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Post by gk on Feb 17, 2010 17:51:29 GMT -6
From Wojo: "Cavs get Jamison and Telfair (me: "guh?"), Clippers get Drew Gooden and Wash gets Illgauskas, Al Thornton and Brian Skinner and Cavs 1st round pick."
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Post by gk on Feb 17, 2010 20:51:58 GMT -6
Sort of having buyers remorse. Where are the minutes going to come for all the bigs that Cleveland has amassed?
Shaq, Jamison, Hickson, Z (hoping he comes back: if he doesn't it'll be a crime), Varajao, and Leon Powe when he returns. That's six guys for two spots. So much for going small?
Put Lebron at the point, Mo at shooting guard? Hickson at the 3, Shaq and Varajao gobbling up the boards? No idea how to make this chemistry experiment work.
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Post by fatmenace on Feb 18, 2010 1:14:18 GMT -6
Too many chefs in the kitchen. I may eat my words, but I think Cavs could have won a ring as they were.
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Post by fatmenace on Feb 18, 2010 1:16:47 GMT -6
I love all the analysts who are now calling the Cavs the title favorites. Like they were a projected first round out before. Stupid writers.
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Post by fatmenace on Feb 18, 2010 1:20:03 GMT -6
This isn't a slam against the Cavs, because the Spurs have benefited from it a few times, but I hate the fact you can trade a player and then sign him back 30 days later. That's just dumb.
Not knocking Z or Cleveland, just pointing out a general flaw.
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Post by fatmenace on Feb 18, 2010 5:29:15 GMT -6
On the other hand, I love Kevin Martin to the Rockets.
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Post by gk on Feb 18, 2010 8:21:21 GMT -6
You meant, Kevin Martin, right?
I agree. GREAT move.
I also think that the Cavs were the favorites before the Jamison trade. I'm telling you: that Orlando loss (particularly the image of Ben Wallace's corpse trying to defend Rashard Lewis on a game-winner) shook this franchise to the core.
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Post by fatmenace on Feb 18, 2010 8:34:55 GMT -6
Yeah Kevin. I'm still shocked they couldn't make it work with him and Evans, but whatever.
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Post by gk on Feb 18, 2010 10:10:57 GMT -6
This isn't a slam against the Cavs, because the Spurs have benefited from it a few times, but I hate the fact you can trade a player and then sign him back 30 days later. That's just dumb. Not knocking Z or Cleveland, just pointing out a general flaw. Yeah, this certainly is ... weird. Not as weird as things like Keith Van Horn being signed out of retirement and then traded, but still weird. Apparently there are other teams looking for his services once he's bought out. He wouldn't have to wait 30 days. Part of it is sentimentality, but I think strategically he's a boon to the Cavs. When the Lakers go huge with Bynum and Gasol, the Cavs' combo of Shaq and Z crushed them on the boards. Without Z, I'm not sure if Varajao fits the "twin towers" lineup as well as Z did.
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Post by gk on Feb 18, 2010 11:34:35 GMT -6
The Giving Z =========
From Cavs: The Blog
=================================
Once there was a Z….
And he was drafted by a crappy team.
And every day the team would come
and he would score them baskets in the post
and find his teammates with sharp passes
and they would run the offense through him
and ask him to win games
and even after his feet were hurt
he came back
and he made the All-Star game.
And the team loved the Z
very much.
And the Z was happy.
But time went by.
And the team grew stronger.
And the Z was often not featured in its offensive game-plan.
Then one day the team came to the Z
and the Z said, “Come, team, feed me in the post and let me drain turnarounds and hook shots and benefit from my passing and rebounding and be happy.”
“We are too good to feed you in the post” said the team.
“We have a new player.
We need you to run the pick-and-roll and the fast-break and hit threes.
We want to build our offense around him and win games.”
“I’m sorry,” said the Z, “but I cannot explode to the basket or hit threes.
Take my 18-foot jumper, my passing out of the high post, and my rebounding.
Use me to defend the rim.
Then you will have a good team and be happy.”
And so the team put Z off the ball
and became an Eastern Conference contender
and won 66 games
and even went to the Finals once.
And the Z was happy.
Big Z hug
But time went by.
And the team grew stronger.
And the Z was often outmatched when trying to defend Dwight Howard.
Then one day the team came to the Z
and the Z shook with joy
and he said, “Come, team, feed me in the post and set me up with mid-range jumpers and be happy.”
“We are too talented to feed you in the post and set you up with mid-range jumpers,” said the team.
“We have a new center,” they said.
“He is one of the best of all time,
and so we need a backup center.
Can you be a backup center?”
“I am not a backup center,” said the Z.
“I have started my whole career,
but you can take my minutes
and use my shooting next to Anderson Varejao
to create an effective forward tandem off the bench
and use my size against the Lakers and then you will be happy.”
And so the team used the Z off the bench
and saw his field goal percentage fall
but have the league’s best record at the All-Star break.
And the Z was happy.
But the team did not need him for a long time
and when they came back
the Z was so happy he could hardly speak.
“Come, team,” he whispered,
“use me to space the floor offensively.”
“We are too talented and deep to use you to space the floor,” said the team.
“We want a stretch four that could give our team its first championship. Can you be that stretch four?”
“Use my large expiring contract and trade for Antawn Jamison,” said the Z.
“Then you can have an effective frontcourt partner for Shaq…and be happy.”
Jamison
And so the team used the Z’s expiring contract as a trade chip and added Antawn Jamison and made a run at the NBA Championship.
And the Z was happy…
But not really.
And after a league-mandated 30-day waiting period,
the team came back again.
“I am sorry, team,”
said the Z, “but I have little left to give you.”
“I have little lateral movement left, and have had trouble finding the net on my jump shots.”
“I wish that I could give you something…
but I have little left.
I am just an old 7-3 center capable of drawing opposing bigs outside the paint.
I am sorry…”
“We don’t need very much now,” said the team.
“Just a veteran to help team chemistry, help match up against bigger teams, and stretch the floor when Varejao or Jamison plays.
We are very talented.”
“Well,” said the Z, straightening himself up as much as he could, “an old center who is universally beloved is good for keeping the team happy and helping them match up against some tough playoff teams.
Come, team, sign me and sit me down on the bench and use me when you need me.”
And the team did.
And the Z was happy.
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Post by fatmenace on Feb 18, 2010 12:03:26 GMT -6
He's kind of an astounding story. He should be retired by this point, considering all the problems he had with his feet.
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Post by gk on Feb 18, 2010 13:45:51 GMT -6
T-mac to the Knicks. Here's the thing: they Knicks gave up their first rounders in 2011 and 2012 after already not having this years'.
Let's pretend for a moment that the Knicks, who are awful, fail to lure any of the big names this offseason (Bosh/Lebron/Wade). There's a good chance they'll be giving up lottery draft picks three years in a row. Even if they get Wade or Bosh, I'm not convinced they'll make the playoffs.
Huge gamble by the Knicks. Would pay off huge if they do get Lebron, but could torpedo them for the next decade.
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Post by gk on Feb 18, 2010 15:23:47 GMT -6
According to this Heat and Knicks can sign TWO max players, while Nets, Clippers, Bulls, Kings, Wizards and Wolves can sign one. I'll admit, the Lebron-to-New York scenario just got 40% more probable in a Lebron+Bosh type situation. I still have to believe in terms of 2011, the Cavs would again give him the best chance of a title and going forward, multiple titles.
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Post by gk on Feb 19, 2010 10:03:22 GMT -6
1) I think I'm more afraid of Denver than I am the Lakers. Denver has owned Cleveland and Cleveland spent their entire offseason (and season!) constructing their team to beat the Lakers.
2) Lebron in a losing effort: 43 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists. No one has ever put up a line like that. Ever. (he did go 1-9 from deep though...)
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Post by gk on Feb 19, 2010 10:05:14 GMT -6
This made me laugh. A Cleveland blogger compared the Jamison-without-giving-up-Hickson trade to George Costanza's line to Steinbrenner (when he stops having sex): "You know I think I figured out a way we can get Bonds and Griffey, and it wouldn't be that hard."
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