Hi Getthesenets,

Luckily, I had plenty of vac time so I took off the week of the RNC. By all accounts, it went off without a hitch. There was one protestor who burned a flag, but also stupidly managed to catch themself on fire. Other than that, the police outnumbered the protestors significantly.

Yes, Cleveland is a football first city. NE Ohio and the state have long football traditions. It goes back to Paul Brown and his revolutionary innovations. Then you have some storied high school football programs, along with Ohio State. Recent history aside, the Browns of the 1950s and early 60s were as dominant as the Patriots/Spurs runs of present day.

This is to take nothing away from what the Cavs did, but if the Indians or Browns ever win a title, the parade will be 2 million. Both the Indians & Browns go back 3-4 generations, whereas the Cavs came into being in 1970. I'm not holding my breath on the Browns any time soon, but the Indians under Francona have a good shot this year and for the next 2-3 years.

Goombah,

not sure if you're a gambling man but you seem to write things and then they happen.

Also, do you think the GSW can beat the Cavs this year? What changes did you guys make in off season?

On that premise, I am feeling that a million dollar lottery winning is in my grasp within the next 6 months.

The Indians bullpen has been incredible so far this postseason. They are following the model Kansas City used the past two years. The difficulty now is that the Indians' rotation has been decimated. Salazar may be available should we advance to the World Series.

I'll be interested to see how the Cavs come out in the first 2-3 months of the season. I'm hoping that they still have the eye of the tiger, but my fear is that they do not.

Tristan Thompson is dating a Kardashian, which hasn't ended well for any of her exes. Mo Williams & Dellevedova are gone and we lost Mosgov. I like the addition of Dunleavy and we have Kay Felder, who is 5'9" and being compared to Boston's Isiah Thomas. It should be a good team, but I'm not sure enough to win the whole thing. They'll probably represent the East again, but I think they could lose to San Antonio or Golden State.

I'm hoping Golden State underachieves like the year the Lakers added Karl Malone & Payton. They'll be good, no doubt, but we'll see how well they share the ball. I can see Draymond & KD clashing, along with Thompson pouting if his touches decrease.

Cleveland in World Series,Goombah!

I'm still in shock. Indians bullpen has dominated two of the biggest hitting lineups. I just hope it continues for four wins in 2016. Then followed by an Ohio State national championship in January!

Now you're just being greedy,Goombah. You've been right so far about basketball, baseball, and (pro)football teams , so we'll see how it turns out. Magical year for Cleveland sports.

I saw that Ernest Byner was at the Cavs parade. Did Kosar and Marty Schottenheimer come back too ?

I know Kosar & Jim Brown were at the parade. But I don't know about Marty. That would've been a nice touch. The whole thing with Byner was great. I had no idea he rec'd death threats after the fumble. He was genuinely hurt by the play for s long time, much like Bill Buckner. It appears that the Cavs' title exorcised those demons.

Goombah,

It was still a great year, and if anybody offers me that two of my area sports teams make it to finals in same calendar year I'd take it 10 out of 10 times.
OSU is still technically in the BCS hunt.....so maybe 3 area teams play for championship.


With the Cavs win, Cleveland fans are basically playing with house money when it comes to sports titles this year.

Goombah,

Know of any deals in the works before the trade deadline for the Cavs?


*also what is the reaction to Cleveland guy Oakley getting tossed from MSG?

Hi Getthesenets,

I hope that all is well with you!

Nothing major from what I hear from the various beat reporters. It sounds as if Love's knee might be a serious concern. But the Cavs are strapped and really cannot make an impactful move. I'm still scratching my head why LeBron complained a few weeks ago when he knows fully that a big trade can't happen.

The Oakley reaction has been very much in his favor, not just locally but nationally. We are glad to have the good Dolans running the Indians rather than the disaster that is the Knicks. They've been dysfunctional since the Isaiah Thomas fiasco, followed by Carmelo and Phil Jackson.

I'm sure Oakley is not innocent in all this, but it appears (for now) that Dolan has the thinnest skin this side of Donald Trump.

Goombah,

All is well, thanks.Hope all is well with you too. Times flies and in a few months we're going to see the 3rd year of the Cleveland Basketball Invitational aka The NBA playoffs.

I always have to ask you come trade deadline time, a few years back the national sports guys were floating half truths and lies about Cavs trades....and you called BS on those rumors, and you were right.

What do you think of Cavs' chance to repeat and who poses the biggest threat to them?

If Oak isn't getting any support locally, speaks volumes about him and this incident. I find Dolan funny. He was acting like Ted Dibiase(the wrestler) The Million Dollar Man , the other day...."Everybody has a price" He gets bad press for booting out Oak, so he has LJ and Sprewell sitting next to him in a nationally televised game. Great PR move.

Gettthesenets,

No, what I meant Oakley IS getting supported locally. I meant to say that the NY Dolan is the one getting criticized. I just figure Oakley must have said something to get thrown out of MSG last week. It could have been something little but who knows.

Since my last post, I heard Love is out for six weeks after knee surgery. I heard a rumor that we may get Bogut, which I think would help. Cleveland has zero rim protection this year and I think they miss Dellavedova as the backup point guard.

I have my doubts about the Cavs repeating, but the regular season is such a bad barometer. They got to the Finals in '15 with a decimated roster, so it's just a matter of being healthy and playing hot at the right time.

It's difficult to pick against Golden State given their depth. But one thing they have been blessed with the past 3+ years is good health. Odds are that the injury bug will catch up with them sooner or later. Durant looks like a beast, so let's see if he can bring that to the postseason.

One thing Cleveland showed the rest of the league last year is that Golden State does not like it when their opponent plays physical. Curry and Thompson took a lot of hard fouls and were taken out of their rhythm by Cleveland's defense. If San Antonio or Houston could do that too, they might sneak by GS in the playoffs.

Goombah,

thanks. people in this area love Oakley but the reaction has been mixed.Knicks are a circus act, a sideshow now.

Thanks for Cavs update. Bogut on Cavs would be hilarious. GSW is strong but Draymond is the weak link. He's a hothead and can be tricked into doing stupid stuff come playoff time.

So what do you make of the Durant injury Getthesenets? My take, without seeing ESPN or any tv on it, is that it will be eerily similar to when Curry slipped in the first round of the playoffs and sprained his MCL. KD will be back, maybe not for the regular season, but for the postseason. What will be interesting is whether it negatively impacts their seeding or their quest for homecourt.

Bogut is signing with the Cavs. I think the Cavs have a solid 1-10 once they get JR Smith & Love back. This will be the deepest Cavs team I have seen and certainly rivaling the deep bench GS had last year.

Goombah, First I heard about this injury was reading your post.Haven't watched GSW much this year but I it will be a more difficult adjustment to KD, then Steph.

Steph played point guard, but he's not really a traditional point..Livingston is, and on a team full of shooters with championship experience...it was smooth transition.

I'm assuming KD replaced Harrison Barnes in lineup..and not sure who his backup is since Barnes is gone.


I'm old enough to remember when Bogut was a decent player, pre injury. I like the pickup and thought Cavs should have kept T. Mozgov, who was a good payer for them. Think there's an element of gamesmanship in the pickup of Bogut..as the pickup of Anderson V. was for GSW last year. Refs won't allow Bogut to plsy the goon role against GSW like he did to Lebron in past finals. He'll get tossed for breathing on Curry. I like the depth the Cavs have....they match up well with whoever comes out of the West....including the Spurs.

I agree with you about Mozgov. But the Lakers offered crazy money so I can't fault the player for cashing in. Moz didn't matchup well vs. GS, but no team should build to play against one opponent.

I think GS signed another Barnes in the wake of the KD injury. My best guess is that having Durant out will help the guards. Curry has been mired in a slump, so this will help him get some more shots.

This is one of my fave times of the sports year. Spring training, March madness, and meaningful NBA and NHL games.

Goombah,

thanks for the update..didn't know GSW signed Matt Barnes. I like the pickup...he was on the GSW the last time an 8 upset the 1 seed in playoffs when they beat the Mavs. Solid player, and will make opposing teams think twice about trying rough stuff with Curry.

I think Curry can go back to mad bombing now that he's not making a concerted effort to share the ball with KD.

Goombah,

So Bogut gets hurt within 2 minutes of being on the court?

He got hurt trying to be goon....sticking his leg out to trip the guy who just pump faked him

wow LaMarcus Aldridge has a heart condition? he shouldn't risk it by playing pro sports.... I remember Len Bias and Reggie Lewis.

Sad. I read that it dates back to 2007. This along with Bosh bloodclot put sports into their proper perspective.

I meant to write Hank Gathers...not Len Bias.

Goombah,

I respect the competitive nature of these guys but I think that they lose perspective when they risk their lives to play a game, long after they've achieved financial security. Alonzo Mourning is another one. He had life threatening kidney problem....and returned to the sport.

I hope both Aldridge and Bosh stay away and live long productive lives doing other things. If they love the game so much, get into coaching.

Tracey Mcgrady is a hall of famer. not an april fools joke.

I thought that was a stretch, too. A good, but not great, player.

Goombah,

I gave a toast at a wedding once & said "may you stay together did death do you part, or until T-mac makes it out of the first round......whichever is longer"

Joke went over pretty well.

So these are the first round matchups, with my predictions:

Eastern Conference
Boston over Chicago
Cleveland over Indiana
Toronto over Milwaukee
Washington over Atlanta

Western Conference
Golden State over Portland
San Antonio over Memphis
Houston over Oklahoma City
Utah over Los Angeles Clippers

Irish,

wow, wasn't paying full attention to the reg. season and didn't know that Cavs weren't number 1 seed.

I think Grizz can upset the Spurs. First post season without Duncan(in a LONG time) and don't know how S.A. play.

Houston/OKC is the marquee first round matchup...

I think Memphis can upset San Antonio as well. They did a few years ago. I wouldn't mind seeing it personally, but, as of now, over a 7 game series, my money would be on the Spurs.

I hope I'm wrong and Oklahoma City stuns Houston and Westbrook outshines Harden so the MVP can be a lock for him. As of now, I'm not at all sold on Cleveland repeating. The team has been in a downward spiral for at least the last month or so. I still think they can come out of the East, but as of now, going up against a team like Golden State, I don't see it being very competitive.

Since the Grizz upset the Spurs that one time..think it was 8 beating a 1 seed.....I pick them each time they face off in playoffs...and they always get swept by Spurs.

Like an idiot though, I'm gonna pick Memphis again.

Cleveland didn't end season strong, but unless injuries occur..I see them going 7 games with GSW in finals...and anything can happen.

i think the 3 year grind, adding new pieces, choking last year, and durant not being great in the clutch.....all catches up to gsw this year

I respect your basketball acumen Getthesenets. But I'm having a tough time agreeing that GS will not win it all. They've heard all the choke jokes for a year and have a strong nucleus bolstered by KD.l

The Cavs will not make it out of the east. I think they're defense is abysmal and will catch up to them in the ECF. If they somehow advance to the Finals, it will be over in 5 games, much like LeBron's loss to SA in '14.