New Yorkers Witness Another LeBron James Show

After losing to the Chicago Bulls by one point, in a game that ended on what appeared to be a blown foul call by the refs, LeBron James led his Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-91 victory over the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden.

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LeBron vs New York: Chapter 3

On March 5, 2008, LeBron James lights up Madison Square garden with a spectacular showing, dropping 5o points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals.

A near jaw jolt to the face of Spike Lee.

Spike probably rubbed off the boo-boo, forgot about it, then moved on.

Wrong.

On February 4, 2009, LeBron James comes back to New York for the second time. But this time, he feels like putting on a show for everyone, including friends as Jay-Z, Beyonce, etc. LeBron dazzles the New York arena with 52 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 blocks, barely missing the last 50-point-triple double since Kareem.

Simply, as the NBA says, amazing.

Oh, and I think that this blow to Spike Lee’s jaw, probably left a couple bones broken.

So, with the Cavs heading into New York on Friday (11/6), will LeBron put on another show? Will Spike Lee be able to handle another blow? Will the Knicks be able to take another blow?

I think not.

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NBA Power Rankings: Week 1

Thanks to all of you for tuning into my second NBA Power Rankings! (Care to see the first? Here you go: preseason NBA Power Rankings.)

I hope all of you enjoyed the NBA’s opening week, I sure did. Some great teams were on display, with some poor starts and some surprising starts as well. These rankings are based on the team’s performance from the previous week. Don’t like my rankings? Love them? Be sure to comment, as I accept all forms of criticism. I have also shown how far the teams have jumped or dropped, with a plus or minus.

With all of this commotion going on, let me dissect the NBA’s opening week for all of you. I present to you, Devon’s Weekly NBA Power Rankings (Week 1) … Continue Reading

Cavs Win, Welcome Back Delonte West

Cleveland Cavaliers fans were excited on this Halloween Night to see Delonte West walk out of the locker room and onto the court with his team — for the first time this season.

Fans, dressed up as Ghosts, Ghouls, Goblins, Mummies, Cartoon Characters, Cavs Players, and Witches, all cheered as he did his shoot-around.

Those cheers spoke volumes to the Cavalier Organization, to Delonte West, and to his teammates. The cheers let them all know that Cavs fans gladly welcome the troubled West back into the fold.

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Are the Celtics the Best Team in the NBA?

Boston is off to a great start.

Not that it wasn’t expected, but who knew that the Celts would hold the Charlotte Bobcats to a total of 59 points in the C’s home opener. This came right after the Celtics spoiled the Cavaliers season and home opener as well. Then last night the Celtics took down the young Bulls squad 118-90, barely breaking a sweat.

It’s scary how well this C’s team is doing.

People have been talking about how LA has brought in Ron Artest, and how Cleveland should be fueled up on enough Diesel power to win a ring this year, but most people do not talk as much about this Celtics team, whose main acquisition was Rasheed Wallace. Without a doubt, this wasn’t as big as a Shaq or Vince Carter deal.

Even though I say this,  I have one question.

Are the Celtics the best team in the NBA?

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Cavs Gets First Win Over Raptors, 104-87

After two straight loses to the Boston Celtics (in Cleveland’s long awaited and much anticipated home opener), then suffering a loss on the road to the Toronto Raptors, nervous Cavs fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief!

In what has been dubbed the Cleveland “Season of Expectations,” the Cavaliers finally got their first win of the season. In an almost “must win” game (in the eyes of many fans), the Cavs beat the Toronto Raptors 104-87, and five Cleveland players scored in double digits.

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When It Comes to Sports, Cleveland Most Certainly Does Not Rock

I want you to play the song below while reading this post. Try, as best you can, to not be distracted by the vicious, piercing irony of the chorus as it relates to the sports teams of Cleveland.

I know, it’s not going to be easy…especially after the events of last night rubbed even more salt into the (eternally?) tragically open wounds of an entire city’s fan base.

On the same that night that the last two Cy Young Award winners — both of whom were Indians when they won it — faced off in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series, the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James dropped to 0-2.

You might think, well hey, at least Cleveland fans have the Browns game to look forward to this Sunday!

And this sentiment, of course, would be met either with hearty laughter or plaintive cries, all depending on one’s perspective, mood, and current level of sanity.

No, ladies and gentleman, sports in the city of Cleveland most certainly do not rock. Last night was simply further confirmation of this ever deepening and depressing truism.

But don’t take it from me. Scan the Cleveland sports blogosphere. It’s hard to wait for next year when you can barely make it from day to day this year.

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From Fans’ Perspective, Is Joshua Cribbs the Second Most Untradable Cleveland Athlete?

The following tweet by our friend Scott from Waiting For Next Year perfectly summed up my thoughts regarding the Josh Cribbs trade rumors floating around right now:

As little underlying support there is, these Josh Cribbs rumors are not fun

He is exactly right.

Who knows how legitimate the Cribbs-to-Miami or Cribbs-to-whomever talk is, but there is nothing fun or exciting at all about the Browns’ clear fan favorite being mentioned in the same sentence as the word “trade.”

All the rumors about Cribbs got me to thinking: is he the second most untradable sports figure in Cleveland?

(I think we all know who the first is.)

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Passionate Greek Fans Witnessed Cavs Win At The Q

Greek fans packed into Quicken Loans Arena, last night, in support of their beloved Olympiakos Piraeus Basketball Team (who traveled to America for a two game stand, first playing the San Antonio Spurs, then the Cleveland Cavaliers).

Although the Cavs continued their 3-0 winning streak, and beat the Olympiacos 111-94, the loss didn’t dampen the passionate spirit of the Greek fans.

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Gibson’s 14 Points Help Cavs Win Bobcat Rematch

The Cleveland Cavaliers traveled to North Carolina to beat the Bobcats, 102-96, in their second Preseason matchup. The game was not televised, but it was still evident by the loud applause that echoed threw the radio airwaves – the Shaq and LeBron Show was well received on the road.

Cavs Play-By-Play Announcer Fred McLeod, standing in for Joe Tait on WTAM 1100 AM, said that the near capacity crowd was a rarity for a Bobcat game.       

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JJ Hickson Leads Cavs in Preseason Victory Over Bobcats

Excitement rocked Quicken Loans Arena, as a nearly sold out crowd of Championship hungry fans came out to “Witness” the beginning of the Cavs XL (40th) Season.

None were disappointed, as they caught a preview of the new Cavs Opening, broadcast in High Definition on the Q-Tube Jumbatron. And fans danced and sang along as they listened to Jay Z’s “D.O.A. (Death Of Autotune)” Rap, which the Cavs adopted as their new 2009-2010 Theme Song.  

LeBron Does More with Ink than just Signing Contracts

Hey basketball heads. I’m sure each and every one of you is salivating at the thought of the start of the 09-10 NBA season.

Nevermind the fact that this season may be one of the most anticipated in a LONG time. I mean come on, look at what is at stake; the whole 2010 free agent class.

Well anyways, maybe I can help some of your NBA addictions.

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Bold Cavaliers Prediction

Well, here it is.

I believe that before season’s end, the Cavaliers will have a new power forward, with Zyrdunas Ilguaskas being the most likely to go.

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Inauspicious Start to Cavs Training Camp: Delonte West Skips First Workout

Well this isn’t good.

Troubled Cavs guard Delonte West, who was recently arrested for gun possession in Maryland, reportedly skipped today’s first practice as the Cleveland Cavaliers opened training camp.

Here is the somewhat ominous quote from Mike Brown assessing the situation:

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Nike’s More Than a Game Weekend: From Blogger’s Row

As your average run of the mill sports blogger, I don’t ask for much. The accomodations provided by my mother’s basement are more than adequate. And while I’m still far from my 40th birthday, I see no reason why I wouldn’t enjoy kicking it down here for the next decade plus.

That still doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for an opportunity to step out the house once in a while though.

So when Nike’s media department offered me a ticket to attend the private screening of More Than a Game at the Akron Civic Theatre this past Thursday, along with media credentials to cover the Nike Tourstop on Friday, I was more than appreciative.  

Nike’s people were beyond pleasant, and it was great meeting them. Dunktape hijackers they weren’t. However, there was a moment of the weekend that I wasn’t quite ready to step out of the basement for.  And it wasn’t writing my review of the Kris Bellman movie, or posting together my seven-post blogumentary on the Nike event Friday. 

No, my Florida State moment came at the end of the day on Friday, when I stood there, wearing my media credentials around my neck, wondering if I really could go back and write about what it was the weekend left me thinking.       
 
If I was an unbiased journalist, I would have written what I was thinking.  Luckily I’m not that.  But if I had been, I would have been obligated to write about how I found no evidence, listening to and being around LeBron James for two days, to suggest that he is definitely going to re-up with Cleveland in 2010. 
 
I would have felt it only right to report the fact that LeBron repeatedly made the point that he represents Akron, and that he never said he reps Northeast Ohio, and he never said he reps Cleveland. 

I would have also had to make mention in my article of the fact that LeBron spoke of the great friends he has made in the NBA, and how one of them was even with him during his Akron homecoming…Chris Paul. I wouldn’t, however, have been able to write about how he spoke glowingly of his current Cavalier teammates, and how they were his great friends too, because he never mentioned them either way. 

I also wouldn’t have been able to write about what Shaq, Delonte, or Z said during the two day stop, because they weren’t there. If I was a reporter, and someone wrote into my editor and said Chris Paul was only there because he was a Nike guy too, I would have had to write back and said so is Mo Williams…you ever hear of Fog Raw?

I would have then had to close my piece by writing that LeBron never one time said, ‘I rep Akron, and I am so glad that I play for a team that is only 45 minutes north of Akron,’ because he never said anything remotely close to that.  Luckily for me, I’m not an unbiased journalist.

So since I won’t admit what the weekend left me thinking, I’ll just continue to be a biased blogger and focus on planning for the victory parade next June down Euclid Avenue.  What’s the use in worrying about the future anyways…its not like my mom’s gonna raise rent on the basement.  

Besides that, this is a season that presents the best chance Cleveland has had to win a world championship in the last 40-plus years.  And it might be the best chance to win one for the next 40 as well.  No, I’m not going to go there anymore, I’m just focused on the here and now, because this season could be one for the ages. 

But if its not though, and he does…well, that’s another moment I’m just not ready for either.

(Images courtesy of Stepien Rules Head over to Stepien Rules to read Brendan’s excellent coverage of the event.)

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Brendan is a featured columnist at Midwest Sports Fans who also runs Stepien Rules, where they discuss everything you ever wanted to know about the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brendan’s contributions to Midwest Sports Fans are sponsored by BigTimeGameBoards.com, the company that helps you tailgate like a champion with our high quality cornhole boards, sets and accessories. And if you don’t know what cornhole is, you aren’t a Midwesterner.