Aldrige Are You Serious, Call Byner?

I respect David Aldridge as an NBA Analyst. ESPN made a bad move replacing him with Screamin A. Smith, and I think that goes without saying at this point. However, in his recent article where he says that LeBron should call Earnest Byner to learn about sportsmanship? C'mon. Earnest Byner should call LeBron to learn how to not fold under pressure.

An excerpt from Aldrige's NBA.com Article is below:

Byner went left, looking like he'd score for sure. And then, he was hit from the side by a Broncos' defensive back, Jeremiah Castille. Byner fumbled. The Broncos recovered. Denver won. Cleveland lost. Again.

If anyone -- anyone -- had the right not to talk after losing such a game, in such a manner, after having been so heroic on the field, after having his heart broken in front of 75,933 fans at Mile High Stadium and millions more watching at home, it was Byner.

But Byner spoke. Did he ever.

"I was going for the touchdown, obviously, and the ball came out," Byner said. "So what can I say?...I tried to split two guys and the ball just popped out."

Time and time again, he answered the same question, over and over again: what happened? He answered it at his locker for more than half an hour, still in uniform, and if he raised his voice or was curt or profane to anyone, I am not aware of it, and neither are the dozens of reporters and camera people who were there. It remains the single most courageous, classy thing I have ever seen an athlete do. Ever. It should be required reading and/or viewing for anyone who plays any sport on how to handle defeat.

That's why you should call him, LeBron. He knows.

David, you might have be wowed by this at the time, but the whole event made Cleveland sick. And while everybody in Cleveland is well aware of the fact that Byner fumbled away a ticket to the Super Bowl, nobody remembers - or cares - that he talked to the media after he did so. And nobody would have even noticed - or cared - that LeBron didn't shake hands after the game, or talk to the media, if guys like you weren't making it a major issue. Move on. Time to cover the Orlando Magic and LA Lakers. And reminding us about Byner? Thanks for nothing.

So LeBron Didn't Shake Hands, Huh?

LeBron was supposed to shake Dwight Howard's hand huh? Because why? Because Dwight Howard is some great sportsman that deserves the respect of a humbled half court handshake from the King after his team bounced LeBron from the playoffs? The same great sportsman that threw powder up in an ESPN halftime interview during the Lakers - Nuggets game, mocking LeBron? In the words of Ozzie Guillen, 'shh please.'

I for one am glad that LeBron James was pissed off about the loss. I am glad that LeBron was so mad about losing that he didn't want to shake anybody's hand, give anybody dap, give anybody hugs, wish anybody good luck in the next round, and exchange pleasantries on national television, while I sat at the Harry Buffalo in Cleveland debating whether or not I should throw my chair through the window of the Corvette that was parked right outside in front of me. Props to my brother for telling me that would only make it worse.

My brother was right, that would have made it worse. And LeBron would have made it worse too had he shown Howard love. He sent him an email. Get over it.

An MVP For Cleveland

LeBron James will hoist up the NBA's MVP trophy tonight before the Cavaliers tip off their series against the Hawks, with the typical fanfare that is associated with winning the award. David Stern will be there, the crowd will go berserk, and the image of King James raising the trophy above his head will be played over and over again in the years to come, as that moment typically is.

But LeBron James is no typical MVP.

There may be no MVP in the history of professional sports that has meant more to his team, his franchise, his city, or his geographic region than LeBron James does.

The cliches of the MVP debate always ask, well what does this honor reward? Does it go to the player who is the most valuable to his team? Is it the leagues best player? The player with the best statistics? Or does it go as a reward to the best player, on the leagues team with the best record? These questions will invariably be asked again this year by the talking heads, however, there is more than a sound argument to be made that James is all four of these things. However, what shouldn't be lost there is, that he is those things, and much more to the city he plays for.

This franchise was one that won (17) games the year before he got here. Northeast Ohio watched him closely that season, waiting, hoping. Cleveland was a punch line at the time. But since he arrived, nobody seems to be laughing at Cleveland anymore. Its all changed.

A town who once believed it was cursed, who's river caught on fire, who's running back fumbled, and closer blew the save, now seems poised, determined, and firm in its belief that a title is looming. LeBron James did that.

Since his rookie year he has put Cleveland sports fans hopes, and dreams on his back. And when he raises that trophy above his head tonight, he is bringing Cleveland up with him, and letting us all know, that its okay to believe now.

Mitch Albom, and His Hair, Believe LeBron Stays

On ESPN's Sports Reporters this morning, award winning sports writer Mitch Albom said the following in regards to LeBron James, marketing, and the NBA Finals:

"They (young sports fans) also don't care that he comes from Cleveland. Now the NBA and marketing used to say that he (LeBron) has to be in New York. What's gonna happen here, though, is if he gets to the Finals, if they (Cavaliers) don't win, or they do win, he is cementing his place in Cleveland. Everyone keeps talking about how he is going to New York. I don't think so. I think he's going to stay there. Because of the way the whole global views of things (are now), it doesn't matter if you play in Cleveland, or whatever. You can be that big a star, he's got every big commercial there is. What I want to see is, these two guys (Kobe and LeBron) play against each other in the Finals, they go to commercial break, and I want to see who's commercial comes up first. "

Good point Mitch, as always...now cruise back into Best Cuts and get that lettuce trimmed up.

Anderson Varejao Inked Up as 'Chosen 2'

While most people are aware of the fact that LeBron James is the 'Chosen 1' what you may not have known is that Anderson Varejao is the 'Chosen 2'.

He got that tatted up recently so you don't forget, and rocked his fresh ink yesterday at practice.



Zydrunas Ilgauskas refused to watch antics.



I guess Ray Allen didn't like his tattoo.

LeBron Leads Cavaliers Past Spurs: 101-81

The Cleveland fans that remained shooken up Sunday morning, despite the vote of confidence from Scot Pollard, let out a collective sigh of relief Sunday afternoon as they watched their Cavaliers take San Antonio apart from start to finish in a 101-81 route of the Spurs. The win was impressive for a lot of reasons. Not least of which was that it stopped the losing streak at (2) and pushed their home record out to 37-1. But they also beat Tim Duncan and his Spurs without the services of their starting Power Forward (Ben Wallace) and back-up PF/ top reserve (Anderson Varejeo). Starting Darnell Jackson - no slight to D-Block - they held Duncan to (6) points and beat the Spurs going away. Why and how you ask? LeBron James and his leadership that was defined, demonstrated, and on display all afternoon long.

What LeBron did was significant on Sunday because he put his team on his back - not because Oscar Robertson was there - but because they needed him to. If any confidence from Cavalier players were wavering a bit coming off the debacle in Orlando, it call rushing back in the 1st quarter thanks to LeBron who went out and got (18) points, to push the Cavaliers out to a lead they never looked back from. From there, everybody got right. Mo Williams played like an All Star, Delonte West got his swagger back, Z contributed, Darnell Jackson got some key experience against the front-line elite of the NBA, and at the end of the day, LeBron throws in 38, to go with 8 boards, and 5 assists, while sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying a Sunday afternoon in Cleveland for the majority of the 4th quarter.

I'd say they're ready for the Playoffs.

For More on the Cavaliers 101-81 Win Sunday:

Sunday's Box Score

Right At Home: Brian Windhorst

Cavs Use Extra Session for W: 97-92

With (37) seconds left in regulation last night, during the Cavaliers 97-92 win over the Trail Blazers, LeBron James emphatically cleared out the lane, drove past Travis Outlaw like he wasn't even there, rose up, and delivered a Bill Raftery kissss off the glass, while all the Steve Blake and company could could do was turn and watch. That bucket made the score 86-82. And I know, I know, all you Screamin A wannabees, yeah, he did foul Brandon Roy, and miss a buzzer beater to end regulation. Okay great. Since your keeping score, you might also have noted that the King did tally a triple double in a relatively off night for him, going for 26-11-10. His Cavs did then use the extra session to dispose of Portland, and extend their home record to 31-1. I'll take it. Zydrunas stepped up and hit some big shots for Cleveland throughout the game, going for (21), and Joe Smith came off the bench to be as efficient as possible, going 5-5 from the field, totaling (12) points, (3) rebounds on the night.

The Franchise - By Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst

The publishers of the book The Franchise, LeBron James and the remaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers were nice enough to send me a copy of what I have heard is an excellent book, and I can't wait to read it. I received it yesterday, and flipping through it briefly, it looks like a great read. I will be breaking the book down in depth in a couple weeks, but I wanted to share one excerpt below that I stumbled across just skimming through, that made me remember something I thought I wouldn't forget.

The excerpt was as follows:

"When LeBron James played in his first high school basketball game on December 3, 1999, it was in a half empty gym in Cuyahoga Falls, a suburb of Akron. James was starting as a freshmen for St. Vincent - St. Mary High School...Before the game Coach Keith Dambrot was nervous because he was starting (3) freshmen, including James"

That triggered a conversation I had towards the end of that season. That year, I was a college freshmen and I went back to my high school to practice with the basketball team over winter break. After practice, I talked to my old coaches, who talked my ear off about a freshmen from St. V's they saw play that year (99-00 season). They said he was incredible, explosive, real quick, saw the floor unbelievably well. They said he was like 5'4" or 5'5"... they said his name was Dru Joyce. I didn't hear about LeBron James until the following season. To this day I can't believe that conversation was about Dru Joyce and not LeBron James. Who knew.

Cavs Beat Heat...Chalmers Bombs From Half Court

The Cavaliers are a premiere basketball team. Sunday's win was big, and tonight's was bigger. 3-1 on the trip, come back from (11) with 7 minutes left in the game. Win on the road against the Five Seed in the East. Team defense. Blocked Shots. Half Court Shots by the other team for no real reason. And the King. LBJ was awesome.

The flurry to get back in the game, from 7:15 left in the 4th Quarter to 6:29 left in the game, was the most entertaining 0:46 seconds of NBA action I have seen for as long as I can remember....

First, Mo hits a (3) to make it 91 - 83...deflections, a scrum, a dunk by LBJ, a Halfcourt shot by Mario Chalmers (which was the funniest thing in the NBA I have seen this year), and another (3) by Mo with 6:29 left, and the Cavs were down (3), 91-88 before you can say Ocho Cinco (who was in attendance Monday). Then, after the Cavs scored (8) points in (46) seconds the cameras picked up the Heat's (12) year old coach and Mario Chalmers talking to the Ref at the T.V. timeout about Chalmers' heave with (22) seconds left on the shot clock, (7) minutes left in the game, from just over half court, by the sidelines.

"I don't know what he's doing, " you could hear the ref say to the both of them.

Classic. No one did.

The Cavs then took the lead with (4) minutes left 92-91 on a sick lay-up by Mo Williams in traffic, and had a stranglehold on the game from there. LeBron scores (42), Cavs win 107-102.

Not that they need him, but bring on Joe Smith.

Lavin Says Roe Uses the Crab Dribble Too

Must be a Northeast Ohio move. When Delvon Roe (St. Edwards High School) got fouled with about (9) minutes to go in yesterday's Wisconsin - MSU game, ESPN color commentator and former UCLA Head Coach Steve Lavin said the following:

"Good pass over the top by Walton, and a the pin and the seal by Roe. And then Roe uses the Crab Dribble, or the Spider Dribble, which is below the knees to maneuver, there's the good target, the catch with two hands, now the little tiny one bounce dribble to maneuver into position for jump hook on the foul."

When 'Bron 'Bron used that term a month or so ago, the NBA hater community - headed by the Washington Wizards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison - chuckled and acted like James made the term up. Must not have haters, because it sounds like my man Lav, in between slicking his hair back every few hours, has been teaching that little one bounce maneuver for some time now.

Fifty Five Reasons Why He is the King

The best thing that Drew Gooden ever said as a Cavalier was when he called LeBron 'Video Game James' after going for 50 one night while the Rat Tail Patch was playing here, and sitting for all of the 4th quarter, before getting dealt to the Bulls and then the Kings in less than a season. LeBron was Video Game James again last night though - definetely. When he hit the sky hook in the 1st quarter it was like look out. If he goes to that move inside he is unstoppable - like flames are coming from his basketball in NBA Jam unstoppable. But then he went on, and made like Reggie Miller, crossing half court and nailing one after another - Deep, in the Bradley Center (1 pt) and the momentum meter in the top corner of the screen was about to burst. Even Z said something about LeBron looking like he was playing Nintendo Wii - and after he said it I couldn't help picture Z playing Nintendo Wii Tennis in his living room...but I digress. What was most impressive about the (55) LeBron scored last night was that they needed all of them. They were down double digits when he hit most of them, and the 3rd quarter was spectacular when he brought them all the way back. Its just awesome to watch. It makes you wonder too, with a guy like that on your team, you have to be insane to tell me that 'he' needs Amare Stoudemire, Shaq, Richard Jeffereson, or Marcus Camby to 'help him' win anything. No, I think he'll be okay with what he's got. He already went to the finals with Marshall, Jones, Gooden, and Hughes.

LeBron, Kobe, AC, and Screamin A

Screamin A. Smith just said on ESPN that he felt Kobe's 61 point performance at the Garden was better than LeBron...Screamin must have really got a kick out of the additional nine points Kobe scored on Monday...hey Smith, LeBron accounted for 74 points and your boy Kobe, who you keep nudging on Facebook, accounted for 67. LeBron grabbed 10 boards as well, and Mamba tallied 0.

**********************************************************************************
My favorite line of the night from the best broadcaster in the biz last night came with about 4:32 left in the 4th Quarter, when AC said the following:

"The L-Train has been devastating tonight."

Simple, effective, sincere, and descriptive. Drink (1).

**********************************************************************************
I have a new JD Shaver Post up on Midwest Sports Fan currently in their Featured NBA section, but I wanted to add a couple of notes that I stumbled across last night.

In response to Kobe going for 61, Mike D'Antoni said of his defense strategy on the Mamba:

“We tried to do the rope-a-dope a little bit where he might shoot himself out, but he didn’t,” D’Antoni said. “He just kept on going.”

...and you tried it again Wednesday. There is a reason you are the first person to think of that strategy for Basketball Mike, it doesn't work.

...With 2:35 left in the first quarter last night, LeBron was at that point beating the Knicks himself, 18-17. The overall score at that point was 26-17.

**********************************************************************************
On the Dan Patrick Radio Show Wednesday, Doc Rivers said of Kobe and LeBron:

"Kobe might be the most talented player in the league, but I don't know if he is the best the way LeBron is playing this season."

Agreed Doc.

**********************************************************************************

Oh yeah, and Ray Allen gets the nod over Mo...don't get me started.

LBJ Steps Back for the Win

As I sit on the couch getting ready to watch the Cavaliers take on Utah in a few, I keep replaying LBJ's game winner in my mind from last night. Nasty shot. Step back, gotcha, for the game. I liked watching him get right in Mo Williams grill after celebrate. I like seeing the King boy-up with Williams alot more than I did when Dam Jones was trying to be his B-F-F for the last couple seasons.

But back to the jumper...what are you gonna do now NBA? For the record, that is the same jumper that James took for the last few years at the end of games. The same jump shot that had haters saying 'he has no killer instinct.' That was a ridiculous comment then, but it looks more ridiculous now. People said, he settled for a J with the game on the line.

People surmised in the past that because he took a J, he wasn't a true tough closer...somehow. They said he should go to the rim. Maybe he should go to the rim with the game on the line. Maybe he will in the future. But he has gone to the rim with the game on the line in the past and not gotten the call. What if he does that on the road last night in Oakland...gets hacked, no call. The Cavaliers loose.

No, the kid is a closer. What a step back jumper is, is LBJ taking the outcome of the game squarely into his own hands. Step Back J with the clock winding down. He won't get fouled, he knows that. There won't be a put back on a miss, he knows that too. Just one shot, win if it goes, loose if it doesn't. He nailed it. What are you gonna do now?

Top 10 NFL Prospects in NBA Uniforms...(5-1)

5. Glen Davis - If Big Baby wasn't crying, going to Disneyland to ride the kiddie rides, or playing PF for the Celtics, I think he would make one helluva a FB. Davis played FB in high school, and thank all things good that you weren't a 5'8" safety with acne, who accidentally got in his way while trying to make a tackle.

4. Jason Williams - Williams was Randy Moss' QB in high school. While the two of these guys undoubtedly got in a lot of trouble as prep stars, they also hooked up for a lot of yards en route to a West Virginia state championship.

3. Nate Robinson - He was offered both a football and basketball scholarship from Washington. Inevitably choosing basketball as his career path, and unfortunately got drafted by the Knicks, Robinson certainly had an opportunity to play corner, safety, or even possibly running back as a professional.

2. Allen Iverson - If he had chose football he might have been Mike Vick - the football star - before Mike Vick was. Tough, hard nosed, athletic, and can take a hit, his QB potential at the next level is obvious.

1. LeBron James - All State as a highschooler, LeBron has said numerous times that he would be a pro football player if he didn't play in the NBA, and I don't think there is an NFL GM who doesn't believe him. At 6'8" approximately 270 plus, with at least 4.5 speed, LBJ could line up at WR, DE, or Safety, and absolutely redefine the sport.

...for 6-10 click here

He'd Be The MVP In That League Too

Reports are that LeBron James will be in a Superbowl Commercial wearing a Browns Jersey, and this picture is reportedly from that commercial shoot. I am looking forward to the commercial. That said, I would like to put the debate to bed before someone asks the stupid question. Of Course LeBron would be the best athlete on the Browns, and he would absolutely be the best Football player too. Additionally, I firmly believe that if he walked onto the gridiron tomorrow, he would compete for the MVP trophy, and a Superbowl.

Around the Blogosphere: Part III

Nationally, just about every sports blog is talking about the (216) at the moment, and thanks to the Browns it ain't all good...however, thanks to the best basketball - and football - player in Cleveland it ain't all that bad either.

Brian Windhorst set the blogosphere afire with his article about LeBron considering the possibility of signing early with the Cavaliers over the weekend...how do you like them apples Spike? And they are still talking about it.

Tom Ziller at Fanhouse reitereated that LeBron James signing a contract extension is a very real possiblity, Slam Online suggested that this whole time, maybe LeBron was just messing with everyone's head and the Sporting Blog suggests that signing the extension could elevate LeBron to god like status in Cleveland...too late.

Credit Windhorst for asking a simple, seemingly obvious question, that nobody anywhere thougt to ask until he did. Its stories like this, coupled with a 21-4 record, that makes me feel like its Christmas in Cleveland already.

I almost forgot about that team with Orange helmets that plays here.

Around the Blogosphere Part II

Cavs Play Big Once Again

So how much better do you think the Cavaliers are than last year?

Brian Windhorst points out in his column today that after beating the 76ers again last night at the Q, "the Cavs (20-3) have now won 19 of 20 games. Last season, after 23 games the Cavs were 10-13 and didn't win their 20th game until Jan. 15."

Danny Ferry should be GM of the year.

He dumped who he needed to dump (Larry Hughes), and made subtle moves that as a fan, you didn't really notice until nights like last night. Trading for the rights to draft Darnell Jackson didn't have people dancing in the streets, but he came last night played 24 solid minutes of defense and grabbed (8) boards with Z sidelined. In addition, Ferry should be credited for his 'sticktuitiveness' (shout out to Clark Kellog on his lead debut today) with regards to Varejeo (17 points). After his hold-out and garbage play last season, there was talk of moving him, but Ferry held serve and it is paying off now.

LeBron (27-7-7) appreciated the effort with the big fella down.

"Any time you have key guys out it takes a while to get adjusted," James said. "But guys stepped up, Andy stepped up and so did Darnell and it was good to see that."

Game Notes: Congratulations to St. Ed's Product Jawad Williams on his first basket as a Cavalier. Nice work.

Hey Screamin A: Shut Your Pie Hole!

ESPN's Screamin A. Smith doesn't report anything, he doesn't analyze anything, and he doesn't know anything either. If he did, maybe his show wouldn't have gotten canceled so fast. He just Screams, and he Screams for the sole purpose of creating outlandish headlines. I have watched him for five years now, and never heard him make a good point. He didn't make any Friday either.

The Knicks cleared cap-space on Friday, and Screamin A. automatically makes the leap of faith to say that now that the cap space is cleared, the Knicks are in a position to get LeBron James AND either Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, or Amare Stoudamire in 2010 when they all become free agents. Of course Screamin, why wouldn't they want to team up with Chris Duhon and David Lee.

I can't totally get mad at the guy, though, because this appears to be the company mandate coming out of Bristol this year: as soon as someone clears cap space, that means LeBron is going there. Henry Abbot had LBJ going to Detroit after the Iverson deal, and now Screamin has LBJ in New York WITH D-Wade after the recent dealings of Crawford, and Randolph.

I wish all of this can stop though, because if it doesn't, we are going to be in for a long year...it is game 14 for crying out loud.

Cavaliers Beat Nuggets on TNT

When the Cavaliers are able to get LeBron James the basketball coming off that curl cut deep in the lane its over - he's unstoppable. They got it to him there last night, and the rim had to be in pain when LeBron was done beatin' on it. James went for 28 - 10 - 8 and if he had any Ricky Davis in him, he would have gone 3-D easily.

Equally impressive last night was Mo Williams. It looked like Mo heard Brian Windhorst say that his "numbers would go down this year, and he would not be an All Star" while on the Really Big Show earlier in the afternoon yesterday. Mo came out shooting like somebody stole something, going for 24.

Beyond Mo and LeBron, other guys stepped up to put the game out of reach in the 4th quarter with the King resting, and that hasn't happened all that much before. Daniel Gibson's drive, with his Super Boobie Emblem? shaved into his head, in the 4th quarter was sweet. Equally impressive, was Wally taking off like Billy Hoyle for the slam, in that same 4th quarter stretch - what's up now Sydney Deane?

Cavalier Benchmark

The offseason acquisition of Mo Willams no doubt made the Cavs better on the front end - I have posted on the very topic a few times. However, I didnt realize how much the offseason moves of Tarrance Kinsey, Jawad Williams, JJ Hickson, and Lorenzen Wright have made Cleveland better on the back - end. I have never really liked what the Cavs had on the pine in the past, until now. Now, Im feelin it. Mike Brown spoke to it last night during the Pacers game.


The King is Feeling it too.

“You can see the depth we have,” James said. “We’re bringing starters off the bench. Daniel has started games for us, Wally has started games for us, Andy has started games for us. Sasha can also come off the bench and play. J.J. is going to continue to get better. Lorenzen (Wright, who played instead of Hickson in the opener) has played big minutes. T.K. (Tarence Kinsey) can play.“Our bench is loaded if we need anybody to come in.”

Agreed. The Cavs have talent on the bench, but it is more than that. There is an energy on the bench that was never there before. Future Shaver Sports Posts will break down what the bench brings beyond points.