What we missed during our Cavalier Hiatus (Few wins, Many losses)

We took a little bit of a break, but we're back.

The Cavaliers are in the midst of yet another significant losing streak, and officially ended the month of December with 1 win.  We've lost 14 of 15, and there's not a whole lot to cheer for as we drop games to the likes of Charlotte, Minnesota, Sacramento, Detroit, and Philadelphia to name a few.

The franchise that won 66 games last year is now 8-24 on the season, on pace for close to a 20 win campaign.  Yikes. 

As Antawn Jamison put it, everyone in Cleveland can now put 2010 behind us and focus on the New Year.  2010 might prove to have been the most destructive, tumultuous year in the history of the franchise.  Our best shot at a championship disappeared overnight, and effectively ended the LeBron James era. 

That's not to say we haven't had some great moments this season; there have been a few.

For one, Cavalier-legend Darius Miles showed up to Quicken Loans Arena as a training camp invite of the Charlotte Bobcats.  Although he traded in the famous dreadlocks and double-fist head bump for a shaved head and old knees, it was still a joy to see D-Miles grace us with his presence.

We also managed to take down the Boston Celtics opening night, in a game that had a playoff atmosphere and left you feeling good about our chances for this season (Note: this was a false alarm). 

We watched as one of the most anticipated spectacles in all of sport took place in our backyard, as the now-maligned James made his return to the city scorned.  We booed him as loud as our voiceboxes would allow, chanted obscene and hateful things towards him, and watched as he destroyed our team defense en route to a 38 point beatdown that will forever be dubbed as, "The Return".

More recently, we watched Mo Williams hit a game-winner over the Bucks' Brandon Jennings, a much needed shot that lifted the spirits of a team in desperate need of anything resembling a win.

Antawn Jamison hit an 80 foot heave (forget that it was after the 1st quarter buzzer had sounded), in front of friends and family and a hostile Charlotte crowd of about 10 thousand.

Later that same game, Ramon Sessions provided us with what might have been the highlight of the season:  A power throwdown over Nazr Mohammed.  Dunks are a rare occurence this season, unless you count J.J. Hickson getting dunked on by James Harden in an old-fashioned Oklahoma City beatdown.

We've also "witnessed" the emergence of a future star, Manny Harris.  Manny's defensive intensity combined with his unlimited offensive potential will serve as the backbone of a Cavaliers' rise to prominence in the years to come.

No one can be sure how the roster will change this season; Jawad Williams has already gotten the axe, and Alonzo Gee has made a favorable first impression.  Byron Scott has made it clear that he would like to see a few more post-players added to our depleted roster.

Many are speculating that the team will attempt to trade away higher-salary contracts (Jamison) and play for next year's draft.  This franchise has already stockpiled draft picks and we hope to make a big splash by landing some big-name players. 

To say this season has been an epic fail would not be entirely inaccurate.  There are moments where you think we have a chance, and then the opposing team shuts the door.

There's one thing that has been constant throughout our 8 win campaign.  We always seem to play fairly well in the first half, and manage to keep the score close.  It's when the 4th quarter starts that the Cavs can't help but find a way to give away close games.  We gave the Heat a run for their money in Miami, but Wade and LeBron made sure we wouldn't come out of South Beach with a win.

All that being said, if you're still not a fan,then you never really were. The Youth Movement is upon us.  Byron Scott is the right coach for this team.  This is simply a minor setback.  This, is Cavaliers basketball.

Preseason Game #3: Cavaliers 99, Rockets 93 (Houston we have liftoff)

I can't remember the last time I've had this much fun watching a preseason game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers went into Houston to face the Rockets, just a few days after getting owned by the Washington Wizards.  With Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao not making the trip, no one gave the Cavaliers a chance to win this game. Going up against the likes of Kevin Martin, Aaron Brooks, and the rest of the Rockets, it should have been a blow out.

But that's why they play the game.  Luckily Jake sent me the link of the online stream with a couple minutes to go in the 2nd quarter.  The Cavs were up 37-35, with 2:43 to go.  What's the first thing I see in the game?  A nasty throwdown by J.J. Hickson?  Yes Sir.

I listened to Joe Tait call the first quarter, and it was a back and forth battle between the two teams.  Samardo Samuels was playing great, and Hickson looked dominant.  Fast forward about 30 seconds, where JJ decides to pull a rebound out of the air on a missed layup by Sessions, and completes the nasty tip-slam.  For some reason the refs called a ridiculous technical foul for apparently hanging on the rim for 2 seconds.  That's what I call Cavaliers swag in my book, definitely worth the unjustified technical.

The Rockets have to call a timeout and the Cavs are up 41-39.  What do we see when we return from the break?  You guessed it, another JJ dunk.. this time a demoralizing alley-oop.  This is what Cavaliers basketball is all about.  There was 1:21 left in the half and Hickson already had 16 points and 10 rebounds.  Meanwhile, we're trading baskets with the Rockets but I could honestly care less. 

There was one thing that was bothering me;  Antawn Jamison kept bricking 3's and he was really holding the Cavaliers back.  I've seen him shoot 3's in practice, and he always seems to be money.  Apparently he forgot to bring his A-game last night. 

Let's get back to the important things, like when Hickson emphatically blocked a shot which led to a Sessions layup to give the Cavaliers a 47-45 lead going into the half.  They say preseason doesn't matter, but several things were clear after 2 quarter of play;  Hickson is going to be a beast this season, Samardo Samuels is legit, and the Cavs offense looked like it's supposed to.  Not to mention the Cavaliers road jersey's are sick.  Get used to it.  While we did miss all 7 three pointers we attempted, we shot 48% on the half and things were going our way.  Gibson and Sessions led the way with 7 points each. 

Jared Jeffries started the scoring off in the 2nd half with a ridiculously deep 3.  Sessions returns with a basket, and another after that when Antawn made himself useful with a great assist to Sessions.  This is some seriously fun-to-watch basketball, and I"m starting to gain confidence in the new team.

Unfortunately Jamison continued his ice-cold shooting, and bricked another three.  At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder how Byron Scott can pull off a short-sleeve polo under a blazer.  I digress.

Jawad Williams finally drills a 3 halfway through the 3rd quarter, after attempting quite a few.  And the Cavaliers just.keep.rolling.  A no look pass on the fast break from Hickson to Parker, and it's 63-60 Cavs. 

At this point in the game, another blatently ridiculous call on J.J. occurs when he went up for a tip-slam.  Apparently referees in the association blow their whistle when someone jumps over Jordan Hill to dunk the basketball.  Must be a new rule this year.  He literally jumped over him and apparently someone felt bad.  Next time they call over-the-back on Hickson we're going to have some serious issues.

And Jamison is still the weak link.  Not to pick on him, but he simply just was not having a good night.  Sessions keeps up the pressure, and the Cavs just keep scoring. 

The 4th quarter starts and the Cavaliers trail by 5.  Much to my delight, rookie stud Manny Harris starts off the quarter in the game, just as he should.  Jawad drills a 3 to start things off right, and the Cavs cut the lead to 2.  It was right about then that Manny Harris decided to take things into his own hands.  His first display of greatness came when he drove to the hole and finished an And-1 lay-up, and it's Rockets 74, Cavs 73.  Harris comes down the floor and proceeds to knock down another jumper, destroying Houston's confidence in their ability to play the game of basketball.  Next things up, Manny feels the need to steal the ball.. and proceeds with a fast-break dunk that would have made Ricky Davis proud.  Harris definitely wants to make this team, and was making quite a case to do so. 

Samardo Samuels resumes his presence on the offensive post and a spinning hook gives the Cavs a commanding 81-78 lead.  Meanwhile, Jawad loves shooting 3 pointers. 

Manny Harris is still in the game, and for good reason.  Yet again he makes more magic happen, and drew contact on a 3 pointer.. swishing all three free-throws that followed.  It was about time for Eyenga to show up to the party;  His entrance was nothing short of grand.  Christian pulls up on consecutive possessions with deep 3's and rainbows both of them in to the bottom of the net.  The lead has now ballooned to 88-80 Cavaliers, with 6 minutes remaining.  After some Manny free throws put us up 97-91, the game was all but over.  Other than Hickson, Eyenga and Harris are officially the best players on the Cavaliers roster. 

This win truly showed what the new look Cavs are capable of, and certainly gave the team a new feeling of confidence heading into the future. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers are now 2-1 in the preseason, and will likely defeat the Dallas Mavericks tonight to cement their legacy.  I can't remember ever having this much fun watching the Cavs.  16 days until Boston?  Sign me up.

Training Camp Preview (Part 2)

Welcome to the second addition of my training camp preview with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In my first part I previewed the guards in which Mo Williams & company will look to take control of this team. Now it’s on to the forwards, in which things will look a little different this season from than others in the past.

Without the former “King” in town, there's a big gap in the small forward position. Who is going to step up and take advantage of an open starting role? Who will try and fill LeBron’s shoes at the 3 spot? Let’s take a look at the candidates and the other forwards.

Forwards:

Jamario Moon—The highflying former globetrotter is one of three players that are in the running for the starting spot to replace LeBron James. Last season the high-octane jumper averaged close to 17 minutes a game, while scoring just under 5 PPG. Moon will have an advantage over the others because of his well known defense. He also showed Cavalier fans that he could shoot the ball from 3-point range. Moon is a high flyer and has enough athleticism to get him the starting spot.

Joey Graham—In 63 games with the Denver Nuggets last season, Graham played in just 12 minutes of action a night. The man with a 6 foot 7" 225 lb. body frame averaged 4.2 PPG and 2.9 rebounds a game. Graham showed last season that he could be a scorer in the league, scoring 21 points against Utah and 20 points against Golden State. However, inconsistency was Graham’s middle name and the Cavaliers will be looking for more from him this season. Graham is also known as a good defender, and that might help him make a case for a starting role.

Jawad Williams—Yes, the hometown native (not LeBron James) will finally have a chance to step out of the shadow. Williams signed a one-year deal this offseason to remain with the Cavaliers. Last season Jawad played in 54 games (six starts), and averaged 4.1 PPG while shooting a career best 39%, playing just over 13 minutes a game. Williams showed that he could shoot the ball extremely well last season and could stretch the floor. His offensive skills will be his best argument for the starting role.

Antawn Jamison— Do not sleep on the 34 year old veteran. Jamison will look to make big strides in Coach Scott’s up-tempo system. When Jamison played for Eddie Jordan in Washington, he averaged 20 a game. Jordan used the same style of offense Coach Scott will be using for the Cavaliers. Jamison could thrive in the system and by the end of the year could end up being in the starting role at the 3. There will be times in which Byron Scott will play Jamison a lot. But as of right now the word is he will be the sixth man, but likely could end up playing a huge role for the Cavaliers.

Christian Eyenga—Standing at 6 foot 6", I guess you could have put him with the guards but he is could also be used as a small forward. With his athleticism and length it would make more since to play him at the 3. Anyways, this young man out of Kinshasa, Dominican Republic of Congo has lots of upside. The young man is very athletic and can jump out of the gym. This season Eyenga will be learning the game and also also the language (English), and eventually could be a nice player in the upcoming seasons.

JJ Hickson—JJ Hickson will be a huge piece for the Cavaliers this season. The projected starting power forward will be one of the center pieces this year. A good finisher at the rim and a very athletic forward, Hickson has all the upside that any team wants in a player. No wonder why the Cavaliers wouldn’t trade him the past two seasons. Last season he showed glimpses of greatness yet at other times showed a lack of focus. This season the Cavaliers will look for that same greatness with 100% focus.

Samardo Samuels—I have high hopes for this kid. Consider at one time during his freshman year at Louisville as the best offensive forward the kid soon went undrafted. Samuels is another young gunner and has all the upside. Samuels has a lot of offensive tools in his arsenal and hopefully he will get a chance to show them. In a few years I bet Samuels will be a solid if not great player. This season may be more of the learning side, but he could earn himself some opportunities.

Leon Powe—Everybody is seeming to forget about Leon. Back in Boston, Leon was considered a great power forward before he got injured. While still young and stating that he is 100 percent back to normal, Powe is looking for a comeback season. A smart player who knows how to get to the line will be key for this man to get minutes. His hustle and determination, to go along with his experience playing with a former champion will also bring leadership.

With training camp right around the corner it looks like a three-man race between, Moon, Graham and Williams to take the starting role. However, don’t forget about Jamison as he might make some people question the previous statement.

All for One. One for All.

Keep your heads up Cleveland

The Wine & Gold Scrimmage - Friday, October 1st

This year’s edition of the wine and gold scrimmage will again be held at the University of Akron’s Rhode Arena, this Friday at 7:00 pm.   This will be a great opportunity to watch an entertaining intra-squad scrimmage.   The scrimmage is free with an entrance voucher. 

If you are interested in seeing the overlooked, underrated players on the Cavaliers' roster for the upcoming season, this is the best opportunity to do so.  It will also be an exclusive opportunity to see head coach Byron Scott take control of this team in the first public appearance of the season.  Unlike other teams that claim their goal and mindset will be to “run the ball,” Byron actually makes it happen.  This year’s team will be exciting to watch, as an uptempo pace is exactly what is needed.  No more watching an overrated player dribble the ball at the top of the key while the shot clock winds down.  Scott will have this team in shape and ready to run at every chance.  At the very least, this team will be fun to watch.

It will be interesting to see who can step up and take ownership of this team.  Obviously with the injury, Mo Williams will not be playing;  This will give Ramon Sessions an opportunity to show why he should be starting.  Will Jawad Williams make the proverbial leap to become the starting SF, or will Jamario Moon cement his starting position?  Does Ryan Hollins have the skillset to start at center in the NBA?  And will Anderson Varejao be able to create offense essentially on his own? 

This scrimmage will go a long way in determining who can play and who will be watching the games on the bench.  Personally, I’m excited to see Samardo Samuels perform either against or alongside JJ Hickson, both of which are talented but raw forwards in the Association.  I’m not sure if Eyenga will start the season on the roster or whether they will send him to the D-league to start out, but either way he has the talent and athleticism to become a special player in this league.

At this point with Williams out, everyone expects Jamison to take the role as veteran leader of the team.  Will he return to his All-Star form and average 20 points a game?  Looking at our roster, it certainly might be required of him.  The main question for Jamison will be whether or not he is coming off the bench.  The combination of Hickson, Varejao, Hollins, and Jamison will mean someone is not on the floor for the opening tip.  I’d like to at least see Scott try to play Jamison at the 4 and start Hickson at Center, with Varejao coming off the bench for his much needed spark.  I’m excited to see what the Cavaliers will be able to do this season; I don’t agree with anyone that says we won’t be able to compete. 

Like most people in this great city of Cleveland, I already have December 2^nd circled on my calendar.  But first things first, let’s have a good showing at the Wine and Gold scrimmage and set the bar high for the season.  We might be missing a superstar, but we gained a great coach and a new offensive philosophy.  We won’t have to worry about pleasing a self-absorbed primadonna.  I’m convinced we’re a playoff team, and you won’t be able to tell me otherwise.  Preseason starts in 8 days.   Is there anything better than Cavaliers basketball?