Cavs Draft Possibilities

The NBA Draft takes place on Thursday and the Cavs currently hold the 4^th and 24^th overall picks. With the Wizards, Bobcats and Rockets all making trades the last few days, the options for the Cavs have really opened up.

The Cavs who are in dire need of a wing player will more than likely have their choice between Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes at the small forward position. The Cavs cant’ go wrong when choosing between these two soon to be rookies, even though they provide different contributions. Kidd-Gilchrist is thought to be a defensive maven, dangerous in transition and excellent at moving off the ball and driving the lane. While Barnes is a solid defender, excellent mid-range offensive game, and can catch and shoot with the best of them.

My fear with Barnes is, he struggled last year creating off the dribble, and creating space against competition that was smaller and slower. Now while that can be attributed to growing pains of a young player, I’m not so sure how quick he will improve that part of his game, once he starts consistently playing against guys who are stronger and faster than his counterparts at the college level. I’m not going to completely out rule the possibility of growing, but for most players that have the same struggle; it’s something that follows you to the league. However, many believe that Barnes has a game that will translate to the NBA, given his height and big frame and that is sure to fill out once his body matures.

With Kidd-Gilchrist, the knock on him is, his jump shot is pretty weak. While this is something you can improve on, his shooting motion may be something that delays the process. What works in his favor is, defensively he’s 100% committed on that end of the floor. As previously stated, he’s good in the open court and in space. He’s also a solid rebounder, which poses a threat to the defense when you have a 6’7’’ guy barreling down the court on the break.

Rumblings have been the Cavs could take Bradley Beal, who at 6’4’’ is considered to be undersized to play the shooting guard position. However, is a lights out shooter who has the ability to take you off the dribble and get to the rim and finish strong. Scouts say he’s a willing passer and plays with a high basketball IQ.

While Beal is an option, I just don’t think you can play with a backcourt of two players that are 6’4’’ with Beal and Irving. You leave yourself open to, too many mismatches on the defensive end when it comes to playing against some of the bigger guards in the league, as well as pick and roll situations with switches.

The Cavs as a long shot could choose to take one of the big men that will fall to them at #4 between Thomas Robinson and Andre Drummond. Though they are in need of a solid center to allow Andy Varejao and Tristan Thompson to play more at their natural position of power forward, I don’t think that would be wise considering you’re already grooming one young big guy. I’m not sure you want to bring in another one in considering we know typically big guys take a little longer to develop than other positions, based on all they have to develop, post game, foot work, help defense etc.

If I were the Cavs picking at #4 I’d go with either Barnes or Kidd-Gilchrist, while leaning hard on the side of Kidd-Gilchrist. I believe the fact that he should come in and be a solid defender from day one helps the team immediately. I have more faith that you can fix his jumper faster than you can fix Barnes’ issue with creating his own shot. Kidd-Gilchrist at the moment is a better ball handler and they both finish well in the transition. However, I’d prefer to see Kidd-Gilchrist in a Cavs uniform.

 

ESPN Sunday Conversation with LeBron James

ESPN sat down with LeBron James after winning his first NBA title and broke up the conversation in 3 parts. In my opinion in this interview he comes off humble, understanding that he can’t as narcissistic as he has before. From the earned not given  t-shirt, I thought he did himself good with this interview for those giving him a fair shot to earn his way back into their good graces. For those who don’t like him, and look for any reason to discredit him, the interview will do nothing.

If you haven’t seen the interview, check out the video below of the full interview.

Rapper Machine Gun Kelly & Josh Cribbs Talk Loyalty & LeBron James

While many think Cleveland fans have yet to move on from LeBron and his decision, I’d say people won’t stop mentioning Cleveland when they talk about LeBron. However, in the video below hometown favorites rap artist Machine Gun Kelly and Cleveland Brown Josh Cribbs converse about LeBron and how they could never see themselves abandoning Cleveland as their home.

Cribbs also goes to allude that LeBron was on the ‘wrong path’ when he chose to go to Miami. I wonder if he feels the same now that LeBron has won his first title?

The only thing I would question about this video, Cribbs and LeBron are still friends, from time to time you’ll see a picture of them together pop up. With Cribbs making such remarks, just comes off a little as pandering to your current fan base.

New LeBron James Nike Commercial

It didn’t take long for Nike to release a commercial in celebration of LeBron winning his first NBA title. Here it is.

Big ups to Jose3030

Have Fans Gotten this Desperate

 

Being a fan of a sports team can be compared to a marriage, for better or worse your team is your team, good bad, win, lose or draw. So as Cleveland fans love their Cavaliers, is it necessary to root for a team, come up with cornball names and logos to show your support?

Many fans I know are openly rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Heat, primarily LeBron. And while I completely understand the angst Cleveland fan feels towards LeBron, can’t you just root against him without adopting another team? I mean, isn’t is kind of corny that your calling yourself a ‘Thunderlier’?

I understand and have come to terms that fans will never let go of the TV special ‘The Decision’ and how disrespected they feel by LeBron. And that’s fine, root against LeBron all day, every day, but aren’t you cheating on your team when you attempt to mesh your fandom with that of another team?

What happened to just rooting for player x or team x to lose? It just seems a little jaded, and bitter that once your team is out of it, that you completely jump on the bandwagon of another. Living in Cleveland, and visiting other cities around the country, I’ll always laud Cleveland fans as some of the best fans ever. Knowledgeable, passionate, and most importantly LOYAL.

Perhaps Cleveland fans are that starved for a championship, that hungry to finally be acknowledged for the heartache they’ve endured, and that’s why they do it.

But I will say this, the pictures of these logos, has got to stop, they’re corny, lame and make you look fair weather. You can root against LeBron without it.

Does LeBron Ever Wonder What If?

 

 

When LeBron James went down to Miami I don’t think he ever could’ve envisioned it being this way. Having to work just as hard as he did in Cleveland, him having to carry another team with two superstars; granted one has a known injury, and the other has analyst spreading the word of him not being 100%. In game 6 he had an all time career night and many gave him no credit. 45 point 15 rebounds 5 assists, the only person to out do him was Wilt Chamberlain who had gone for 50 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists in the ’64 Finals against the Celtics. However, did he ever imagine having more pressure and responsibility placed upon him after leaving Cleveland? Has the thought, ‘if it was going to be like this I should’ve stayed in Cleveland’ crossed his mind?

Just look at the situation he’s placed himself in, no matter what he does, unless he performs in the manner people want him to in the 4^th quarter, it’s never going to be enough.

In Game 6, win or go home situation, elimination game for his team he showed up from Jump Street and balled out, yet people are saying that wasn’t a clutch performance. Are you crazy? Or to take a line from Major Payne, deaf, blind or just plain dumb? Not that I’m a LeBron fan, but let’s be fair, what he did on June 7, 2012 was an incredible all time great moment. And he did it with essentially no help from Dwayne Wade (one of these days people will call him out for his lackluster play these playoffs) but I digress. LeBron was in a zone that hasn’t been seen from him before. However all everybody did was attempt to discredit what he accomplished. So does he ever contemplate what it would’ve been like had he stayed in Cleveland? Given the organization a better chance at recruiting players by committing long term. Yea, we all like to think that celebrities and athletes don’t have human emotions, but they do. I wonder if you had the chance to ask LeBron that one question would answer honestly.

Yes he did this to himself, but for as fair as America is, we’re down right brutal in the way we want people climb back into our good graces. Fair or unfair unless LeBron beats the Celtics with one had behind his back, crosses over Kevin Durant with 30 seconds or less on the clock and make a free throw line jumper to clinch a championship victory for his team, he’ll be hard pressed to dig himself out of the hole he’s created. In two short years LeBron has gone from The King, the Chosen one, to 1990 Ice Cube, the basketball player you love to hate.

New Orleans Hornets Win the NBA Lottery, Conspiracy Theorist Rejoice

The New Orleans have won the NBA lottery and now will more than likely select University of Kentucky’s Anthony Davis with the number 1 pick in the draft.  That pick will come as no surprise. However, the Hornets winning the lottery have made conspiracy theorist raise an eyebrow.

Fans and media alike are saying they doubt the lottery wasn’t rigged for the Hornets considering the league still technically owns the team, even though they’ve come to an agreement to sell the team to New Orleans Saints Owner Tom Benson. Factor in they just lost All-Star point guard Chris Paul, many are suggesting that’s why they now have the opportunity to draft what many think is a franchise player with the number pick.

The only flaw I find in this argument is, there is no team that had a legit shot to win the lottery that people wouldn’t had said the lottery was fixed for.

If the Charlotte Bobcats had won it, the narrative would’ve been the league was looking out for Michael Jordan. If the Cavs would’ve won it for a second year in a row you would’ve screamed the fix is in. The league is only helping them because they lost LeBron and are pandering to Dan Gilbert. Outside of your favorite team winning there would’ve been some theory concocted on the lottery being fixed.

Now I’ll be the first one to admit there are a lot of coincidences that have occurred home town kids LeBron and Derrick Rose being selected by the Cavs and Bulls, the Spurs selecting Tim Duncan with the number one pick to play him alongside David Robinson at the end of his career. Yes all these scenarios look fishy, buy no one ever screams fixed, or conspiracy when the number one pick becomes a bust or not the superstar you expect from that selection.

Case and point, Greg Oden, Michael Olowokandi, Kwame Brown, Joe Smith did you scream conspiracy when the team that selected them won the lottery, I doubt it.

And you know how many people would have to keep a secret in order for the NBA to pull off such a feat? Too many, and don’t forget, it’s against the law to rig the lottery, so include that nugget of knowledge and be comfortable knowing that nobody from the league wants to go to jail or pay a hefty federal fine that they’re not going to fix the lottery. Include the fact that accounting firm Ernst and Young are down with the process and they have a reputation to uphold that it would make no sense for them to allow anything fisher to going on. I’m pretty sure there’s no amount of money that the NBA could pay them that would make the risk being worth the reward.

So with all this, can we ease up on the conspiracy talk, no more the lottery is fixed, Suge Knight had 2Pac killed and the second shooter in the grassy knoll? No? Ok, one conspiracy theory at a time.

Kyrie Irving Schooling Ballers at the Playground as Uncle Drew in Pepsi Commercial

I’ll be honest, when I think of Kyrie Irving, I don’t think of a guy who has a ‘star’ personality. However, this commercial is HILARIOUS. I won’t say anymore about, out side of telling you it’s a must watch.

Related: Amar’e Vs Fire Extinguisher

Kyrie Irving Wins 2011-2012 NBA Rookie of the Year

In what doesn’t come as a surprise, Cleveland Cavalier point guard Kyrie Irving wins the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Irving collected 117 of 120 potential first place votes.

Irving on the season averaged 18.5 points and 5.4 assists and shooting 46.8% per game. Irving started for the Cavs from day one, and while the Cavs finished with a losing record, the future is bright. Irving also became the fourth rookie in 10 years who won Rookie of the Year along with being the first overall pick of the draft.

From living in Cleveland and having the opportunity to watch Kyrie on nightly basis, I can say the kid has skills, and if the Cavs can find a way to surround him with some more young talent, the franchise has a chance to do something special. While everybody would love for Kyrie to become the next big thing to erase the memories of LeBron, lets allow him to carve his own identity.

Cavs Mascot Moondog Injured By Pacers David West

When you look at the Cavs injury report, you’ll now see an unfamiliar name. Moondog on Wednesday night engaged Pacers forward David West in a play fight, and well… it turned out to be more fight than play. West socked Moondog in the eye sending the Cavalier mascot to the hospital with an eye injury.

For the record, West admitted to being in on the fun during the pregame shenanigans and didn’t mean to cause any harm and sent Moondog his well wishes;

“I feel terrible about that, I really do, we were just having fun. We were just messing around. I really hope he’s OK. Make sure he knows I’m sorry,”

Moondog has turned out to be ok, and has already been released from the hospital and as slated to appear at the game on Sunday. Think it’s safe to say, he won’t be entering into any more play fights.

Related: Why the Cavs Were Right in Trading Ramon Sessions

Furthermore just think of how bad the season has turned for the Cavs, when your mascot is getting injured, you can just take that as a sign that there’s no more bad luck to be had, and something’s got to give.