Links to the Present: Appendectomy Edition
2013-10-13
I’m suddenly getting an Omri Casspi flashback to last year! Tyler Zeller has been felled for the next few weeks after surgery to remove an inflamed appendix, today. USA Today has the story, here. With no complications he should be back to playing shape in three weeks, but no timetable has been set. Get well soon, Tyler.
In other news, Grantland’s Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose previewed the Cavaliers, Friday. The video is available, here. Jalen picked the Cavs to make the playoffs, and Simmons’ predictions were more apoplectic: the Cavs give up by February, and Andrew Bynum only plays 15 meaningful games. Ouch! However, Bill does give a lot of stock to the idea that LeBron returns to his 30,000 square foot house in Akron. Click the other video for a Wizards preview, and an exploration of the rift between D-Rose and C-Webb.
Jodie Valade of The Plain Dealer has a nice feature on Carrick Felix and his propensity for winning “50-50 balls,” here.
Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal predicts big things for Kyrie Irving this year.
Oh, and from the I told you so department, Casspi is playing really well in preseason for the Rockets. I’ll bet a shiny new nickle that he has a better year than Earl Clark. On a golf course somewhere, I’m sure Byron Scott is stoically oblivious.
I know this is showing my fandom, but i wouldnt trade Waiters straight up for Pau, when Simmons brought up Pau I was out on that whole segment, lol
I hope the cavs stand pat this year unless they bring in a young piece, let this group age, and dont make the awful Harden trade like OKC made, which ruined their title chances for years, and could cost them Durant in the long run
Simmons is entertaining and is good at expressing opinions from a fan’s perspective, but is generally out of his element when trying to do real analysis. Wiaters and this year’s first rounder for one year of Pau Gasol? Jesus.
I love Bill Simmons, sports blogs wouldn’t be where they are without him, but he’s stretched too thin. He’s wearing to many hats these days to have the insight into the NBA that he used to. Draft time it really shows. I do agree with his assessment that the Cavs are primed for a trade. The “OKC” model for this franchise is over and we could be entering the Morey phase. Grant is armed with plenty of trade ammo between their young players, expiring deals and boatload of draft picks (Memphis could seriously regret that deal in a couple years).… Read more »
Don’t really care much about Simmons.
Anyone else catch Jalen refer to the flats being on the coast of Lake Michigan?
Either my homerism ticks me off about Simmons’ assessment, or I’m angry that he’s right. Bynum playing <15 games is a completely reasonable assessment.
Of course the odds are shooting up that Oden enters an NBA game before Bynum.
The good news is that neither is going to keep Kerasev from getting his run.