Columbus Cavs

Welcome to the 2013 NBA Playoffs!

6 of the 8 “Game 1″ games to kick off this year’s playoff series were not so competitive.
Those six games ended with the winning team scoring on average more than 19 points than their opponent and having an average biggest lead during the game of more than 23… these games were blowouts.

First round series should really return to a best-of-five format instead of the current best-of-seven, allowing the blowouts to come to a merciful end more quickly. It would also allow for the few competitive series to be even more exciting. A 6th, 7th, or 8th seed might be a lot more likely to threaten an upset if they needed to win just 3 games instead of 4 to advance.

Even without all the blowouts, these playoffs don’t offer much excitement to us Cavs fans. Our excitement is in anticipating who will be the new Cavs coach. Seeing where the Cavs end up between the #1 pick and the #6 pick after the draft lottery on May 21st. And of course which players the Cavs add to the team during June 27th’s draft.

Come Halloween, the games begin again, with the Cavs eyeing a return to the playoff stage!
38-40 wins has typically been enough to sneak into the 8th seed in the East.
With the right mix of health, coaching, rookies, and He-Who-Is-Chosen-As-Free-Agent-Replacement-For-Casspi, I believe the Cavs could reach higher, towards a winning record and the ~6th seed in the 2014 NBA Playoffs!

Let’s Go #Cavs!

LeBron took the Cleveland Curse to the Miami Heat. (source)

It’s all about new regimes in Cleveland. The Browns had their struggles early on, but new quarterback, new running back, new coaching and leadership, they are showing everyone in the NFL what they are capable of this year and in the seasons ahead. The Cavs too, as we all know too well, are in a new regime and having their struggles early on. I believe they’ll get it together and have a season that surprises many nonbelievers, and shows what they’re going to be building on in the years to come.

There’s going to be some tough losses. Like today’s overtime loss to the Jets. Or if we lose to the Celtics in the first round, or to Atlanta/Miami in the second round (if the Playoffs started today). But everyone is focused on the future and how bright it appears to be.

Cleveland Pride!

Cleveland 95 – Boston 87
Best first game of a season ever!

• JJ Hickson and Varejao played strong from start to finish.
• Anthony Parker hit some big shots and was a leader throughout, talking to his young teammates in every huddle.
• I’m glad Booby got it going. He came out ice cold (missing his first eight shots) but didn’t let it phase him and helped lead the way to a win with 16 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds in the second half.
• Jamario Moon did what he’ll do every game. A couple of threes and contributing his long arms, hustle, and strong passion on defense.
• Ryan Hollins played an impressive game with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and a lot of energy in 16 minutes.
• Antawn Jamison had a quiet game, and didn’t play the last 5 minutes, but I could see him being used more than he was used tonight. He’s 34 now so perhaps we should expect some decline, but he was always the most consistent player for Washington (much more so than Gilbert Arenas or Caron Butler) when they lost to the Cavs year after year after year in the playoffs. He averaged 21.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in 16 playoff games against a tough Cleveland defense. He can get it done.
• Speaking of Defense, the new-look Cavs were no slouches in Game 1, holding the Celtics to 14 fourth quarter points.

Thank you Byron Scott. I am so excited about what you can teach these guys over the course of the season (and in the postseason?).

Yes, it’s only the first game, but Boston is no joke of a team to beat and the Cavs should get better. Mo Williams will get back on the court. Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins will get better with playing time. Coach will put new plays in the offensive arsenal, and the team will have an opprtunity to get to know one another and build on their chemistry.

Thank you Dan Gilbert. Thanks for buying the team and committing to Cleveland.

Cleveland is now free of the curse!
In his Decision-night letter, Gilbert wrote:
The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south.
The Browns are going to keep getting better. The Cavs are going to keep getting better.
It’s an exciting new era – are you ready?

Let’s! Go! Cavs!

Dwayne Wade in Sports Illustrated – “LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, guys like that understand what Boston’s defense was about. Their defense was built on not letting one player beat them. You either settle for the outside shot or you pass to your teammates. LeBron had one bad game in the playoffs. Other than that, he did what he could do with the defense all watching him.”

“I don’t see where you can get where he quit,” Wade said. “He just had one bad game. It happens. Kobe had a bad game in the finals. They won. It didn’t matter. LeBron’s teammates didn’t help him out that game and it made the way he played even worse. But he’s not a quitter. He didn’t quit.”

Mo Williams on Twitter – “Come on d wade, watch your mouth. I read your article.”

LeBron quit:
LeBron’s turnovers in the 4 losses to Boston: 5, 7, 3, 9 (average 6/game)
LeBron’s shooting in the 4 losses to Boston: 25-68 (37%)
Rest of Cavs’ shooting in the 4 losses to Boston: 86-210 (41%)

As a supporting cast for LeBron, Shaq, Jamison, and Anthony Parker were veterans that made the Cavs a team favored to win the championship.

Now starting on a different path, it’d be great to see the Cavs go in a younger direction. Jamison will be a solid part of the team this year, but young guys are the future. Let’s build out and coach up this young athletic team and see who blossoms.

“Rebounds, turnovers and even made baskets, we’re going to try to run off all of them,” said new head coach Byron Scott. “The main thing is guys are making a conscious effort to get up and down the floor.”

I liked the idea by the Cavs signing Kyle Lowry. Unfortunately, most players available are restricted free agents and their teams can match the offer, like Houston did with Lowry. While the Cavs will continue to explore all free agent and trade options, here’s our current lineup:

Point Guard: Mo Williams / Sebastian Telfair
Shooting Guard: Boobie Gibson / Danny Green
Small Forward: Antawn Jamison / Jamario Moon
Power Forward: JJ Hickson / Christian Eyenga
Center: Andy Varejao / Leon Powe (*Need more size, see below)

Average age without Jamison or Moon: 24
If we resign Jawad Williams and Tarence Kinsey who were on the team last year, they are 27 and 26.

We know JJ has athletic talent, we know Boobie can shoot the ball, we know Andy brings nonstop energy and a commitment to the boards. They don’t have to become superstars – if just one or two of these other young guys can develop under Byron Scott to become comparable to a Hedo Turkoglu or Marcus Camby, and the Cavs keep drafting or signing additional young talent to join them, we’ll find our group of talented young men that make the Cavaliers a feared playoff foe.

Boston wouldn’t be in such a strong position if their young PG Rondo (draft pick #21) hadn’t blossomed into a major NBA player. The Spurs wouldn’t have a dynasty if not for Tony Parker (draft pick #28) and Manu Ginobli (draft pick #57).

It would be great to add some height/strength to the team – would be nice to keep Shaq so if we make the playoffs as the 6th, 7th, or 8th seed we can let him pound on Dwight Howard or Chris Bosh for 20-25 minutes. We could also have him star in some funny pro-Cleveland videos, perhaps poking fun at LeBron by voicing a character who really truly cares very strongly about his hometown.

The Final Word, from JJ Hickson: “‘Bron was a great player, but he didn’t do it by himself. He had four other players on the court with him. I see my role expanding greatly. ‘Two-three’ is gone. Everybody else has to step up, and I’m ready for that. Players are traded or move on every year. I didn’t pay much attention to it. It’s unfortunate. But we have to move on. I’m out here playing with a lot of confidence. At the end of the day, we have a good team, a playoff-contending team and we’re going to get it done.”

I’ve been a Cavs fan since 1990 when I was 9 years old and I first moved to this country.
I didn’t know what basketball was when I lived in Israel, I just lounged on the beach tossing a ball up and down. I mean, I was 8. Suddenly living in Cleveland, my dad asked me to sit down and watch a game with him. Basketball became a part of me. I played in the driveway all the time. I played at school and in pick up games and in rec leagues but out in the driveway all the time. I’ve been a Cavs fan since before LeBron was playing in his pee-wee league. The day I got my first job, I figured out how much money I’d have left over after my rent, car insurance, and essentials and I bought the most expensive pair of Cavs seats I could possibly buy.

For six years, I got all my friends and family to become Cavs fans too. Many of them even bought season tickets. At one point, I was driving to Cleveland two or three times a week to see the Cavs play. Mind you, Cleveland is a two and a half hour trip. Some nights I wouldn’t get home until 1am, and then have to get up and go to work at 8 in the morning.

So I love the Cavs, with or without LeBron.
And that’s why I created Columbus Cavs.
In 2007, I was featured in the Columbus Dispatch. I’ve had Cavaliers watch parties at Champps, BW3, and Eddie George’s Grille and I’ve raffled off autographed memorabilia donated by the Cavs organization.

I am here to support Dan Gilbert, Byron Scott, and all the staff and players that are committed to bringing a championship to Cleveland. I am all in, for the love of basketball.

The fact that I recreated this site on the night of “The Decision” is ironic. I had to delete over 100 posts and dozens of comments because of spammers. But it is time to look forward.

The Cavs always gave me something to look forward to.
A nice distraction from a *long* work week.
A reason to get together with friends and food for gametime.
A sense of excitement when I woke up on a playoff day.
Just from giveaways throughout 5 playoff runs, I’ve even put together a whole wardrobe. 20+ tshirts, a Varejao wig, and a Drew Gooden bald cap.

LeBron has decided to quit and leave.
Dan Gilbert stays committed to winning a championship:
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Let’s Go Cavs, Columbus!