Links To The Present: March 1, 2010
2010-03-01
Almost anybody can be a center in Cavaliers coach Mike Brown’s offense. Well, anybody over about 6-foot-8, that is. -Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer evaluating the Cavs front-court rotation.
Brian Windhorst of the PD reporting on Shaq’s surgery: Â “The doctors were very pleased with the surgery this morning,” Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry said in statement. “He will be in a splint for the next two weeks. From there he starts the process of physical therapy so that he can be at full strength and back on the court during the playoffs.”
Can Cavs cope without Shaq? -John Hollinger examines the ramifications of The Big  Splint (requires Insider)
For all the doubts about the trade for Shaq, give him this: He has gone out of his way to fit seamlessly into the Cavs. He came to camp in shape and never wavered. He never has grumbled about shots, never challenged the power structure that begins and ends with LeBron. -Adrian Wojnarowski on the Cavs needing Shaq this post-season.
And I’m not saying these Cavaliers are a knockoff of the Lakers’ “Showtime” teams. But smaller and faster suits the Cavs well enough against all but a select few teams. If O’Neal returns in time to face Orlando, the Cavs should be all right… -Bud Shaw of the PD on the Cavs playing more “Barkley Ball”
Matt Moore of FanHouse with his own version of Fear Factor: (Fear Factor on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being Summer School, 5 being The Shining.)
Plenty of quotes about LeBron in this NY Post article: “I like it better,” the former Wizard said of being on LeBron’s side. “He’s one of the most dominating, unselfish players I’ve been around. He draws so much attention, but loves getting his teammates involved. I knew he knew the game, but he’s rolling things on the coaches. He eats and sleeps basketball. You see why he’s where he’s at.”
“Nobody knows what LeBron James is going to do but LeBron James,” said McGrady, who expects to play tonight after sitting out the second half of Saturday’s 120-109 loss to Memphis with stiffness and soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. “We can’t control that. We have no control over that. …” –From NorthJersey.com
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what’s the most ridiculous rumor of them all?
Zydrunas Ilgauskas cleared waivers at 2 p.m., today and is officially now a free agent. –Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
WHy won’t people listen to me? NBA “insiders” are somewhat close to the most corrupt people in the sport’s reporting world. How many trade “rumors” did you see this year that certain insiders talked about and cited sources (anon. of course) that this deal or that deal was definately going down. We had the LA Times saying we were most definately getting Troy Murphy. Then we had that same paper reporting that we most definately not getting Z back. I’m telling you guys, there is sadly a large percentage of NBA talking heads who just flat out make stuff up.… Read more »
This picture is the best thing in the world. Ever. Any chance of getting a link to a larger version?
Every time I call Woj a monster for something he writes or tweets that seems particularly anti-Cleveland, he comes back with something nice. That column about how the Cavs will be just fine w/o Shaq until they need him in the playoffs was thoughtful and positive (for us, anyway). Dammit Woj- why won’t you just fit in this mold I made for you?!?
@Ben, I think that’s exactly why Krolik wrote it, because the conventional wisdom is just flat out wrong. One of the comments was great, basically saying “yeah I thought MB was bad on offense, but I can’t refute any of these stats…so…I lose.” I love conversions like that! Anyway, LeIso or whatever is annoying to watch, but I don’t understand why only the Cavs, Mike Brown, and LeBron get the whistle blown on them. I mean, Kobe does the same thing (to less success), B Roy, Wade, and Durant do the same thing. I think LeBron spends a lot of… Read more »
Balloon boy!! http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/63000/BALLOON-BOY-HOAX-63246.jpg
“Mainly, he wants to wear a championship ring, which means he wants to play for Lakers coach Phil Jackson.”….
wow. he’s got some amazing powers of deduction. i can’t believe people read this guy…. it sort of reminds me of another recent news story…
i want to become a famous actor….. therefore….. i must exploit my children to the media by pretending to lose one of them in a balloon shaped like a flying saucer. clearly the only way to accomplish my goal!
Someone needs to point Matt Moore to John’s last post. I quote: “This is a tough defensive team that would want to slow the game down and make the Cavs’ offense work. Which, if you’ve ever seen the Cavs’ offense, is a scary idea. LeIso, as it’s called, would probably work, but might take a couple more games than the Cavs want.” I almost felt compelled to register for Fanhouse commenting, but ultimately felt it wasn’t worth my while, to say: ‘Matt Moore, do you mean have I ever seen the Cavs’ offense that’s the second most efficient offense in… Read more »
i also may be a laker next year