Monthly Archive for November, 2009

My Letter to Jason Whitlock

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NoYork
on November 19, 2009
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Just zip it kid Jason Whitlock to LeBron James

"Just zip it kid" Jason Whitlock to LeBron James

Jason Whitlock wrote an article about LeBron that rubbed me the wrong way. I’ve decided to refute some of Jason’s views on LeBron. I invite you to do the same. Below is my letter to Jason…

Dear Jason,

Your LeBron article was totally off base in my opinion. Let’s start from the top, we all know that LeBron won’t be playing football any time soon. BUT it’s totally plausible that LeBron could be an NFL player. He was an all state wide receiever in high school and his body is very similar to that of an NFL tight end. He’s probably faster than most tight ends and there’s no doubt that he can perform under pressure. He was heavily recruited as wide receiver in high school as well. I guess the scouts who assess players for a living don’t know as much as you.

Second, saying that no one is like Magic and Bird in an article about LeBron is idiotic. LeBron is very similar to Magic Johnson in size and skill set. His passing skills mirror Magic exactly. His willingness to pass to open teammates is rarely seen in an NBA superstar, especially a player as young as LeBron. He is simply not a me first player. I think he needs to be more like Michael to win with his current team. But somehow you mistakenly see him as a Michael Jordan type, you’re WRONG! He’s been a team player since I first started watching him as a high school sophomore (and not on TV, I saw him play many times in person). Kobe is similar to Michael and LeBron is similar to Magic. The difference between Jordan and the rest of the world is that he would have killed his own children to win. LeBron doesn’t have that type of competitiveness in him, yet. I hope he develops that killer instinct, but who knows? Comparing LeBron to Michael and saying no one is like Magic Johnson in the same breath is laughable.

Third, the Jordan jersey retirement is something LeBron said after playing in front of Michael in Miami. He was just excited to have Jordan in the stands and in an attempt to honor the players of the past he said something rash. But to say that LeBron has little depth is wrong. In numerous interviews LeBron has shown that he’s a student of the game and respects the greats that have come before him. For the record I don’t think LeBron will end up changing his number.

Fourth, Dwight Howard? Did you really compare Dwight Howard to Bill Russell? Dwight Howard will never reach his full potential because he has no heart. He whines all over the court and he acts like everything is a joke. He’s a child in a man’s body. His potential has clouded the judgement of many a sports writer, including you. Dwight Howard should be compared to Amare Stoudemire in the sense that they are both freakishly athletic. But he seems to be more interested in arguing with referees than playing basketball. There’s no doubt that Howard is a freak of nature, but he’s far from a great BASKETBALL player. Dwight Howard doesn’t even have a go to post move. He has disappeared in playoff games and complained about his lack of touches in post game press conferences. He’s being coached by a Van Gundy which stints his growth almost as much as having Vince Carter as a teammate. Comparing Bill Russell to Dwight Howard is nothing short of insane.

This article was absolutely ridiculous. How can LeBron not remind you of Magic? How in the name of all things holy can Dwight Howard remind you of Bill Russell? How can you deny that LeBron has the physical and athletic gifts to play in the NFL?

Thanks for your time,

Ty Kish

LeBron to play for the Browns?

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NoYork
on November 18, 2009
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LeBron James playing in the NFL has been discussed more than once on ESPN, but the topic was resurrected once again when LeBron stated that he could play in the NFL if he focused on football. Although I don’t expect LeBron to hit the gridiron in the near future, it’s clear that he’s actually thought this through. He knows what position he’d play (tight end) and he acknowledged that he’d have to get back into “football shape.”

While head coach Eric Mangini and quarterback Brady Quinn would both love to have LeBron in a Browns uniform, others aren’t so sure James could survive the NFL. “I have mixed emotions about that. A great athlete? Yes. A football player? No.” Those were the thoughts of nose tackle Shaun Rogers, who went on to say, “It’s a punishing game. I just don’t think you can step off the basketball court after not going through this year in and year out and just play football.”

If any NBA player’s body could take the pounding it would have to be LeBron. At 6′8 and somewhere between 240-260 pounds LeBron is a physical specimen. It’s entirely speculation at this point, but given LeBron’s athleticism and size it’s not impossible that he would be a decent NFL tight end. After all he was an all state wide receiver as a junior in high school. The sad part of this situation is that he could probably go to the Browns today and make a solid contribution. If that ever happens LeBrown’s Town would no longer be a catchy blog title, but a reality. Do you think he’d ask to play linebacker against the Jets?

Read the whole article here

LeBron James and Stephen Curry

Published
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NoYork
on November 17, 2009
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LeBron James and Stephen Curry took a minute to catch up after the Cavs defeated the Warriors 114-108. Stephen was born in Akron while his father Dell Curry was a member of the Cavs. James said he offered Curry encouragement and told him to stay focused despite the turmoil in the Warriors organization.

Get the full scoop here

The Stephen Jackson Trade

Published
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NoYork
on November 16, 2009
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Even though it’s been a few days between games, there’s always a lot going on behind the scenes. Management is always looking to improve the team in any way possible. The latest possibility was a deal with the Golden State Warriors for Stephen Jackson. Unfortunately the Cavs missed out on Jackson as he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats earlier today.

I’ve heard many Cavs fans saying that they’re glad we didn’t get Jackson, but I’m very disappointed that we missed out on this trade. Jackson averaged nearly 20 points last season, along with 5 boards and 6.5 assists. Why wouldn’t we want to see this guy in wine and gold?

The rumored trade was Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West for Stephen Jackson. There was also a scenario that involved Z and possibly Darnell Jackson. The first trade seems to be a no brainer. Wally isn’t even part of our team currently and there’s no time table for Delonte’s return. Believe me I love Delonte and there was a one man standing ovation in my living room the night he returned, but who knows what/if he’ll be able to contribute this season. Jackson would most definitely contribute on both ends.

The next scenario is a bit harder to swallow. Could we really ship Z off to another team? The man deserves to retire as a Cavalier. I would never want to see Z get traded and if the decision was mine could I pull the trigger, truthfully I’m not sure. The problem is that The Summer of LeBron is looming large. Eventually we might have to face the hard question of would we rather keep Z or LeBron?

Several sources close to the NBA have reported different reasons for Jackson not landing in Cleveland. Early reports said that Cleveland didn’t want to make a trade this early in the season. In my opinion an early season trade makes a lot of sense as chemistry can develop as the season progresses.

Other rumors contend that the Cavs were not willing to take on Jackson’s contract fearing that LeBron will not stay in Cleveland and won’t be able to afford a “replacement.” Let’s face the facts, if LeBron leaves the Cavs will not be the same no matter who the team picks up. Playing it safe is not the route I would take when LeBron is on the line, especially when we’ve already committed to winning now. Aside from JJ Hickson, the Cavs aren’t a particularly young team. It’s now or never for the Cavs and Stephen Jackson seems like a pretty good answer for the here and now.

The third scenario is that Golden State decided to send Jackson to Charlotte out of spite. They were unhappy with Jackson so why would they deal him to a contender like Cleveland? I hope this is the reason he’s not in Cleveland. If it’s one of the previous two reasons I’m disappointed in the Cavs for not making the deal happen.

In closing, I don’t understand why Cavs fans would be happy that we missed out on Jackson. He’s a better scorer than Delonte and he’s a very solid defender, who just happens to be 5 inches taller than West. His outside shooting is a step down from Delonte, but Anthony Parker and Mo Williams are both stroking the ball from deep this season.

Trading for Jackson and signing Antonio Daniels would have been two major moves in my opinion. The Cavs haven’t put a solid young core around LeBron, so we must win now. Jackson and Daniels are both experienced players who would make the Cavs better the day they joined the team. Hopefully we can still pick up Daniels.

Cavs vs Jazz Highlights

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NoYork
on November 15, 2009
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The Cavs defeated the Utah Jazz 107-104 minus Deron Williams, in a game that was closer than it should have been.  JJ Hickson posted a new career high with 20 points.  LeBron and Mo both finished with 21 points.  LeBron had a quiet game until he scored the go ahead basket on a lay up plus the foul with under a minute left in the game.  His basket put the Cavs up for good as Utah missed two three pointers in the closing minute.  The Cavs played without Shaq (shoulder strain) and Delonte West.

The song for this mix is by Drake and it’s called The Search.  The Cavs next game is on Tuesday against the Warriors at home.

Free Agency Rumors

Published
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NoYork
on November 14, 2009
in 2010 News and 2010 Where Will He Go?
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Although LeBron has decided to stay quiet about free agency, the media is doing exactly the opposite. I’ve never seen another player’s free agency handled this way by the media. LeBron has helped to create the hype by flirting with New York as much as he does, but some of the rumors are mind boggling. I’ve taken a look at three different scenarios below…

One of the most outlandish destinations for The King has to be Dallas. The argument was that Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd would be great complementary players for LeBron and Mark Cuban’s deep pockets would add the other pieces. There’s absolutely no way LeBron goes to a team that’s OLDER than the Cavs. The Cuban argument doesn’t work for me either. Although he’s loaded he doesn’t bring in great players. He paid DeSagana Diop $32 million over 6 years, enough said.

Another destination that was rumored for LeBron was the Los Angeles Lakers. The logic was that LeBron would go to LA as part of a sign and trade. It was reasoned that Kobe has three or more high level years left then he’d turn the team over to LeBron and play second fiddle. The first red flag should have went up when you read that Cleveland was going to trade LeBron. Even if LeBron went to team management and said he was going to leave I don’t think they would trade him. The city would never forgive the Cavs for trading LeBron. The next red flag goes up when you hear Kobe Bryant and second fiddle in the same sentence. This is an insane rumor started by a beat writer for THE CHICAGO BULLS!!! Why was this ever even written?

Next up is the article by Chris Broussard with the headline “If Bron bolts, Miami makes most sense.” There was a lot of backlash from this article, but Broussard even said at the end of the column, “Is this all fantasy? Certainly not my fantasy. I’m from Cleveland, so I hope The King stays put.” For that reason I don’t understand why anybody is upset with Broussard for writing this article. In all reality it makes sense that if LeBron left he’d go to Miami. LeBron and Dwyane Wade together has the makings of a championship team for years to come. There’s less state tax in Miami which means LeBron wouldn’t be taking as big of a hit financially for not signing with Cleveland (who can offer him more than any other team). Miami is a great place to live and the city would embrace him. However, LeBron would have to go to Wade’s team. Although this is an intriguing scenario for many NBA fans, I don’t see LeBron’s ego letting this happen. LeBron wants his legacy to be winning, but is he willing to take a backseat to Wade? I don’t know the answer to that but, of all the possibilities mentioned, this is the one that makes me a little nervous.

Cavs vs Heat Highlights

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NoYork
on November 13, 2009
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Another solid victory for the Cavs as they defeated the Miami Heat last night. LeBron led the way with 34 points and Mo added 25 with 5 threes for the game. The Cavs are looking much improved after their slow start.

JJ Hickson had a career high with 18 points in the game as well. Hickson was named a starter for the third straight game and had a great second half. Once he gets his confidence together and stops thinking about every move before he makes it, he’ll be a very dangerous player for the Cavs

Big Z is still struggling to find his outside shot and adjust to his new role coming off the bench. I think it’s only a matter of time before Z gets himself back on track. Once a couple shots fall he’ll find his rhythm and be back to his old ways.

Overall this was a great game for the Cavs. Another big road win after defeating the Magic and a definite confidence booster. Now it’s time to focus on Carlos BOOzer and the Jazz.

Austin Carr to Dwight Howard - “Be A Man”

Published
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NoYork
on November 12, 2009
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Last night I decided to watch the local broadcast of the Cavs game as opposed to the ESPN broadcast. I can say now that I am very pleased with my choice. When Dwight Howard picked up his second foul of the game Austin Carr blessed us with this gem. I couldn’t agree with Austin more.

I’ve always thought that Dwight Howard is an awesome physical specimen with unlimited potential. HOWEVER, I’ve also thought that he’s still a child caught in a man’s body. He doesn’t demand the ball in big game situations, then complains to the media after the game. Although he’s physically imposing he doesn’t use his size and strength to his advantage.

Dwight Howard is a great athlete but only a decent basketball player. I still don’t see a go to post move in his arsenal. He makes incredible highlights, but fails to make quality plays that influence the game. He’s a great dunker and puts on quite a show in dunk contests, but so did Isiah Rider. I want to see more substance out of Dwight. I want to see more heart from him.

Let’s get one thing clear, I don’t dislike Dwight Howard at all. I think his potential is out of this world. I just want to see Dwight Howard making strides to achieve his potential. Instead of seeing a dominating post presence when I think of Dwight Howard I picture a great athlete who likes to clown around and doesn’t have the desire to win. I hope that Dwight proves me wrong, and I wish him great success as long as it’s not against the Cavs.

Cavs vs Magic Highlights

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NoYork
on November 12, 2009
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Every Cavs fan was left with a bitter taste in their mouth after last years exit from the playoffs. We were all looking forward to this game against the Magic, even if we don’t want to admit it. This game was seen by some as an early season measuring stick. In a sense it was a road game against a quality opponent. On the other hand both teams were missing key players (Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson were both out for the Magic while Delonte West was inactive for the Cavaliers).

Despite the missing players this was a big game for both teams. The hype around the game was Shaq vs Dwight Howard, but it fizzled out quickly as Howard was in foul trouble for the majority of the game. Mo Williams had an amazing first half and ended up with 28 points. LeBron had 36 points and 8 rebounds in the game. Anthony Parker provided the spark in the third quarter going 3 for 3 from behind the arc.

The Cavs controlled the game from the beginning and were up by as much as 20 points in the second half. Although it doesn’t mean we are a better team than the Magic, or that we’ll be able to defeat them in the playoffs, it was fun to watch them get dismantled!

This beat is another gem from E Dot. Check out his Twitter page and show him some love for continuing to supply us with these great beats.

LeBron done talking about free agency

Published
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NoYork
on November 11, 2009
in 2010 News, 2010 Where Will He Go? and Videos
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During a pre-game interview last night LeBron told reporters that the free agency talk was growing old. He added that he was done addressing the issue this season. He cited the fact that he needed to focus on the current season and not add any more distractions to the Cavs.

After being very cordial with the media in New York and saying he was leaving his options open for 2010, LeBron has had enough of the free agency talk. One thing is for sure the Cavs don’t need any more distractions. The Delonte West issue is far from resolved as he did not dress for tonight’s game. Add that to Shaq’s recent divorce drama and mix in the one of this season’s hottest stories, LeBron’s contract and you forget the Cavs are actually playing basketball.

It’s for the best that LeBron doesn’t talk about this issue for the rest of the season, but don’t expect the talk to go away. Every day there is a new scenario on where LeBron might end up next year. It is the topic of conversation across the NBA and it will continue to come up as the season continues.