I like Z a lot.  A little disappointed that of the 29 other possible NBA teams for him to go to last year that he chose Miami (at James' behest, so I've heard), but that doesn't take away from all of the time and effort he put in here.

Cavs are down +20 early in 2nd half v. Hawks.  This is beginning to feel like last season, suddenly, when we were 7-9 and then we went into free fall.  Once again, we're going through the motions on D for the most part; even Andy has mailed it in on a few D trips... Not good.

There was absolutely nothing mediocre about Z.  At his peak he averaged a 17/8 with 2 blocks a game.  A seven-footer who puts up those kind of numbers and has good hands with range out to 18 feet is an absolute rarity in the NBA.  His numbers stack up to any big man of his time.  It's also a stretch to say he was injury prone.  Yes he missed big chunks of time early in his career, but played over 60 games 11 years in a row well into his 30s, including a stretch of 6 years where he never missed more than 4 games.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/ilgauzy01.html

 

Z made an All Star team... I've never known of a "mediocre" player to do that.

He made two All-Star teams (2002 and 2005).

He made two All-Star teams (2002 and 2005).

 

In fairness, my recollection is that the Eastern Conference as a whole was very weak during that time period and especially at the center position.

OK, mediocre is an exaggeration, but I was always frustrated with him.  He was 7'3", but had no post moves.  His entire offensive game revolved around shooting 20 foot set shots, which is not where you want the biggest guy on the floor to be (if he's on your team).  He was way too soft around the basket.  How many times did you see him try to lay it in rather than dunking with force and end up either missing a layup or getting it rejected?  I've already seen Semih Erden throw the ball down in someone's face more than Z did in his entire career (and I am NOT saying that Semih Erden is even close to being as good as Z).

 

Don't get me wrong.  I didn't dislike Z either.  As mentioned, he had good hands and touch most big men don't have, let alone a 7'3" guy.  But he frustrated me a lot, and I thought the Cavs gave him a lot to be thankful for, especially early in his career.  And when it all came down to it, he went to Miami.  So, no, I don't hate the guy, but I also don't worship him like so many other Clevelanders.

 

I agree he wasn't adept at finishing with authority.  But he definitely had at least 2 go-to post moves.  One was the short turnaround from the block, the other was the "up and under" move that he mastered and proved to be quite effective.

OK, mediocre is an exaggeration, but I was always frustrated with him.  He was 7'3", but had no post moves.  His entire offensive game revolved around shooting 20 foot set shots, which is not where you want the biggest guy on the floor to be (if he's on your team).  He was way too soft around the basket.  How many times did you see him try to lay it in rather than dunking with force and end up either missing a layup or getting it rejected?  I've already seen Semih Erden throw the ball down in someone's face more than Z did in his entire career (and I am NOT saying that Semih Erden is even close to being as good as Z).

 

Don't get me wrong.  I didn't dislike Z either.  As mentioned, he had good hands and touch most big men don't have, let alone a 7'3" guy.  But he frustrated me a lot, and I thought the Cavs gave him a lot to be thankful for, especially early in his career.  And when it all came down to it, he went to Miami.  So, no, I don't hate the guy, but I also don't worship him like so many other Clevelanders.

 

exactly my point, I was a big Z fan and would always root for him but most of the time he would frustrate the hell out of me. I got tired of seeing him go up so soft around the rim kind've as if he was trying to bake amish cookies :\. This organization and fans gave Z so much not the other way around even tho he worked his ass off coming back from his foot injuries (he did give us alot too but imo we gave much more). Not many organizations or fans would stick by a guy who suffers injury after injury who was getting paid a pretty penny. The time for him to show his true love to the city and its fans was not bolting to MIA to go ring chasing when obviously MIA was further off winning a championship. Dallas showed interest in him (which was more the complete team) but yet he chosed to go go follow LeBron. I do not hate Z but I don't love him like most fans do, I just really don't care for him but I am grateful for what all he's done for this organization. I just don't think LeBron cared for Z as much as Z did for him. How many times would LeBron get hit and the first person to have his back or run over there was Z can Z say the same about LeBron? Hell noo lol. Big Z could shoot the net off of the hoop but as his shot went so did he, since he had no post moves. How may times would he make a move towards the rim only to throw up something ridiculous, then act as if he got fouled :-D wish him well tho!

I knew y'all would bring up the trade is love bait lol, you know the Cavs worked out something to make this team better and ran it by Z first before even making the move in which he came right back, so obviously he had to ok the deal. Remember how big of a deal the organizationand fans made after his return? Standing ovations and mad media work on his behalf :-D. Z was good but just because he holds cavs records doesn't make him great, remind you this is the Cavs and not some elite organization from the getgo. He gave alot to this city and fans but we gave way more, then when Mr.LeBron rips the heart of this city for all to see he goes with LeBron to chase a ring which realistically MIA was far off. You people kill me at times, the same people that have a love fest with Z ripped Boobie, Mo and the rest of the guys joking it up with LeBron the first game against him lastyear. Like I said I don't hate Z one bit but don't care too much for him either.

 

on to the game lastnight :-o, Antwan is really stinking it up lol, read something in the paper stating something like this "I don't know what kind of offence we're running, we normally move the ball from side to side" and couldn't help but chuckle considing when it hits his hands that's when it stops moving lol. I'm so torn with this team in wanting short term success (one and done) or long term success (lottery pick) but I can't cheer for them to lose -__- GOOOOOOOOOO CAVVVVVS!

You're out of your element, Donnie.

Four game losing streak. At least they competed against the Heat in Miami. Still counts as an "L" though.

Looks like the team is waking up again. A competitive game (albeit a loss) against a quality opponent last night, and a comfortable win against the talented but troubled Knicks tonight.

It sure looks like Andy is out to prove he's not a novelty.  Chris Grant is gonna have a tough decision at the trade deadline.  The way Andy is playing, we're liable to get a mid-first round-to-lottery pick offered.

It sure looks like Andy is out to prove he's not a novelty.  Chris Grant is gonna have a tough decision at the trade deadline.  The way Andy is playing, were liable to get a mid-first round-to-lottery pick offered.

 

Grrr...I think they'd have to make that trade, as difficult as that is for me to say.

I wonder if bumsquare tipped his hand as to what he thinks of such a trade if he says that we're "liable" to get a mid-first-round to lottery pick. 8-)

 

Last night was actually the first Cavs game I ever attended live (and, actually, probably the second or third that I ever sat through ... I never watched them much on TV, either).  Not bad to watch.

^I'm actually not sure how I feel about it.  I only meant "liable" as in "likely, or probable".  The likelihood that a mid-first pick would be as good or better than Andy is pretty low.  A lottery pick on the other hand......

Forbes: Cavs Turned Biggest Profit Ever During 2010-11 Season

 

In a recent report put together by Forbes which discussed the current state and value of NBA franchises as well as the successful television ratings which continue to go hand-in-hand with star-centric sporting events, we find that the Cleveland Cavaliers turned their biggest profit in the history of the franchise during the season which LeBron James was no longer a fixture within Quicken Loans Arena.

 

Per Forbes’ Kurt Badenhausen, despite falling victim to a professional sport record 26-game losing streak, Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers earned $33 million in operating income, good enough for third best in the NBA. This figure is largely attributed to a $30 million payroll cut (James as well as Shaquille O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were no longer on the team’s roster) and no luxury tax, which cost the Wine and Gold $16 million one season earlier.

 

 

http://beta.local.yahoo.com/news-forbes-cavs-turned-biggest-profit-ever-during-2010-11-season

Wow. The Cavs benefited from season ticket sales from the year before with the expectation that the team would be competitive because we assumed there was a chance LeGone might stay. But the payroll walked away or was slashed out from underneath it. So while the season ticket holders got an inferior product, Oh Danny Boy got $33 million.

 

Nice work if you can get it....

Stat line from Tuesday Night

 

LBJ - 38 mins - 8-21 shooting - 18 points - 5 rebs - 5 assists - 5 turnovers

Kyrie - 27 mins - 7-11 shooting - 17 points - 4 rebs - 4 assists - 3 turnovers

 

Just sayin' :)

I suppose the joke is that ESPN chose to not air any Cavs games this year

 

NBA on ESPN - Shaking the Couch Cushions on the RV

http://www.rantsports.com/courtcrusades/2012/01/26/lebron-james-to-return-to-the-cleveland-cavaliers-as-a-free-agent/

 

 

LeBron James To Return To The Cleveland Cavaliers As A Free-Agent?

That's basically a copy of this earlier report by Sam Amico

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/01/24/12/Cleveland-return-in-LeBrons-future-/landing_cavaliers.html?blockID=652216

 

The one part of that report that I absolutely believe is that Lebron is not happy with Riley's 'heavy-handed' management style.

And I suspect LeBron is hearing from his old Cavs buddies that there's a lot of good chemistry on this team and that playing for Coach Scott can be a lot of fun. If LeBron is serious about wanting to come back, he better offer a huge mea culpa to the fans or it will be a tough return. Cleveland fans have long memories but will gladly exchange them for a championship. Anyone think LeBron, Kyrie and Tristan can be an awesome trio? I won't suggest yet that Kyrie is a young Dwayne Wade or that TT is a young Chris Bosh... yet. But they certainly have big-time upside potential.

And I suspect LeBron is hearing from his old Cavs buddies that there's a lot of good chemistry on this team and that playing for Coach Scott can be a lot of fun. If LeBron is serious about wanting to come back, he better offer a huge mea culpa to the fans or it will be a tough return. Cleveland fans have long memories but will gladly exchange them for a championship. Anyone think LeBron, Kyrie and Tristan can be an awesome trio? I won't suggest yet that Kyrie is a young Dwayne Wade or that TT is a young Chris Bosh... yet. But they certainly have big-time upside potential.

 

Just coming back would be a big mea culpa, in effect. 

 

In part because he's from here, and assuming he doesn't do anything inflammatory between now and then.....not only do I figure he's welcomed back but I'd expect a pre-signing/trade clamor to make it happen.

I think we should welcome him back if he decides this is where he wants to end his career.  He did make a huge mistake with "the decision".  I'm sure if he could go back in time he would have done it differently.  Windhorst said there's better than a 50/50 chance he returns.  I still think its below 50/50 with Gilbert around. 

I'm gonna go waaaaay out on a limb and say that LeBron won't be coming back to Cleveland.  I don't care how sorry he is.  He can suck on my big fat thumb.

It would be tempting to compete for a championship again but I'd rather build on what we have and through the draft rather than selling out to the Queen.  I hope Clevelanders would have more pride than to cheer for him again.  I'm not saying we should never forgive him but we would be the laughing stock of the sports world (as if some of our teams haven't been already) if we were shown loving him again after such a public display of hatred when he left.

I think if he does come back after 14, they introduce him as a role player and make it clear this is Kyries team.  LOL.  By the Kyrie may be better than Chris Paul.

OMG who give a 2 shits about LeBron? 

 

And I suspect LeBron is hearing from his old Cavs buddies that there's a lot of good chemistry on this team and that playing for Coach Scott can be a lot of fun. If LeBron is serious about wanting to come back, he better offer a huge mea culpa to the fans or it will be a tough return. Cleveland fans have long memories but will gladly exchange them for a championship. Anyone think LeBron, Kyrie and Tristan can be an awesome trio? I won't suggest yet that Kyrie is a young Dwayne Wade or that TT is a young Chris Bosh... yet. But they certainly have big-time upside potential.

 

I'm still pissed at you-know-how for moving the (real) Browns players to Baltimore!  I wouldn't forgive him and he'd have to do some OUT OF THIS WORLD ass kissing to get back in the graces of NEO'ians after the way he treated the fans here.

 

Go CAVS, F*CK the heat!

 

 

 

I wouldn't bring him back one bit, why help him get a ring since I highly doubt he would in mia even tho it is possible. He spit on us and made us a laughing stock, I cannot forgive those actions that he partooken in. I remember seeing those videos on youtube saying "stay Lebron" with the mascot of the state of Ohio with a teardrop under its eye lol. Well they were little kids wearing those shirts with the saddest faces ever, how do you think they felt after LeBron said he would take his talents elsewhere. For him to justify "The Decision" by saying the event was for charity, smh. This is Kyrie's team (he's going to be a star) and we're building this team the right way this time, we don't need LeBron down the road, he needs us!

 

GOOOOOOOOOOOO CAVSSSSSSS, FXK THE HEAT!

 

 

Btw, I love them navy blue uniforms from the other night D:

I think we should welcome him back if he decides this is where he wants to end his career.  He did make a huge mistake with "the decision".  I'm sure if he could go back in time he would have done it differently.  Windhorst said there's better than a 50/50 chance he returns.  I still think its below 50/50 with Gilbert around.

 

End his career here?  The Cavs will never have a need for a 37-year-old aging former "superstar" who can do nothing more than hoist up shots from the perimeter because he no longer has any spring in his step.  If that's the scenario, and it's just for his ego and for some fabricated comeback story, then forget it. 

 

Now if he comes back here in his late 20s, it might be a different story I believe.

Anyway.....back to the CURRENT CAVS.........

Fell short last night, but I was impressed with how they never quit.  The ball just wasn't bouncing our way like it was against NYK.

 

I wonder if Alonzo is going to get any consideration for the dunk contest.  As AC would say, the kid 'throws the hammer down'

I think we should welcome him back if he decides this is where he wants to end his career.  He did make a huge mistake with "the decision".  I'm sure if he could go back in time he would have done it differently.  Windhorst said there's better than a 50/50 chance he returns.  I still think its below 50/50 with Gilbert around.

 

End his career here?  The Cavs will never have a need for a 37-year-old aging former "superstar" who can do nothing more than hoist up shots from the perimeter because he no longer has any spring in his step.  If that's the scenario, and it's just for his ego and for some fabricated comeback story, then forget it. 

 

Now if he comes back here in his late 20s, it might be a different story I believe.

 

YA. That's what I meant....If he comes back AFTER his current contract (2014) and retires here. 

Alonzo Gee has some serious effin hops D: man, he can jump out of his own shoes lol. Since I read somehwere that antwan hardly ever goes up strong for a rebound instead just smacks it away ITS TRUE :-o. Soon he will not be here anyway, so who cares I guess lol. Kyries forth quater, WOW, not even the fourth how about last 3 mins plus of the game?! Think he had what 17 or somthing points in that span alone. Sessions for pretty much awhile now is regressing, dude can't bearly shoot for shid, fkn airballs almost 2 times a game smh. Boobie was off on the O but he brings the intensity each game defensively! Andy is Andy, and all I wanted to see this year was progress so even with their below .5000 record, they still have surpassed any expectations that I had in mind for this team.

couldnt agree more with yr player assessments last night. that was a furious run at the end, but still the cavs were never in it wire to wire against a poor nets team.  one they shoulda been able to grab. still i enjoy watching them a lot more this year when i can thats for sure.

 

that lebron return rumor is the craziest thing i have ever heard. even more unlikely as he may very well get his ring this year if wade stays healthy enough.

Kyrie for the WIN!  How about Varejo tonight? He should be an all star...

What a win!  :-D

Kyrie Irving's basket with 2.6 seconds left leads Cleveland Cavaliers to stunning win over Boston Celtics

Published: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 8:24 PM    Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 11:44 PM

Tom Reed, The Plain Dealer

 

Boston -- Kyrie Irving stood patiently dribbling the basketball as the seconds ticked down, the Celtics' crowd chanted "De-fense" and the moment grew ripe with opportunity.

 

The 19-year-old rookie had been in a similar spot a month earlier in Indiana, the ball in his hands, a victory within reach, only to see his left-handed layup rim out. But the bad memory never entered his mind, Irving said, as he waited for a high screen from teammate Anderson Varejao and an open look at the basket.

 

Beneath the Celtics' 17 championship banners and in front of his father, Drederick, who sat at courtside, Irving drove the lane, spun between two defenders and grabbed a piece of Cavaliers lore. His spectacular left-handed layup with 2.6 seconds remaining capped an improbable comeback and delivered an 88-87 win before a stunned sellout crowd of 18,624 fans.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2012/01/kyrie_irving_makes_last-second.html

That was, without a doubt, the best win I've seen in the post-Lebron era. I don't know why I kept watching when they went down by 11 points with 4:25 to go, but I'm glad I did.

 

Let's do it again tomorrow! :)

What if..... The Cavs played the entire game like do in the fourth period?

Anything I ever said about trading Andy while his value is high..... FUGETABOUTIT!

 

I can say with positive certainty that not one team would offer what I would consider fair value for Andy.  That's not going to stop teams calling.  As Celtics Coach Doc Rivers recently said....

 

“It’s amazing to watch him run around relentlessly and pursue (loose) balls,” Rivers said. “"He's always an All-Star, in my opinion.....They should keep a spot for a role player. That's what he does. What did he have, 20 points? I guarantee you they didn't run one set for him. He had 20 rebounds, but he probably kept 10 more alive."

 

And Paul Pierce on Varejao:

 

"Anderson Varejao is a pain in the butt with his offensive rebounding and the way he knocks down shots and the way and keeps balls alive," Pierce said. "He's probably one of the most underrated players in the league. I was kind of joking saying we need to double-team him on the rebound when the ball goes up."

If the rest of the Cavs played 48 minutes the way Andy does, they'd certainly have a winning record. I just hope Andy starts to raise the level of play among his teammates, rather than they cause Andy to lower his.

Eh.  Our last two losses were by a combined six points, and the loss before that was at Miami, one of the better teams in the league, and we only lost by seven.  All this with a fairly young squad sans Varejao.  I haven't followed the Cavs much ever, but just from taking a quick look, it doesn't look like their roster is stacked with overpaid once-greats in the twilight of their careers.  They'll get better.

I think you are seeing Andy's non-stop hustle rub off on the rest of the team.  We just seem to be playing harder than our opponents, which is causing us to be in a lot of games that should be a cake walk for the other team.  Casspi is staying on the floor because of his hustle.  Gee is relishing this new defensive stopper MO he is getting.  Even Boobie has stepped up his D quite a bit (although I heard that had a lot to do with him improving his hand speed this off-season training in a boxing gym).  It's a little infectious and you can see it really come over the whole team at certain points of the game.  But, yeah, only Andy does it for 48.... probably better than anyone in the league. 

 

 

The win against the Celtics in Boston was still probably the most exciting game so far this year, but the Celtics were only .500 going into the game. Tonight's win was especially satisfying coming against the defending champ Mavs and their winning record. Andy continues to rock the boards and the net -- 17 points, 17 rebounds. The defense made stops at the end (the Mavericks didn't score a field goal in the final 4:13), and the kid Irvine makes the last two shots to cement the win. Bzzzt -- 91-88, Cavs over the Mavs!

I know Delonte West has his issues to deal with, but then again maybe he's just more real than most.

 

Some of his quotes from the Dallas Star:

 

CLEVELAND -- Delonte West gets treated like royalty around Cleveland.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers nipped the Dallas Mavericks, 91-88, Saturday night at Quickens Loans Arena, security folks who were working here when West played for the Cavs from 2008-'10 playfully told him he couldn't come in the Cav's locker room. Then, of course, they allowed West to do whatever he wanted to do.

"The city of Cleveland is a hard working city and they're about the right things,'' West said. "These Cleveland fans are more than fans.

"They're friends, they're people in the community, people at the Home Depot and the CVS that you see every day. It's good seeing a lot of their faces still in the same seats.''

 

Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/mavs/2012/02/west-treated-like-royalty.html#storylink=cpy

I hate these moments in time where a player or team I care about is the go to answer for lets say Rookie of the Year.  So now, we have 40 games to start reading about the regression of Kyrie Irving etc etc.

I hate these moments in time where a player or team I care about is the go to answer for lets say Rookie of the Year.  So now, we have 40 games to start reading about the regression of Kyrie Irving etc etc.

 

Boy are you a bummer! Just enjoy the ride and see where it goes.

Yes but I'm pretty sure I can make out the track ahead.  I'll still be all in and excited about Kyrie and the Cavs, it's just there's really just only so many places the collective media can go when you get to this point.  Reading those stories is just going to be annoying.