Links To The Present: March 17, 2010

“This team has done it all season long. The point is they make themselves hard to beat. That is awfully important, especially when you have to start winning four out of every seven soon.” [Brian Windhorst’s Beat Blog]

Great stuff in Brian Windhorst’s Podcast today.  I usually say “Must Listen” and they all are but this one in particular answers a TON of burning Cavs questions.

I was hanging out in the ESPN Daily Dime last night and there were plenty of comments about Mike Brown not being a good coach because he doesn’t discipline anyone.  Nothing new there…And then suddenly MB found a way to motivate a lethargic, complaining, LeBron James by screaming at him: “Mike Brown very heated in huddle with LeBron after he didn’t get back because he was complaining about a no call. Pistons up 4.” [Brian Windhorst Twitter]

Cavs have a shot to do something only Jordan’s Bulls have accomplished.

“But the final fourth quarter tally is pretty impressive: 15 points, three rebounds, four assists, a block. Or, what Tayshaun Prince averages per game in March. In about 34 minutes per game.” [Kelly Dwyer – Ball Don’t Lie]

Fred McLeod on LeBron’s chase-down blocks: “Tommy Heinsohn told me last season, Bill Russell is the only player he has ever seen, have the timing, and athletic ability to make these kind of breathtaking deletions.”

Tommy Beer of Hoopsworld on the potential Cavs-Raptors matchup: The juicy underlying subplot in this series would be the topic of conversation that would dominate the pre and postgame conversations: “If the Raptors lose, is this the final time we see Chris Bosh in a Toronto uniform?”

Boobie did what Boobie does again last night – knocked down a 3.  (just sayin’) He also made DimeMag’s: The 10 Luckiest Players in the NBA.

The Cavs are a good 4th quarter team.  According to TeamRankings they are tied with Orlando for 4th place in the NBA in 4th quarter point differential at +1.2.  Interestingly, since January 29, excluding games where they had huge leads going into the 4th quarter (garbage time) the Cavs have on-average outscored opponents by 4.8 points per quarter!  (even including losses)

Fun Tweets:

“cavs gotta be careful… theyre gonna have a ted ginn moment with those bench celebrations.” [mburgermeister]

“From the things I never thought I’d see files: the Pistons are double teaming Andy Varejao in the post. 75 percent shooting will do that.” [Brian Windhorst]

“LBJ to ref Kane Fitzgerald after no-call hoop: “I don’t even want the foul.” Next time down, Fitzgerald calls shooting foul, LBJ to line.” [Brian Windhorst]

“Wow…Cavs actually connected on two consecutive free throws.” [George M. Thomas]

“Quote of the night from Ryan Gomes: “You can’t win letting a team score 150″” [Seth Pollack]