Holy Triple Double Batman!

I understand that it has been two weeks or so since I have last updated this but the problem is that where I go to school is for some reason like the hockey capital of Northern Ohio. I get the freaking Blue Jackets instead of my beloved Cavaliers. However, I was home this last week and was able to take in four games, including one in person. Here is what I gleaned from my experience.

• Batman? You ask why I say Batman? Because LeBron has his Batman and it is the four other guys starting games right now. Z, Sasha, Boobie, and Drew. This is not the NBA that I grew up on. This is the NBA where you need three or four good starters to really be a contender in not only your conference but in the NBA. This is not the Bulls being able to win with Micheal, Scottie, Rodman, and an average Kukoc off the bench. Bill Wennington, Luc Longley, and Randy Brown were fixtures on those teams as well. So the answer to the five year old question "who will be Bron's Batman" is simply this. Everyone, only in different combinations and on different days.

• I have a Larry Hughes poster in my dorm room. I have been a defender of his for years. Back to his days where he was miscast on a bad Philly team. Problem is, he stinks this season. The Cavaliers are clearly a better team with Sasha in the lineup. Larry is made of glass it seems and shoots rim rocking jumpers about 60% of the time. Is he being misused? Yes. However, has he adapted? No. Plus, I find it hard to believe that he cannot fit into a new European motion style offense where guys move around and LeBron draws double teams.

• It turns out that LeBron is super special. He has had back to back triple doubles against Minnesota and Toronto (which I WITNESSED in person). Not only do his penetrations create open shots, they do something that I have never seen in 17 years of watching the NBA. They create open driving lanes. Even Damon Jones has taken the ball to the hole a few times against Minnesota and Toronto, both teams with bonafied shot blockers, in consecutive games.
  

• Speaking of Damon Jones, good thing he has been buried on Mike Brown's bench for two seasons now. The point that he did not help his own cause is a valid one however we have seen what consistent minutes have done for guy's careers. Sasha benefited, Anderson Varejao benefited. He is making shots, running the offense, and even providing the kind of leadership that can be best appreciated by watching the games in person. For some reason, it seems like the team has a sense of calm with Damon, Devin Brown, LeBron, Z, and Drew on the floor with Damon running the show. With Damon showing this ability, I no longer believe that a major move for a point guard is necessary during this season.
  

• While I am thinking about the bench, what the heck has gotten into Ira Newble? He is playing solid defense, moving the ball well, not turning it over, and playing fantastic transition defense. Is he ever going to average double digits in anything? Not at all. However, you cannot ask for more from a guy off your bench than to provide some energy, defend, and make a couple open shots. Everyone went nuts about Varejao's "energy" but for some reason, we all overlook the energy that Ira has provided this season. Watch closely. Newble is what I call a "Good Things Guy". Good things happen when he is in the game. Coincidence or not, it is the truth and I think he may deserve a new contract assuming he can be resigned cheaply this offseason. Thank you Ira, for showing up and being consistently dependable. And yes, I am just as shocked as you are that I just wrote 10 lines praising Ira Newble. Weird.
  

I am going to try to do this regularly but as I said, it is tough when I don't get to watch a lot of the games. I will do my best. Thanks for reading.

All For One. One For All.

-Donnage

West Coast Trip Closes

What a weird west coast ride. Honestly, going .500 on this trip is pretty solid considering the Cavaliers are short handed and played some tougher teams. If Cleveland had gone 2-6 or 3-5 on this trip not only would I not have been surprised, I think I would have been happy. Plus, the record could easily have been 5-3 if someone, anyone would have remembered that Deron Williams is good and that six seconds is a ton of time.

Here are five observations about the trip"

1. Is there anyone playing better ball than LeBron? I mean seriously, he was absolutely nails on the trip and single handedly kept us in tight with a very good Phoenix team.
2. Devin Brown has done a nice job off of the bench. His defense is better than I realized and he does a nice job running things both on the break and initiating the offense in the half court. This looks like a very solid pickup for Mr. Ferry.
3. Mike Brown looks like he understands how to work things a little bit better on offense. Evidently whatever he learned from that European coach seems to have sunk in. Much better movement and it looks like guys aren't as afraid to force the issue with a quick shot that still fits in. At times last season it was like watching Hoosiers. Gibson spent half his time passing off for fear that Gene Hackman was going to punish him for shooting too quickly. Looks better. Let's hope it keeps up. He did this to us last season at the start and tapered off badly down the stretch.
4. Zydrunas is out of his mind right now. Ilgauskas, a notoriously slow starter, has come out like gang busters so far averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds per contest. What is even more encouraging, is that he has done so within a more fluid system against high paced, high possession teams. Very encouraging.
5. Absolutely thrilled that Snow has not played due to his injury. We are such a better team without him slowing us down and having to pass up open 15 footers. I hope this shows Ferry, Brown, and Co. that the Cavaliers do not need him.

On the other hand, tonight's game against Denver appears to be a total debacle. Unfortunately I did not get to see it where I am because instead, we had to watch the Columbus Bluejackets play someone. I don't even know who. I will take any reader opinion or thoughts on that game since I cannot really speak to it.

My guess though is that Cleveland started off slowly because Denver had them zoned up and Camby changed the way they like to play. Plus, I don't know who was going to guard Iverson, nobody is near quick enough.

I am going to start updating this regularly. Due to some complications with Blogger, I have been unable to do so. Please continue to read.

Peace, Love, Hoops.

Almost Time

Is anyone else really excited about this? This is the NBA and opening night is my own person holiday I refer to as Basketball New Year.

The Cavaliers are finishing up a horrendous pre-season where not only did they lose, they were trounced in every contest. The pre-season doesn't count, but I do think that it matters some. At least from a confidence standpoint and from the perspective that teams get to see what kind of depth they have. For the boys from C-Town, both of those aspects look bleak.

Let's take a look at how the Cavaliers followed up their first ever trip to the NBA Finals after beating the loathed Detroit Pistons in six games on the strength of a transcendent performance by one LeBron James.

• Several failed attempts to acquire Mike Bibby got every one's hopes up and dashed them just as quickly. Whether it was a case of GM Danny Ferry not wanting to part with big man Drew Gooden or young guards Daniel Gibson and Shannon Brown, or if it was a simple salary numbers game doesn't matter anymore. The deals did not go through and now, with Bibby missing 6-8 weeks, the chances of acquiring him before February's trade deadline (if at all) look dismal.
• Along with Bibby would have come Euroballer Luis Scola. Scola is widely regarded as the best European big to come to The Association in some time. Again, something prevented that deal from getting done and Scola looks poised to entrench himself as the Houston Rockets starting PF.
• LeBron was dazzling to say the least in the FIBA Americas tournament as the USA qualified (easily) for an Olympic birth. LeBron appears to have at least developed some confidence in his jump shot and appears to be going up straighter and releasing more consistently. This could be what he needed to be even more reliable than he ever has.
• Ferry made attempts to move into the first round on the eve of the NBA Draft but did not do so and sighted there not being a player there that merited making a deal to do so.
• A lot of time and rumors passed and Danny was able to steal Devin Brown off of the FA market for a one year deal. If Brown can bring some toughness and a little scoring in addition to hustle and getting "garbage" points, the pickup will be well worth it. On 82games.com, his stats as a PG are encouraging although I'm not real sure that that is the most effective use of Devin Brown.
• It looks like the Cavs might have some interest in guard Earl Boykins, a local boy, and veteran forward Juwan howard. Both would be solid additions and help buoy the potential losses of Anderson Varejao (who has clearly lost his mind) and Sasha Pavlovic. Although I am not certain I want to see a second unit of Devin Brown, Donyell Marshall, Eric Snow, Earl Boykins, and Dwayne Jones on the floor together very much.
• Dwayne Jones, a big man and noted rebounder with some shotblocking ability appears to be progressing nicely. He should be able to stick on the roster through the camp cuts and be a solid contributor for Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Now, It will be interesting to see whether or not the simple factor of continuity and the additions, both real and potential, will be enough to return the Cavs to the Eastern Conference Finals or further. Cleveland opens up their season on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks who should be hungry after a disappointing and historic first round ousting by the Golden State Warriors. The early schedule looks rough but one thing is for certain, LeBron will simply not let this team get too far behind the eight ball too quickly.

I will be doing a running live diary of the game which will be posted shortly after it's conclusion. Until then, Rise Up and get ready to greet your reigning Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

All for one, and one for all, I am The Donnage.

Peace, Love, Hoops.