is not scoring, his presence is critical to Boston winning this series. If injury problems catch up to KG, the Celtics will likely face the same fate as last year's playoffs: elimination in the second round.

> Can we keep the Cavaliers from warming up?: The Celtics have done a good job of controlling the tempo in this series. They have slowed down the game quite a bit and have sped it up when the Cavaliers are going through cold stretches on offense. This is a huge credit to Coach Doc Rivers and Rajon Rondo for recognizing this. However, Coach Mike Brown and the Cavaliers can overcome this by taking command of the tempo. With Game 5 in Cleveland, this seems inevitable. If the Cavaliers play up to their potential, then Coach Rivers will either need breakthrough performances from Rondo and Pierce or will have to turn to and trust his bench. As of now, the Celtics successfully run an 8-man rotation, which can be problematic if the Cavs speed up the tempo and tire out the Celtics.

Closing Comments:

> Mike Brown is a good coach, but he has been too inconsistent in his coaching performance. He has been outcoached thus far by Doc Rivers. Now is the time for Coach Brown to show his worth.

> LeBron James should stay on Paul Pierce. Period.

> While J.J. Hickson helped in Game 5 versus the Bulls and Game 1 versus the Celtics, he is starting to struggle now. Likewise, Mo Williams and Anthony Parker have been far from stellar in this series. Meanwhile, Daniel Gibson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas deserve some time on the floor. They helped Cleveland get to the NBA Finals once, and they can help the team and city get there again. Likewise, Leon Powe helped power the Celtics to the NBA Championship once, and he can help power the Cavaliers to the NBA Championship this year.

Game 4 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

2010-05-09T13:42:00.004-04:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers head into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 2-1 lead over the Boston Celtics. They look to maintain the momentum for the rest of the series and build on their 29-point Game 3 victory.

Here are some notes heading into the game.

Cleveland Cavaliers

> Parker on Rondo: Look for Coach Mike Brown to keep Anthony Parker on Rajon Rondo. This has worked in part because the players were involved with this decision. The keys for Parker's defensive success have been clogging the passing lanes and conceding longer-range jump shots to Rondo.

> Garnett, Pierce, and Allen: It is imperative that the Cavaliers refuse to let Paul Pierce get warmed up in this series. They should also limit Ray Allen's opportunities for open spot-up jump shots. Analysts have been split on this, but if the Cavaliers are going to concede to one of the Big 3 having a good offensive game, it should be Kevin Garnett. The more Garnett scores, the less his teammates get involved.

> Celtics Bench: The Cavs need to limit the bench production for the Celtics. As of now, the biggest difference between Games 1 and 3 and Game 2 has been Rasheed Wallace's production. 'Sheed and Glen Davis need to be kept in check.

> Jamison and Hickson: Cleveland needs to continue to keep Antawn Jamison and J.J. Hickson highly involved in the offense. For Jamison, this means giving him lots of shots and lots of room to work. For Hickson, this means having him set lots of picks and constantly cut, especially when he is on the court with LeBron James.

Boston Celtics

> Rondo and Garnett: Look for Coach Doc Rivers to change things up with Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett. Rivers may try to put Garnett at the high post, freeing Rondo, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce to cut for open looks. This also puts Garnett's passing game to work and takes pressure off him to score.

> Captain Pierce: Paul Pierce has built his reputation as one of the NBA's best clutch players. Look for Boston to force-feed him the ball this afternoon. Their goal is to get at least 25-30 points out of Pierce.

> Bench: Wingmen Marquis Daniels and Michael Finley may see more action today. Their combination of spot-up shooting and hard-nosed defense may breathe some life into the Celtics.

> Containing LeBron and Antawn: It will be interesting to see what defensive matchups Coach Rivers will try to set up today. While Pierce and Garnett will likely remain the prime defenders at the forward positions, Marquis Daniels is a prime candidate to get more involved with guarding both James and Jamison. If Jamison finds himself out on the perimeter a lot, look for Rajon Rondo to help with the double team defense.

Game 3 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

2010-05-07T15:24:00.003-04:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics enter tonight's game tied 1-1 in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals Round. Interestingly enough, the teams found themselves in a similar situation when they matched up in the 1992 Eastern Conference Playoffs. While the Celtics took Game 3 in that series, the Cavs took Game 4 and won in 7 games.

Apparently, this series is loaded with injuries, from LeBron James's elbow to Kevin Garnett's ankle. Despite the medical conditions, it appears that none of the injured players will miss the game tonight.

While Boston will look to maintain what worked in Game 2, Cleveland will need to make some adjustments.

Boston Celtics

> The Rondo and Wallace show: Look for Coach Doc Rivers to continue riding the stellar play of Rajon Rondo. Likewise, Rivers will hope that Rasheed Wallace can duplicate his Game 2 offensive performance.

> Pierce and Allen: At least one these two players will need to be on tonight for the Celtics to win. If history shows any indications, Paul Pierce will have his best games at the end of the series. Meanwhile, Ray Allen continues to give the Cavaliers' defense some problems. Look for Boston to utilize Pierce and Allen to tire out and frustrate the Cavs defense.

> Perkins in the post?: It will be interesting to see if Coach Rivers changes things up with the lineups, in particular the starting lineup. As has been seen thus far in this series, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins do not have good chemistry in relation to the matchup with the Cavaliers. As such, it would be interesting to see if Boston moves Perkins to the bench and starts either Wallace or Glen Davis. This move is more likely to happen if the Celtics lose Game 3.

Cleveland Cavaliers

> Countering Rondo and Wallace: The Cavaliers will need to do a better job playing defense in Game 3. The focus begins with Rajon Rondo and Rasheed Wallace. While Rondo is much improved from when the Cavaliers faced him in the 2008 Playoffs, he should not be dominating the game as he currently is in the series. Coach Brown will likely stick with what was done in Games 1 and 2: switch Mo Williams to guard Ray Allen and Anthony Parker to guard Rondo. Yet, a potentially better situation would be to play Delonte West and Daniel Gibson together to handle Rondo and Allen. Gibson has improved his defense, and his increased strength can frustrate the contact-shy Rondo and Allen. Moreover, Gibson's sharpshooting counters the hot shooting of Allen and Wallace.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers need to adjust their situation with the power forward and center positions. For one, the offense should go more through Antawn Jamison, not Shaquille O'Neal, during the first quarter. This was a strategy that worked well against the Chicago Bulls, and despite different matchups, could work well in Boston. Meanwhile, J.J. Hickson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas could provide some matchup problems for Wallace and the other Celtics' big men. Lastly, Coach Brown should seriously consider activating Leon Powe. Powe could give Wallace and Glen Davis problems on both ends of the court.

> Countering Pierce and Allen: The suggested strategy versus Allen and Rondo in the backcourt is outlined above. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers must continue to keep Paul Pierce's offense in check. Although Garnett is the center of the emotion while Rondo and Davis bring the most energy to the Celtics lineup, Pierce is the true heart of the team. His clutch play sank the Cavaliers in the 2008 Playoffs, and this year, could cause problems to the injured LeBron James. LeBron must stay on Pierce. If the Cavaliers recall from last year, they lost their hold on the Magic series in Game 1 when Coach Brown moved a fatigued James to cover point guard Rafer Alston, leaving the Magic's Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Mickael Pietrus to score at will.

> Forcing the issue against Perkins in the post: Among other players, J.J. Hickson should be given more minutes to frustrate Kendrick Perkins in the post. This would force Wallace, Davis, or Kevin Garnett to guard Shaquille O'Neal in the post.

Closing Thoughts

> It is again clear that the Cavaliers miss the coaching services of John Kuester, who left to become the Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons after last season. Kuester was Coach Brown's "Offensive Coordinator". Without Kuester, the Cavs' offense has been too inconsistent, often hitting spells where they stop moving around and fail to completely challenge the opposing defense.

> Despite their non-use in Games 1 and 2, Daniel Gibson and Leon Powe remain potential X-factors off the bench. Gibson seems to be the answer to Rondo, while Powe can match up with Davis and Wallace off the Celtics' bench.

> Mike Brown needs to outcoach Doc Rivers. Both coaches are solid coaches, but both are also very stubborn in sticking with gameplans, even when those gameplans are not working. Thus, if Coach Brown is willing to vary his strategy, he can overcome Rivers's motivation of the Celtics.

Del Negro is out, but Paxson should follow

2010-05-05T20:09:00.004-04:00

Vinny Del Negro has received his share of criticisms and endorsements as Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls. During the press conference following the Bulls' Game 5 first round elimination at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Del Negro received a strong endorsement from one of the most important people in the Bulls organization: point guard Derrick Rose. Rose expressed his gratitude for learning from Coach Del Negro, including Del Negro's patience in allowing Rose to both do well and make mistakes.

Unfortunately, the track record of two .500 seasons, two first round playoff exits--and a clash with Vice President of Basketball Relations John Paxson--has led Paxson and the Bulls to terminate Del Negro's contract. Despite an endorsement from the best player on the team, who is an up-and-coming star with star free agent recruitment potential, Vinny is gone.

While the Bulls were an inconsistent team the past couple of years, the situation worsened in part due to VP Paxson's handling of personnel matters. John Paxson struggled to deal with the contract situations of Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. While the team eventually retained Deng, they lost a top clutch playoff performer in guard Gordon. Paxson also made a failed gamble in landing top NBA defensive player Ben Wallace as a free agent in 2006. While his acquisition of Wallace halted the establishment of a Detroit Pistons dynasty, it also paralyzed the Bulls' payroll.

To his credit, he professionally handled the firing of longtime teammate and friend Bill Cartwright, who seemed to be a potential up-and-comer as a Head Coach. Then again, Paxson made a mistake that has not received as much criticism as it should have, and arguably the biggest mistake of his basketball career (as player, coach, broadcaster, and administrator): Paxson threateningly laid his hands on Coach Vinny Del Negro, challenging the coach to a fistfight. True, this matter is ultimately a private locker room matter, as the altercation occurred in the Bulls' locker room. Regardless, while Del Negro was already being considered a coach under fire, it is questionable whether Paxson should have still been with the team after this incident. In other cases and other workplaces, Paxson may have been suspended, fired, and/or charged with assault.

Despite winning 3 NBA Championships as the starting point guard of the first Michael Jordan led '90s Chicago Bulls team, John Paxson has not proven to be as good a clutch GM as he was a clutch shooter. Arguably the biggest shot in Paxson's career occurred in the 1993 NBA Finals, as he put away the Phoenix Suns with the game-winning 3-pointer in the clinching Game 6 victory. However, those were the days. Those days are past. Paxson is no longer the point guard for the Bulls. His treatment of Del Negro reflects a lack of a class and professionalism, symbolizing not only Del Negro's struggles as coach, but also his struggles as a VP of the Bulls. The VP job is very stressful, but his actions were inexcusable and far from 'clutch'.

Despite Paxson's declaration that he plans to be a part of the Bulls' return to the top of the Eastern Conference, team management should not be lenient in dealing with him. While Del Negro has had a couple years to coach the Bulls, Paxson has had 7 years to serve in his current position. While coaches and players take their share of the credit for success and blame for failure, personnel management should as well. As the recent track record for the Bulls has been somewhat mediocre, 'fairness' is a valid argument for Head Coach Vinny Del Negro's firing. However, the same 'fairness' should relate to the job evaluation of Vice President John Paxson, and based on the longer-term track record of mediocrity, the evaluation should result in a similar termination for the VP.

Game 2 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

2010-05-03T16:08:00.004-04:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers came from behind to defeat the Boston Celtics 101-93 on Saturday night. Despite an elbow strain that was aggravated during the first-round series with the Chicago Bulls, LeBron James led all scorers with 35 points in Game 1. Meanwhile, point guard Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 27 points.

Here is some input about what to watch out for in Game 2 tonight.

Boston Celtics

> Forward Paul Pierce was held to 13 points in Game 1 on 5-17 shooting. This included a 1-6 mark on 3-Point Field Goals. Look for Pierce to get better spot-up shooting opportunities in Game 2. Expect Pierce to move around much more to force LeBron James to have to cover more ground and play more physically.

> Rajon Rondo carried the team as the point guard in Game 1. Not only did he score 27 points, but he also had 6 rebounds, 12 assists, and shot 12-14 from the free throw line. However, he did not have any steals despite being the league leader during the regular season. In Game 2, he will need more help from backup Tony Allen, who brought 5 points and 2 rebounds--but no assists--off the bench on Saturday. With better play from T. Allen, as well as better shooting from Pierce, Rondo should be able to focus more on playing defense tonight.

> If defense is a problem tonight, look for Rasheed Wallace and others to use up their fouls. The Cavs only shot 21-31 (67.7%) from the free throw line last game. Coach Doc Rivers also expressed his displeasure that Glen Davis eased up on defense in Game 1 due to foul trouble in the first half. Thus, the green light is on to foul as needed.

> If the Celtics falter in Game 2 . . . :

Look for Marquis Daniels to get more minutes as soon as possible. If he gets minutes in the second half tonight, it will be to guard either LeBron James or Mo Williams. Meanwhile, a Celtics loss tonight means that Nate Robinson could get minutes in Game 3. Robinson would be called upon to punish the Cavs' sluggish defense of the point guard position. Of the players currently in Boston's rotation, Tony Allen risks losing the most minutes if adjustments are needed following a Celtics loss.

Cleveland Cavaliers

> Mo Williams came to life in the second half of Game 1. As different players have different motivators and different ways of getting warmed up, it is clear Williams feeds off of his scoring. His defense on Rondo in the first half was terrible, but once he started scoring in the second half, he was better able to guard Rondo and Ray Allen. Coach Mike Brown will have to make sure Williams gets his share of the shots, and he needs to make sure Mo uses his full offensive repertoire rather than just settling for 3's.

> J.J. Hickson provided a much needed spark off the bench on Saturday. His 11 points on 5-7 shooting was key to Cleveland cutting Boston's lead in Game 1. Hickson brings an energy that Leon Powe brought to the Cavs-Celtics series two years ago; now, Powe is with the Cavs. As such, the Celtics might not be able to counter Hickson this series, and Hickson may have identified himself as an X-factor. Hickson's impact will likely affect the total minutes played by Shaquille O'Neal, Antawn Jamison, and even Anderson Varejao.

> Delonte West looks like he is becoming the other X-factor for the Cavaliers to defeat the Celtics. West's ability to guard both Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen means that he should get at least 30 minutes tonight. Also, aside from 'Bron and 'Tawn, Delonte is the main Cavalier that can consistently create his own shot. He can do this whether or not he is running the offense. As such, look for Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon to see reduced minutes tonight.

> If the Cavaliers falter in Game 2 . . . :

Coach Mike Brown's adjustments will be directly related to what he perceives caused the loss. He will use Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas more if the Celtics interior defense looks weak, or he will use Moon or Daniel Gibson if the Celtics take a long-lasting lead tonight with a smaller lineup. Boobie's 3-point shooting remains a weapon on the Cavs bench upon which Brown can call if LeBron's elbow continues to limit the MVP's scoring.

Freelance Articles on Suite101.com

2010-05-02T12:37:00.003-04:00

As I continue to post articles on this "Hard Workin' Team" blog, I will now also be contributing freelance articles to the website Suite101.com.

My first article there is about San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who is now coming off the bench for the team. Some may remember how Spurs management had considered making such a move early in his career.

Cavaliers versus Celtics: It Starts Tonight

2010-05-01T14:36:00.007-04:00

Tonight, the Cleveland Cavaliers kick off the second round of the NBA Playoffs as they resume their heated rivalry with the Boston Celtics. Unlike 2 years ago, the Cavaliers enter the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the #1 seed and the Celtics come in as the #4 seed. While the Cavs took 5 games to finish off the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics also took 5 games to eliminate the Miami Heat.

Here are some notes regarding both teams.

Cleveland Cavaliers

>Improvements to be made from first round: The Cavaliers looked to be a step or two behind where they were in the playoffs last year. Their offense was stagnant and their defense looked lethargic at times. This was possibly in part to the Bulls not giving up on the series the way the declining Detroit Pistons did last year amidst a 4-game sweep. Regardless, Mike Brown and the coaching staff will need to be more creative in calling the offense this round. Likewise, they cannot tolerate as many defensive mistakes as they did in the first round. Amongst the players needing to put on a better showing this round are starting guards Mo Williams and Anthony Parker.

>Roster question: Cleveland enters the second round with an interesting decision to make. They have 13 players ready and able to fill 12 roster spots in the round. While Sebastian Telfair and Danny Green likely will not make appearances this playoffs, Leon Powe is an intriguing addition to the active roster for this series. Powe was a key contributor to the Boston team that won the NBA championship in 2008. He battled Glen "Big Baby" Davis for minutes as they played the same position in the rotation that year. It was Powe, not Davis, that gave Cleveland problems during the series (and Powe, not Davis, who gave the Lakers problems during the Finals). In his time playing with the Cavaliers against the Celtics, it seems that Powe gives Davis fits while playing against him. Meanwhile, Daniel "Boobie" Gibson has taken on a much reduced role this season, mainly getting playing time when Mo Williams or Delonte West was injured. He was a key player in the Cavs playoff team 2 years ago, but a separated left shoulder kept him out of the deciding Game 7. Like Gibson, Jawad Williams has lost his spot in the rotation due to the healthy emergence of Jamario Moon. In light of all of this, it is possible that the Cavs will put Jawad Williams on the inactive list and replace him with Leon Powe.

>Shaq's role: The Cavaliers saw their best success against the Celtics this season after Shaquille O'Neal left a game due to injury. True, Shaq can match up decently with Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, and Davis. Then again, Boston tends to have problems playing against smaller, quicker lineups, so players such as Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson may get extended minutes this series. Meanwhile, Shaq has played his best on offense when either Mo Williams or LeBron James is out of the game. Coach Brown did use Shaq as a focal point of the offense twice in Game 5 versus the Bulls, including when James got his only rest during the game during the second quarter. In the end, O'Neal may have to accept a diminished role this series.

>X-factors: Daniel Gibson and Leon Powe. Shaq may have played his best ball this year when running the show with Daniel Gibson. Although Gibson does not have the ballhandling skills of Mo Williams or West, he knows the importance of getting the ball to O'Neal and gets him the ball. Before the season even began, several analysts noted that Gibson should be the greatest beneficiary of O'Neal's presence, which can get Gibson lots of open 3-point looks. As for Powe, he knows the Celtics system inside and out. He knows the Celtics' strengths and weaknesses. He was a player that Coach Doc Rivers had hoped to keep. He also is a player that can get Glen Davis frustrated. However, this is only possible if Mike Brown puts Powe on the active roster for the series.

Boston Celtics

>Improvements to be made from regular season: The Boston Celtics appeared to be a slower team this year, mainly due to the aging and injury problems of the Big 3. Also, it will be interesting if the referees call Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis for illegal screens. The two of them set a lot of moving picks and illegal picks and get away with it too much. If Orlando's Dwight Howard was able to get into foul trouble throughout the Magic-Bobcats first round series, then it is possible that non-superstars Perkins and Davis will get less than star treatment this round.

>KG's decline: Kevin Garnett remains an emotional leader on this team. However, Paul Pierce is truly their #1 guy now, and Ray Allen's veteran decline seems to have leveled out. Now, Garnett seems to slow down the Celtics lineup. While his shot blocking remains an asset, he lacks the lateral movement to be as effective in a transition game. His scoring has also dropped quite a bit, so it will be interesting if the Cavaliers try to force him to be the Celtics' leading scorer this series. They actually ran with that strategy for most of the series in 2008, but abandoned this in Game 7 when Pierce and James had their memorable offensive showdown--which Pierce and the Celtics won.

>How much are the Celtics expecting from Rasheed: Rasheed Wallace is clearly past his prime. Yet, he still is a good enough player to be a threat in this series. Moreover, he has played against the Cavaliers enough to have an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. It will be interesting how much the Celtics demand from Wallace this round. Now that he has lost a step and lost some of his shooting touch, his value versus Cleveland has dropped substantially. Coach Rivers will have to consider if he needs to limit Wallace's minutes, especially if Cleveland switches to a smaller lineup.

>Rondo at the forefront: Two years ago, Rajon Rondo was a rising star who played decently against the Cavs in the playoffs. He had both good moments and bad moments. Now, Rondo has become a defensive stalwart, finishing with LeBron James as one of the runners up for Defensive Player of the Year. Likewise, he has become more reliable on offense, as he has taken as important a role in the offense's success as Pierce. Rondo also has the chance to take advantage of a slumping Mo Williams, as Williams has continued his playoff shooting funk from last season. If Rondo struggles, though, the team as a whole will likely struggle. This is especially problematic because Nate Robinson has lost his spot in the Celtics rotation, and streaky, clutch-shooting Eddie House is no longer with the team.

>Backup wingmen: Two years ago, James Posey was another key part of the Celtics' championship run. He spent a lot of time guarding LeBron and also played some power forward, which he had not played regularly since college. His understudy, Tony Allen, remains with the team. Allen has gotten key minutes during the year as a backup point guard and spot starter. However, he has not yet developed to a level of play comparable to Posey. Battling him for minutes are veterans Marquis Daniels and Michael Finley. Like Allen, Daniels can also play point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. He also is a streaky shooter and solid defender, much like Allen. However, he lost minutes towards the end of the season and might not be a regular in the rotation for this series. On the other hand, Michael Finley was a thorn in the Cavs' side during the 2007 NBA Finals three years ago. While he is past his prime, he ranks behind only Pierce and Allen as a top clutch shooter for Boston. He might not play as many minutes as he used to, but he can still hit jump shots if called upon.

Closing Questions

>Will a road team win a game in this series? (The home team won every game in their best-of-seven series in 2008.)

>Will the Cavs play up to their potential this round?

>How much do the Celtics have left in the tank?

>Will the winner of this series have enough to take on the winner of the Magic-Hawks/Bucks series?

>Will the winner of this series win the NBA Championship (which happened two years ago)?

Finally Advancing Past the First Round

2010-04-30T01:30:00.004-04:00

Most NBA fans are familiar with Tracy McGrady's struggles to get past the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Technically, McGrady was out for the season when his Houston Rockets advanced last season. Yet, people tend to forget about his former teammate from Orlando: Grant Hill. Hill finally got a chance to advance past the first round, as he had not won a playoff series during his days with the Detroit Pistons or the Orlando Magic. It was only fitting that Doug Collins--who coached Hill in Detroit--was one of the commentators for the Suns' clinching game versus the Blazers.

Of course, Hill has fallen out of the public eye due to his injury problems over the last decade. Now, Grant Hill's Phoenix Suns will take on Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs. Oddly enough, when Hill joined the Orlando Magic in 2000, Duncan was expected to join him there. This was highly speculated in part because they had the same agent. However, Duncan opted to stay loyal to San Antonio--winning 3 titles since then--while Hill and McGrady toiled in injury-plagued seasons and first round defeat.

Lucky #7

2010-04-30T01:04:00.004-04:00

The San Antonio Spurs knocked out the Dallas Mavericks from the 2010 NBA Playoffs, closing the best-of-seven series with a 97-87 Game 6 victory in San Antonio. As TNT displayed on the television screen at the end of the game, the Spurs are the first #7 seed in the best-of-seven first round format to advance past the first round. They are only the fifth #7 seed to advance in NBA playoff history and the first since the New York Knicks beat the Miami Heat in 1998. Sadly for the Mavericks, they were also the first #1 seed to lose in the best-of-seven first round format era when they fell at the hands of the Golden State Warriors in 2007. Interestingly enough, the Heat followed their first round loss as a #2 seed in 1998 with a first round loss as a #1 seed in the lockout-shortened season of 1999 (to the rival Knicks, nonetheless).

Then again, the Western Conference was as competitive as can be this year, with all 8 playoff teams winning at least 50 games. And, with a team that had won 4 of the last 11 championships, the argument can be made that this was not that much of an upset. Although Dallas surprised the league with its bold and effective roster moves over the past year, the moves were not enough to win the championship this year.

Playoff Notes

2010-04-24T09:44:00.003-04:00

> Employee #34: Former Boston Celtic Antonie Walker was nicknamed "Employee #8" when starring for the Celtics a few years back. Yet, it is Paul Pierce who has stuck around and become the heart of the franchise. Pierce added another clutch basket to his clutch portfolio last night, hitting a shot over Dorell Wright at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 3-0 series lead over the Miami Heat. While Pierce made it look easy, Wright made it easier by allowing Pierce go to his strong side (his right). For any future defenders covering Pierce in the clutch, as much as possible prevent him from going to his right.

> Forgotten Point Guard and Head Coaches in Utah: Frequently, players such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Tony Parker, and Jason Kidd are named as the best point guards in the league. Yet, Deron Williams only gets mentioned after at least one of the other guys is mentioned. Williams continues to quietly be one of the best point guards--and players--in the NBA. Last night, he finished with 24 points and 10 assists as the Utah Jazz took a 2-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets in their first round playoff series. Likewise, Jerry Sloan has never won Coach of the Year honors in the NBA. Yet, he remains the longest tenured coach in the league, with over 200 coaching changes taking place around the league during his tenure in Utah. His counterpart, George Karl, also does not get as much recognition as he deserves. Denver's morale seems to have taken a huge hit since Karl revealed his bout with cancer.

> Van Gundy's Simple, Yet Effective Comeback Strategy: Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has worn a microphone enough the past few years for his motivational words to be heard during games. While some question his calmness and his ability to coach in the clutch, one thing he clearly does well is help his team come back from deficits during games. His strategy: having them break down deficits into smaller pieces. This was a big part how they beat Boston and Cleveland last year, and how they have held off Charlotte so far this year.

> Never Count Out the Spurs: The Dallas Mavericks made arguably the best trade this season, swapping out Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross, and James Singleton for Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, and Brendan Haywood. This put them in position to possibly be the Los Angeles Lakers' biggest challenge in winning the Western Conference. Yet, the Mavericks ended up drawing the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Spurs have won 4 championships during coach Gregg Popovich's tenure, including 3 with their current core group of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Adding in solid role players with either playoff experience or youthful potential, San Antonio remains a championship contender.

> Bogut's Value: This may be as obvious as any story so far this postseason: the Milwaukee Bucks climbed into the Eastern Conference playoff picture amidst solid play by center Andrew Bogut. While players such as Brandon Jennings, Ersan Ilyasova, and John Salmons remain, Bogut's presence/absence again reiterates the value of having a quality big man as a feature player on a team. The Bucks lack interior scoring with Bogut out, allowing the Atlanta Hawks to control the paint.

> Playing Veterans Versus Young Talent Rising to the Occasion: The Cleveland Cavaliers bolstered their roster this season, making a number of free agent signings and trades. This left their roster stacked with 15 capable players, from superstar LeBron James down to rookie prospect Danny Green. As recent champions such as the Spurs, Heat, and Celtics have shown, having a mix of capable players enables contenders to play the hot hands and make lineup changes as necessary throughout a competitive series. The Cavs have such the opportunity, but have kept improving forward J.J. Hickson and sharpshooter Daniel Gibson on the bench in the first 3 games of their series against the Chicago Bulls. Their reliance on veteran players has left them exposed to Chicago's youth, including a loss in Game 3 Thursday night.

> Game 1 Wake-up Call: Amidst an injury-riddled season, the Portland Trailblazers have been underestimated the past few months. Game 1 was an indication of the team's potential, as they overcame the absence of star Brandon Roy to beat the Phoenix Suns. Yet, their win in Game 1 may have been just what the Suns needed. While the Blazers have been underestimated, the Suns remain a trendy pick by league analysts and fans, based on the presence of Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, and a high power offense. With Alvin Gentry having a full year with the team--and no midseason trade of Stoudemire--the team may finally be in position to take the West this year. As the Suns have seen in this series, anything less than their best is beatable, but when at their best, they are a difficult matchup.

> Collective Team Effort: Kevin Durant's offense has been billed the Oklahoma City Thunder's only chance to beat the Los Angeles Lakers--not for the series, but for just a single game. Yet, coach Scott Brooks and his squad challenged this hypothesis on Thursday night and seemingly disproved it. While Durant struggled en route to 29 points, teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 45 points in a winning effort. While Durant finished at 8-24 shooting, he showed how valuable his defense is, holding Kobe Bryant to 10-29 shooting, including only 2-10 in the clutch fourth quarter. The victory reiterated the selection of Scott Brooks as NBA Coach of the Year and the legitimacy of the Thunder's 50-win season.

Howard Named Defensive Player of the Year

2010-04-21T09:36:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. Howard is the first back-to-back winner since Ben Wallace took the award in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Behind Howard in voting were Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Overall, the top 5 vote-getters came from the Eastern Conference. In 6th place in voting was Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers, who received the award as a member of the Indiana Pacers in 2003-2004.

Regarding team defense, Orlando (with both Howard and Matt Barnes nominated for the award)was 4th in points per game allowed (95.3 PPG) and tied for 1st in field goal percentage allowed (43.9 FG%). Atlanta ranked tied for 9th in points per game allowed (97.0 PPG) and 16th in field goal percentage allowed (46.0 FG%). Charlotte finished ranked 1st in points per game allowed (93.8 PPG) and tied for 6th in field goal percentage allowed (44.8%).

The Cleveland Cavaliers, with reigning Most Valuable Player LeBron James (4th in voting) and potential Most Improved Player candidate Anderson Varejao, finished the season tied for 5th in points per game allowed (95.6 PPG) and placed 4th in field goal percentage allowed (44.3 FG%). The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers--who had both Artest and Kobe Bryant nominated for the award--tied for 9th in points per game allowed (97.0 PPG) and ranked 5th in field goal percentage allowed (44.6%). Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics--with Rajon Rondo 5th in voting and Kendrick Perkins also receiving consideration--tied for 5th in points per game allowed (95.6 PPG) and tied for 9th in field goal percentage allowed (45.1 FG%).

The Defensive Player of the Year Award has been given 28 times, beginning with the 1982-1983 season. Overall, 16 different players have won the award. In fact, Dwight Howard is the 8th repeat winner of the award. Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo lead the all-time list with 4 awards apiece. While Wallace took all 4 awards while playing for the Detroit Pistons, Mutombo was recognized while playing for 3 different teams (the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers). Of the award winners, 8 appeared in the NBA Finals the year they won, including 4 NBA Championship winners (Michael Cooper - Lakers; Dennis Rodman - Pistons; Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets; Kevin Garnett - Celtics).

Over the past 14 seasons, the award went to an Eastern Conference player 13 times. Before Marcus Camby of the Nuggets won the award in 2006-2007, the last Defensive Player of the Year from the Western Conference was Gary Payton of the Seattle Supersonics in 1995-1996. This may be influenced by a typically faster, higher-scoring style of play used in the West as opposed to a slower, more methodical style of play typically used in the East. At the same time, dominant defensive players during an era can sway the voting in their favor based on defensive consistency and their reputations as the best defensive players in the league. In the end, team success is critical to winning the award. Alvin Robertson's San Antonio Spurs of 1985-1986 had the lowest record (35-47) for a Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. The only other players to not have their teams finish above .500 when winning the award were Mark Eaton and Dikembe Mutombo, whose Utah Jazz of 1984-1985 and Denver Nuggets of 1994-1995 both finished at 41-41. Robertson's Spurs, Eaton's Jazz, and Mutombo's Nuggets all made it to the playoffs in those respective years, though.

Standings Review Heading into March

2010-02-28T21:15:00.003-05:00

As of 9PM tonight, it appears that 9 teams in the East and 11 teams in the West are in the 2010 NBA Playoffs picture.

The Cleveland Cavaliers currently lead the NBA with a record of 46-14. They followed their longest losing streak of the season (3 games) by winning 3 games in 4 days. Following them closely in the East are the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks. While Orlando recently defeated the Cavaliers, Boston lost to Cleveland and New Jersey for its current 2 game losing streak. Rounding out the current playoff contenders in the East are the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Bobcats. While Dwyane Wade has recently returned to the Heat's lineup, the Raptors await the return of fellow 2003 Draft class star Chris Bosh, who has missed the last 5 Raptors games. The Bucks have climbed into the #7 seed by going 8-2 in their last 10 games (best in the East). This threatens the Bobcats' attempt to make the playoffs for the first time, albeit amidst ownership changes in Charlotte.

In the West, the Los Angeles Lakers lead the way. They trail the Cavaliers for the NBA's best record by 1 game at a mark of 45-15. The Lakers' closest competitors in the West are the Denver Nuggets (whom the Lakers beat earlier today), the Dallas Mavericks, and the Utah Jazz. The Dallas Mavericks have strengthened their bid for a high seed and championship run with a recent trade for Washington Wizards players Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson. Currently holding seeds 5 through 8 in the West are the Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Portland Trail Blazers. The New Orleans Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets hang close behind for a chance to play in the playoffs. Like Milwaukee in the East, Oklahoma City has made its plea to be in the playoff picture by going 8-2 in their last 10 games (best in the West). Meanwhile, despite lots of speculation and trade talks, the Suns opted to retain star big man Amar'e Stoudemire for the stretch run. Stoudemire scored 41 points today in a close loss to the Spurs, who beat them by 3 points.

Eight Isn't Enough - Cavs Extend Winning Streak to Nine

2010-02-02T22:39:00.004-05:00

True, the Memphis Grizzlies were playing their fourth game in five nights. Yes, these same Grizzlies played the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers last night. Yet, the Grizzlies had defeated the Lakers 95-93 yesterday. Furthermore, they had already beaten the Cavaliers in Memphis earlier this season. Adding to this, the Cavs are still missing Mo Williams and Delonte West.

Recognizing the need to come out strong early, the Cavaliers did so. LeBron James closed out the first quarter by hitting a jump shot at the buzzer, which gave Cleveland a 28-16 lead. By halftime, the Cavs were up by 18 points. They found much success by taking command of the key. Although Memphis leads the NBA with 52 points per game in the paint, Cleveland held them to 34 points in the paint while also scoring 64 points inside. Keep in mind that the Cavs are the league's best defensive team in the key this season. They built on their defensive success with 10 blocks in today's game.

While Shaquille O'Neal, J.J. Hickson, Anderson Varejao, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas all played well tonight, Varejao deserves the most credit for shutting down Zach Randolph, who is the Grizzlies' leading scorer this season. For people not familiar with Randolph, his style of play is comparable to Rasheed Wallace when Wallace was younger (the two were actually teammates in Portland for 2 1/2 seasons). Randolph is most deadly when he can get the ball off passes cleanly. Once he gets set, he can create plays; he has a good pivot foot. He can score in the post or from outside. Entering the game with an average of 21.0 PPG, Randolph only scored 8 points tonight, including shooting only 3-14 from the field. Clearly Varejao, his teammates, and the coaching staff had studied their film and scouting reports well, as they kept Randolph out of his comfort zone and refused to let him get set on offense. Varejao's play was well-noted by the Cavs coaching staff. During his postgame interview, Mike Brown lobbied for Varejao's recognition on the NBA's All-Defensive Team.

Regarding the offense, the team's offense now seems to be combining elements from the 2006-2007 team and the 2008-2009 team. With Mo Williams and Delonte West still recovering from injuries, the team is putting the playmaking in the hands of LeBron James and Daniel Gibson. Yet, the offense looks as good as it has been all season--it is very fluid and smooth. The "LeBron and Four Guys" style is only being utilized when absolutely needed. The whole team is benefitting from the high level of execution, especially O'Neal and Hickson. While Shaq is wearing down and frustrating teams with his punishing powerful style of play, Hickson is recognizing his opportunities to score in favorable situations, as he constantly moves around, cuts to the basket, and crashes the boards. Other guys, such as Anthony Parker and Jawad Williams, continue to hit key shots.

Overall, the Cavs roster is developing into being better than last year's team. The recent injuries have given more players opportunities to prove their value. It is clear that the players, whether starting or on the bench, are hungry and talented. The roster is deep; the team is executing and succeeding no matter who is in the game. Through the adversity, they are laughing, smiling, and having fun. The "Shaquisition", as well as the signings of Parker and Jamario Moon, now seem to be fading into the past, as the team is now showing great chemistry. At this point, making a trade for another star player or role player seems counterproductive. Acquiring a power forward that can stretch defenses with outside shooting is just one of many ways to win ballgames, as the Cavs are now finding they have multiple ways to win games. As Leon Powe recovers from injury, his imminent debut may positively impact the roster in the same manner that a midseason trade would. When it is all said and done, midseason trades are for teams that think they are not good enough to win it all as is. In the midst of a 9-game winning streak, the Cavaliers look like they are ready to win it all, and the absence of a trade speaks volumes of confidence.

Surviving the Heat

2010-01-26T08:09:00.004-05:00

The Cavaliers won an exciting game last night versus the Miami Heat, 92-91. The team struggled early as players seemed uncertain of their roles against the Heat. In particular, while Jermaine O'Neal and Dwyane Wade scored big early, Rafer Alston and Michael Beasley appeared to be giving the Cavs matchup problems.

Rather than giving up early, LeBron James realized that he needed to take over the game for Cleveland. However, while taking primary control over the ball-handling duties, he managed to keep everyone involved. This meant that James did not get too caught up in the showdown moment, as he did in Game 7 versus Paul Pierce and the Celtics in 2008. This also brought back memories of the Cavs team that advanced to the Finals in 2007, as Daniel Gibson shined once he had less pressure on him to run the offense.

A key to the Cavaliers winning this game occurred in the 4th quarter. Coach Mike Brown had the team run the offense through Shaquille O'Neal while James was resting on the bench. There was talk early in the season that Shaq could come off the bench for such a purpose. Regardless of being a starter or bench player, O'Neal provided a glimpse of what life would have been like had he remained with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. That is, Shaq can get his time as the focal point of the offense when James (or had he stayed in L.A., Bryant) is out of the game. This is greatly beneficial to the Cavs, as they have been known to struggle to field a consistent offense without LeBron in the game.

The interesting thing is that Anderson Varejao really can co-exist with Shaq. The problems of having Varejao and O'Neal in at the same time come from the need to have James, O'Neal, and Mo Williams dominating the ball in the first team offense. With James and Williams out of the way, Varejao regains the freedom he has to wander all over the court, which makes him much harder to defend against. As Shaq draws double teams, Varejao (as well as Daniel Gibson) is able to move around and cut accordingly. The result is a more active offense rather than the stand around offense to which Cleveland too often reverts.

Overall, Mike Brown is showing more and more confidence in his team, in particular the bench players. While Brown has been able to help the team win when they do not have their best stuff, he is now keeping everyone on the roster ready to play. This will pay dividends in the postseason, as injuries can paralyze a team's rotation if backup players are not ready. The rotation should be bolstered once Leon Powe returns to action. If everything goes well there, Powe just may take the starting Power Forward position. While such a move would take J.J. Hickson out of the regular rotation, Hickson's valuable playing experience this season make him much more prepared to play when called upon down the stretch.

Quick Note: Imported Blog

2010-01-26T06:45:00.003-05:00

I have decided to merge my blog called "The NBA Memo"--which had been serving as a supplemental blog--with this blog, which has been solely devoted to the Cleveland Cavaliers. As such, all 43 posts from "The NBA Memo" have been imported over. For future reference, posts will be labeled as "Cavs" articles or "NBA" articles.

Lakers, Spurs top teams of the '00s; Decade in Review

2010-01-18T19:21:00.001-05:00

The Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs were the 2 most successful NBA franchises from 1999-2000 through 2008-2009. The Spurs had more regular season success than any team, having a league best record of 576-244 (only team with .700+ regular season winning percentage) and making the playoffs all 10 years. While the Spurs won 3 Championships in 3 Finals appearances, the Lakers won 4 Championships in 6 Finals appearances.

San Antonio made their run with Gregg Popovich at the helm. To their credit, they kept the same general core group in place throughout, with the centerpiece being future hall of fame forward/center Tim Duncan. This included Duncan taking the torch from now hall of fame center David Robinson. Among the team's key acquisitions were international draft picks Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The result was a team that ranked no lower than #4 in the Western Conference playoff seedings since the Spurs' first Championship at the end of last decade. Also to Popovich's credit, he served as both the team's Head Coach and General Manager through 2002--when he handed the GM reins to R. C. Buford--and has links to a number of successful coaches during the decade--including Larry Brown, Don Nelson, Avery Johnson, Mike Brown, and Doc Rivers. (More can be said about the coaching network in the NBA, as the above coaches and other successful coaches last decade, such as Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Rick Carlisle, have links to each other or to the most successful teams last decade, including the Spurs, Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Detroit Pistons.)

On the other hand, the Lakers saw more changes to their franchise during the past 10 years. The duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant captained Los Angeles to 3 consecutive Championships to open the decade. However, the two players had both superstar talent and superstar egos, meaning neither future hall of famer could accept being secondary to the other player. As such, their last games played together were during the 2004 NBA Finals, when the Lakers fell to the Detroit Pistons. Mitch Kupchak--who had replaced hall of famer Jerry West as the team's General Manager in 2002--opted to sign Bryant to a new contract and trade O'Neal to the Miami Heat following owner Jerry Buss's request that Phil Jackson leave the team following the loss in the Finals. Mitch Kupchak then hired Rudy Tomjanovich to take over as Head Coach, but after Tomjanovich resigned due to health concerns, Jackson eventually returned as Head Coach a year later. To Bryant's, Jackson's, and Kupchak's credit, Los Angeles returned to the Finals twice and won the last Championship to close out the decade. Despite the roster changes, Jackson still runs the triangle offense as taught by former Assistant Coach and now Consultant Tex Winter. Forward Lamar Odom--who was acquired in the Shaquille O'Neal trade--brought a skillset to the Lakers that was similar to Scottie Pippen, who helped Jackson and Michael Jordan win 6 Championships with the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s. This complemented the acquisition of Pau Gasol, who helped stabilize the post positions for L.A.

Overall, the Lakers, Mavericks, and Pistons all made the playoffs 9 out of 10 years, with the Lakers and Mavericks joining the Spurs as the only 3 teams to win 500+ games and lose fewer than 300 games last decade. While both the Lakers and Pistons led the league in Conference Finals appearances with 6, the Lakers won all 6 of their Western Conference Finals appearances and the Pistons won 2 of their 6 Eastern Conference Finals appearances. On the other hand, of the 11 franchises that advanced to the NBA Finals last decade, 2 teams (the New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers) actually finished the decade with a sub .500 record. Granted, the Cavaliers had the 'pre-LeBron James' and 'LeBron James' eras last decade while the Nets saw much success with Jason Kidd as point guard for the bulk of the decade.

Regarding issues of parity, 29 of the 30 NBA franchises made the playoffs at least once, with 26 of the teams making at least 3 appearances. Only the Charlotte Bobcats, who joined the NBA in 2004-2005, did not qualify for the playoffs (though they may qualify in 2009-2010). The playoff situation makes sense, as, although a handful of franchises like the Lakers and Spurs dominated the league last decade, 16 teams make the playoffs each year, meaning that slightly more than 50% of the league makes the playoffs. The teams (other than the Bobcats) with the fewest playoff appearances over the past 10 seasons (Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors) all advanced past the 1st round. This included Golden State's historic upset of #1 seed Dallas in 2007.

While the Spurs dominated the decade alongside the Lakers, the Boston Celtics--who historically have been the Eastern Conference rivals of the Western Conference Lakers--found some success. At the beginning of the decade, Celtic legend Larry Bird coached the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals in 1999-2000 (where they lost to the Lakers). Then, the Celtics made some breakthrough trades, acquiring stars Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to complement captain Paul Pierce. The new "Big 3" (following after Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish) brought the Celtics back to the NBA Finals, where they defeated their rival Lakers and won a league-leading 17th franchise NBA Championship. At the close of the decade, the Lakers had won their 15th Championship, meaning that the 2 teams combined have won over half of the Championships in NBA history.

Aside from the dominant franchises, the 2003 NBA Draft was especially important for 4 other franchises looking to make their marks and win their first Championships. While the Cleveland Cavaliers landed LeBron James, the Denver Nuggets took Carmelo Anthony, the Toronto Raptors picked Chris Bosh, and the Miami Heat selected Dwyane Wade. Along with former Lakers personnel center Shaquille O'Neal and Head Coach Pat Riley, Wade led the Heat to their first title. Under former Spurs personnel Head Coach Mike Brown and General Manager Danny Ferry, James led the Cavaliers to their first Finals appearance. Other picks during the decade, including Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz, and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, join James, Anthony, Bosh, and Wade as ambassadors for the league heading into the new decade.

Again, coaching remains critical to success in the NBA. Of the last 10 Coaches of the Year, 6 coached in the NBA Finals over the past decade. Larry Brown, who led the 76ers to the Finals in 2000-2001 and the Detroit Pistons to the Finals from 2003-2005 (including the 2003-2004 Championship), had already led the collegiate Kansas Jayhawks Men's Basketball team to the NCAA Championship in 1987-1988. He had also won 3 Coach of the Year Awards while coaching in the professional American Basketball Association, which merged with the NBA in 1976. Larry Brown is now trying to coach the Charlotte Bobcats to their first playoff berth in team history. Meanwhile, Hubie Brown, who was one of the Coaches of the Year last decade to not coach in the last 10 NBA Finals, returned as an NBA Head Coach after 15 years away from the bench, most of which was spent as a commentator. He won the Coach of the Year Award at age 70. Hubie Brown had won his first Coach of the Year Award back in 1977-1978, at age 44. Meanwhile, Jerry Sloan--who has yet to win a Coach of the Year Award--coached the Utah Jazz to 7 playoff appearances in 10 years, has been with the franchise since 1983, and has served as Head Coach since 1988. Sloan is the longest tenured Head Coach in American professional sports and has held his Head Coach position while over 200 head coaching changes have been made around the rest of the NBA.

*Special thanks to basketball-reference.com, sports.yahoo.com/nba, nba.com, and Wikipedia for statistics.
*Another article: "Who's the top ballclub of the decade? Lakers edge Spurs".

Cavs All-Decade Team

2010-01-01T23:36:00.010-05:00

Happy New Year everybody!

Well, the '00s are now over, so I found it appropriate to select an "All-Decade Team" for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This task turned out to be more difficult than I thought it would be. I kicked around the idea of having several groupings and another list or two of players that succeeded in a very short time as Cavaliers. Well, I decided to scrap that idea, as the list of players got to be too long. Instead, I decided to put together a roster of 15 players (separated into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams) and appoint a head coach and an honorary assistant coach. To be eligible for the team, the players had to have been with the Cavaliers for at least a full season during the '00s. Rosters and statistics were acknowledged from 1999-2000 to the 2009 portion of the 2009-2010 season. (Special thanks to basketball-reference.com, cavshistory.com, and nba.com for player information.) Players were allowed to be listed out-of-position if they would possibly play that position in relation to the other players of their grouping. Intangibles (clutch play, chemistry, etc.) were considered in addition to concrete statistics.

With the aforementioned criteria in mind, Shaquille O'Neal (aka "The Shaquisition") was not eligible for the all-decade team. Likewise, Ronald "Flip" Murray, who was a key acquisition and critical part of the 2005-2006 Cleveland team (the first Cavs playoff team since 1997-1998), was ineligible. Meanwhile, other notable players did not make the cut. The fastbreak dunking of Jumaine Jones is not on this all-decade team, nor are sentimental fan favorites Wally Szczerbiak and Bob Sura. Two more members of the 1997-1998 playoff team that played for the Cavaliers during the '00s--sharpshooter Wesley Person and point guard Brevin Knight--also just missed the cut. Defensive specialist Ira Newble played 224 games with the Cavs from 2003-2008, but he did not make the list.

Here are my selections for the Cleveland Cavaliers 00's All-Decade Team.

First Team
PF Anderson Varejao
SF LeBron James
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
SG Delonte West
PG Mo Williams

Second Team
PF Carlos Boozer
SF Ricky Davis
C Drew Gooden
SG Larry Hughes
PG Andre Miller

Third Team
PF Shawn Kemp
SF Lamond Murray
C Ben Wallace
SG Sasha Pavlovic
PG Daniel Gibson

Head Coach: Mike Brown

Honorary Assistant Coach: Eric Snow

Comments:
-Overall, Anderson Varejao has played better off the bench. His role as an energetic, productive bench player has been key to the Cavs' success during the past decade. However, in relation to the other Cavaliers of the '00s, Varejao's importance to the team and his status as a fan favorite have boosted him to first-team status.

-Previously thought to be forced into retirement at a very young age due to injuries, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has become the franchise leader in games played. He is the link between the last Cavs playoff era (the Mike Fratello era) and the current playoff era (the Mike Brown era), and also suffered during the massive roster turnover and losing years under the management of General Manager Jim Paxson and Head Coaches Randy Wittman, John Lucas, Keith Smart, Paul Silas, and Brendan Malone. Once he retires, Ilgauskas may end up having his number retired by the Cavs. If a new "All-Time Starting Five" is selected by the team/the team's media, he could replace Larry Nance or Brad Daugherty on that team. Two major accomplishments remain for Z: an NBA championship and a chance to play for the Lithuanian Olympic team.

-Delonte West's all-around play and overall basketball savvy bumped him up to first-team status. He is quietly as good of a defender as LeBron James and Ben Wallace. His well-being and availability remain critical to a Cavs run to the NBA championship.

-Carlos Boozer left the team in a disappointing fashion. Had he stayed, the team probably would have made the playoffs in 2004-2005, meaning that Mike Brown might never have become Cavs coach. However, Boozer's departure led Jim Paxson to trade for Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao.

-Larry Hughes had an up and down run with the Cavs. Sadly, his younger brother passed away during the 2006 playoffs. On the court, Hughes battled with physical injuries. Yet, during the Cavs' run to the playoffs in 2005-2006 and their first NBA Finals appearance in 2006-2007, Hughes was a key component to the team's success, playing multiple positions, including starting point guard.

-In his last season with the Cavs, Shawn Kemp looked sluggish. He had gained a good amount of weight during the NBA lockout of 1998-1999, and personal issues had become public knowledge during his time with the team. When Paxson traded Kemp to Portland before the 2000-2001 season, the organization and the fans were relieved. Despite these facts, Kemp's stats speak for themselves. In addition, Kemp's teammates always stood by his side, emphasizing his importance while with the team.

-Lamond Murray took one of the roster's final spots due to his all-around ability and clutch play. While he could rebound and handle the ball, he had numerous ways to score from all over the court. He made at least one game-winning shot while with the team and was one of the primary reasons Andre Miller led the league in assists in 2001-2002.

-Ben Wallace joined the Cavs at the end of his prime. However, he remained a defensive presence, bringing both interior and perimeter defense to the 4 and 5 positions. He also got his share of rebounds, making him a good role player for the All-Decade Team.

-Sasha Pavlovic and Daniel Gibson posted/have posted respectable stats in their time with the Cavaliers. More importantly, they served as key components to the team's run to the Finals in 2007. While Pavlovic took the starting shooting guard position that year, "Boobie" Gibson quickly became a fan favorite and a good complement to LeBron James. Gibson made his mark during the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals, when he proved to be the additional component to the LeBron/Varejao pick-and-roll combination that the Pistons just could not guard. Gibson served as a top offensive option in Games 3 and 4 of the series and scored 31 points in the clinching Game 6. With Pavlovic's and Gibson's help, the team won 4 in a row to advance to the Finals. As a current member of the team, Gibson remains a fan favorite and a player with a large amount of potential, looking to shed his one-dimensional label as only a 3-point shooter.

-There was not much competition for Mike Brown as Head Coach of the All-Decade Team, as he was the only coach with a winning record. Like Paul Silas, Brown has had franchise superstar LeBron James on his roster for his whole stint as Cavaliers coach. However, unlike Silas, Brown has ingrained team defense into James's and the rest of the team's playing style. Under Brown's tutelage, LeBron has become a premier defender in the league, giving him the complete game needed to become league MVP. Meanwhile, Brown's use of concepts from other sports (such as "hockey assists" and offensive and defensive coordinators) has helped the team become a championship contender, including the franchise's only Finals appearance (2006-2007) and best regular season record ever (2008-2009).

-Point guard Eric Snow played 258 games during the '00s for the Cavaliers, which was less than just 5 players on the All-Decade Team (Ilgauskas, James, Varejao, Pavlovic, and Gooden). Just missing the cut as a player on the All-Decade Team, Snow spent some time as an unofficial assistant coach during the team's run to the 2007 Finals and its roster transition in 2008. Snow's motivational words were caught by ABC during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Snow's savvy on and off the court make him an ideal candidate as a special assistant coach for the All-Decade Team. Hopefully, he will get his chance to become a successful coach in the NBA.

From Rock Bottom to Top Flight, in 2 Days

2009-12-01T20:10:00.004-05:00

The Cavaliers had interesting back-to-back games last Friday and Saturday. In these games, they lost to the now 7-9 Charlotte Bobcats, who have not yet qualified for the playoffs in franchise history and currently sit at 7th place in the Eastern Conference; and defeated the Dallas Mavericks, runners-up in 2005-2006, owners of the league's best record in 2006-2007, and currently 3rd in the Western Conference with a record of 13-5.

In Friday night's game, the Cavaliers came out flat. This was likely the cliche "trap game", in which the Cavs overlooked the Bobcats in favor of Saturday night's opponents, the Mavericks. Also, the game against the Bobcats took place the day after Thanksgiving, meaning that the lethargy of the team could be linked to heavy eating, including the consumption of tryptophan-containing turkey. Still, as Mike Brown, Danny Ferry, and others declared during the 2007 playoffs, the Cavs are a "no excuses team". The performance was beyond lackluster; it was arguably the team's worst game of the year. In addition to committing 25 fouls and 17 turnovers, the Cavaliers only earned 14 assists, which is well below their season average of 20.8 APG. On the other hand, Charlotte managed 19 assists versus 12 turnovers. The aggressive Bobcat defense held Cleveland to 87 points (allowing 87.9 PPG versus Cleveland's 99.1 PPG scored), while Cleveland's defense also surrendered its average of 94 points, but to a much lower scoring Charlotte offense (Cleveland defense allowing 94.6 PPG versus Charlotte's 88.2 PPG scored). Surprisingly, the Bobcats cooled off on the offensive end, as Cleveland outscored them by 8 points in the second half. The Cavs also outrebounded the Bobcats 46-35.

In Saturday night's game, the Cavaliers looked much, much better. While LeBron James looked sharp with a double-double in points (25) and assists (12), it was the play of Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao that spoke volumes. Varejao, especially, looked as focused as he has been all season; his only noticeable miscue was a miscommunication with James in which he crashed the boards on what he expected to be a shot attempt only to mishandle what turned out to be a pass. Jamario Moon and Delonte West also contributed major minutes and points off the bench. With Dallas playing a smaller lineup for much of the game, Shaquille O'Neal played well when needed at center, leaving Zydrunas Ilgauskas having to wait until Wednesday to break Danny Ferry's franchise games played record. Aside from Z having to sit out, the Cavaliers played arguably their best game of the year--probably better than the win over Orlando a couple weeks back.

Most likely, the upcoming Cavaliers performances will be a balance of the bad from Friday and the good from Saturday. As a friend of mine told me on Friday night, it is better for the Cavaliers to play their best basketball at the end of the year, when the championship is on the line. Sure enough, the Cavaliers are still developing chemistry in the midst of multiple roster changes and other issues. Perhaps the recent wins without Shaq and the win without Z are showing the Cavaliers that they can save the two big men's energy for the playoffs, when foul trouble could limit either of the players' minutes. With that said, the Cavaliers continue to work their way to their first championship, with Friday serving as a reminder of their room for improvement and Saturday serving as a preview for what is in store in the weeks and months to come.

Wizards Owner Pollin Passes Away; Transition of a League

2009-12-01T19:31:00.002-05:00

Last week, Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin passed away at age 85. Pollin was the longest tenured owner in the NBA, having owned the Wizards (formerly the Bullets) since 1964. Pollin moved the team from Baltimore to the nation's capital. Among his franchise's accomplishments was winning the NBA Championship in 1978.

Pollin was not only a long-tenured owner but also very well respected across the league and sports in general. He previously owned the Washington Capitals (National Hockey League) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA), both of whom he sold to a group led by Ted Leonsis of AOL (who will take over the Wizards with Pollin's passing). He was loyal to his employees, who were loyal to him as an employer. At the same time, Pollin was not afraid to speak up about his concerns internally or externally. Internally, Pollin gave Michael Jordan much power as a team executive, allowed Jordan to make a second comeback from retirement, then let Jordan go following Jordan's failures to put together a winning team from either position (executive or player). Externally, Pollin spoke up about the need for NBA players to be role models due to their public status and exposure.

Pollin is the fourth NBA owner to pass away in 2009. He follows Larry H. Miller of the Utah Jazz, Bill Davidson of the Detroit Pistons, and Melvin Simon of the Indiana Pacers.

The departure of Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon marks a time of reflection about what the NBA has been, is, and will be. The four deceased owners saw much change around the league, including the growing popularity of basketball nationally and internationally, with a growing number of players coming to the league from other continents; the emergence of iconic legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan; an intense collective bargaining period that resulted in the league's only shortened season, a 50-game regular season in 1998-1999 (all played in a 90-day span in 1999); and the expansion of the league to 30 teams. Rules have changed back and forth, as style of play has also fluctuated. The current collective bargaining agreement, which built on the lockout-ending deal of 1999, runs through the 2010-2011 season, with a league option year for the following season.

Despite concerns over the conduct and image of NBA players and the league as a whole, the NBA has managed to stay out of the steroids scandals that have invaded the National Football League and Major League Baseball, possibly in part due to the presence of owners such as Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon. With a series of non-death related ownership changes also occurring, the new emerging team owners throughout the NBA take on the responsibility to put together honorable, marketable teams in the midst of an economic crisis in the United States. In the early 1990s, endorsers of the league proclaimed, "I love this game." The past few years, the league has proclaimed that the NBA is "where amazing happens." In a few years, the stance taken by the league and its fans will be impacted by the actions and values of the emerging owners. To the deceased owners, rest in peace. To other previous owners, thank you. And, to the emerging owners and future ambassadors of the NBA, remember that, with great power comes great responsibility.

Quick Early Season Prediction

2009-11-11T01:05:00.002-05:00

The Cavaliers have made some roster moves, including bringing in future hall of fame center Shaquille O'Neal. Meanwhile, Delonte West, who helped stabilize last year's 66-win team as the starting shooting guard and backup point guard, is currently getting back up to speed after addressing some personal concerns. Overall, it is obvious that the team chemistry is not where it was all of last season. Moreover, the team seems much more tense than it was last year.

With this year's team seeking to develop good chemistry, it is likely that they will not win 66 games this regular season. A more likely estimate is 58 wins. The Cavs have already lost as many games at home this year as last year (2). However, it is quite possible with the new additions that the team will improve on its franchise best road record of 27-14 from last season. In fact, this team might be a better team on the road than at home this year. In the end, even with a lower win total in the regular season this year, the team still seems poised to make a run for the championship once the postseason arrives.

AK-47 Reloaded

2009-11-11T00:46:00.000-05:00

A pleasant surprise this season is the re-emergence of Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who regained his starting role with C.J. Miles currently out with an injury. As a solid all-around player, Kirilenko is currently averaging 13.7 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, 1.4 blocks per game, and 1.0 steals per game. On Monday, he scored 23 points, including 5 3-pointers. At age 28, Kirilenko should have several more years of good basketball in his system.

Rest in peace, Melvin Simon

2009-09-29T02:26:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago, Indiana Pacers co-owner Melvin Simon passed away. Alongside brother and co-owner Herbert, the two helped keep the Pacers in Indianapolis back in 1983. The pair then led the team to continuous improvement for a number of years. Their management drafted Hall of Fame hopeful Reggie Miller and brought in other successful players as well as several prominent coaches, including Boston Celtic and Indiana State legend Larry Bird, Detroit Piston and Indiana legend Isiah Thomas, and Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown. The team peaked in 1999-2000, when it moved into a new arena and later reached the NBA Finals, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Off the court, Simon was known primarily for his contributions to the real estate industry. In particular, he and his brother helped popularize indoor shopping malls. Simon and his family also contributed a good amount to education, charity, and politics. Simon did spend a short time working as a movie producer as well.

He is the third NBA owner to pass away this calendar year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/16/AR2009091601059.html

Welcome back, Cavs!

2009-09-29T01:49:00.002-04:00

The Cleveland Indians have had a rough season. The Cleveland Browns are having a bad season right now. Games like Sunday's Browns loss to the Ravens makes me (as well as a myriad of Cleveland sports fans) eager for the start of the NBA season and Cavalier basketball. The Indians and the Browns have been putting up similar records the past few years: namely, a winning record here or there with a handful of losing seasons. While the Browns seem to change the Head Coach and the General Manager every 3-4 years, the Indians have ridden Eric Wedge since 2003 and Mark Shapiro since the end of 2001.

Thankfully, the Cavaliers followed up a horrendous season in 2003 by winning the 1st pick in the NBA Draft and taking local prodigy LeBron James. After new owner Dan Gilbert hired current Head Coach Mike Brown and current General Manager Danny Ferry, the team made the playoffs for the first time in 8 years in 2006. Although the team advanced to the Finals in 2007, the team appears to have actually improved the past couple of years. Last year's team may have been the best Cavaliers team ever.

Now, with Shaquille O'Neal joining LeBron, Z, Mo, Delonte, and the rest of the crew, the Cavs open training camp as one of the favorites to win the NBA Championship. Here's hoping that the Cavs finish the deed this year and achieve the "One Goal" it is seeking.

Down, Not Out

2009-05-27T13:33:00.008-04:00

The Cavaliers are on the brink of elimination, trailing the Orlando Magic 3-1 in the Best of 7 Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs have been somewhat shaky in this series, including reverting to the 'Lebron-ball' (aka 'Lebron and Four Guys') offense. Yet, they have managed to take each game down to the wire. On the other hand, the Magic seem to be playing the best basketball they have played all season. If the Cavaliers continue to make adjustments as they had done for Game 4, they can put the pressure back on Orlando. While the Cavaliers have looked tentative, nervous, and scared throughout this series (as could be seen through their body language and facial expressions), they finally seemed to overcome this at the end of Game 4. Meanwhile, for the first time in the series, Dwight Howard (among others) had a look of fear in his eyes during the overtime period last night.

On this off day in between games, the Cavaliers need to adjust their strategy against the Magic. Here are some suggestions.

Continue to run a more fluent offense as they did in Game 4 (as well as all season and in the Detroit series). This means lots of player movement, less isolation, better shot selection (including fewer playcalls for Z for 3 in the corner), fewer forced dribbles/passes, and more creativity. The team needs to run their offense with confidence. The Cavaliers need to take the game to the Orlando defense. While the Magic defense has improved this year, it ultimately hinges on Dwight Howard's shot-blocking ability and intimidating double-teaming. Both of these aspects of Orlando's defense can be countered by active cutting to the basket. In fact, during Game 2, the Cavaliers ran a play where LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were on one side of the court (drawing Howard's attention) and had Delonte West cut on the other side towards the basket (behind Howard) for the pass and ensuing layup. Overall, the Cavaliers offense should aim to demoralize the Magic defense, destroying the Magic's confidence.

Continue to use the bench as they did in Game 4 (and all season) and play to those players' strengths. Yes, historically, the NBA Playoffs have seen teams cutting back their rotations and giving their starters more minutes. However, this year's Orlando Magic are not a traditional team in the way they run their offense. Actually, their offense of a post man and 3-point shooters resembles more of a contemporary college offense. In college, the better teams battle fatigue with more frequent substitutions. Analysts such as Charles Barkley have said that the Cavs bench is weak, which seems pretty inaccurate. On the Cavs bench are some experienced and proven playoff performers. The problem for the Cavs is that they have not been playing to the bench's strengths. While Ben Wallace feeds off his defense and Joe Smith can do the same, Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak, and Sasha Pavlovic feed off their offense for energy and confidence. Thus, the team should take pressure off Mo Williams and Delonte West to score when the bench is in, instead finding numerous opportunities for Boobie, Wally, and Sasha to score. This means more than just spot-up 3-pointers--rather, they need to get Boobie and Sasha cutting and slashing and Wally posting up.

Put out at least one Orlando Magic offensive fire, including Mickael Pietrus. In Games 3 and 4, the Cavaliers made a calculated gamble in easing off Rafer Alston. While this was a reasonable strategy that worked on backup point guard Anthony Johnson, Alston took full advantage of the situation and the Magic won both games. In fact, Alston and the Magic have already recognized that other teams have tried that strategy in the past (as Alston noted in a pregame interview before Game 4), finetuning their gameplans such that "Skip to My Lou" has scored as much as possible without letting his teammates get too cold. In addition to closing in on Alston, the Cavs need to limit the production of Rashard Lewis and/or Mickael Pietrus. Here, the Cavaliers have an inexperienced yet talented, energetic, and eager Tarence Kinsey who can match the energy level and movement of Lewis and Pietrus. While Lewis has established himself as a constant threat in the Orlando offense, Pietrus seems to have only caught fire since the 2nd round series against the Boston Celtics. Out of the two, Pietrus should be easier to contain. In this series, Pietrus has been the impact player off the bench that has put the series in favor of the Magic. Aside from Pietrus, only Johnson and Marcin Gortat have played meaningful minutes, and neither one of them is a dominant player who takes over games. With that said, Kinsey is the player off Mike Brown's bench who can neutralize the productivity of Mickael Pietrus. In neutralizing Pietrus, the Cavaliers can take over the bench game and feed off the offensive potency of Gibson, Szczerbiak, and Pavlovic.

By turning up the heat on offense, utilizing the bench more, and limiting the offensive production of Mickael Pietrus and Rafer Alston, the Cavaliers can tire the Magic, take away the Magic's confidence, and give themselves another chance to achieve their "One Goal".

Restating the obvious...

2009-05-04T23:10:00.000-04:00

Sadly, this year may mark the end of the runs of the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons. The two teams have been highly successful over the past 10 years, but injuries, aging, and stagnation have contributed to both teams' first round exits this season. Perhaps the offseason will breathe life into the two aging rosters, but they must beware that the rest of the league has finally caught up to them.

League's Best Coach and Best Player

2009-05-04T22:54:00.002-04:00

In the past couple of weeks, the Cavaliers have had a couple award winners announced. First, Mike Brown was named the NBA's Coach of the Year. Then, LeBron James was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Both earned their respective awards, and it is great to see them get the recognition they deserve. Yet, as both Brown and James have regularly declared, their recognitions received throughout this season are a reflection of the team's hard work and accomplishments. They know that, for the Cavaliers to win the NBA Championship, the whole team (coaches, players, etc.) must contribute. More importantly, they believe and trust that the whole team can contribute. As a result, Cavs fans and many others now believe and trust that the whole team can contribute. Tomorrow, Brown's, James's, and the rest of the team's pursuit for one goal continues...

Best wishes, Eric Snow-Snow-Snow

2009-04-06T01:12:00.002-04:00

Eric Snow has officially been released by the Cavaliers due to a career-ending knee injury. Snow had been unofficially retired, although it was only a matter of time before the NBA was able to give the Cavaliers clearance for the roster move and the ensuing salary cap space.

For his career, Snow averaged 6.8 points per game, 5.0 assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game. He was well-known for his unselfishness, defense, and overall knowledge of the game. His best seasons were with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he became the starting point guard alongside 2000-2001 MVP Allen Iverson. In addition to playing for the Cavs and Sixers, Snow also played for the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder). Each team made it to the NBA Finals with Snow on its roster.

Snow's presence in Cleveland has been greatly appreciated. Aside from spending most of last season as an unofficial assistant coach, the Canton-McKinley High School and Michigan State University alumnus has been a steady contributor to charity and good citizenship. He has previously been recognized by the NBA and the media for his charitable efforts. He currently works for NBA TV and should soon find his way into an official assistant coach position. Here is hoping for the best for Eric in his future endeavors!

Article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4043673
Player profile: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/eric_snow/index.html

Rest In Peace, Bill Davidson

2009-03-26T22:05:00.000-04:00

Recently, another beloved NBA owner passed away. Family, friends, and Detroit Pistons fans bid farewell to longtime owner Bill Davidson. Outside of basketball, Davidson was a major contributor to business education at the University of Michigan as well as Jewish education and scientific research (both domestic and international). An inductee of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Davidson had the pleasure of having three Pistons teams win the NBA Championship. In the current struggling U.S. economy, the Pistons franchise remains a bright spot for the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. Thanks to Bill for his contributions. Rest in peace, sir!

Cleveland "Cadavers" No More

2009-03-26T21:17:00.003-04:00

Earlier in team history, the struggling Cavalier franchise was infamously nicknamed the "Cadavers" (http://www.santabarbaranewsroom.com/news/sports/john-zant-from-dead-last-to-living-it-up-in-the-nba-finals.html). The name was eerie, but the lack of winning did little to shed the criticism. Over the years, the nickname has faded but has not been forgotten. Today, the Cavs have enough grit and vitality to avoid such criticism. Even when not at their best, the team's "pride" kicks in, as LeBron James stated after the team rallied from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Clippers in Los Angeles. In a season filled with come-from-behind victories, the Cavaliers appear to be alive and well, or perhaps they are zombified. Regardless, they keep on moving along. As for the "Cadavers" nickname, it has been laid to rest.

More team records

2009-03-26T20:27:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday, the 2008-2009 Cleveland Cavaliers became the winningest team in franchise history, taking their 58th win this season. They surpassed both the 1988-1989 Cavs and 1991-1992 Cavs, who had won 57 regular season games. The 1991-1992 team had also been the previous road record holder with 22 road wins. While both the '89 and '92 playoff runs ended at the hands of the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, the Cavaliers now have their Jordan-like player in LeBron James. Although the two 57-game winning Cavaliers teams were arguably better overall than the team that made the Finals in 2007, the depth and accomplishments of this year's team just may make them the best Cavs team ever. In fact, this team is only the second division winner in team history, following the success of the Miracle of Richfield team from 1975-1976. In the next month, the team hopes to add a 60+ win season, #1 seed in the East, and possibly a #1 seed in the NBA to their list of accomplishments, not to mention a handful of individual awards such as league MVP for James.

*For more Cavaliers history, see the team's web site at: http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/history. The current NBA standings can be found at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/standings.

Good Week for the Cavs

2009-03-06T00:41:00.002-05:00

The Cavaliers won 3 in a row to close out a difficult 4 game road trip. Mike Brown was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. Then, the team clinched a playoff spot with a victory over the Bucks, in which Delonte West had 8 steals. At 48-12, the Cavaliers have an .800 winning percentage.

The team celebrated this all by bringing back a familiar face: forward/center Joe Smith. Smith was part of the trade deadline deals from last season. He helped the team head into the playoffs with momentum, in which the team pushed the Boston Celtics to a full 7 game series. With Ben Wallace hurt, Smith brings back to the team veteran leadership, a strong work ethic, a good inside/outside game, and solid play on both sides of the court. While it took a long time for this move to happen, Cavs fans and analysts alike have been looking for the Thunder to release Smith at some point this season so that he could return to Cleveland. This almost did not happen, as Smith was actually traded to the New Orleans Hornets, where center Tyson Chandler failed his physical due to knee problems. Yet, perhaps fate took its course as the Cavaliers eventually got back the big man. Here's hoping that destiny holds more good fortune for the Cavaliers, with June as the time of great celebration.

Way to go, Coach!

2009-03-02T19:57:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Coach Mike Brown on being named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. This continues to be a potentially record-setting year for the Cavaliers. Here's hoping that, as the team keeps winning, Coach Brown is honored as NBA Coach of the Year.

Rest In Peace, Larry H. Miller

2009-03-01T21:55:00.000-05:00

Recently, the Utah Jazz saw the passing of owner Larry H. Miller. Miller had been a long established businessman and contributor to the local community. For the Jazz, he was instrumental in developing the team's fan base in Utah, moving the team into a different arena, and bringing in long time fixtures such as current coach Jerry Sloan and former tandem Karl Malone and John Stockton. While the Jazz seem to have plateaued over the past few years, Miller helped make them a regular participating team in the playoffs--arguably comparable to the run of the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball. To Larry Miller's family, friends, and fans, my thoughts and prayers go out to you. Rest in peace, Larry!

Get Well Soon, Ben!

2009-03-01T21:51:00.002-05:00

On Thursday night, an accidental collision between Ben Wallace and Houston's Yao Ming resulted in a broken right fibula for Wallace. Here's hoping that Big Ben experiences a quick and full recovery. Until then, it is time for Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson, and others to step up and cover for Ben.

LeBron Hits LeWinner; Cavs Hang Tough

2009-01-24T18:26:00.004-05:00

The Cavaliers pulled out a hard fought victory last night versus the Golden State Warriors. In a game with numerous lead changes, LeBron James completed the final lead change with his first career buzzer-beating game winner. Cleveland left Oakland with a 106-105 victory, a 33-8 overall record, a 13-8 road record, and a 2-1 record thus far on this West Coast trip.

A couple encouraging signs for the Cavs occurred in the 2nd quarter. First, the Cavaliers rebounded from a double-digit deficit to close the 1st half ahead by a point, 55-54. They very well could have fallen out of the game early in this West Coast road game. Instead, they hung tough and found themselves back in the game. Second, Tarence Kinsey came in off the bench and put together a team-rallying second quarter. He finished the game with 11 points and 3 rebounds in 14 minutes, showing a good all-around ability on the court. People should keep an eye on Kinsey, who has the potential to be a 'poor man's' James Posey with his combination of defense, fastbreak running, jumpshooting, and quickness.

KG's Auld Lang Syne?

2009-01-05T21:02:00.000-05:00

There are numerous critics wondering why the Celtics would add Stephon Marbury to their title-defending team. Kevin Garnett has given the move his approval. If given a chance and some moral support from the team, perhaps Marbury will succeed in Boston.

Yet, there is the potential that an old feud can be recreated. When Garnett became the highest paid player in the NBA when the two were with the Timberwolves, Marbury asked to be traded. Then, when Marbury was playing with a young Amare Stoudemire in Phoenix a few years ago, Marbury publicly emphasized how Stoudemire was already much better than Garnett was, is, or will be. Granted, both players have said this is behind them, but sometimes winning or losing is the difference between being able to get along and not being able to get along.

[Previous articles on the KG-Starbury feud(s):
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/azcentral_021231.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/sports/basketball/28knicks.html?ex=1353906000&en=bb2feecbe40e1da9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss .]

For the record...

2009-01-05T20:44:00.005-05:00

LeBron James did travel. He probably has traveled before while using his patented "crab dribble" and gotten away with it, while other times the move is legitimate, but the correct call was made in Sunday's game.

Officials at all levels of basketball have become lax at enforcing traveling violations. Too many players get away with carrying the ball. Similarly, it can be argued that the popular "pro hop" move should be considered 2 steps, not 1, when done by a player after picking up his/her dribble.

3rd straight strong 3rd quarter

2008-11-18T22:16:00.002-05:00

The Cavaliers improved their record to 9-2 with a 106-82 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Prior to last Thursday's victory over the Denver Nuggets, the Cavaliers had not outscored the opposing team in the 3rd quarter this season--which has continued a long-standing trend of struggling in the 3rd quarter for the Cavs. Yet, for the 3rd straight game, Cleveland outscored the opposition in the 3rd quarter (and the 4th quarter as well)--this time on the road. The recent run of strong 2nd halves may be an indication that the team is ready to take another step towards challenging for the NBA Championship. Stay tuned for tomorrow night's road game versus the division rival Detroit Pistons.

Early team stat analysis

2008-11-08T14:30:00.002-05:00

The Cavaliers enter tonight's game versus the Chicago Bulls with a 4-2 record. Here are some early season statistics of note.

The Cavaliers are 12th in the NBA in points scored at 98.5 points per game and 5th in field goal percentage at 46.8%. Meanwhile, the team is 7th in the league in points allowed at 92.3 PPG and 7th in field goal percentage allowed at 42.5%. The 6.2 PPG differential is 6th best in the league while the 4.3% FG percentage differential is 5th.

The Cavs are 3rd in the league in blocks per game at 6.3, 2nd in blocks allowed at 2.8 BPG, and 1st in BPG differential at 3.5. They were tied for 6th in BPG last season at 5.2 (with a 0.5 BPG differential) and 20th in BPG two years ago at 4.3 (with a 0.0 BPG differential).

Although only 14th in the NBA in rebounding at 41.8 rebounds per game, the Cavs are 3rd in rebounds allowed at 36.7 RPG. The 5.1 RPG differential ranks 5th in the NBA.

While the team is a modest 17th place in team free-throw shooting, the mark of 75.3% is the highest during Coach Mike Brown's tenure with the team. The team last shot above 75% for a season in 2004-2005 (75.2%: 20th in NBA). In Coach Brown's first 3 years with Cleveland, the team shot 72.9% (21st in NBA), 69.5% (29th), and 71.7% (28th) from the line.

Nine Cavaliers have played in all 6 games this season. Eight players average at least 18 minutes per game. LeBron James is averaging a career-low 35.5 MPG, which is 5.6 MPG less than his career average of 41.1 MPG.

'We're talkin' 'bout Iverson'

2008-11-03T22:24:00.000-05:00

Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons made a bold move today, trading Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson. Although Billups had become an established star, the team had become stagnant--possibly due to the departure of Ben Wallace a few years ago. The Pistons are trying to be less like the Nets of Kidd-Jefferson-Carter and more like the Celtics of Pierce-Allen-Garnett in finetuning their core, but it is unclear whether or not A.I. truly is "The Answer" to the Pistons' desire for another championship. Regardless, the Pistons and the Nuggets have brought some early season excitement to the NBA.

Pre-Opener Comments: Making the Championship Leap

2008-10-27T19:41:00.006-04:00

Tomorrow night, the Cavaliers open the season on the court where their postseason ended last spring. This year is critical for the direction of the franchise. Here are some observations going into the 2008-2009 campaign:

Offensive adjustments: Contrary to what many of the analysts keep saying, the Cavaliers do not need outside shooting first and foremost. Rather, they need to play to their strengths on offense, regardless of who is on the roster and in the game. The LeBron James drive-and-kick-out offense has only made the Cavs passive, predictable, and easy to guard. To make matters worse, the team had filled the roster with offensively one-dimensional players (mostly jumpshooters to try to address the perimeter concerns). Much talk has surrounded the outside shooting of Mo Williams. Yet, Williams brings much more, including the ability to drive, playmake, and score. The ability of the Cavaliers to play a good all-around game on offense should take them far this year.

Z's value: Most people know that LeBron James can become a free agent after the 2009-2010 season (if he does not exercise his player option for 2010-2011). While there is no known contingency plan if James leaves, there is also no known future plan regarding the center position. Zydrunas Ilgauskas can become a free agent after this season if he decides to opt out of his contract. Even if he does not, he would be scheduled to be a free agent in 2010 as well. Furthermore, Z may be nearing the end of his prime--he may have anywhere from 1 to 7 good years still in him. The Cavaliers' window of opportunity relates to Ilgauskas almost as much as it does to James.

Youth: The Cavaliers lost some of their youth when they traded Drew Gooden, Shannon Brown, and Cedric Simmons (among others) last season for veterans Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak. The Cavaliers did themselves a favor by trading for Mo Williams, Darnell Jackson, and Sasha Kaun (who is playing overseas this year), drafting J.J. Hickson, and signing Tarence Kinsey. Now, these players can join Daniel Gibson, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, and Sasha Pavlovic in providing some energy, potential, and options down the road.

A guard's game: The team now has a collection of combo guards that can run the point as well as some swingmen to join them. The Cavaliers can benefit from the increased ballhandling ability and hopefully better free-throw shooting of a guard-laden roster. Despite the size mismatches, Delonte West can handle the shooting guard position on both sides of the court. In fact, he and Gibson could have career years this season.

Tough area: in the post: In losing Drew Gooden and now Joe Smith via trades, the Cavaliers are putting a lot of pressure on Z, Varejao, and Big Ben to handle the middle. Thankfully, they have added Lorenzen Wright, who should be a decent fit. If Hickson or Jackson can be like Gibson and get going during his respective rookie season, Cleveland could make another leap into the NBA Finals.

Roster balance: With all of the talented players on this year's roster, Mike Brown and the rest of the coaching staff need to keep the team sharp, fresh, and content. Damon Jones could have very well been like Steve Kerr, but the inconsistent minutes destroyed his interest in playing for the franchise. As past Cavs coaches like Lenny Wilkens and Mike Fratello understood, deep benches especially come in handy in back-to-back games.

Winning without their best stuff: In basketball (as well as others sports and in life), the best players and teams succeed when they can win without their best stuff. Two years ago, the Cavs rode a strong defense and a streaky offense into the NBA Finals. Last year, they reverted in that they won big when they played well but lost badly when they did not have their best stuff (aside from the close Game 7 loss to Boston). When the Cavs can again prove they can win games when they struggle, they should regain a stronger stake in the Eastern Conference.

Last season, the team went 45-37. In each of the previous two seasons, they went 50-32. The Cavaliers look to win at least 45, probably 50, and hopefully challenge the franchise single-season mark of 57 wins. Hopefully, the Cavaliers fulfill the hopes and dreams of "Believeland" and finish the job from two years ago.

Coaching Advice: "Coaches are teachers"

2008-09-10T20:59:00.005-04:00

Five years ago, the Cavaliers did not renew the contract of interim Head Coach Keith Smart. Smart's departure followed the exits of John Lucas and Randy Wittman. Paul Silas took the helm but only lasted about 1 1/2 seasons before he was replaced by Brendan Malone. Prior to Silas's start as Head Coach of the Cavs, Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer asked that Cavalier fans send in advice for the new coach. My advice was among the commentary selected for posting. Here it is:

"With a team as young as our Cavaliers, you should consider using a mix of man-to-man and zone defenses. Then, emphasize to the players the importance of controlling the tempo of the game. If the opposing team goes on a 6-0 mini-run, do not be afraid to call an immediate time-out (better a 6-0 mini-run than an 18-0 run).

Most importantly, make sure that every player on the team knows that you are here to make them better players. It is one thing to criticize a player; it is another thing to help a player to improve. The worst thing a coach can do is scold a player for failing to do something without teaching that player how to do better next time.

Lastly, make sure to reiterate that basketball is a team game (EVERY player on the roster has the ability to contribute) and please emphasize the importance of good conduct on and off the court.

With that said, I know that your sense of discipline and your ability to relate to players is a good fit for the Cavaliers. Good luck to you and welcome to Cleveland!"

While I stand corrected because Paul Silas turned out to not be a good fit for Cleveland, some of the advice given to Coach Silas is applicable to any coach, including current Head Coach Mike Brown. Oddly enough, Silas's failure to acknowledge advice such as this reflected his shortcomings while coaching the Cavaliers. Silas was notorious for looking at the team as "LeBron and Four Guys" (except during the 1st quarter, when Z got the ball in the post); his departing interview reiterated this. Likewise, he angrily scolded players like Eric Snow and Ira Newble, which quickly became public news. He never made it clear that he was trying to help players become better players. Although he showed he related well to players when coaching the Hornets, he did not do so well while with the Cavs.

After successful collegiate coach Skip Prosser passed away in 2007, an article from The Cincinnati Enquirer noted about him: "Prosser always considered himself a teacher first and foremost. He was constantly looking for ways to teach his players lessons that would help them later in life." The article then quoted Prosser as saying: "Coaching isn't wins and losses. [...] It's teaching. That's the reason I got into coaching and the reason I've stayed in coaching." What coaches need to remember is that they are teachers. They need to help their players to grow on and off the court. This means career development and personal development through good times and bad times. This includes providing individual attention to each unique player while shaping team identity and unity.

Coach Brown's reputation as a solid teacher of the game helped him land the job with the Cavaliers. As Brown showed two years ago, his commitment to teaching defense directed the Cavaliers toward the Eastern Conference Championship and their first NBA Finals appearance. He, too, sometimes falls into the pitfall of excessively leaning on LeBron James through difficult stretches, but he has turned to James as much as any other player to embrace becoming a better defender. Overall, he seems more trusting of his players than Silas, Lucas, or Wittman were. In the days and months ahead, Coach Brown can build on what he has taught and what the team has achieved. If he continues to exemplify his role as teacher, the team should improve on last year's performance.

Basketball players often talk about 'schooling' each other, but perhaps they need to see themselves more as tutors passing on the knowledge of coaches. In turn, coaches need to act less like critics and more like teachers. The basketball court is more than just a sports or entertainment venue--it really is a classroom. Remember, not every classroom has desks.

Veteran big man a welcome addition

2008-09-10T20:22:00.002-04:00

The Cavaliers have signed center-forward Lorenzen Wright. The 13-year veteran has played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Atlanta Hawks, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Sacramento Kings. In 761 career regular season games--including 445 starts--Wright has averaged 8.1 PPG and 6.5 rebounds per game. This included a stretch of averaging 10.9 PPG from 2000-2005. In 15 career postseason games, he has averaged 7.7 PPG and 5.3 RPG. Although on the decline, Wright brings power and size along with his experience. His addition to the Cavaliers' bench should help fill the void left by the trading of veteran center-forward Joe Smith.

A Kind Gesture

2008-09-10T20:11:00.003-04:00

Newly signed draft pick Darnell Jackson expressed his gratitude to his peers and Jayhawk fans at Kansas University via a letter he sent to Lawrence Journal-World & News last week. He spoke of the good times and the bad times. He talked about the struggles he dealt with as a player, a student, and a family man. Although he experienced the glory of winning a championship, Jackson's struggles were less about frustration and more about trying to hold strong and grow for his family and his team. For someone who just recently earned an undergraduate degree, he seems well-experienced with life and well prepared to deal with the ups and downs of NBA life. Best wishes and blessings to Jackson, and may he bring his heart and leadership to Cleveland.

Gold and more gold

2008-08-24T20:34:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Team USA's Men's and Women's Basketball teams for pulling off a sweep of the Olympic Basketball gold medals. The Women's team won their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medals on a 92-65 route of Australia. Meanwhile, the Men's team followed through on LeBron James's guarantee to win gold for the first time since 2000, holding off Spain for a 118-107 victory.

LeBronze no more! Now onto the regular season and the issue of LeSilver...

Bring in One Mo' Guard

2008-08-16T02:20:00.003-04:00

It took "one of the top 5 shooters in the world" and a former number one draft pick, but the Cavaliers were able to land guard Mo Williams, whom the Cavaliers believe can score consistently, help run the offense, and bring speed back to the perimeter defense. He will likely take the starting point guard position from restricted free agent Delonte West, who is currently negotiating a new contract. While Damon Jones could hit clutch shots and was better than his play showed during his time with the team, Williams offers a better all-around game and, unlike Jones, should be a fixture in the lineup. However, the Cavs need to make sure to keep Williams healthy, as he has only played 80 regular season games once (57, 58, 68, and 66 were his games played totals for his other 4 NBA seasons). Also, the departure of forward-center Joe Smith puts pressure on Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson to play consistently on both sides of the court.

If the Cavaliers can sign Delonte West, they should have a pretty good guard rotation going. Quite possibly, West will start at the shooting guard (which he played more frequently than point guard in college at Saint Joseph's) alongside Mo Williams, with Daniel Gibson serving as their top backup. Sasha Pavlovic, Wally Szczerbiak, and Tarence Kinsey would also be available substitutes for Williams, West, and LeBron James. Most likely, Eric Snow will either retire or be kept on the inactive list for the bulk of the season. If teams are interested and moves are needed to help improve the team, West and Pavlovic are both tradable players while Snow and Szczerbiak represent 'expiring contracts' (which also makes them tradable). Below is a possible opening night roster.

Starting Lineup
PF Ben Wallace
SF LeBron James
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
SG Delonte West
PG Mo Williams

Bench
G Daniel Gibson
F/C Anderson Varejao
G/F Sasha Pavlovic
G/F Wally Szczerbiak
F J.J. Hickson
F Darnell Jackson (note: currently unsigned draft pick)
G Tarence Kinsey

Inactive List
G Eric Snow
G Billy Thomas
C Lance Allred

LeBronze no more?

2008-08-09T09:30:00.003-04:00

The 2008 Summer Olympics have begun. The US Men's Basketball Team is being referred to as "The Redeem Team," looking to make up for recent subpar finishes in international play, including a Bronze-medal performance in 2004. Bad memories from those Olympic basketball games include seeing Head Coach Larry Brown benching the young players (including LeBron James) and watching Zydrunas Ilgauskas's best man, Sarunas Jasikevicius, making a mockery of Stephon Marbury's defense. This time around, James is no longer a benchwarmer. He has guaranteed that the US will win the Gold medal. The quest for Olympic Gold starts Sunday versus Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, and host China. While the US is favored to win the game, they need to make sure to match the intensity and emotion of their opponents. Overall, this should be a pretty entertaining Men's Basketball tournament.

NBA Draft: Find First or Copy and Find Another

2008-07-20T17:25:00.000-04:00

Last month, the NBA conducted its annual rookie draft. Each year, the available rookies include players from collegiate and international leagues. In the draft, teams typically look to meet their needs while also looking for 'the next big star'. Team officials and basketball analysts are quick to label players as 'the next Michael Jordan', 'the next Dirk Nowitzki', 'the next Yao Ming', or the next version of some other previously successful young player. While the incoming rookies can benefit from pushing themselves and setting high goals, they often find themselves looking up to their predecessors. Likewise, teams constantly find themselves with underachieving or failed NBA prospects. A few analysts take this a step further by making their own 'new' versions of previous drafts had those drafts taken place today, again emphasizing the success of specific players.

What the teams and analysts need to realize is that some of the new stars of the league do arise as previously unknown players. People talk about how teams passed on players such as Nowitzki and Manu Ginobili. Yet, people need to realize that Nowitzki and Ginobili were not well-known outside of their home countries until after they entered the NBA. That is, teams are not exactly passing up on players if they do not know who those players are. Once the unknown players prove themselves to be talented enough to compete at the NBA level, teams realize that they missed out and decide to search for the next version of these players. Thus, more teams knew about and pursued Darko Milicic (aka 'the next Dirk Nowitzki') than they did Nowitzki (who was picked by Milwaukee and traded to Dallas in a draft-day trade package for Robert "Tractor" Traylor).

Like the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs have excelled in scouting players throughout the world. While they landed Tim Duncan as the #1 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, they also picked up Tony Parker at the end of the first round in 2001 and Manu Ginobili at the end of the second round in 1999. This means that 2/3 of the Spurs' core consists of formerly unknown prospects. While some teams pay large amounts of money for more well-known players and are thankful just to make the playoffs, the Spurs have won 3 NBA championships with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili leading the charge.

What teams can learn from the success of the Mavericks and the Spurs is that it really does pay to scout. Instead of trying to copy other teams and chasing after 'the next Dirk Nowitzki' or 'the next Manu Ginobili', teams can find the unknown prospects first. In turn, evaluations of new incoming rookies can be more realistic and personalized as opposed to just comparisons to successful and seemingly similar players. The hype around known potential future stars may generate buzz and help teams to sell tickets, but landing genuinely talented players leads to winning games--and for the Spurs, winning championships.

When to root for rival players: MLB All-Star Game

2008-07-15T23:07:00.002-04:00

In the NBA All-Star Game, fans typically root for their team's conference to win the game. In the case of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, this is also typically the case. However, as tonight's "Midsummer Classic" is taking place in Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankee fans have made sure to boo their rival Boston Red Sox All-Stars, who are on the American League team along with their hometown Yankee All-Stars. This has culminated with the entry of Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon into the game. The Yankee fans began calling for their own closer, Mariano Rivera, instead. It should be noted that Papelbon came into a tie game in the 8th inning (a non-save situation). With this in mind, Yankee fans should not feel slighted, as Rivera is still eligible to come in for the save if the AL takes the lead in the bottom of the 8th. Also, in this All-Star Game, home-field advantage in the World Series is at stake. The Yankees are only 6 games back of the Red Sox for the division lead and 5.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the wild-card playoff spot. Thus, the outcome of this All-Star Game can very well affect the Yankees' season. Yet, fans found it necessary to heckle Papelbon with an "overrated" chant. With the overrated chant carrying on, Papelbon gave up a run to break the tie. He was booed off the field at the end of the inning.

Cavaliers fans are aware that there are times when rival players and rival teams can be supported. On the last day of the 2006-2007 NBA regular season, Cav fans cheered on the rival Nets to beat the rival Bulls in order to help the Cavs land a #2 playoff seed instead of a #5 seed. After earning the higher seed, the Cavaliers capitalized on the favorable playoff match-ups and marched their way into the NBA Finals. While Yankee fans are known worldwide for their team spirit, they can learn from other fans such as Cavalier fans. If Yankee fans question this concept, they should turn to LeBron James, the Cavalier prodigy who doubles as a fan of the Yankees. Even LeBron has been a witness to how a rival's success can benefit him.

Boston Celtics: NBA Champions

2008-06-28T15:02:00.000-04:00

The Boston Celtics resumed their storied rivalry versus the Los Angeles Lakers by taking the series, 4-2. Paul Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP. The role players of the Celtics, including Rajon Rondo, James Posey, and Leon Powe outplayed their counterparts on the Lakers. In fact, a few analysts and fans declared James Posey to be the next Robert Horry. With a 2nd championship under his belt, he is on his way to chasing Horry, who has won 7 NBA Championships.

Regarding the quality of play in the Finals this year versus last year, while the 2008 Finals were more exciting, the quality of play was about the same. Neither the Celtics nor the Lakers seemed to play better than the San Antonio Spurs played a year ago. Then again, the series played out more evenly this year. Furthermore, the Celtics and Lakers are historically the most successful franchises in NBA history. As the Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers came from smaller NBA markets, the 2007 Finals provided disappointing ratings in comparison to this year's top rated series.

Game 7 defeat: no shame

2008-06-28T14:28:00.003-04:00

The second round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics a little more than a month ago was disappointing. The Cavaliers were in position to come back in 3 of the games in Boston, while in the fourth (Game 2) they held an early lead before Ben Wallace's confirmed departure from the night's lineup due to illness. However, the Cavaliers should not be ashamed for falling to the Celtics in the series. They gave the eventual champions a formidable challenge. In Game 7, the Cavaliers managed to overcome a sluggish 2nd quarter by actually outscoring an opponent in the 3rd quarter (Cleveland 28, Boston 23). LeBron James kept up with Paul Pierce shot-for-shot by scoring 45 points to Pierce's 41. While the acquisitions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett brought the Celtics much attention, it was the performance of the 10-year Celtic that carried the team past the Cavs. Pierce has been with the Celtics' franchise through good times and bad. Although Garnett gets the credit for being the emotional leader of the team, it is Pierce that has become the team's heart and soul. In fact, Pierce is the one player that never failed to get Boston fans fired up during the playoffs. The Cavs kept Garnett and Pierce in check in Game 7--they had 13 points and 4 points, respectively. In defeat, falling at the hands of the sharpshooting Pierce was the honorable way to go.

NBA Finals 2008: Quick Prediction

2008-06-05T20:08:00.000-04:00

The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Boston Celtics, 4-1. Kobe Bryant is named Finals MVP.

Game 7

2008-05-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

The Cavaliers take on the Boston Celtics at 3:30PM today. Win or lose, believe in this Cavaliers team and think positively.

Besides, as Rick Pitino said 8 years ago: "Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they're going to be gray and old."

Go Cavs!