First order of business - the Cavaliers got themselves back on track with another blowout win at home, this time a 111-81 drubbing of the Bobcats (highlights). They found their shooting touch again, finishing at a tidy 60% from the floor and 50% from three point range (7-14). When the Cavs shoot like that I don't think there's a team on the planet that can beat them. I found myself at times last night wishing we could bottle that performance up and save it for Friday night. And I have to admit, the Cav Fanatic blue jerseys that they broke out for the game first puzzled me at first glance earlier this week, but then grew on me as the game wore on last night.
Boobie regained his shooting touch on his bobblehead night on WednesdaySo with the easy win the Cavs have now run their home record to a perfect 18-0. That sets things up for Friday night's huge home matchup with the Celtics. Boston has managed to lose 6 of their last 8 games, and with last night's win the Cavs are now the #1 seed in the East, a half-game ahead of Boston, and tied with the Lakers for the best record in the entire NBA. I don't want to get too worked up just 34 games into the season and with still two more matchups with the Celtics left prior to the playoffs... but you can't help but think that Friday night will have a special playoff-type feel to it. And it could go a long way toward deciding the all-important home court advantage this spring... unless you listen to ESPN's John Hollinger's latest predictions where he surmises that, "I don't think seeding will even matter -- because I doubt they'll play a seventh game while storming to the title." If that doesn't give you a couple goosebumps then you're not really a Cleveland fan. More on the big game vs. Boston tomorrow.
Browns Update: Since this is fairly significant news, I'm going to breach my own self-imposed ban of Browns talk to say that Eric Mangini has been hired as head coach of our Browns. All I can think is that I hope I'm not sitting here three years from now describing how Mangini was fired in yet again, another rebuilding phase for this franchise. For the collective sake of all of us, let's hope Rebuild #4 works out. Still no GM, but that's only a minor detail, right?
Tribe Update: As if not wanting to be left out of the sports buzz in Cleveland, the Tribe has also made some noise in the past week. They traded for their third baseman, Mark DeRosa from the Cubs. They also signed free agent pitcher Carl Pavano to a contract. Pavano has a scary injury history and was extremely disappointing in New York so I don't know what to think of him. And DeRosa is by all reports a great clubhouse guy and a solid player. And we didn't have to give Casey Blake a 3-year $11M contract like the Dodgers did. Casey's a great guy and all, but yikes. There are so many financial problems in the MLB today, it's just plain scary.
And if you were wondering, Mark Shapiro is happy his brother-in-law is in town.
