Halfway there...

The Cavaliers just keep giving us more reasons to love them. Last night they completed their second consecutive playoff sweep with an 84-74 win (highlights) to finish off the overmatched Hawks in Atlanta. This marks the Cavs' eighth consecutive playoff win by a double-digit margin, yet another NBA record in a season full of them. And stop and think about this for a second: the Cavs have now gone 74-16 in their 90 games this season - a winning percentage of .822! As Fred McLeod pointed out on the Fox Sports Ohio postgame wrap, they would have to finish their remaining schedule at .500 or worse just to not win the NBA championship. I know there is still a lot of work left and we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but any Cleveland fan has to be excited right about now.

The Hawks will be seeing a streaking LBJ in their nightmares for a while

Last night's game was definitely the worst the Cavs have looked in this postseason. Closeout games are always the toughest to get, especially on the road. And the Hawks weren't willing to roll over and die like Detroit. The Cavs' offense was very stagnant for long stretches. They didn't shoot particularly well. And their free-throw shooting (14-of-26 for 58.8%) was horrendous. But they again brought the one thing that will consistently help them through the inevitable tough stretches of the playoffs - their defense. Again it was suffocating last night as they held Atlanta to just 31.5% shooting from the floor (including just 2-of-13 from long range). My personal favorite moments of the night were Wally's dunk in the second quarter (is it just me, or is Wally moving a lot better lately?), Delonte's emphatic slam in the fourth quarter, and Mo's two three-point daggers in the 4th quarter. LeBron had an off-shooting night by his own high standards (9-of-22), but still finished with a near triple-double at 27/8/8. And Z had his second straight solid game going for 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Overall, this series was another extremely impressive performance by the Cavs. Yes, they were supposed to be where they are now. But the convincing manner in which they were able to achieve both sweeps has to be alarming to both Boston and Orlando. Unfortunately now the wait begins for the Eastern Conference Finals. I've read some conflicting stuff this morning, and I'm not even sure if anything is official at this point... but it looks like if the Celtics/Magic series ends in six games then ECF Game 1 at the Q would be next Monday the 18th. And if it goes seven then we are looking at a start date of Wednesday the 20th. So no matter what it will be at least another 6-day layoff. But yet another opportunity for the guys to get plenty of rest. What's maddening to us fans is actually more beneficial towards achieving the ultimate goal. And we've already waited 45 years, so what's another 6 or 8 days, right? Eight down, eight to go. Go Cavs.

Should it be this easy?

I had the good fortune of attending Game 2 last night, yet another playoff beatdown served up by the wine and gold. This one was a 105-85 mauling (highlights) of the visiting Hawks, putting the Cavs up 2-0 as the series now shifts down to Atlanta. And the game wasn't even that close. The Cavs were up by 36 at one point in the third quarter - reminiscent of many of their regular season romps this year in terms of lack of pressure and relative ease in which they were able to do completely destroy their opponent. This one was never in doubt.

The MVP and his teammates are making quick work of the Hawks

The Hawks stubbornly stuck to their game plan of playing LeBron straight up on defense and he torched them yet again, this time going for 27/5/3 in just 31 minutes of work. The highlight of the playoffs so far for me was his insane step-back three from 36 feet just before the halftime buzzer. Mo and Delonte also combined for 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting, with Mo putting up a ridiculous +30 in the box score. And Wally came off the bench for 17 points, great hustle, his usual high-fives and ass-slaps all around. It earned him another "Wally, Wally, Wally" chant from the Q crowd. Again, it was just another fun drubbing of an opponent at home. Nothing has seemingly changed from the regular season to these playoffs as the guys rattled off their 6th straight double-digit win.

So as we head into Game 3 tomorrow night, the Hawks have to be searching for answers. How will they be able to keep it close? Will they be missing three starters now that Joe Johnson has a severely sprained ankle? And would it even matter if they were healthy? If the Cavs win on Saturday night I don't see any way that Atlanta avoids a sweep come Monday. And I have tickets for home game E, which I'm really hoping is Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Come on Boston, we're waiting for you. Six down, ten to go. Go Cavs.

Deadline day!

The Cavaliers returned from the break last night and played well, especially on defense in a fairly ho-hum 93-76 drubbing (highlights) of the Raptors in Toronto. The win again puts the team 30 games above .500 and 17-10 on the road.

Is this the last we'll see of the masked Cavalier? The deadline is looming...

But the real news today is the trading deadline, now a little over 3 hours away. Will the team make another big splash? Can they resist the urge to unload Wally's expiring contract for another piece of the championship puzzle? How desperate will teams looking to unload salary get as the deadline approaches? We will know the answers to these questions soon. My gut tells me that the Cavs will make a major move today. Just a feeling I have. I'll update here later today if anything does go down.

I do have to say that I feel for Wally and JJ (whose name has also been mentioned repeatedly in rumors). I don't think JJ will ultimately be dealt, but who (besides Danny Ferry) really knows? I do know that Wally has been a true professional this year and has done anything and everything the team has asked him to do. If he is moved I hope he can work out a buyout with that team and re-join his teammates after the 30-day wait. An NBA title just won't be the same without his emphatic high-fives and ass-slaps along the way...

Mo-mentum

While it wasn't exactly pretty, the Cavaliers' 109-92 win (highlights) over the Suns last night at the Q was just what the team needed heading into the All-Star break. The victory erased the team's first losing streak of the season and left them feeling positive about their outstanding 40-11 start to the season. That marks record for the earliest a Cavs team has ever gotten to 40 wins - by comparison they didn't reach their 40th win last year until March 21st. Now it's time for some rest and relaxation while everyone (besides LeBron and Mo) can heal up and get back to 100% again. Ben, Z, and Wally in particular look like they can definitely use the break. And we should be seeing Delonte West return to action next week, which will be a sight for this Cavs fan's sore eyes.

Mo Williams led the way last night, taking advantage of the Suns "defense" (if you can call it that) and torching them for a career-high 44 points on 18-of-26 shooting, including 7-of-9 from three-point range. LeBron chipped in 26 points of his own, as the tandem of Mo and LBJ became the first NBA teammates with back-to-back 40+ point games in almost 8 years. I particularly enjoyed the pair's post-game interview with Jeff Phelps on FSN Ohio. They looked like they will be enjoying each other's company this weekend in Phoenix. And we'll be seeing more of Mo than we expected, as he will also be participating in the All-Star skills competition on Saturday night.

Mo piled up a career-high 44 on Wednesday night

It should be a fun and well-deserved weekend for all the Cavaliers involved in the weekend festivities, especially Mike Brown and his staff. This is a nice chance for them to get some recognition for this team's success. And I fully expect Mike to force Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to play maximum minutes in Sunday's game in an effort to wear them down for the second half of the season. Soon it will be back to the grind as the Cavs return to the court next Tuesday night to face the Raptors in Toronto. That will be the first road game in a stretch of 10 of 14 away from the Q for the Cavs. You gotta love the NBA. I particularly am looking forward the stretch of four road games in five nights from 2/26-3/2 (@Houston, @San Antonio, day off, @Atlanta, @Miami). Ugh. The good news is that after that 14 game stretch we do finish with 12 of 17 in the friendly confines of the Q. So rest up guys, you've earned it. Time to get ready for the stretch run...

23-0

The Cavaliers were able to set their franchise record for consecutive home wins as they improved to a perfect 23-0 at the Q with a 101-83 win (highlights) over the Raptors last night. LeBron James set yet another NBA record as he became the youngest player ever to reach 12,000 career points. But it wasn't his offense that was most impressive last night, even if he did not 33 points and was a perfect 13-for-13 from the foul line. His defense last night was really the difference-maker. Mike Brown decided to stick LeBron on Jermaine O'Neal after he was torching the Cavs down low for 20 points early in the 4th quarter. O'Neal finished the game stuck on 20 points as LeBron completely shut him down and threw in an amazing block of a Chris Bosh dunk attempt for good measure.

LBJ was all over Jermaine O'Neal in the 4th quarter last night

The King also had some nice help from his friends, most notably All-Star snub Mo Williams. He continued his stellar play of late by adding 16 points and 9 assists. If he doesn't get the nod for the All-Star game now after Jameer Nelson's shoulder injury, then something is definitely wrong. Although I do think another snub could really put a huge chip on his shoulder and ultimately help this team more in the long run. We'll probably find out in the next day or two what happens there... Wally Szczerbiak and Boobie Gibson also had solid nights, combining for 33 points on 10-for-21 shooting, including 7-for-12 from outside the arc. Szczerbs got the rare start in place of a flu-ridden Sasha Pavlovic and logged a staggering 44 minutes of action. I hope his legs respond OK because he will be called upon again tonight in New York when the Cavs face the Knicks at 7:30. I can't wait for all the LeBron-to-New York questions again (rolling my eyes). Go Cavs.

What a weekend!

I have to admit - I wasn't too thrilled with the Cavaliers' prospects as they embarked on their four-game West Coast road trip. Down two starters and heading on the road (with just an 11-7 record away from the Q at the time) against much tougher competition than they had faced earlier in the year looked like a recipe for a few losses. After the opening loss to the Lakers I was already looking at the schedule and counting how many more games we'd be without Delonte. But after the win in Portland on Wednesday night my confidence was restored. And after the weekend they just had, it may be at an all-time high with this team.

The Cavaliers somehow found a way to finish the trip 3-1 with an amazing 106-105 win (highlights) in Golden State and then a grueling 102-97 win (highlights) in Utah. Words can't describe how incredibly LeBron played in these last two wins. If he hasn't cemented his case already for MVP of the first half of this season, I don't know what else he can do. On Friday night he put together a 32/9/8 night that included his first true career walk-off buzzer-beater, sinking the Warriors with an impossible shot as time expired. Then he followed that up on Saturday night with a 33/14/9 performance that featured enough dunks to make your head spin.

LBJ's game-winner on Friday night

The good news is that LeBron also had plenty of help from the rest of the guys as well. Most notable was how Mo Williams came through in the clutch in both wins. He opened each game with a sub-par first half and still finished with a combined 39 points and numerous huge plays down the stretch, particularly in the win in Utah. Andy, JJ, Sasha, Wally, Boobie, and even seldom-used Tarence Kinsey also stepped up at various times with big plays to help out. And Big Ben was his old reliable self on defense and even hit a huge jumper as the shot clock expired late in Golden State. Overall it was an incredible team effort that helped guide the Cavs to their most successful Western trip that I can remember in my lifetime. At 34-8 the team now gets some much-needed rest before taking the court tomorrow night to defend their perfect 20-o home record against the Kings. And they just might be getting a big weapon back in their arsenal soon...

Browns Update: The Browns finally officially hired their new GM George Kokinis, one week before their "rival" Steelers win their 6th Super Bowl. Can we just get a new picture of this guy? I'm really tired of looking at this one. Thanks.

Halfway home...

Geographically the Cavaliers are still far away from home, but road trip-wise they are halfway done with their four-game swing out West. And Test #2 was a success last night as the Cavs beat the Blazers 104-98 (highlights) in a highly entertaining game in the Rose Garden. And yes, the game was in the Rose Garden as Austin Carr reminded us about 50 times - after each three-point dagger drilled by Mo Williams or LeBron James. You gotta love AC.

The much-needed win wouldn't have been possible without the great outside touch displayed by both LeBron and Mo, who combined for 67 points on 26-of-49 shooting, including 9/15 from outside the arc. LeBron also finished the night with 14 assists after the Blazers' defense collapsed on him all night and cut him off from driving into the lane. He was basically forced into settling for his outside shot when he had a couple of drives blocked early in the game, followed by a couple of no-calls on obvious fouls (I'm trying hard not to be a homer here, but some of these fouls in the last two games have been blatant, yet are still going uncalled).

Mo Williams was outstanding on his way to his Cavalier-high 33 points. I loved the way he stepped up when the team needed him most last night. Let's hope this continues throughout the rest of the trip because an aggressive Mo on offense can really make up for a lot of the offense missing with the absence of Delonte and Z.

Mo torched the Blazers on Wednesday night

Other surprises from last night:

• Wally Szczerbiak collected a team-high 10 rebounds to go along 8 points in 26 productive minutes off the bench.
• The Cavs outrebounded the NBA's top rebounding team by 4 without Z.
• Anderson Varejao seemed to be back to his normal self with 12 points and 8 rebounds.
• The Cavs only attempted 15 free throws to the Blazers' 33, yet still came away with the win in a hostile environment against a very talented team.
• With last night's win the Cavaliers have successfully navigated through half of their 82 game schedule without racking up consecutive losses. Quite an accomplishment if you ask me. They are now 8-0 following a loss.

So the road trip continues tomorrow night in Golden State when the Cavs take on the Warriors at 10:00pm. You never know what to expect from that team and their hectic style of play, but it should be a good opportunity for the shorthanded Cavs to come home from the Western trip at least 2-2. All things considered, that would be an accomplishment by itself.

Cavs in Portland tonight

First things first - allow me to apologize for not posting yesterday. I try to get a recap up for every Cavs game in a timely manner. But this time the neglect was not out of spite (well not totally) for the way the Cavs got handled in the second half by the Lakers, but rather because other things got in the way of my day. If I don't meet my own self-imposed deadline of noon, then a post is probably just not gonna happen that day.

Anyway, Monday night's performance is sure to have some Cavs fans urging Danny Ferry to trade Wally's expiring contract immediately. But relax, take a step back and look at the big picture and you'll see that the 105-88 loss (highlights) is not reason for panic - yet. Winning on the road in the NBA is difficult no matter the circumstances, let alone when you factor in missing 40% of your starting lineup. The Cavs made it a game for almost three quarters, but just ran out of gas at the end and got clobbered by the Lakers' big men. Missing Z in the paint and having a not-yet-fully-healthy Big Ben will do that to you. And being forced to play Lorenzen Wright and JJ Hickson in the fourth quarter isn't a recipe that will allow for a lot of success against elite teams on the road.

Things didn't go LBJ's way on Monday, but a rematch on 2/8 in the Q is looming...

The bad news? The Cavs will still be shorthanded for the rest of the road trip, which resumes tonight at 10:00pm in Portland. But the rest of the league won't be throwing the Cavs a pity party and they'll just have to fight through it. The good news? By some accounts, Big Z may be ready to return to the court on the 27th (barring any setbacks) when the Cavs return home to face the Kings. And Delonte should return right after the All-Star break, which would mean only 12 more games without him. It could be a lot worse. And Danny Ferry still has a lot of options before the February 19th trade deadline. We know he will be patient and not make any snap decisions before then. Oh, and we still have the best player in the world on the roster, capable of himself willing this team to improbable wins (as he has shown in the past with a much weaker roster).

Remember, this team is still 31-8 and, in my own humble opinion, far from peaking. Good things are ahead for us and a couple of wins on the remainder of this trip would make things look even better. Just hope for the big tease that is Sasha Pavlovic to keep up his solid play that has emerged the last two games. And hope for Wally to make his jumpers while he's still in a wine and gold uniform. This is the toughest stretch these Cavs will likely face all season and this current adversity could go a long way towards shaping the team's future.

Go West young Cavs...

The Cavaliers embark on their first really tough road stretch of the season tonight in Los Angeles where they face the Lakers at 10:30pm. And they do so on an up-note after beating the Hornets 92-78 (highlights) on Friday night at home. That win improved them to a perfect 20-0 at the Q and was really much-needed after the ugly loss Thursday night in Chicago.

Can we really count on this guy as we head out West?

So how did the short-handed Cavs step up and earn a relatively easy win on Friday night against a very solid Hornets team? They junked things up on defense, they slowed the pace on offense, they made their open shots, they outworked New Orleans, and of course having LeBron on your team always helps too. LBJ finished the night with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists while playing all over the court (including logging some minutes at center). And guys like Wally Szczerbiak (14 points, 4-of-5 from three-point range) and Sasha Pavlovic (19 points and 6 rebounds in 42 minutes) really stepped up. And Mo Williams was his normal solid self, chipping in 17 points, even on an off-shooting night. And it sure was good to see Big Ben back on the court. I think his presence lifted the team emotionally, even if he only logged 14 minutes as he works to get back to 100%.

So what should we expect from this four-game swing out West? Your guess is as good as mine. Will Sasha and Wally be able to stay consistent offensively? I've seen enough Cavs basketball over the last couple years to know we can't fully depend on either one of them. Hopefully they can surprise us. There will no doubt be an increased scoring load on LeBron and Mo. But others will need to chip in if this is to be a successfull trip. And I would qualify coming home with a 2-2 record or better as a definite success. I really hate to be without two of our key guys at this important time in the season. But really, it is much better to have these injuries crop up now than in April. Go Cavs!

Browns Update: As the Steelers move on to another likely Super Bowl victory (ugh), the Browns seem to finally have found their new GM (yawn). Please just let this work out. I don't want to see another rebuilding phase for a long, long time.

Weekend Sweep

It was a good sports weekend in Cleveland, especially since the Browns weren't a part of it. The Cavaliers had a back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday night. First they were home vs. the Pacers and then they hit the road the next night in Chicago - it's always a daunting task in the NBA to play that second consecutive night on the road. In the past few years it would have been asking a lot of this team to win both games, even against lesser opponents the likes of the Pacers and Bulls. Now with the added depth on this roster, taking both games should be the rule and not the exception.

The Cavaliers passed their first back-to-back test with flying colors after Friday's 111-107 win (highlights here) and Saturday's 106-97 win (highlights here). And it wasn't so much that they won both games, but rather how they won both games. On Friday the Cavs were forced to play out of their element. They didn't win with their defense (well, besides this play) but instead with their up-tempo offense. They flew their way to 68 second-half points and won a game they likely would not have been able to get last year.

Then on Saturday they were able to win with their defense, with their hustle, with their determination, and with their superstar showing why he's the best player in the league. LeBron's consecutive three-pointers in the final two minutes were the type of daggers that he has become famous for the last couple seasons. And we should all take a minute or two to commend LeBron for his improved free throw shooting - he has now made 42 of his last 47 after starting the season 12-of-20. He is now up to 77% overall. If LBJ can maintain that clip I see a lot more wins in this team's future.

The King and AV have been keys to the Cavs' 5-2 start

Through seven games the Cavs sit at 5-2, in first in the Central division, and about to begin a three-game home stand. Mike Brown is now comfortable with his rotation and some of his players look the best they ever have in their Cavalier careers. Anderson Varejao is playing his way into a big contract next year. Ben Wallace looks healthy and dominant again defensively. Wally has settled nicely into his role off the bench. Mo looks comfortable taking big shots and running the show. Z is steady and consistent as usual. Delonte West has adjusted very well to his starting 2-guard spot. And Boobie Gibson is showing some surprisingly adequate ball-handling skills and is starting to look more like the PG that we all hoped he could be off the bench - and of course his long-range shooting will always be there too. These are all reasons to get pumped about this team and be happy that they can divert your attention from yet another lackluster Browns season.

That's more like it

The Cavaliers went into Dallas last night, built a 16-point lead in the first half, let Dallas come all the way back to tie it, and still ended up walking away with a dominating 100-81 win (highlights here) over the Mavericks. If this was just our fist taste of the new-look Cavaliers then I'm already hungry for more. LeBron James led the way with 29 points (13-15 from the line!!!), Mo Williams added 14 (including some daggers during a fourth quarter run, highlighted by this long range bomb), and the Cavs outrebounded Dallas by 17. In all five Cavaliers were in double figures in a very balanced offensive attack.

I wish I had photographic or video evidence of a huge baseline dunk by Wally Szczerbiak but I cannot find it anywhere. But trust me, with 3:58 left in the third quarter and the Cavs only up by one Wally went baseline and threw one down right in Erick Dampier's face. It's like the people in control of NBA highlights were so shocked that it happened, they just decided to omit it altogether. It might be the first time I've ever even seen Wally throw one down in a Cavalier uniform and I won't soon forget it. It was the kind of night for the guys in wine and gold.

The King led the cheers from the bench in the 4th quarter

Another thing that was great about this win was the way the bench reacted throughout. They were up and cheering and really supporting the five guys on the floor all night. It may seem like a trivial thing but I can't remember the last time I saw the Cavs bench so actively involved in a game. I think it illustrates how tightly knit this group of players is and how excited they are about the opportunities ahead of them. LeBron was really leading the cheers from the bench in the fourth quarter. And how nice is that to say? Again, he only had to log 34 minutes on the court in this game and is averaging 34.5 mpg through the season's first four games. You know that makes Mike Brown grin uncontrolably. A healthy, rested LeBron means trouble for the rest of the league come playoff time...

Other Cavs Notes: Brian Windhorst's take on the big win in Dallas... The Cavaliers have some opinions on yesterday's big trade... I just noticed Bob Finnan started a new Cavalier blog to go along with his view of yesterday's win... The Cavaliers will return home to the Q tomorrow night to take on the Bulls at 8:00 pm.

Browns Update: I was literally shocked when I got three texts from friends around the same time as I was driving home from work yesterday - Brady Quinn will be the starter vs. the Broncos on Thursday night. Of course I wanted this and lobbied for it yesterday, but I can't believe the Browns actually pulled the trigger... Coach Crennel says it was his decision... Tony Grossi says the Browns just couldn't wait any longer on Quinn... Joe Jurevicius is eager to recover and return to the field in '09. We're pulling for you Joe.

"Some things had to do with it. Our record, offensive ranking, offensive production, so I made the decision to make the change." - Romeo Crennel

D'oh-and-1

Not the way we wanted to start the season last night for the Cavaliers. I followed my own cardinal rule and resisted the urge to post something immediately after the game last night to give myself a chance to react in a more rational manner. I think it helped a little bit, but I'm still ticked off by the whole thing. 50 points at halftime and then only 35 in the second half. Ugh. Here are some thoughts I need to pour out after the 90-85 loss in Boston:

• LeBron - He showed the flashes of brilliant athleticism we all love about him. He worked hard to be a distributor for much of the first half, trusting his teammates. And he showed that his free throw shooting still leaves a ton to be desired. I hate to pick on LBJ, but this has to stop. Teams will be fouling him at the end of every game and he needs to step up to the line and knock them down. We shouldn't still be harping on this going into his sixth season now.

There will be plenty more battles between these two before the season is over

• Mo Williams - There was good and bad with Mo last night. First the good... he pushed the tempo in a fashion we just haven't seen with these Cavaliers. That created some easy fast break points. He also is not afraid to take the big shot and I'm sure it will result in some huge scoring nights for him down the road. Now the bad... he just seemed careless with the ball at times. Way too many bad turnovers (4 for him on the night). And his perimeter defense on Rajon Rondo was awful. It reminded me of the playoff series last year with Rondo constantly blowing by defenders to the basket for an easy layup or two free throws. That needs to stop too.
• Z - The big man will always be a target among certain Cavalier fans because of his slow feet and two or three guaranteed traveling calls a night on moves to the hoop. But Z is consistent. His 15 points and 8 boards from last night can basically be penciled into the box score every single game. And his mid-range jumper is a huge asset to the Cavs when teams collapse on LeBron in the paint. I will always love Z on the Cavs for what he brings on a nightly basis. He is what he is and everyone should know what to expect from him by now.
• Boobie - There was also good and bad here. I liked the way he aggressively drove to the basket on a couple occassions. And he seemed much more comfortable handing the PG duties (mainly his ballhandling) with the second unit. But he was way off on his outside shot last night, missing a few wide open looks that he usually knocks down. But he's too good a shooter for that to continue for too long.
• Sasha Pavlovic - What can you say about him that hasn't already been said a million times? He had a nice drive to the basket for a strong layup over two defenders. He confidently knocked down a jumper in the 4th quarter. Then later in the 4th he put his head down and plowed into the lane where three defenders were waiting to take the easy charge. And he missed a big free throw after that. I could have written the same thing about him 4 years ago and probably 4 years from now. He's like a Serbian robot that's auto-programmed to never change.
• Lorenzen Wright - He worked hard from what I saw. He knocked down a nice jumper early in the game. Then reminded us why he probably shouldn't be shooting much when he missed another one later. He looked to me like a slight upgrade over Dwayne Jones, at least in the sense that he can occassionally put the ball in the basket. No more, no less.
• Wally Szczerbiak - Same struggling defender, and same struggling outside shooter. I just wish he would be the consistent shooter that he seemed to be before he arrived in Cleveland. That would make his defensive deficiencies a little easier to swallow.
• Ben Wallace - He grabbed four rebounds and had a nice strong one-handed dunk on his long FG attempt. It appeared as if he is in great shape and his back didn't bother him at all. But he played a puzzling 19 minutes on the night. Not sure what's up with that.
• Anderson Varejao - Maybe the lone bright spot on the night for the Cavs. He was all over the floor in his 25 minutes of action. He ended up with 9 points and 9 rebounds (4 offensive) and even played some nice one-on-one defense on Paul Pierce to force a miss late in the game before the missed free throws from LBJ. This is the Andy that Cleveland fans love and are looking forward to this season. He is definitely playing for a new contract now.
• Delonte West - I love his game, I just wish he'd be more proactive offensively. He played 35 minutes and only took 4 shots. I'm not sure if it's a confidence thing with him, but he seems too tentative at times. He should be more comfortable than he is with this team.
  
• Coach Brown - Not his strongest performance rotation-wise. Maybe it's just because it was the first game and he's still feeling things out. But that second unit that was out there late in the first quarter was simply baffling: Boobie-Sasha-Wally-Wright-Andy. Who was going to score when they were on the floor together? And I'm not going to fault him for not throwing rookie J.J. Hickson out there in that game. At this point I expect Hickson to see spot minutes, or appear in longer stretches in garbage time. But he will clearly have to earn a spot in the regular rotation. Nothing will be handed to him.

That's all for now. I'm done with that game. I hate the Celtics and really don't wanna think about them anymore until the next time we face them (January 9th). I'm looking ahead to the home opener tomorrow night against the Bobcats.

Browns Update: With all the distractions supposedly behind them, it's back to football... Tony Grossi gives a scouting report for Sunday's matchup with the Ravens at the Stadium... The Browns claim their confidence is growing with each victory. A win Sunday would give me a little confidence in this team... And is Romeo Crennel the reason the Browns are still in it? I doubt many fans of the orange and brown will say yes to that.

I'm ready for some football

It's been 15 days since a regular season game was played among any of our sports teams. There has been nothing since September 28th. So yes Hank Williams Jr., I'm ready for some football. Actually, I'm more ready for some tailgating, followed by likely disappointment inside the Stadium. I don't think that's being a pessimist, just a realist. Curb your expectations of the Browns and there's little room left for disappointment. So that's the angle I'm playing here.

At least we won't be sporting the brown pants tonight...

The Giants are a solid football team. Solid enough to go 10-6 last year, then win three straight road games in the playoffs on their way to one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. The Browns on the other hand... who knows what to ever expect? I just don't see any way they can compete with this team. But of course I've been wrong before. I'd like to see the Browns show some pride and ride on the crowd's energy in prime time under the lights. Maybe that can happen for a while, but eventually I think the Giants will pull away. I'll go with Giants 34 Browns 13. Prove me wrong Brownies, please. Make us proud to be Clevelanders.

Other Browns Notes: K2 was finally released from the hospital yesterday and is listed as doubtful for tonight's game. Hope everything is OK with him and I don't think any Browns fan is looking forward to facing the Giants without him on the field... Terry Pluto says DA needs to show something soon, like starting tonight... Will the Dolphins' creative offense inspire the Browns? All I know is that Josh Cribbs needs the ball in his hands more for the Browns to have much of a chance... James Walker says the Browns are approaching a breaking point... And DA's problems may be explained here. But I still say he still needs to play much better than he has.

Cavs Update: 15 days and counting. The season can't start soon enough. Hopefully Wally Szczerbiak really is returning to form. I'm not sure if he will win the starting role this season, but he will play an important role for this team before the trade deadline... More about Daniel Gibson's decision to stick with the Cavs. How can you not love this guy?... Coach Brown likes the progress of the offense, but the focus still remains on the defensive end... And a nice piece from Bob Finnan on the fight for the final roster spot.

"Yeah, maybe I'd have gotten a big offer, but I had an idea of what I was going to get going in," Gibson said. "Cleveland is where I wanted to be so, I didn't consider going anywhere else."

Preseason rematch

It's no secret that the Cavaliers put the biggest scare into the Celtics on their way to their 17th NBA crown last May. I know the Hawks took them to seven games in the first round, but did anyone see Game 7? I think the Hawks lost by 100. The Cavaliers had a real shot to steal their Game 7 in Boston and probably would have done so if not for some annoying shots from 75-year-old PJ Brown, all the loose balls going the Celtics way, and a couple missed open looks from the Cavs. So yes, the Cavs' 97-92 loss still rubs me the wrong way today and I'm hoping they use it as motivation for this season.

The Cavs and Celtics meet again tonight - and for real in just 18 days

The Cavs will renew their rivalry tonight with the Celtics, albeit in a fairly meaningless preseason game. But when these teams get together, there's always some extra intensity, likely fueled by Paul Pierce's idiocy a few years back. I've made no secret here about my hatred for all things Boston. And I see them as the one roadblock to another Finals appearance for the Cavs this year. The Celtics are a year older, now without James Posey, and perhaps a little less motivated than a year ago. We've already overcome the Pistons in the playoffs and I think their mystique has worn off over the last couple years. And I don't think Orlando or Philadelphia are ready to step up and be a serious threat to us in the postseason. The opportunity is there right now for the Cavs. If they stay healthy this could truly be a season to remember...

Other Cavs Notes: Sasha Pavlovic sprained his ankle on Wednesday and did not make the trip to Providence for tonight's game. The door is now open for Wally Szczerbiak to step up and grab the starting role again. I would prefer to see it go to Delonte West, but someone has to play backup PG and I think he and Mo will ultimately be in the back court in crunch time anyway... Bob Finnan talks about the Cavs/Celtics rivalry... And from the notes in today's ABJ, Delonte West may or may not suit up tonight, depending on when he meets back up with the team. And LBJ even knows how to be political when talking about politics:

"Good luck to Brady Quinn. Hopefully he continues to work at it and maybe he can be the starting quarterback for the Browns.''
- LeBron James

Browns Update: Probably the last thing the Browns need at this point - Kellen Winslow, Jr. (aka, one of the few players on the Browns with any heart) is now listed as questionable for Monday night's game vs. the Giants. As usual, the Browns are being very tight-lipped about his "unspecified illness," and that makes me more than a bit nervous. If the Browns have to take the field without their emotional leader on MNF, I truly think there is no way they can possibly win... And if that wasn't enough, now their fearless leader is trying to block political distractions in the locker room. Sometimes this team just makes me stop and shake my head.

Delonte Re-Signed!

The Delonte West free agent saga finally reached a conclusion today with him signing a multi-year deal to remain with the Cavaliers. Details here.

“This is the first time since I was offered a scholarship at St. Joes that I feel like I am valued as a person and a player. Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers have shown me that they value me as a person and a player and that was the most important thing to me,” said West. “In that sense, this was not about a specific dollar amount. You can’t really put a dollar value on a person, their skills you can, but not their heart and what kind of person they are. My family is blessed and I feel a great relief to be able to concentrate on basketball now.” - Delonte West

This is a big signing in my eyes. Now we have the full squad coming back from last season with much-needed depth in the backcourt now that Mo is here too. It remains to be seen what happens with Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract, but the team now has many options. West gives the Cavs toughness on defense and gives them another scoring option and we know he's not afraid to take big shots. I love that he will be back with the Cavaliers and can't wait for October 28th in Boston. Only 46 more days...

We're glad to have you back Delonte :)

Game 4 Afterthoughts

Wow. It's been about 12 hours and I'm still amazed at LeBron's dunk at the end of the 4th quarter that sealed the win for the Cavaliers. Sometimes he just does things that make you shake your head. For those of you that didn't see it, here it is:



As Brian Windhorst wrote after the game, that one could be remembered as the play that changed the series. Of course the Cavs still need to go into Boston and find a way to win there. But after evening the series 2-2 in resounding fashion last night, today that task doesn't seem like such a tall order. The Cavaliers' team defense has been incredible over the last two games. They have held the Celtics under 80 points two games in a row (something Boston had only done twice in 82 games in the regular season).

And just when I had written off Anderson Varejao for the season, he comes through with a throwback performance. This was the Andy we knew from the last two years - the indispensable hustle player that provided great defense and timely baskets. His defense on Kevin Garnett in the second half was incredible. He made KG fight for position down low and I think he finally figured out that Garnett goes baseline about 95% of the time (something I've been screaming at my TV for four games now).

Also chipping in nice performances were Boobie Gibson, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West, whose ballhandling this series has really helped take a load off LeBron's broad shoulders. LBJ still is having problems with his outside shot, but his 3-pointer late in the fourth, along with one by Gibson were timely daggers as well. Just a great win tonight and an outstanding crowd at the Q. Now we are guaranteed at least one more home game on Friday night. I will be there in my season tickets (finally!) and I'm hoping that one is the series clincher.

(One final side note about LeBron's dunk - How does Garnett not get a foul called on him there??? He blatantly shoved LeBron with two hands. Maybe the refs were too baffled by the dunk, but Garnett gets away with a lot of this kind of crap. I used to like him as a player. Now I really can't stand him. And him yelling "fucking faggots" to the crowd tonight was really classy.)

Let's call this one "The Series Changer"

Game 4 Thoughts

Tonight's game is the biggest one at the Q since Game 6 vs. Detroit last year. Yes, I'm excluding the Finals from consideration because I think the team was just happy to be there and not really ready to face the Spurs. So as I sit here and prepare myself mentally for what I expect to be an exhausting game, here are my thoughts:

1. LeBron HAS to start making shots. I don't think it's physically possible for him to stay sub-30% for the entire series. He is just too good a player, no matter what the Celtics try defensively.
2. Ray Allen also HAS to start making shots. He is now 1-11 from 3-point range in the series. He has made things a lot easier on Wally Szczerbiak by missing open looks. And if he wants to continue, who am I to stop him?
3. Ben Wallace HAS to play. He is listed as day-to-day with the inner ear infection and allergy problems and I fully expect him to play. In my previous post, I outlined why he is so important to this team. And even if Garnett is shooting 59% for the series, I shudder to think where we'd be without Big Ben on him.
4. The Cavaliers need to play with the same step-on-their-throats mentality that they displayed on Saturday. I expect the Celtics to be more focused and determined at the start of this one. But if the Cavs can still get them down early, it might be very demoralizing for them.
5. The fans need to bring it just like on Saturday. The Q was as rowdy as I've seen it in a long time for Game 3. I'm hoping for the same type of atmosphere tonight. But it will largely be up to the players to set the tone early on and the crowd will follow.

Interesting note: The Cavaliers are 5-2 in Game 4's in the LBJ era, with their only losses coming in Washington in 2006 and vs. the Spurs in last year's Finals. Boston has also lost 7 games in a row overall at the Q.

Game 4 usually brings out the best in the Cavs - will LBJ return to form?

Home Cooking in Game 3

Ben Wallace is an overpaid athlete. Everyone who follows the NBA knows this. The Chicago Bulls gave him a ridiculous contract back in 2006 and he could have never possibly lived up to it. He is a garbage man, an energy play, and a player who impacts the game by doing the dirty work. But that doesn't mean the Cavs aren't happy to have him on their roster, especially after games like last night.

Going into Saturday's Game 3, Wallace was listed as doubtful with dizziness from an inner ear infection and allergies. That's why it was quite surprising to see during the Cavalier introductions on the video board when Anderson Varejao's name and picture briefly appeared and then were replaced by Wallace. It seemed that the late decision even took Cavalier PA announcer Olivier Sedra by surprise. And Big Ben immediately impacted the game with his presence, getting 6 points in the first quarter. His final stat line reads like this: 9 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks. Anyone who has followed this team since the big trade knows that when Big Ben is this actively involved, the Cavs rarely lose. His energy and defense set the tone for a big night for the Cavs at home.

And the Cavaliers' 24-point drubbing of the Celtics was especially satisfying when you consider that LeBron James had another off-shooting night. He will not keep misfiring like this. Maybe we just take his greatness for granted, but even on a 5-16 shooting night he still found a way to chip in 21 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 block shots (including one where he pinned Rajon Rondo's layup high against the glass). LeBron did have a lot of help offensively from some of the other newer faces, with Delonte West, Joe Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak all stepping up with very big games.

So now the series sits at 2-1 and the pressure is tilting heavily onto the Celtics after their fourth straight road loss in the postseason. If the Cavaliers can duplicate this effort on Monday, I think we may see a repeat of last year's Eastern Conference Finals. And on a personal note, I'd like to thank the arrogant Boston idiot in Section 219 that was wearing the "Got Banners" t-shirt last night. Thank you for riling up our section and making it the rowdiest I've seen since Game 6 vs. the Pistons last year. Please come back tomorrow for Game 4.

LBJ finds a rare chance to throw one down in Game 3

One final note on Game 3: I know this will probably come off as me being a whiny homer, but I'm sick and tired of guys taking these cheap shots on LeBron. Last night it was James Posey clotheslining LBJ as he drove to the lane, full speed. It may not have been intentional, but the way Posey grabbed him was very dangerous. I personally thought it deserved an ejection. He should at least be fined a pretty penny for that maneuver.

Tribe Update: I'm very pleased with Friday and Saturday's games from our Indians. I was there on Friday night and it looked like they were heading for another ho-hum, no-offense loss when they were down 1-0 in the 6th with only three hits. But the bats came alive for 6 runs and CC Sabathia did more than enough to get the 6-1 win. And I honestly didn't see one pitch from last night's game since I was inside the Q, but I did get to hear Grady's leadoff HR from right outside the Jake, errr, Prog. That set the tone for a 12-0 Tribe beatdown of the Blue Jays, and the rare Cavs/Tribe double-win. Let's hope for a few more of those all the way into June...

Sunday's Mother's Day game has just been postponed so we'll have to wait until Monday to see if the Tribe can climb back over .500 again. They will play a traditional doubleheader vs. the Blue Jays starting at 4:05 tomorrow.

Let's Get It On!

Tonight, the rumble in Beantown begins. The Cavaliers look to knock off the heavily-favored Celtics in what I expect to be a hard-fought, tough series for both teams. As I sit here thinking about tonight's game I have the same nervous feeling I had going into last year's Eastern Conference Finals. On one hand, I'm nervous about this Cavs team playing on the road in a hostile environment. But on the other hand, I'm excited to see if they can build on their Game 6 victory on the road in Washington. And of course, I'm always looking forward to seeing what LeBron has up his sleeve in the playoffs. He has always saved an extra gear for the Celtics, probably stemming from his personal rivalry with Paul Pierce over the last few years. And don't discount the fact that the Cavs have had to listen to the entire national media fawn over these Celtics all year long, basically handing them a free pass to the ECF vs. the Pistons. The Cavaliers are the defending Eastern Conference champs and I expect them to defend that title viciously starting tonight.

My Cavalier keys to the series:

1. The LeBron Factor: If he brings it like he did in Game 6 on both ends of the floor in this series, look out Celtics. It's hard to believe a 23-year-old can be that good (and is still improving).
2. Our shooters: If our outside threats can consistently knock down shots from the perimeter we will be nearly impossible to beat. One of the biggest factors of this series simply comes down to Gibson, Szczerbiak, and West hitting their open shots. We know the defense will be tilted towards LeBron at all times and he will find them for open looks.
3. Establishing a low-post game: The Cavaliers often forget about Zydrunas Ilguaskas in their offensive sets. He has a big advantage on offense over Kendrick Perkins and this is one area the Cavs can use to their advantage. I also think they should look to post up Szczerbiak when Ray Allen is guarding him. This can get Wally going offensively and could get Allen into foul trouble. And of course I'm always a proponent of getting LeBron to post up on certain possessions.
4. Stealing a win in the Garden: It sounds simple enough, but the Cavs have struggled all year on the road. They were 2-2 vs. the Celtics this year, with both losses coming in Boston (although LeBron missed one of those games). And Boston likes to pressure the ball, which could force turnovers early. Our ballhandlers needs to stay under control and composed which can be tough on the road. But if we can steal one in Boston I think we win the series.
5. Keep the games close, win in the end: This has been the Cavaliers' formula for success ever since Mike Brown took over the head coaching reigns. I think it especially holds true in this series. If they keep the games close with good defense, LeBron will be there to close things out. And I don't think this Celtics team has what it takes to dig out close games. Pierce likes to put his head down and try to get bailed out by the whistle on drives to the hoop. And KG tends to start short-arming shots late. Keep the games close and "win in the end" (for all you Teen Wolf fans out there).

For a more detailed series breakdown, check out what our favorite Cavs beat writer Brian Windhorst thinks of this series. I also went behind enemy lines today to see what Boston writers were saying. I was actually pleasantly surprised by what Bob Ryan had to say and by this piece by Michael Vega. It's refreshing when the other team's writers aren't completely delusional or writing with personal agendas. Speaking of Tom Knott, he just can't let go of his idiotic theory that the NBA hates the Wizards and pampers LeBron. For the record, during the series the Cavs were called for 139 fouls, the Wizards 137. And the Cavs shot 175 free throws, to the Wizards' 174 (thanks again to Mr. Windhorst for that great info). Go Cavs!!!

This guy always brings out LBJ's best

Tuesday Tribe Update:
The Tribe decided to give us all a break yesterday and had an off day. Hopefully they put together a game plan for how to wake up the offense for the series in New York. They also officially cut ties with Jason Michaels in favor of Ben Francisco (the loud clapping and cheering you might hear outside your window is coming from the entire Tribe fanbase).

Obligatory Browns Update:
Lost in the shuffle of my weekend of Cavalier and Tribe following, I forgot to mention that Phil Savage was given a 3-year contract extension to remain VP & GM of the Cleveland Browns. Kudos to Randy Lerner and the entire Browns organization for getting this done. Phil has successfully lifted the 'woe-is-me' attitude that hung over this franchise (as he correctly predicted, yet is still no small miracle). It's great to have hope in this team again.

3 Times is a Charm

Who's laughing now? LeBron took the high road during his postgame interview session, but you can bet this one tasted good as the Cavs closed out the Wizards' season for a third straight year, winning 105-88 in Game 6 in front of the D.C. faithful. After all the booing and the "overrated" nonsense, you know LeBron enjoyed this one. He was incredible tonight, posting his third career playoff triple double with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Keys to the game from my view:

• Wally Szczerbiak came out hot and didn't stop firing. He finished with 26 points, going 6-13(!) from behind the arc.
• Boobie Gibson was also hot tonight, chipping in 22 points of his own.
• LeBron was an animal on both ends of the court tonight. He willed his team to this win with his leadership by example.
• Overall the team was much more focused and prepared for this one, compared to Game 5. Hopefully this great performance can carry over into Round 2. I think Mike Brown deserves some credit for the team really being ready to play tonight.

On a personal note, this night worked out perfectly for me. My wife and I decided to skip going to the Tribe game and stay home to watch Game 6. Luckily for us, the game was rained out so we didn't miss a thing. We got to see the Cavs lay a beatdown on Washington and we still get to go to the make-up game later this summer. And to cap things off, the Atlanta Hawks stunned the Boston Celtics in their Game 6 to force a Game 7 on Sunday. Now, instead of the Cavs having to fly to Boston for a game on Sunday, they can rest up until Tuesday when their next series starts. Maybe the sports gods really don't hate Cleveland sports... ehhh, what am I saying? It's been 44 years of pain and agony. But with LeBron, there's always a chance to end the pain... stay tuned.

Have a nice summer jackass...

...this man officially owns you.