Cavs Clinch #1 Seed In Eastern Conference

With the 102-92 win over the 76ers last night, the Cavaliers clinched the Eastern Conference (1) seed. This may come as a foregone conclusion, to some, but it is nevertheless worth feeling good about.

LeBron James agrees:

"It means a lot for us to go out there and set out a goal and accomplish it. We all know there is a bigger season out there, but anytime you get an opportunity to do something like this, you should feel good about." (Brian Windhorst)

While this good feeling may not cause people to flood the streets of Cleveland in celebration, accomplishing that goal for the 'bigger season' certainly will.

Best Cleveland Season In The Last 45 Years

As of Thursday, the Cleveland Cavaliers (63-15) were holding onto (1) game lead over the LA Lakers for best overall record in the NBA, with a (4) games left to go in the regular season.

Throughout the history of professional sports in this town, how significant would finishing the regular season with the best overall record in the league be?

Since 1964, a Cleveland Professional Sports team has finished their regular season with the best overall record in their respective league (NFL, NBA, MLB) a grand total of three (3) times.

In other words, over the last 45 years, the Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians have combined to finish their respective regular seasons with the best overall record in their sport three (3) times...total.

Should they go on to hold off Kobe and company for the league's best mark, this years Cavaliers would make four (4).

Browns:

Since 1964, the Cleveland Browns won their division in the regular season (9) times. Out of those (9) seasons, the Browns had the best overall record in the NFL at the end of the regular season (1) time... 1965.

Indians:

Since '64, the Indians won their division in the regular season (7) times. In those (7) seasons, the Indians held the best overall record in baseball at the end of the regular season twice. The 1996 Indians had the best overall record in the MLB finishing 99-62 and in a strike shortened 1995 season, the Indians finished 100-44, also good for best overall mark. In 2007, they were close to finishing with the best record in baseball, but lost the tiebreaker to Boston, finishing the regular season with a 96-66 record, good for second best.

Cavaliers:

The Cavaliers only regular season crown came in the 1975-76 Season...they won the Eastern Conference's Central Division that year. They had the 3rd best record overall in the NBA that season.

So, Cleveland, I hope your enjoying the '09 Cavaliers for all their worth...if your 45 years old or younger, this is most likely the best Cleveland season you have ever been alive to Witness.

Editors Notes:

The years the Browns won a regular season conference title include: 1965, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989. Pro Football Reference

The years the Indians won a regular season conference title include: 2007, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995. ESPN All Time Records

The year the Cavaliers won their regular season conference title includes: 1975-1976 season. NBA Universe.com

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

Lil' Jonny Barry is a Ridiculous Hater

During the Halftime Analysis of the Cavs - Spurs game, Sunday on ABC, the MVP conversation was inevitably discussed. After Avery Johnson said that LeBron James is the 'crystal clear cut' favorite to win the trophy, his partner, Lil' Jonny Barry, offered his opinion as to whether LeBron is the clear-cut favorite to win the award:

"Absolutely not. Oscar Robertson is in the building (Sunday), so obviously LeBron's gonna play better today. He's gotta show people he's as good as Oscar was. So this is not clear cut. He is not the clear cut MVP. He will win. But if you ask me who should win, that's a different story."

The son of Rick Barry went on to say that he's pick is Dwayne Wade. And while I disagree, he can think that. That's fine, Wade's and elite player... BUT...don't tell me, Jon, that LeBron has (26) in the first half because 'Oscar Robertson is there, and LeBron is playing better today because he wants people to think he is as good as Oscar was.'

That is ridiculous Barry, and you sound like a jealous hater. Check yourself.

Relax Cavs Fans...Scot Pollard Says Its All Good!

After the Cavaliers followed a disappointing effort on Thursday, with an emphatic beatdown by the Magic on Friday, some in Cavalier Nation began to panic. With the Spurs on the docket for later today, it doesn't get any easier, but fear not Cavs faithful - Scot Pollard says its all good. On GameTime Live last night, NBA TV's own analyst Scot Pollard, offering the following analysis:

"Nothing against my Celtics but I am calling a Cavs - Lakers Finals and I'm calling the Cavs if they stay healthy. They are sputtering right now, and I think they are just getting into the end of the season doldrums right now, they're just kinda like eehh not really fired up, but when the playoffs start up they are going to be re-energized."

And Scot...while I don't agree with your hair-cuts, or your use of the word eehh, I do agree with the latter analysis. They will be re-energized come playoff time, and these end of the season doldrums are nothing to get too shook up about. Look for the Cavaliers to come out fired up today against San Antonio.

Cavaliers Win 60th: Beat Mavericks 102-74

The most disappointing thing in Sunday's game to me was the fact that I couldn't hear everyone's favorite Uncle breaking down the action. With Fox Sports not airing the game, my attention was forced to be turned to ABC's coverage detailed by Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and the Coach who attacked Alonzo Mourning's leg. In the first half, they pretty much made as big a deal as possible about the fact that the Cavs were down by their largest home deficit of the season when the Mavs got out to their 15-point lead early. Despite their crys seeming to indicate that Cleveland's sky was falling, I was as confident in knowing the Cavs would come back as I was when I used to watch the Indians' softball style offense of the 90s make up a 10-run lead like it was nothing on a routine basis. And, true to form, the Cavs turned it on, and beat the Mavericks by (28). Your Mavericks sure did make a lot of strides after firing Avery Johnson, Mark. Great call. Almost as good of a move as letting Steve Nash go in favor of Dirk. But I digress, tough break for Cuban, but congratulations to the Cavaliers on another milestone. Here's hoping for one more milestone. Oh, and I liked the Pregame Baseball Warm-Up as well, way to keep it fresh fellas.

For more on the Cavaliers latest win read what Windhorst has to say about it.

Karl Formula Has Cavaliers On Top

This post was sent to us from Diego Lo Mein...a stat guru, and Cleveland sports aficianado.

Micheal Reghi was recently discussing the Karl formula on ESPN 850 WKNR, which he says is the best way to rank teams during a given season. The Karl formula is used to see where NBA teams stand, how they measure up to each other, and to take into account how many home and road games a given team had played.

The way the Karl formula works is to take your road wins, and subtract your home losses, to come up with a number. I guess George Karl came up with this.

Anyways, if you look at that, the Cavs are way ahead, with a net of 20. The breakdown is below:

Cleveland: 21 - 1 = 20
Boston: 22 - 5 = 17
LA Lakers: 21 - 4 = 17
Orlando: 21 - 7 = 14
San Antonio: 20 - 8 = 12

Tough Road Trip

The Cavs current road trip which has them playing 4 games in 5 days got a little bit tougher overnight. After winning the game on LBJ's free throw with 1.8 seconds left, the Cavs boarded their plane for Miami. Because of the storms out east, Atlanta had about 3 inches of snow on the ground and the Cavs spent 5 hours on the plane before it could head for the warm weather of Miami. They didn't get into their hotel until 7am this morning. Back-to-backs are hard enough. Don't be surprised if they come out a little sluggish against the Heat tonight.

Browns Town Again? Always...

If there were any question which of the 3 Professional teams in Cleveland own the hearts of the Fans, this past week made it very clear. A starter on the Eastern Conferences best team went down with a broken leg, and will miss 4-6 weeks, yet the top stories this week in Cleveland revolved around the Soap Opera that is your Cleveland Browns.

A quick glance at cleveland.com proves our point. In their Top 10 commented articles, 3 of the 10 are about the Browns, with 1 pertaining to the Cavs situation. There are 4 times as many comments about Shaun Rogers and his weight management and the K2 trade, than there are about the Cavs losing Big Ben.

People love a good train wreck. Must be why the Browns have stayed so popular all these years.

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.

Brian Windhorst: "Cavs not desperate"

On the Really Big Show this morning, Cavs beat writer Brian Windhorst said the Cavs are in the drivers seat with just hours to go until the trade deadline. He said the Cavs are happy with what they have, and getting everyone healthy for the remainder of the year would be equivalent to them making a move.

He did say that the Cavs DO have a bunch of lines in the water, but they are waiting to see what the other teams decide to do. Being 30 games over .500 and an attractive expiring contract, teams that are looking to dump salary now may be willing to lessen their demands to deal with the Cavs.

Specifically mentioned as possibilities were Raef LaFrentz out of Portland, and maybe even a possibility of Tyson Chandler OR James Posey from the Hornets, who the Cavs were after in the off season.

Nice Win Last Night...22-0

My favorite line from Austin Carr last night came with about 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter. After Brian Skinner got fouled, threw up a shot, Varejeo got called for a goal-tend, and then Skinner hit the free throw, and AC said the following:

"That's Brian Skinner, with a two toned beard, not really a fashion statement, but he has it."

I couldn't have said that any better myself A.C...

...Nice bounce back win last night. 22-0 at home is awesome...

...It was good to see the Big Fella back last night. To everyone that wanted to add a Big for the last two weeks there he is. Z was certainly missed, and he probably would have gotten the All Star nod this year if not for the injury....

... I think Sasha's stock has never been so high, and he would have had a bigger game last night had he not gotten into foul trouble. He looked good...

...remember a year or two ago when the Cavaliers seemed to have no ability to stretch defense by being consistently able to knock down the three ball? Not so much anymore. They currently have (6) players that can legitimately knock down the long ball in Mo Williams, Wally Sczerbiak, Delonte West, Daniel Gibson, LeBron James, and Sasha Pavlovic.

...Lastly Fred McCleod, just go ahead and quit that 'Rock and Roll' nickname for LeBron and Mo. Horrible. In not so many words, Austin was trying to tell you that was a bad nickname when you first brought it up. Cut it out pal.

One Mo All Star

Shaver Sports first predicted Mo Williams would be an All Star in October, and now the chatter is really heating up. Reason is simple; kid's an All Star folks. Brian Windhorst is now, on board after some debate throughout the season. The outstanding beat reporter was on Reghi's show Wednesday, and said that he thought Mo would be an All Star. Reghi agreed that he should be. Aaron Goldhammer also said on the Really Big Show yesterday that LeBron told the group of reporters after Tuesday's game that Mo Williams better be an All Star, or, if not, 'tell David Stern I'm not going.' Game respects game. But we'll find out for sure today. The All Star rosters should be filled out before the Cavaliers tip-off tonight against Orlando....

Word is that out of Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson, and Mo Williams, one guy is going to get left out. Couple thoughts here...Harris' team stinks, and Nelson is the third best player on his team (Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis). If I had to pick one of these three guys, I would not hesitate with picking Mo 43 times out of 43. Mo is proving to be a legitimate Robin to LBJ's Batman...Sorry Larry.

Austin Carr Drinking Game

When Austin Carr Says the Following Phrases During the Cavaliers Game You Drink Accordingly:

"L-Train" (1) Drink

"Throw the Hamma Down!" (2)

"Get that weak stuff outta here!" (3)

"Consequently Fred" (1)

"He put the (random word) in the coffin" (2)

"Young Man" when used to refer to any player during a play. (2) Bonus (1) if used after "Get that weak stuff outta here!"

"If (insert anyone here) (insert any situation here) he's gonna (insert any result here) 90% of the time." (2)

"European Style of Basketball" when referring to any foreign player (2) Bonus (2) if used referring to Yao or Yi.

Anytime someone gets a "bird" (3)

Everytime AC mixes up a players name (2) Bonus (2) if it's Delonte Jones

Everytime AC gets flustered and starts stuttering (3)

AC starts to talk about a different play than the one on the replay (3)

AC does an advertisement (5)

"(Insert someones name) from deep, in the Q (or other arena)" (1)



Fred Mcleod Bonus Round:



Drink Accordingly If Fred Says the Following Phrases:



"right down euclid" - (1) drink

"three from 330"- (1)

“the bottom” - (1)

“are you kiddin me?!” - (3)

“shufflin their shoes” - (1)

“rubber rim” - (1)

“ball on a string” - (1)

mentions A.C. as a notre dame alumni" (1)



Shaver Sports Did Not Make Up this Drinking Game. It was Sent To Us In an Email, I do not know who invented the game...but whoever they are did a good job.

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?

Man's Game...

LeBron James' said after the game Friday that his Cavaliers were a 'confident team' coming into the game against Boston, and that the 98-83 win was far from anything like the 'best win in our history' and I believe him. I also know he believes that, and his teammates believe that. But while I know LeBron and the Cavaliers know they can be the best team in the NBA, I am not sure the NBA knew that until Friday. Moreover, I don't think there was any part of Boston that thought the Cavaliers were a better team then they were, until the clocked ticked zeros Friday at the Q. But they have to know now. The Boston Celtics played the role of Jason Stewart Friday night, and the Cleveland Cavaliers were the Proverbial 6'4" ex-Bruin in the YMCA run, who got a hold of a Jay Stew jumpshot, and air-mailed it onto the stage. Like Stew after the mammoth rejection, I believe the Celtics confidence is now wavering. How can't it be? Pierce was frustrated all night, barking at teammates, getting completely locked up by the King, and tallying (11) points for the evening. Meanwhile, LeBron dominated him on the offensive end, and got anything he wanted. As a team, Boston now has lost (7) of their last nine (9), and are looking for Stephon Marbury for help. When they got back on the plane Friday night, they had to feel about as low as Jay Stew did when the 6'4" shot blocker told him 'Man's Game Bitch,' on his way back down the floor after the block. The East is far from won, but at least now Boston knows that it is a conference that can be won by Cleveland...just as easily as J -Stew's shot got blocked.

Celtics Desperate to Match Cavaliers' Backcourt

The Stephon Marbury to Boston Rumors reek of only one thing if you ask me...desperation. Boston knows that, as currently constructed, they cannot match-up with Cleveland on the perimeter, and they are toying with the idea of adding Marbury out of desperation, in order to keep pace with the Cavs. That is the only reason you make a deal with Starbury. That or your Steve and Barry's.

After losing (4) of its last (6), and getting torched by all world guard Wilson Chandler and the Knicks, Kevin Garnett said today that he would not be opposed to playing with Steph, and that Starbury is "one of the best point guards out there to play with." Sure Kev.

As a reminder, the backcourt of Delonte West, LeBron James, and a statue by the name of Walter Szcerbiak almost out dueled the Celtics last season, taking them to game seven, on the road, one big basket short of advancing. In the meantime, the Cavaliers added Mo Williams and subtracted nothing - except Damon Jones. The Celtics subtracted Posey, added nothing, and got older. And to all you Rondo honks, if Rajon was as good as some people make him out to be, they wouldn't be looking to bring in the TO of basketball over in Chowdaville. But desperate times, call for desperate measures, and I will be interested to see how this plays out in Beantown.

Brad Miller for JJ Hickson?

The reason I ask is because in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated, Ian Thomsen listed (5) trades that he thought "should be made by the February deadline."

Among them, was a proposed deal of Eric Snow and JJ Hickson to the Kings for Brad Miller and his $23.6 million contract that expires in 2010. (pg 82) After deliberating on this possible trade I came to the following conclusion:

If this deal really did present itself, and I were the Cavaliers, I would make the trade. You loose the contract dollars of an Eric Snow that come off the books at the end of this year, and you give up a talented young big in Hickson, but...you get a 7 footer in Miller who can score, rebound, and also pass the basketball. He wouldn't start. You would still start Z and Wallace, but he would be better than Hickson this year coming off the bench.

This isn't a move the Cavaliers have to make, and I continue to believe that they can win it all as constructed, but if this deal presented itself, I say it is a move they should make. It makes you better, and deeper this year, without impacting you adversely in offseason of 2010.

Possible Teammates of the King in 2010

Like the 11 year of kid in the midst of a presents crazed Christmas morning with wrapping paper flying like shrapnel, I too am going to get into the spirit of greed this Christmas Eve...with regards to the Cavaliers.

I am going to say the Cavaliers will sign LeBron early, and then ask the question, who should Danny Gilbert sign to play alongside the King in 2010?

The list of possible Free Agents in 2010 is as follows:

Stars:

Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Michael Redd, Ray Allen, Josh Howard, Manu Ginóbili, Jermain O’Neal, Steve Nash.

Top Role Players:

Luis Scola, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Jackson, Mehmet Okur, Hedo Turkoglu, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, Marcus Camby.

Since its Christmas Eve, and all you have to do is ask Santa Claus I'll take one of each...Joe Johnson and Tyson Chandler...but if you say I can only have one that would be fine too...Mr. Wade, how would you like to buy a house in Strongsville?

Marion To Cavaliers Rumors are a Reach

Yahoo's Adrian Worjanowski is reporting that the Cavaliers are in discussions with the Heat in regards to a deal that would send Shawn Marion to Cleveland for Wally Sczerbiak and Anderson Varejeo. Now, I know a lot of Cavs fans aren't too fond of Adrian, but he is a good writer. His book, Miracle of St. Anthony, is actually one of my favorite sports book of all time. That said, he is reaching on this story - big time.

I would say there is no way Danny Ferry is even thinking about this deal. No chance.

The title of the article is that Marion can give the Cavs a Defensive Edge, and he goes on to say this:

"Marion could give the Cavs the versatility on defense that he did the Suns. In the same series, Marion could cover Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Against the Celtics, Marion could spend time on Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett"

This doesn't make any sense to me for a few reasons.

One: the Cavaliers already have a defensive edge.

Two: they already have Mo Williams, Delonte West, and Daniel Gibson who can all cover Rondo.

Three: the Cavs also have Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejeo, Z, Hickson, and Jackson, who could all be rolled out to cover Garnett.

Why do they need Marion to cover both of those guys?

Moreover, if Z is out, like he is now, who starts for you?

Are you starting Mo, LeBron, Marion, Delonte West, and Wallace? Thats a small lineup.

If not West are you starting another big? Who is that then, Jackson or Hickson? Doesn't make sense.

...and I havent even touched on the chemistry that has lead to a 20-4 start.

If the Cavaliers make a move it will include Wally's expiring contract and that's it.

This team is a title contender now whether the national media wants to admit it or not.