Cleveland, let's add to Rise Up...Chin Up!!!!
As a fan base, you have every reason to be proud of yourselves, your city and your basketball team today...It's a great time to be a sports fan here...just like this Cavs organization which oozes the positive culture, so can you as passionate followers of the Cavs, Indians, Browns and Buckeyes.
What I saw last night in the 4th quarter, was a crowd that refused to sit-down, reaching down with every ounce on every possession to try and help carry a team...But in this series they just could never quite get over the hump against arguably one of the best teams in the modern NBA era...The Spurs have not won 4 titles in 9 years by accident...they are the model.
What you have on this side of the fence, is an owner who is driven to perfection...a front office driven to find a way..a coaching staff driven to do it the right way...a superstar who is driven to reach greatness, defined by rings...a young core group driven to improve and give the support #23 deserves...and an entire organization driven to simply be the best.
A brand new state-of-the-art player development facility opens in August, and will merely feed that drive.
Over these past couple of months, I have seen so many smiles around The Q, and loved soaking up the atmosphere outside the building the past two games, witnessing so much pride and hope...and it all feeds into the common goal, to win titles...Jim Brown is poised to hand off the Lawrence O'Brien trophy to LeBron...and you have to believe it's coming, otherwise why invest the emotion.
So, while there is some pain in the pit of the stomach today...that's okay...because the elixir is belief...Remember, getting to the Finals for the first time is merely the start of this journey.
So, Go Tribe the rest of the summer, and right into October baseball...the road back to The Finals is only 20 weeks away...and I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Getting Ready for Game 4
`The Lawrence O'Brien trophy has arrived at the Q....hopefully it will stay packed in it's case...that alone should drive the Cavs tonight...the thought of the Spurs hoisting it in their barn, should make them think, that just can not happen...
Mike Brown will tell his guys, as competitors you have to refuse to allow a sweep to happen...Drew Gooden added, he will lose himself in the game...in other words, not allow himself to think about being down, 3-0, or worry about the score tonight, as the game goes on...get lost in the concentration of the moment...
Eric Snow's take is tonight is all about guts...effort, and leave all agendas at the door...all of the guys do remain upbeat, knowing they, at worst, should be down, 2-1...
Larry Hughes is still holding out hope of being able to come off the bench...the team doctors may make that final call...
Z was asked if he will call upon his experience to help get the younger guys ready tonight...Z said, "what am I going to tell them, about the time I lost 62 games?" All the reporters got a kick out of that one....See you tonight at 8 on FSN Ohio...
Mike Brown will tell his guys, as competitors you have to refuse to allow a sweep to happen...Drew Gooden added, he will lose himself in the game...in other words, not allow himself to think about being down, 3-0, or worry about the score tonight, as the game goes on...get lost in the concentration of the moment...
Eric Snow's take is tonight is all about guts...effort, and leave all agendas at the door...all of the guys do remain upbeat, knowing they, at worst, should be down, 2-1...
Larry Hughes is still holding out hope of being able to come off the bench...the team doctors may make that final call...
Z was asked if he will call upon his experience to help get the younger guys ready tonight...Z said, "what am I going to tell them, about the time I lost 62 games?" All the reporters got a kick out of that one....See you tonight at 8 on FSN Ohio...
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Hughes Starting Not Likely
It does not sound like Larry Hughes will go, reading between the lines...this morning he left open the possibility of starting, hoping he'll get an adrenaline rush by 9:00 tonight...he would not put a percentage on how his left foot feels...but he had said he was less than 50% in the Pistons series, and he has only slightly improved..
Considering Larry is probably the Cavs best perimeter defender, consider this...Tony Parker is 6 of 8 from the floor, when he gets into the paint against Larry in the first two games...that tells you Hughes just isn't himself, or close to it..Larry admitted today he has a delayed reaction when he tries to push off...and when you are dealing with one of the quickest guards in the world, that fraction of a second is deadly...
If Daniel Gibson gets the start, he'll draw Parker, and Eric Snow will get some time again...Eric says you have to lead Parker to defensive help...when asked by a reporter, specifically how the Cavs will get that done, Eric gave him a smile and a (are you out of your mind look)..."no, I'm not going to tell you that" he said...
The Spurs will find out what that defensive adjustment is tonight in Game 3...
Considering Larry is probably the Cavs best perimeter defender, consider this...Tony Parker is 6 of 8 from the floor, when he gets into the paint against Larry in the first two games...that tells you Hughes just isn't himself, or close to it..Larry admitted today he has a delayed reaction when he tries to push off...and when you are dealing with one of the quickest guards in the world, that fraction of a second is deadly...
If Daniel Gibson gets the start, he'll draw Parker, and Eric Snow will get some time again...Eric says you have to lead Parker to defensive help...when asked by a reporter, specifically how the Cavs will get that done, Eric gave him a smile and a (are you out of your mind look)..."no, I'm not going to tell you that" he said...
The Spurs will find out what that defensive adjustment is tonight in Game 3...
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Game 2 Tonight!
I think you'll see a more relaxed group of Wine and Golders tonight…the whole Finals experience is something you have to go through as a player…at least the first few days…then, you realize it is a basketball game, and stick to what got you here, which is why I think the Cavs will play much better…concentration becomes one of the major issues…attention to detail.
That slippage was exemplified by lack of block-outs on Spurs' missed free throws…they got offensive rebounds on 4 misses the other night, and converted them into 4 points.
Daniel Gibson seems so unaffected by all the hoopla, even with family here…his Mom, Dad, brother and two sisters…the only task Boobie had was trying to convince his 7 year-old nephew to get out of the hotel pool…5 hours of swimming was finally enough!!! Daniel was tired just watching him.
Scot Pollard is always the voice of practice itinerary…when it's time to watch film between media interviews and actual practice, Scot bellows…"Film…..I have my popcorn….let's go watch some film….finals….Cavs….Spurs.
And when it's time to leave the AT&T center…Pollard, again in his baritone voice yells…"time to go….the gym will still be here tonight…those rims aren't going anywhere…time to head on the bus."
I guess it's one of those things where you have to be there…it's the delivery, not the message itself that makes us chuckle.
That slippage was exemplified by lack of block-outs on Spurs' missed free throws…they got offensive rebounds on 4 misses the other night, and converted them into 4 points.
Daniel Gibson seems so unaffected by all the hoopla, even with family here…his Mom, Dad, brother and two sisters…the only task Boobie had was trying to convince his 7 year-old nephew to get out of the hotel pool…5 hours of swimming was finally enough!!! Daniel was tired just watching him.
Scot Pollard is always the voice of practice itinerary…when it's time to watch film between media interviews and actual practice, Scot bellows…"Film…..I have my popcorn….let's go watch some film….finals….Cavs….Spurs.
And when it's time to leave the AT&T center…Pollard, again in his baritone voice yells…"time to go….the gym will still be here tonight…those rims aren't going anywhere…time to head on the bus."
I guess it's one of those things where you have to be there…it's the delivery, not the message itself that makes us chuckle.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Media Frenzy
Mike Brown, LeBron, Drew, and all the guys are facing more media this week than they ever have in their careers...under this scrutiny and spotlight, some players view it as a nuisance, while others embrace it as part of the job...certainly, Mike and LeBron have had fun with it, while dutifully answering all the serious questions from reporters around the world.
Those two are always in what's called the media center, facing rows of reporters in a press conference setting, while seated at a podium...it's been that way for the entire playoffs, except now there are media members from virtually every NBA city, all the national outlets, as well as scores from foreign countries...Mike is very relaxed in this setting, because he is being himself...he drew laughter today when asked about Bruce Bowen funneling LeBron toward Tim Duncan and others...On his days as an assistant coach in San Antonio Mike recounted how Danny Ferry played the small forward and funneled his man toward Duncan..."and Danny couldn't guard you...(meaning Rachel Nichols of ESPN)"
LeBron has also been very engaging as usual...he's heard every question imaginable since high school of course, so when asked today what question he might pose to LeBron James if he was a media member, he couldn't come up with a new one...but eventually he did get one he liked...."what do you think will happen to Tony Soprano tomorrow night in the final episode of the Sopranos"....LeBron thanked the questioner for something different...then said he hopes Tony doesn't get whacked, adding he hopes the feds let him go and enjoy the rest of his life...LeBron says he is Tivo-ing that final show...
LB was the asked to critique the last movie he saw..."Spiderman 3...I liked it, but it was too romantic".
See you tomorrow night on FSN Cavaliers Live at 8pm.
Those two are always in what's called the media center, facing rows of reporters in a press conference setting, while seated at a podium...it's been that way for the entire playoffs, except now there are media members from virtually every NBA city, all the national outlets, as well as scores from foreign countries...Mike is very relaxed in this setting, because he is being himself...he drew laughter today when asked about Bruce Bowen funneling LeBron toward Tim Duncan and others...On his days as an assistant coach in San Antonio Mike recounted how Danny Ferry played the small forward and funneled his man toward Duncan..."and Danny couldn't guard you...(meaning Rachel Nichols of ESPN)"
LeBron has also been very engaging as usual...he's heard every question imaginable since high school of course, so when asked today what question he might pose to LeBron James if he was a media member, he couldn't come up with a new one...but eventually he did get one he liked...."what do you think will happen to Tony Soprano tomorrow night in the final episode of the Sopranos"....LeBron thanked the questioner for something different...then said he hopes Tony doesn't get whacked, adding he hopes the feds let him go and enjoy the rest of his life...LeBron says he is Tivo-ing that final show...
LB was the asked to critique the last movie he saw..."Spiderman 3...I liked it, but it was too romantic".
See you tomorrow night on FSN Cavaliers Live at 8pm.
Preparing for Game 2
The fellas seemed unphased Friday as they were back at it to find ways to give LeBron some breathing room and take away some of Tony Parker's...as Donyell pointed out, King James will hear the criticism about his 0 for 7 first half, and as we know, he usually responds in kind...
The guys also took note of the downtown celebration and the horn honking which is customary in San Antonio after wins in the Finals...Thursday night's lasted well over an hour, and right in front of the team hotel...
The guys were also pretty loose as Tony Rizzo found out....David Wesley became a Fox 8 correspondent asking Z if a haircut might help him for Game-2, and Donyell why he is so soft spoken....in other words hard hitting stuff...Glad D-Wes wasn't around during my time at 8...I would have lost my job...
The guys also took note of the downtown celebration and the horn honking which is customary in San Antonio after wins in the Finals...Thursday night's lasted well over an hour, and right in front of the team hotel...
The guys were also pretty loose as Tony Rizzo found out....David Wesley became a Fox 8 correspondent asking Z if a haircut might help him for Game-2, and Donyell why he is so soft spoken....in other words hard hitting stuff...Glad D-Wes wasn't around during my time at 8...I would have lost my job...
Thursday, June 7, 2007
The Wait is Over
The wait is over...Game 1 is here, in a town where it is assumed the Spurs will hoist a fourth trophy down a Riverwalk parade...I am finding few who believe the Cavaliers can shock the world...and that includes the national pundits...and that's ok...the Cavs are very comfortable being the underdog...
The guys were focused, but very loose at today's shoot around...you would never know from their demeanor that this was their first excursion into the Finals pressure chamber...part of it comes from Mike Brown and the way he and his staff keeps things relaxed...part of it comes from how close this group has become, especially over these past two years, and part of it comes from the 'us against the world' mentality...
Because of rebounding and defense, plus the inherent knowledge that Mike, Danny Ferry, Lance Blanks and Hank Egan have of the Spurs, the Cavs have a serious shot...trying to keep Tony Parker out of the lane on a consistent basis will be crucial, and keeping the Spurs from going off on the 3-point line will be vital as well...the Cavs have been either 1 or 2 defending the 3 line all season...keep a close watch on that defensive stat all series long...
We' re all intrigued with how LeBron performs in the biggest series of his life...if you get a chance, check out the feature in yesterday's New York Times...my favorite quote came from Pacers president Donnie Walsh talking about LeBron's Game 5 basketball soliloquy..."I thought to myself, things are never going to be the same...it was like watching Michael Jordan before your eyes"...LB has gotten everyone's attention...so, all eyes will be on him...this is what he was born to do...
Join us tonight and all through the Finals for our Cavaliers Live pre game specials, on FSN Ohio, each night at 8pm...
The guys were focused, but very loose at today's shoot around...you would never know from their demeanor that this was their first excursion into the Finals pressure chamber...part of it comes from Mike Brown and the way he and his staff keeps things relaxed...part of it comes from how close this group has become, especially over these past two years, and part of it comes from the 'us against the world' mentality...
Because of rebounding and defense, plus the inherent knowledge that Mike, Danny Ferry, Lance Blanks and Hank Egan have of the Spurs, the Cavs have a serious shot...trying to keep Tony Parker out of the lane on a consistent basis will be crucial, and keeping the Spurs from going off on the 3-point line will be vital as well...the Cavs have been either 1 or 2 defending the 3 line all season...keep a close watch on that defensive stat all series long...
We' re all intrigued with how LeBron performs in the biggest series of his life...if you get a chance, check out the feature in yesterday's New York Times...my favorite quote came from Pacers president Donnie Walsh talking about LeBron's Game 5 basketball soliloquy..."I thought to myself, things are never going to be the same...it was like watching Michael Jordan before your eyes"...LB has gotten everyone's attention...so, all eyes will be on him...this is what he was born to do...
Join us tonight and all through the Finals for our Cavaliers Live pre game specials, on FSN Ohio, each night at 8pm...
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Eve of Game 1
This is old hat for the Riverwalk City of San Antonio....3 tries 3 wins...And speaking of wins...after each Spurs win, in past series, fans cruise the downtown streets honkng their horns, hanging out the windows...not just after the clinching game...
This has always been a favorite stop of mine, even back to the days of the old Hemisfair Arena, and the famous baseline bums, their version of the Dawg Pound...
The scope of this series comes in the gawdy numbers.. over 1500 media credentials are being handed out, all with photo ID'ed from a data base. 205 countries will see the games...that's a record...43 languages will surround the name LeBron James...
For the first time, Brazilian TV is here with an announce team, looking to proclaim falta de ataque when Anderson draws an offensive foul...
Two of the cameras rolling today belonged to Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble, as they walked around before practice interviewing teammates..that would be a video I would buy...
If you're going to the watch party at the Q....enjoy!
This has always been a favorite stop of mine, even back to the days of the old Hemisfair Arena, and the famous baseline bums, their version of the Dawg Pound...
The scope of this series comes in the gawdy numbers.. over 1500 media credentials are being handed out, all with photo ID'ed from a data base. 205 countries will see the games...that's a record...43 languages will surround the name LeBron James...
For the first time, Brazilian TV is here with an announce team, looking to proclaim falta de ataque when Anderson draws an offensive foul...
Two of the cameras rolling today belonged to Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble, as they walked around before practice interviewing teammates..that would be a video I would buy...
If you're going to the watch party at the Q....enjoy!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Onto the Alamo
It's on to the Alamo, where it will be hot all week....'90s on the thermometer, and triple digits when it comes to the white hot lights of the NBA Finals...
The guys don't know what's coming in terms of distractions, pressure, etc...but they obviously adjusted quickly to the land of the unknown of the ECF, and will do so again on this grand stage...that's just the make-up of this team...
Donyell was close to tears of joy on Saturday night after the game, and he's still soaking up the moment...in fact he said over the weekend he had breakfast on the east side and when he walked in to sit down, he received a standing ovation...and that was before the tip....
Such is the magic carpet ride these guys are now on....
More when we get to San Antonio...
The guys don't know what's coming in terms of distractions, pressure, etc...but they obviously adjusted quickly to the land of the unknown of the ECF, and will do so again on this grand stage...that's just the make-up of this team...
Donyell was close to tears of joy on Saturday night after the game, and he's still soaking up the moment...in fact he said over the weekend he had breakfast on the east side and when he walked in to sit down, he received a standing ovation...and that was before the tip....
Such is the magic carpet ride these guys are now on....
More when we get to San Antonio...
Sunday, June 3, 2007
What Curse???
What curse??? The Cavaliers unforgettable Eastern Conference trophy grab was one of those nights you'll say "remember the night when" for years to come...
In the seats, around the concourse and outside in the Plaza, I saw fans crying, bear hugging and screaming. It was all I could do to keep my composure...
Jump on the bandwagon...there's plenty room for more...
And do you think King James will just be happy to reach The Finals?...consider this...LeBron was overheard saying "No champagne! No popping anything yet! Not until we get four more wins!" This tells me LeBron wants it all now!!!!! He has figured it out, and can smell the Lawrence O'Brien trophy...
Join us all week on FSN for complete Wine and Gold coverage from the Alamo City...more on that tomorrow..
In the seats, around the concourse and outside in the Plaza, I saw fans crying, bear hugging and screaming. It was all I could do to keep my composure...
Jump on the bandwagon...there's plenty room for more...
And do you think King James will just be happy to reach The Finals?...consider this...LeBron was overheard saying "No champagne! No popping anything yet! Not until we get four more wins!" This tells me LeBron wants it all now!!!!! He has figured it out, and can smell the Lawrence O'Brien trophy...
Join us all week on FSN for complete Wine and Gold coverage from the Alamo City...more on that tomorrow..
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Once In a Blue Moon
Welcome to basketball in June!!!
And heck since LeBron’s game for the ages came during a blue moon (when two full moons fall in the same month, as they did on Thursday), you gotta believe…you know what they say about something hasn’t happened in a blue moon…
If you believe in karma, and fate, and a perfect storm, as I do, then you have to believe the stars are aligned tonight for a celebration this city hasn’t seen in a long, long time…not only the Cavs with a chance to unlock the door to the NBA finals for the first time…but to do it against Detroit, with the Indians hoping to BEAT DETROIT as well in front of a sold out Jake…could their be anything better?
But first things first, a closeout win against these Pistons will be the most difficult to get…in the Billups-Hamilton-Prince era..the Pistons are 4-0 in these, down, 3 games to 2, on the road for game-6 scenarios….as Mike Brown likened it to today….it’s like two survivors on a desert island…one has water, the other doesn’t…and the one who has the water, has to fight to keep it, to stay alive…
Larry Hughes will give it a go before the game to see if his injured left arch can take some minutes on the floor…more treatment, more ice, and perhaps another shot of cortisone…he would prefer to play, without another shot, which he admits is an unnatural feeling…he adds, the plantar fasciitis has not subsided…he says it feels like he has a knife in his shoe…but all that being said, he doesn’t want sympathy…not from fans, teammates, or anyone…Larry knows people never know what players are going through this time of year, adding everyone is banged up to some extent by the month of June…and with a smile, he says he just hopes fans enjoy, and appreciate how he and his teammates are laying it out on the line…
One other note from LeBron’s masterpiece from Game-5…during a late timeout, when he was fighting exhaustion, during his video game display…he was asked if he still wanted the plays to go through him…LB said…"C'mon, this is what I live for"…The King and all of his northeast Ohio subjects live for nights like tonight…bask in the experience!!!
Join us tonight for Cavaliers Live pre game, beginning at 7:30 from Gateway Plaza…and we’ll be in the Cavs locker room after the game as well…
And heck since LeBron’s game for the ages came during a blue moon (when two full moons fall in the same month, as they did on Thursday), you gotta believe…you know what they say about something hasn’t happened in a blue moon…
If you believe in karma, and fate, and a perfect storm, as I do, then you have to believe the stars are aligned tonight for a celebration this city hasn’t seen in a long, long time…not only the Cavs with a chance to unlock the door to the NBA finals for the first time…but to do it against Detroit, with the Indians hoping to BEAT DETROIT as well in front of a sold out Jake…could their be anything better?
But first things first, a closeout win against these Pistons will be the most difficult to get…in the Billups-Hamilton-Prince era..the Pistons are 4-0 in these, down, 3 games to 2, on the road for game-6 scenarios….as Mike Brown likened it to today….it’s like two survivors on a desert island…one has water, the other doesn’t…and the one who has the water, has to fight to keep it, to stay alive…
Larry Hughes will give it a go before the game to see if his injured left arch can take some minutes on the floor…more treatment, more ice, and perhaps another shot of cortisone…he would prefer to play, without another shot, which he admits is an unnatural feeling…he adds, the plantar fasciitis has not subsided…he says it feels like he has a knife in his shoe…but all that being said, he doesn’t want sympathy…not from fans, teammates, or anyone…Larry knows people never know what players are going through this time of year, adding everyone is banged up to some extent by the month of June…and with a smile, he says he just hopes fans enjoy, and appreciate how he and his teammates are laying it out on the line…
One other note from LeBron’s masterpiece from Game-5…during a late timeout, when he was fighting exhaustion, during his video game display…he was asked if he still wanted the plays to go through him…LB said…"C'mon, this is what I live for"…The King and all of his northeast Ohio subjects live for nights like tonight…bask in the experience!!!
Join us tonight for Cavaliers Live pre game, beginning at 7:30 from Gateway Plaza…and we’ll be in the Cavs locker room after the game as well…
Friday, June 1, 2007
We were all Witnesses last night!
We were all Witnesses last night....witnesses to one of the greatest performances in NBA history... I watched Isiah Thomas scored 16 points in 94 seconds of a playoff game against the Knicks, in 1984, and 25 points on one ankle against the Lakers in the '88 NBA Finals...but not even those quite equal what we saw last night...25 straight Cavalier points against an elite team on the road...King James outscored the Pistons by himself, 25-18 when it mattered most...in the ECF...
LeBron literally turned Game-6 into his personal video game...the dunks were majestic, and jaw dropping, but what blew me away were the step back jumpers...the 3's...the strength, and the CALM he showed, while dropping jumper after jumper on the Pistons...this is growth...and think about this...in Games 1 and 2, LeBron was being taken to task for passing up one game winner, and not being able to finish the other...
But do you know what?...#23 has figured it out...and it started in Game-3...he unlocked the door to a new level of concentration, will and desire...but he had to experience it first hand himself, failing in effect, which drove him to the kind of performance we witnessed last night.....Now he has the taste...I think he'll be a glutton for more...
To win a championship, LB will have to reach another level...I'm not saying scoring 26 straight points...but find other ways to make the ultimate sacrifice...and when he does...look out...this is where being 22 years-old makes it all crystallize...those who say he's been in the league four years now, he should be figuring out, fail to remember he would only be a senior in college...
And oh ya by the way...all of his post game comments about teammates, and thanking them, and sharing it with them...he means every word of it...his game shouts that...LeBron's right...without Daniel Gibson's suddenly displayed penetration...Z's inside presence, Andy's energy, E Snow's defensive strips at the end, on and on, The King would not have been able to take over the Palace...
Bring on Game-6...see you tomorrow in the Plaza...
LeBron literally turned Game-6 into his personal video game...the dunks were majestic, and jaw dropping, but what blew me away were the step back jumpers...the 3's...the strength, and the CALM he showed, while dropping jumper after jumper on the Pistons...this is growth...and think about this...in Games 1 and 2, LeBron was being taken to task for passing up one game winner, and not being able to finish the other...
But do you know what?...#23 has figured it out...and it started in Game-3...he unlocked the door to a new level of concentration, will and desire...but he had to experience it first hand himself, failing in effect, which drove him to the kind of performance we witnessed last night.....Now he has the taste...I think he'll be a glutton for more...
To win a championship, LB will have to reach another level...I'm not saying scoring 26 straight points...but find other ways to make the ultimate sacrifice...and when he does...look out...this is where being 22 years-old makes it all crystallize...those who say he's been in the league four years now, he should be figuring out, fail to remember he would only be a senior in college...
And oh ya by the way...all of his post game comments about teammates, and thanking them, and sharing it with them...he means every word of it...his game shouts that...LeBron's right...without Daniel Gibson's suddenly displayed penetration...Z's inside presence, Andy's energy, E Snow's defensive strips at the end, on and on, The King would not have been able to take over the Palace...
Bring on Game-6...see you tomorrow in the Plaza...
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