Yawn. They may not even play this upcoming season. Plus, the draft pool this year wasn't exactly teaming with major stars, but never the less, the NBA held its annual selection show of International and occasional college players.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were obvious big winners, if for no other reason than they had the 1st and 4th picks. They took Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, a forward from Texas.
NCAA Tourney MVP Kemba Walker went 9th to Charlotte and the big headline grabber was the Sacramento Kings trading with Milwaukee to get the 10th pick which they used on the Jimmer, Jimmer Fredette.
Another interesting tidbit: The Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus went 13th and 14th to Phoenix and Houston respectively.
And yeah, they held a second round too, those picks were guys who will be bench fillers and NBDL players for the most part. The NBA Draft isn't like the other sports, it only lasts two rounds and really, there isn't a ton of drama involve.
We won't go through and grade everyone for the simple fact that if we did, we'd probably have to give every team involved an "Incomplete" since the season may or may not happen and in the NBA more so than the other leagues, you really have to see how they fit in before you can say how successful they can be.
You know, it's a funny thing about the NBA. It's a business where if you have ever been a head coach, you will always have a shot at being a head coach any time a job comes up.
No, they don't think outside the box very often.
The Los Angeles Times is reporting the L.A Lakers are set to hire former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown as their next head coach. Brown would replace the retiring Phil Jackson.
Other job candidates appeared to be former Houston and Sacramento head coach Rick Adelman and Lakers assistant Brian Shaw.
More from the LA Times their own selves RIGHT HERE
We aren't sure we get this, though we don't necessarily have to. Brown did a decent job in Cleveland, but he had LeBron James there too. It was his first head coaching gig. He got the Cavs to the NBA finals once...in 2007, but could never get back.
We think the Lakers could do better, because whether they like it or not, they are going to need a roster overhaul. They were exposed during the playoffs this year as an old, slow team. We are very curious to see how Brown, and team G.M Mitch Kupchak plan on dealing with that.
Here's Mike Brown doing what all good unemployed coaches do until they get their next job, work as a game analyst for ESPN:
The Pistons-Cavs game really meant a whole lot of nothing as the NBA season came to a clse, but it wasn't without its fireworks...
Villanueva brings a new definition to "moving pick" and "swinging gate." Interesting...
As a result, Villanueva has been suspended five games without pay for the fight with Hollins and "attempting to escalate the altercation by entering the Cavaliers' locker room on two occasions following his ejection..."
It's one for this year and the first four of next year... Well done, Charlie...
Hey, this was the Cavs bowl game... this was their moment in the sun since they got absolutely Horizon-jobbed the last time the Threetles were at Quicken Arena...
It wasn't the way it happened the last time... Nowhere close...
Here's the highlights...
That's what happens when you don't show for starting line-ups... You think the HQ is kidding...??? Observe... ((HT: NBA TV/youtube))
He was taking his talents somewhere else apparently...
The Cavaliers stopped their NBA-record losing streak at 26 games with a 126-119 win in overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers.
It absolutely figures that it would be the Clippers...
Cleveland won for the first time since December 18th. The Cavs will have to "settle" with tying the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the worst streak among the four major sports.
Antawn Jamison scored 35 points and made the game's biggest basket, a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in OT for the Cavs. Daniel Gibson scored 10 in overtime and J.J. Hickson added 27 points and 14 rebounds.
Here's, and the HQ can actually say this, your Cavs highlights... ((HT: NBA.com/youtube))
This says it all/Courtesy: joey morona-cleveland.com
It was a game that some people thought might be the one. The one to break what is now about to become the all-time pro sports record for most consecutive losses.
The Cleveland Cavaliers put up barely a fight in losing Wednesday night to Detroit, 103-94. It ties the Cavs with the Tampa Bay Bucs, who lost the first 26 games they ever played in the 70's. It gets worse. Not only do they tie, and more than likely pass the record later this week, they've now lost 36 of their past 37.
Really, there isn't much more that you can say about this other than what has been said. If the Cavs win 2 more games this year, they avoid the worst NBA record of all-time. But we are beginning to wonder if that will happen. They are now 8-45 on the year. Which means at one point this season, they were 7-8.
Seemingly, it's no one issue that is causing this collapse. They've been competitive in a lot of games and then they've had a bunch of turkeys too, where they almost didn't show up. In the NBA, if you don't have the talent the other team does, you still have a chance to win...if you are willing to work harder than the team that you are playing. The Cavaliers either don't understand or aren't willing to do that.
Our condolences to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Monday night in Dallas the Cavs gave it a good effort against the Mavericks but eventually closed the deal losing 99-96 losing their 25th straight game, an NBA record. That broke the 24 game losing streak set by that's right, the 1981-82 and 1982-83 Cavaliers who did it in two seasons. So Scott Wedman, Ron Brewer, Bill Laimbeer (yes he was on that team.), Paul Mokeski, even Chuck Daly coach the 81-82 team for 41 games before he got the hell out of Cleveland. They are off the hook now. A new group of Cavs suck even worse.
"It's like Groundhog Day every day," Antwon Jamison said after the game.
This team is so bad it's lost 35 of 36.
The Detroit Pistons come to Cleveland Wednesday night. Goodness gracious could this losing streak reach 26 games.
Here's a quick highlight of the game. (Thanks Fox Sports Southwest/Youtube.com)
Here's a creative feature from Mark Schwab of WOIO-TV with a scientific approach to when will the Cavs win a game. (Thanks WOIO-TV Cleveland, OH)
Wesley Matthews scored 31 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 to give Portland a 111-105 win over the Cavs, who haven't won in the 2011 calendar year and have now lost 34 of 35.
With just one win since November 27th they now have also matched the record for overall losses in a row they previously set over 1981-82 and 1982-83.
"It feels like a bad dream," said guard Daniel Gibson.
Here's some highlights ((or lowlights)) depending on your point-of-view... It's the end of it all... ((HT: FSOhio/NBA/youtube))
You gotta feel sorry for Byron Scott for taking this gig...
The HQ really isn't in to hoops until playoff time, but this one couldn't be ignored...
The Lakers had seven players score double-figures last night as they destroyed the ((now)) 8-30 Cavaliers 112-57...
Here's your highlights... ((HT: FSLakers/NBA/Youtube))
How bad was this game...???
It was 92-41 after three quarters. It's the fewest points the Cavs have ever scored in a game and the fewest the Lakers have allowed in the shot clock era. It was the Cavs' 11th consecutive loss. "It can't be any worse than this. If it is, someone will have to help me because I don't know how much of this I can take," said Antawn Jamison, who had six points. "This by far is rock-bottom. It's definitely by far one of the most embarrassing moments that I've been a part of as far as basketball."
The Cavs shot 30 percent, were outscored 52-28 in the paint and committed 19 turnovers. The loss was their 21st in their last 22 games. They fell to 3-18 on the road and 1-5 against the Western Conference.
In a Twitter update posted early Wednesday, Cavs guard Mo Williams tweeted, "I feel like I can't even show my face in Cleve."
The HQ thinks that may not be far from the truth...
There are stories that you really ((and the HQ means REALLY)) give you chills and hope the ending is happy, and this is one of those stories...
Ted Williams is a homeless man in Columbus, Ohio and he has a gift: his pipes...
Here's the story from Doral Chenoweth and the Columbus Dispatch... ((HT: Youtube))
After seeing his story, the Cleveland Cavaliers stepped up and offered him a full-time gig doing voice-over work and have even helped on a mortgage for a house.
The team offered Williams full-time voiceover work with the Cavs and Quicken Loans, and also offered to pay a mortgage on a home.
“We’d like to offer you full time work with the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as Quicken Loans Arena,” spokeswoman Tracy Marek said. “On top of it, because we know you’re a person trying to get up and on your feet, Quicken Loans is actually offering to pay a mortgage on a home.”
“That’s the best deal ever!” Williams said.
Williams is now getting opportunities all across the country, and the HQ hopes they work out for him...
Haha! How long ago was "The Decision" anyway? Surely, there was enough time to change the cover of the team 2011 calendar, wasn't there?
Well, it now has been done, but not before some "Early" editions of the calendar went out...and who was on the cover....none other than now Cleveland arch-enemy LeBron James.
Check out this story from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer RIGHT HERE
Did someone forget about this? Surely by now everyone has heard the famous quote "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach". Okay, maybe not the folks at the oddly appropriate named company called...get this "Perfect Timing Inc."
Look around, apparently the calendar is for sale in several places, it hasn't been pulled. Well, at least until it makes the rounds of the blogsphere.
Yeah, we find this pretty funny too. And it's a good way to start the day, laughing.
In case the folks at Perfect Timing were wondering, here is some video of Mr. James working out with his current team....The Miami Heat. Thanks NBA.com
Cavs' guard Delonte West was able to stay out of jail late last week by pleading out to weapons charges. He received a "home detention sentence" of 8 months and two years probation that includes flexibility to travel to NBA games if the league says its okay...
A) Like they won't and, B) Provided there's a season to travel to...
The HQ would also like to know how we can get sentences like this...
The dashcam video from the Maryland cops was released, and its evident that West is having driving issues with his three-wheeled motorcycle.
Or, as our old Drivers Ed. instructor Mr. Anderson called it, "murder-cycle." He also was the weisenheimer that tried to trip us up on how to pronounce the capital of Kentucky ((Is it "Louis-ville" or "Lewis-ville?")). Yours truly, piped in "Frankfort..." but that's another story for another day...
When West was pulled over, officers found two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and a large knife inside a guitar case strapped to his back.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert minced no words and pulled no punches after LeBron James decided to be the newest member of the Miami Heat. In an open letter, to his fans, he simply went off...
Among Gilbert's statements:
"If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become."
In a later interview with the AP, Gilbert claims his star/former star/former son of Ohio quit. This would be the game, in particular, that Gilbert is referring to where he feels James mailed it in... Game 5 of the Celtics Series- the 32-point loss at home. ((HT: ESPN/NBAHDVideos))
Now all the Heat have to do is fill a roster with ten guys with only, roughly, ten million dollars in cap space for the upcoming lengths of the James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade deals...
Michael Beasley is, most certainly, gone. Word on the street has him heading to Minnesota for a 2011 second-round pick and an undisclosed swap of other future picks.
In front of a cable television audience that had to wait until close to 10PM eastern time, in direct opposition as to what viewers were initially told, LeBron James announced his intentions to become a member of the Miami Heat and leave his home team of Cleveland.
"I can't say it was always in my plans, because I never thought it was possible," James said on ESPN. "But the things that the Miami Heat franchise have done, to free up cap space and be able to put themselves in a position this summer to have all three of us, it was hard to turn down. Those are two great players, two of the greatest players that we have in this game today."
Here's his answer and explanation with Jim Gray in his Made-For-Greenwich TV event ((HT: ESPN/Newsnet5))
Sufficed to say, fans are pissed and anything James was going to be burned in effigy. ((HT: Newsnet5 Cleveland))
Now, James is a close second to Art Modell as the most hated person in the history of Ohio. He has also proven that he wants nothing to do with being the Alpha Dog to win a title. James seems to be more than happy to be a 2 or a 3 on the court.
The Miami take on the issue, was of course, quite subdued... Jorge Estevez can't hear a word you're saying... ((HT: WFOR-TV/My33 Miami))
And, in the next story, Carey Codd got to see them make the T-shirts...
While filing this stuff, TBH had a few good points ((as she always does))... She wondered A) If it was so damned important for LeBron-A-Dict Arnold to donate $5-million to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, why not just donate the $5-million to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, without the TV hour...?
And point 2) Where is the fiery school that sponsored the event going to find 5 needy kids in Greenwich, Connecticut for their Boys And Girls Clubs Scholarships...? Are they the ones who went to school in a BMW instead of a Mercedes...???
Joey Abs, Pete Gas, and Rodney would not approve... ((HT: WWE/tnafan709))
Michigan State Head basketball coach Tom Izzo is staying with the Spartans turning down a chance to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"I knew at the beginning that whatever decision I made would be a decision for life," Izzo said during a news conference on campus.
"I am going to be a lifer. This is what I'm going to be, and I'm damn proud of it."
Now, the plot thickens in Cleveland to find someone both Dan Gilbert and ((maybe)) LeBron James can agree will coach the Cavs and stop their post-season failures of late.
Here's coverage from our friends at WJBK-TV/Fox2...
Here's the press conference in full, thanks to our friends at NewsNet5 in Cleveland
What's next for the Cavs, you may ask...??? Our friends at WOIO-TV in Cleveland try to answer that burning question... Tony Zarrella takes the lead in front of a monitor...
A person familiar with the Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit of Michigan State university head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo says the coach plans to visit Cleveland to discuss the team's coaching vacancy.
Izzo is expected to travel to Cleveland to meet with the Cavs and tour their facilities.
Two people in East Lansing said Izzo was on campus all morning. He is believed to be mulling a massive contract from the club worth up to $6 million per season.
According to ESPN, Izzo held a meeting with his Spartan players yesterday. Sources say that the players left the meeting with the vibe that Izzo would take the Cavs' job if it was offered to him.
The Cleveland Cavaliers did what was expected overnight and parted ways with Coach Mike Brown.
The move, which had been speculated about ever since the Cavs were abruptly dispatched from the NBA Playoffs came barely ahead of the team having to act on Brown's contract. In that contract, there was a clause that if he was not let go within 10 days of the end of the season, they owed him at least half of the next seasons salary.
((Brown and LeBron//Courtesy: John Kuntz/Cleveland Plain-Dealer))
Brown had been the coach for the past 5 seasons.
This off-season promises to be a serious adventure for the team as they now not only have to find a new coach, they have to find a way to appease and re-sign there franchise player...one Mr. LeBron James.
Mark Schwab was live outdoors to talk about the future... ((HT: WOIO-TV))
We generally like athletes who don't sugarcoat things or stay politically correct and just kind of say what is on their minds. Not only is that rare, most of the mainstream media are aghast when it actually happens. They look up and start running around the room in circles with their arms raised going "AHHHHH!". Mostly because it never happens.
We've also, til now, never been much of a fan of Joakim Noah. He talks...a lot...about whatever is on his mind. We didn't care for him when he was at Florida or when he began his NBA career in Chicago. But...we are changing our opinion, mostly because again...he says whatever he's thinking.
He recently opined about Kevin Garnett of the Celtics when he got suspended, calling him a "Dirty Player". Maybe it is true, maybe it isn't...but nobody seemed to run to Garnett's defense their either.
Noah's latest stream of consciousness, railing on the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls opponent in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs. He steadfastly refused to acknowledge that LeBron James is pretty much beating the Bulls by himself, saying "Yeah, its tough, but we have to play them again and I just don't want to give LeBron all this credit". Hmmm....
Check out what he had to say about the city of Cleveland after Game 2 of the series, it's funny, and if you've ever been to Cleveland...somewhat true.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to acquiring center Shaquille O'Neal in a trade that would pair him with MVP LeBron James, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com confirmed early Thursday morning.
The Cavs and Phoenix Suns have reached an agreement in principle on the deal, which gives the Cavaliers two of the league's biggest superstars.
O'Neal will join Cleveland in exchange for center Ben Wallace, guard Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round draft pick (No. 46 overall in Thursday's draft). The league still must approve the deal.
The trade, which the sides had been discussing for months, gives the Suns financial flexibility in the future. O'Neal has just one season left on a $20 million contract and Wallace, who ended last season saying he may retire, is in the final year of a $14 million deal.
The Suns save $10 million on the deal, half of it by lowering their payroll below the luxury tax limit. They plan to buy out Pavlovic, who has $1.5 million of his $4.95 million contract guaranteed.
Phoenix, which also gets $500,000 in cash from the Cavs, might save even more if Wallace decides to accept a buyout. The big center reportedly is considering retirement after battling injuries the last few seasons.
Owner Robert Sarver, whose banking and real estate interests have suffered greatly in the economic downturn, said last Saturday that he didn't mind paying a luxury tax for a good team. But Phoenix failed to make the playoffs, and the Suns are in the midst of what amounts to a rebuilding effort.
In Cleveland, O'Neal could be the missing piece for James to win a first championship. The 7-foot hoops icon known best as "Shaq" but by many other aliases, certainly gives the city a surge of star power.
O'Neal's addition also provides Cleveland with some much needed size in its frontcourt. The Cavs couldn't stop Orlando center Dwight Howard in the Eastern Conference finals, losing the series in six games and seeing a 66-win regular season and deep playoff run come up short.
O'Neal can still bang inside, which is why Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry tried to acquire him before the trading deadline in February.
The Suns were a West-leading 34-14 when they acquired O'Neal in February 2008. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds last season and appeared in his 15th All-Star Game, stealing the show with a goofy dance during pregame introductions at U.S. Airways Center.
O'Neal answered to "the Big Cactus" in the desert, but the plodding 7-1, 325-pounder seemed a strange fit with the up-tempo Suns.
Popular coach Mike D'Antoni, who reportedly pushed management to acquire Shaq, left at the end of O'Neal's first season. D'Antoni was replaced by Terry Porter, who was fired in midseason after a failed attempt to get the team to play better defense.
The Suns won one playoff game in O'Neal's 1½ seasons -- and last spring they failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2004.
Soon after the season ended, speculation began to grow that the club was looking to deal O'Neal while his trade value was still high.
The Suns might not be finished with big trades. All-Star Amare Stoudemire, who can opt out of his contract, also is being mentioned prominently in potential deals.
With James' potential free agency looming after next season, the Cavaliers feel an even greater sense of urgency to win the city's first pro sports championship since 1964. By bringing in O'Neal, they have again demonstrated to the 24-year-old James that they're willing to make bold moves while keeping themselves in good financial position.
If the O'Neal-James pairing doesn't work out, the Cavs might be able to trade the perennial All-Star next February and would have more money to spend in the Summer of 2010 on what is being called the greatest free-agency class in league history.
James and O'Neal have known each other for years. When James was a high school phenom in Akron, Ohio, O'Neal attended one of his games and the two have remained close. James has often wondered what it would be like to play with a center of O'Neal's stature.
He's about to find out.
ESPN's John Anderson asks Chris Broussard what he thinks of the whole deal...
