bumsquare

Also especially terrifying! I always really enjoy it, but it's hard to believe there isn't a greater degree of personal injury/property damage. Those streets are narrow!

I can certainly understand the frustration, BUT: JJ put those numbers up this year (I'm going to contradict about 30 of my previous posts) as one of if not THE primary scoring option on an awful team. Progress or not, it would be hard to argue that his numbers weren't a bit inflated last year. Also, there is about a 4% chance that Justin Harper will end up being better than Omri Casspi. I don't know why everybody thinks a second round pick in an awful draft is suddenly valuable. Also, I don't know that you can say with any certainty that Casspi is any worse than JJ. ALSO, the protected pick almost ensures that we don't get hosed. That is, if JJ ends up being the perfect front-court partner for Jog DMC (can't take credit for that one, but it's one of the best derisive nicknames I've ever heard), then Sacramento slides on up to a low seed in the West and we get a top-15ish pick in a strong draft. ALLLLSO, JJ isn't going to be worth whatever contract he signs after this season and there's no guarantee he would have signed with us anyways. I think 2011 JJ has Larry Hughes contract year written all over him.

Man I was pretty psyched when I saw that it was for Casspi and a first-rounder. Now I'm not so sure with all these conditions. I think I rather would have had Amare Stoudemire two years ago. Oh well, let's hear it for your 42-40 8th seed Anaheim Kings!

And under immigration laws, those are the only ones who can get into America legally these days. I don't know what the situation is at Cleveland/Linden, but I do know what the situation is in Cleveland's 14th Ward, the most heavily Latino neighborhood in perhaps the entire state. Yes, the crime situation is not what you'd want it to be, but it's a very vibrant Latino neighborhood where lots of immigrants (legal and illegal) have started businesses or helped in the startup of others. It's what one would expect in any neighborhood heavily populated by immigrants at any time in American history. The American immigrant experience, with its challenges and rewards, is alive and well in Cleveland's 14th Ward. You probably wouldn't like it though, and that's very sad for you. But I hope you recognize that it's not much different than any urban neighborhood that's been heavily populated by immigrants at any time in American history. It should not be restrained. It should be celebrated. I think this has been pointed out a few times before, but nearly all of the Latinos (Hispanics? Oh god protect me I can't remember which is correct) in Ward 14 are Puerto Rican and American citizens from birth.

^lol?

Went to Market Garden for dinner last night. Very thoughtful food to go along with some outstanding beers. We sampled most of the beers and they were all expertly made. They all tended to be low-alcohol "session" beers, which I thought was a nice change of pace from what is normally produced these days. Not that I don't appreciate the big IPAs that now seem to be de rigueur. But I think this place is a little bit ahead of the curve when it comes to putting out beers that are well-balanced, understated, and sophisticated. We also had, I believe it was called, the Brewmaster's Board..or platter or something. It included a selection of cheeses, cured meats, and house made pickles that were perfectly complemented by the crisp and refreshing beers. Also got the Currywurst, which I couldn't possibly do justice through explanation. Suffice to say it is simultaneously disgusting and one of the best drunk foods ever created. Great atmosphere in the beer garden next to the market stalls, we'll definitely be back many many times.

Maybe we could start a new thread if we contacted all of the SIDs in Milwaukee, Portland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Sacramento, San Antonio, Denver, and Calgary and asked them to produce videos chronicling their 20-year histories then post them on YouTube.

Went to Market Garden for dinner last night. Very thoughtful food to go along with some outstanding beers. We sampled most of the beers and they were all expertly made. They all tended to be low-alcohol "session" beers, which I thought was a nice change of pace from what is normally produced these days. Not that I don't appreciate the big IPAs that now seem to be de rigueur. But I think this place is a little bit ahead of the curve when it comes to putting out beers that are well-balanced, understated, and sophisticated. We also had, I believe it was called, the Brewmaster's Board..or platter or something. It included a selection of cheeses, cured meats, and house made pickles that were perfectly complemented by the crisp and refreshing beers. Also got the Currywurst, which I couldn't possibly do justice through explanation. Suffice to say it is simultaneously disgusting and one of the best drunk foods ever created. Great atmosphere in the beer garden next to the market stalls, we'll definitely be back many many times.

It can be a pretty rough area, but there is a very strong block club in that area. One of the leaders has renovated a number of homes in that neighborhood and there is a little bit of a push to revitalize it. I would contact Tremont West Development (I think they still cover that area) and ask for contact info for the Metro North Block Club. There are some really pretty streets in that area (Corning being one of them).

Maybe Minnesota would like another undersized power forward?

After just catching up on my Tristan Thompson homework (I've wasted more company time on the NBA Draft than I'd care to mention, but somehow I never read a word about TT) it does seem like something will have to give between him and JJ. They seem to have identical bodies and are both explosive leapers. It seems like Thompson might project as a better defender, while JJ probably has a more evolved offensive game. It looks like TT shot under 50% from the line, while JJ has been pretty steady at around 70%. Two things stood out though, when I went to check on JJ's numbers. Firstly, if you go to basketballreference.com and check out JJ's per-36-minute numbers, the improvement over the last 3 years has been remarkable. He's rebounding better, getting more foul shots, and scoring more points. Secondly, he only shot 45% from the field last year. That's pretty unacceptable for a power forward. However, he did shoot 55% percent the previous year, so it might just be an aberration. I'm certainly not down on TT, and it seems like he can be a solid player, but there's no way the Cavs can carry both players. I just hope that we can get value for one of them now that teams know we have to move somebody.

Wow. In a blind test you would take Thompson every time. However, I guess the retort is that Thompson got those points beating up on puny college players in the interior, which won't necessarily translate to the NBA, while Williams shows a well-developed outside shooting touch.

Wow. That looks like literally 50 different parks in the city of Cleveland. Wooden posts in the ground? Check. Bedraggled 1980s park bench? Check. Indiscriminate field with large tree? Check. Streetlight used to light play area? Check. Factory and houses split into 15 apartments looming on the horizon? Check.

Many props to Hts for that prediction. Can't say I'm disappointed, just ignorant. I was hoping for another lottery pick tho.

Anybody else at the Q?

I think it's probably still Big V. I don't know why he doesn't scare me, but he doesn't. I think somebody is going to want Brandon Knight, though. We might be able to extort something out of this draft even if Kanter and Williams go off the board.

I can't remember the last time I paid this much attention to a non-playoff sporting event. Oh wait......

You trade #4 for #6 and #18 because Washington is in love with Kanter and you (I) think that Valanciunus is a better prospect (because of my extensive knowledge of foreign prospect scouting). I also think the exception doesn't get used.

I figure maybe if I reiterate this enough times on this board it will come true: trade Kanter to the Wiz for #6 and #18, draft Valanciunus and a solid rotation guy (one of the Thompsons or Morrises?)

I'm not the biggest JJ fan, but I just don't see how the Cavs could justify trading him for picks in this draft. He's only 21 and he's proven that he's capable of producing at the NBA level. Especially if Irving ends up being the distributor everyone seems to think he is. It just seems like it would be counterproductive.

Really hoping Kanter drops to 4 and we're able to pull off that trade with Washington where we get 6 and 18.

Being wedged between the nation's governmental and financial capitals doesn't hurt.

Yeah it seems like either LA (if they didn't receive the #4) or Cleveland (if they did) would be getting royally screwed in that deal. God, I know you said there's almost no truth to it, and I love Andy, but having the #1, #2, and #4!? (Basketball-loving brain explodes)

Does it make me an awful sports fan that I kind of want the Cavs to be bad again next year? I think one of the advantages of taking Big V is that you remain in position to add real talent again in next year's draft. (This is my way of euphamistically saying that Big V spending one more year in Europe will make the Cavs super sucky again).

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