Battered and bruised Cavaliers head to Washington
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 18, 2009 7:09 AM CST
in Cavaliers in the News
9 comments
After some computer troubles of my own, and with the network - the latter which killed the open thread last night - I am back and better than ever. Hopefully, we'll be saying that about some of the injured Cavaliers, especially across the front-line.
Here is the latest -
Jamario Moon -- Moon left last night's game vs. the Golden State Warriors with 11:03 remaining in the 3rd quarter with a sprained left ankle. He did not return to the game. He traveled with the team to Washington and is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tomorrow night's game versus the Wizards.
That's the good news. Now for the not so good.
Anderson Varejao - Varejao did not play in the game vs. Golden State (hip contusion). He traveled with the team to Washington but is listed as OUT for tomorrow night's game.
Shaquille O'Neal - Shaq also missed the game vs. the Warriors (shoulder strain). He did not travel with the team to Washington and will remain in Cleveland to receive treatment.
Leon Powe - Powe is still rehabbing his left knee.
Delonte West - Your guess is as good as mine. West is due in court in a couple days, so I'd imagine we won't be seeing him for awhile. At what point do the Cavaliers simply move on without West??
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2010 NBA All-Star Ballot Released
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 10, 2009 12:11 PM CST
in Cavaliers in the News
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The 2010 NBA All-Star Ballot was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in Dallas, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2010. NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile will begin this afternoon at 12:30 p.m. ET. The 2010 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000 - the largest group ever to witness a live basketball game, on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.
2010 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile, with associate partner 2K Sports, allows fans around the world to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. For the first time in balloting history, fans can vote for All-Stars any time by texting a player's last name from their mobile phones. Fans can cast one SMS vote per day, per phone number.
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LeBron and the Clippers - A Theory
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 9, 2009 12:27 PM CST
in Fear My Opinion
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While New Yorkers, and any media infatuated with New York, would lead you to believe that the Knicks are by far the biggest competitor to the Cavaliers when it comes to LeBron James and his home next fall, I have been of the mindset that there will be other teams that are in the running, perhaps of greater interest to LeBron than even New York.
One such place is Los Angeles with the Clippers. If LeBron is looking for a metropolis to help his start shine brighter, LA is much more attractive than New York, at least in terms of talent on the roster. Of course, I am not alone, as NBA Insider David Aldridge also talks about this option for LeBron -
Actually, if LeBron wants to play in L.A., joining the Clippers, with Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, Chris Kaman, etc., and with cap room next summer to make a major league offer, would make a lot more sense. After all, the Clippers, supposedly, came within a few hours of convincing Bryant to come aboard in 2004.
What Aldridge also does a nice job mentioning is the fact that the Cavaliers will also have some money to spend - to improve a roster that is already primed to make a deep playoff run this year, early struggles be damned -
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Cavs toy with Knicks 100-91
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 6, 2009 9:48 PM CST
in 2009 Post Game Recap
10 comments
LeBron James travels to Madison Square Garden just once this season. Ever the showman, LeBron wanted to make sure he gave the fans of the home-town Knicks something to remember - and something to hope for. James was nearly flawless - as were his Cavaliers teammates - in a 40-point first quarter pacing the Cavaliers to a 100-91 beating of the New York Knicks.
James 19 point start to the game was filled with everything that makes LeBron so special - drives to the basket, long-range jumpshots, no-look passes and lock down defense. The Cavs shot over 75% for the quarter and the games was never really in doubt again. James finished with 33 on 12-17 shooting. He added 8 rebounds and 9 assists as well.
Mike Brown, in an effort to revitalize the Cavaliers bench, started J.J. Hickson alongside Shaq. Hickson played just 6 minutes, however, scoring 6 points. By having Anderson Varejao coming off the bench, the Cavaliers were able to maintain their energy level. In fact, Delonte West, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Varejao all came in at teh same time around the 6-minute mark of the first quarter. All 5 started for the Cavaliers in 2008-09 and it was amazing how quickly the team seemed to pick up right where it left off.
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LeBron's Open Letter to New York
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 6, 2009 11:44 AM CST
in Cavaliers in the News
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LeBron James loves the Big Apple. We all know that. We all know that New York loves him too - especially if he decides to call MSG his home 10 months from now. With the Cavaliers in New York to face the Knicks at The Garden tonight, LeBron decided to give back a bit to NYC -
Dear New York,
Thank you for welcoming me back to New York City, one of my favorite places to play in the world. The Big Apple has always been good to me so I wanted to do something special to show my appreciation.
With this in mind, on November 7, 2009, I'm going to open seven gyms around NYC to host free open runs for high-school aged players. I remember being in high school and just wanting to play ball as the seasons changed from fall to winter. The Ohio winter made it tough to play outside so I always saw the opportunity to play in a nice gym as a gift.
It is in giving that I've found the most strength, whether it's on the court with my teammates or at home with my family. In giving this gift of the game to New York City, I want to share that strength with people who love the game as much as I do.
Peace,
LeBron James
A nice touch by James to open some local gyms in and around New York City. TO me, he can do all the charity work he wants to do in New York. He can wear a Yankees cap - which he certainly will be sporting tonight, I'm sure. All that is fine with me, as long as he wears the Wine and Gold on the court.
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Potent Quotables - Bulls 86 - Cavaliers 85
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 6, 2009 11:38 AM CST
in 2009 Post Game Recap
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(On tonight’s game): "You have to give Chicago credit. They came in here and gutted it out. They were very gritty tonight. They got to a lot of loose balls, especially a couple of them late. We didn’t shoot the ball well. In a one-point game, we shot 60 percent from the free throw line. We had our chances and we didn’t pull it out. That’s why every night, no matter who you play, it’s going to be a dog fight."
(On the last call): "I thought LeBron drove the ball and Noah came across the paint. As he came across the paint, he jumped. I understand the rule of verticality, but if you’re going across the paint or the lane and you meet somebody on the other side, I don’t know."
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Cavaliers sleepwalk to 86-85 loss to Bulls
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 5, 2009 10:17 PM CST
in 2009 Post Game Recap
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Maybe this is the new motivation for the Cavaliers this season. Last year, the Cavaliers seemed to be on a mission the entire regular season to get the 1 seed in the East, to win every game they played. The result was 66 wins, 39 of those at The Q. It also ended in a loss in the Eastern Conference Finals.
No need to worry about that this season - at least through 6 games.
In a game that the Cavaliers seemed disinterested in playing for large parts of the final 3 quarters, a late LeBron James energy boost was not enough to beat a young Chicago Bulls team. First of, credit the Bulls. There were several times a young team could have folded - they didn't. Instead it was the Cavs that played poor perimeter defense. It was the Cavs that turned the ball over at key times and it was the Cavs that couldn't hit the big shot when needed.
Even the final play was flawed - especially in design. With 4.3 seconds remaining and the Cavaliers trailing by one, Mo Williams inbounded the ball to LeBron, with Shaq setting the pick to clear him. Nothing wrong there - except for the one guy I would imaging Shaq was supposed to get to - Joakim Noah - was the weakside help that caused LeBron to lose the ball out of bounds, ending any hopes the Cavs had of winning.
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Potent Quotables - Cavs 102 -- Wizards 90
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 4, 2009 11:28 AM CST
in 2009 Post Game Recap
1 comment
HEAD COACH MIKE BROWN
(On tonight's game):
"We had a lot of solid performances after we got out of our little funk early on. We came out and we were flat to begin the game, especially defensively. I thought we had some decent looks that did not go in, but we weren't the defensive aggressors and we have to be. We have to force our will upon people on that end of the floor for as close to 48 minutes as possible and we're not doing that all the time...In the second half, we were the aggressors and I thought we stepped it up a notch. It was also phenomenal to only have seven turnovers for the game."
(On the second quarter):
"I thought us getting to the line was a huge turn of the table in the second quarter. I think we had only (three) free throws in the first quarter, but increased that dramatically in the second. Our aggression defensively also turned up our aggression on the offensive end of the floor."
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Magic, Larry Bird Differ on LeBron
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Nov 3, 2009 8:29 AM CST
in Fear My Opinion
13 comments
In what is becoming a trend in the sports world, everyone who is anyone has an opinion on where LeBron James should play next season. Perhaps we should keep a running tally - David Stern think James should stay in Cleveland - so does Reggie Miller.
What about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird?
The topic came up during a conference call with the two hardwood legends promoting their new book, "When the Game Was Ours", due out this Wednesday. Much like their playing styles, Bird and Johnson had differing opinions on James as well.
We'll start with Bird, who thinks LeBron should stay right where he is -
I just hope he stays in Cleveland. He means so much to that state. Plus, I like to see players stay where they were drafted.
Short, succinct, to the point.
Johnson has a different take on LeBron's future -
He's an incredible, incredible talent and he would bring a winning atmosphere to New York. He would be someone the city is buzzing about and want to see. He would create an atmosphere where other players would want to play with him. At the end of the day, he would win a championship.
Apparently, Magic forgets he has James Worthy, Kareem, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, et al when 'ShowTime' was winning NBA Championships. LeBron, alone, isn't going to win a playoff series in New York and as it stands there is no way New York can bring in the help James needs any time soon. I know, details like that shouldn't keep LeBron from heading to New York.
Oh well, on to the Wizards.
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Delonte West, Mo Williams pace Cavaliers to 90-79 win
by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Oct 31, 2009 9:09 PM CDT
in 2009 Post Game Recap
3 comments
It's Halloween and there is quite a fright going through the NBA. Delonte West returned to the Cavaliers tonight and the results were immediate and ultra-effective. Delonte plays with an edge and attitude that the Cavs were missing the first 3 games of the season. It was back tonight and the Cavs looked much more comfortable - especially in the 2nd half.
West played 22 minutes in his return to the floor - scoring 13 points on 5-7 shooting. So much of what West does, however, isn't found on a stat sheet. His tenacious defense, constantly getting a hand on the ball, deflecting passes - all of it is what West brings to the floor. He did so tonight - and the Cavs followed his lead.
West came off the bench tonight, but to be honest it seemed the team looked at its best when West was on the floor with the other starters - Shaq, LeBron, Mo and Andy - in the 4th quarter. It's a role that fits West better and I'd imagine he will get back his starting spot soon.
Tonight was one of those rare nights when LeBron James took a backseat to his teammates. LeBron scored just 14 points on 5-11 shooting. James added 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Mo Williams was once again hot - scoring 24 points on 9-14 shooting, including 5-8 from deep. Williams, after struggling through the first 2 games of the season, has rediscovered his All-Star form that past couple of nights.
It wasn't anything spectacular - both teams were coming off games last night - but it was the type of win the Cavaliers of 2008-09 were accustomed to.
The Wine and Gold now sit at 2-2. Interestingly enough, the Cavaliers were 2-2 after 4 games last season. We move on to November feeling pretty good about the Cavaliers and where they are headed.
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