David Blatt has to use Kevin Love in the 4th quarter

          In the 4th quarter and overtime of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 128-125 victory over the San Antonio Spurs this past week, Kevin Love was nowhere to be seen on the basketball court. He was just chilling on the bench not doing anything productive. If he had ordered a coke and a hot dog and headed for the showers, head coach David Blatt probably wouldn't have noticed, and he certainly wouldn't have cared.

     The reason for Love's benching is obviously due to the fact that he isn't a great defensive player and David Blatt wants defense at the end of games. On paper, Blatt's reasoning sounds logical and agreeable: Kevin Love doesn't play defense; defense wins basketball games; basketball games are won in the fourth quarter; therefore, Kevin Love sits in the 4th quarter.

      There is one important fact that gets ignored in this argument and that fact is that the Cleveland Cavaliers are paying Kevin Love $16.74M this season. When was the last time you heard of a player getting paid $16.74M while simultaneously not get used in the 4th quarter? I can't think of anybody. Kevin Love is one of the Cavaliers' money players and as a rule of thumb, you have to play your money players in crunch time because that's why they are getting paid that amount of money.

     Whether David Blatt likes it or not, the Cavaliers' front office is paying Kevin Love to help them win a championship, which going back to the last argument, implies he needs to be playing in the 4th quarter. If Blatt isn't going to be playing Kevin Love in the 4th quarter, then he might as well tell Kevin Love to pack his bags in free agency, because there is no way Kevin Love comes back to a team that doesn't utilize his services at the end of games.

     Last season, Kevin Love averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game on the Timberwolves. I don't care if the Timberwolves were bad. Kevin Love put those numbers up against other NBA players, which means that Kevin Love is a damn good basketball player that can be utilized as a weapon during crunch time. There is no way anybody can convince me that the Cavaliers are better off with Kevin Love on the bench in the 4th quarter than they are with him on the floor. He can bring a terrific scoring threat and a tenacious rebounding presence to the floor that outweighs any deficiencies he has on defense.

     Sometimes coaches can over-think things and not using Love in the 4th quarter to gain a defensive edge appears to be an example of a coach over-thinking. Blatt is doing something that one can convince themselves to do only after doing too much thinking. On its face, it seems absurd to not use Kevin Love in the 4th quarter because it is in fact absurd. Kevin Love is one of the league's most talented big men and he needs to be utilized in the 4th quarter. If your scheme doesn't work well with his talents, maybe you need a new scheme because Kevin Love, last I checked, is one of the Top 25 basketball players on the planet.

     In conclusion, David Blatt needs to find a way to use Kevin Love in the 4th quarter of basketball games. I know that Love doesn't get benched in the 4th quarter all the time, but it happens enough that it's alarming. What's alarming is the thought of Kevin Love getting benched in the 4th quarter of a Game 7 in the playoffs, and what's even more alarming, is that it looks like that could very well happen.

     The Cavaliers have improved tremendously over the course of the season, but the one weakness they have is their inability to properly integrate Kevin Love into their fold. He's an elite player who is getting paid like an like an elite player. It's time the Cavaliers treat him like one and play to his strengths as opposed to using him as a "stretch four" who is incapable of being on the floor at the end of games.

     ---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

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Bulls Beat Cavs 113-98; Rose scores 30

Chicago played one of its best games of the season in defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-98, Thursday night at the United Center.

For the Bulls (34-20), this game was important and the team performed like it. Cleveland has been on fire winning 14 of its last 15 games to vault into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference standings.  The Cavs have had the better of the Chicago the last two games they've played. It was time to make a statement. Kevin Love did not play but Lebron James and Kyrie Irving did.  Cleveland played like it was waiting for the All-Star break to begin. The Bulls played like a team that wanted this game. The Bulls now lead Cleveland by 1 1/2 games in the Eastern Conference heading to a week long break.

Pau Gasol mentioned that this was a "huge game" a few days ago. He contributed his high-caliber performance in getting his 14th straight double-double with 18 points and 10 boards.  He now is in 3rd place in franchise history trailing only Michael Jordan who had 15 and Artis Gilmore, 20.  Gasol was voted as a starter to the All-Star game for the first time in his 14 year career.

This was a notable game for several reasons. One was the great game by Derrick Rose when it really mattered. Rose scored 30 points on 12-24 shooting and 6-6 from the charity stripe.  Chicago played with good energy and focus and played as a team, notching 29 assists with Rose contributing 7.

Rose scored baskets on precision mid-range shots and darted inside for nifty layups. He displayed moves that were thrilling yet a bit anxiety provoking for Bulls' fans, for fear he might pull a muscle in his leg. But he looked in top form.

Joakim Noah's line was also impressive: 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was on point in the paint, making plays.  Noah's floor game was excellent. He seemed to be on his game.

Tony Snell also had 22 points and hit 4 of 6 three-point attempts.  Snell helped in the absence of G Jimmy Butler, out with a sore right shoulder.  Snell, in his second season, continued to impress with his three point shot. He had some open looks and made them. Mike Dunleavy played 28 minutes and helped in the flow of the offense. Taj Gibson looked in fine form, scoring on some impressive low post moves and had 13 points off the bench. Aaron Brooks and Nikola Mirotic combined for 15 bench points.

James had 8 turnovers which most times the Bulls converted into baskets. He scored 31 points almost effortlessly. Kyrie Irving started slowly but had a better second half and finished with 17 points. Although the Cavs were without Love, they were in the game until the 4th quarter when Chicago stretched its lead.  The Bulls shot 45.7% and 39% from downtown.

Cleveland had 16 turnovers and appeared to show a lack of concentration at times. The Bulls had only 8 errors and played with intention and focus for much of the game.  Cleveland now leads the season series 2-1.

In a game that meant a lot to Chicago, the Bulls made a statement tonight, for their 4th straight win..

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Bulls Fall To James & Cavs

Cleveland's big three played like it on Monday night and the result was not a good one for the Chicago Bulls.  LeBron James scored 26 points, Kevin Love had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving scored 18 as the Cavs won handily over the visiting Bulls, 108-94.

Cleveland took a first quarter lead and was never threatened. The Cavs led by 15 at half, and 21 and the end of the third quarter. The Bulls, who shot a desultory 37.5% from the field, could not challenge throughout the game.  Halfway through the third quarter, the Cavs led 65-41.  The Bulls had 48 points in the latter stages of the third quarter. Call it an off night but these kind of games have come more frequently.

Quite simply, the Bulls are in a real funk.

Derrick Rose had 2 points in the first half and finished with 18 points. The Cavs' J.R. Smith, a new acquisition from the New York Knicks, had 20 points while shooting 6-9 from long distance.

Pau Gasol looked tired tonight while adding another double-double to his growing tally. He scored 11 points, and had 11 boards. The 11 points are well off his season average of nearly 20 per game.  Taj Gibson was inserted into the starting lineup due to a sitting F Mike Dunleavy, who still has ankle problems. Gibson scored 10 points and took in 10 boards. Forward Joakim Noah was also out due to an injured ankle.  Guard Aaron Brooks scored 16 off the bench.  Of late, Brooks has been one of the bright spots for Chicago.

If you can't score or defend well, one is going to have a tough night in the NBA.  It's difficult to play Cleveland when James is on his game.  The Cavs appear to be coming together, at 22-20, after having a hard stretch as a team.  It seems that Love is getting more involved in his role and that does not bode well for Central Division foes.

The Bulls have a bunch of new faces too.  Doug McDermott, the forward from Creighton, has been hurt for weeks and won't be ready to play until next month, at the earliest.  Now Chicago has a tough part of their schedule ahead.  It doesn't get any easier.

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The Blame Game: Cleveland Cavaliers

Are the Cleveland Cavaliers tuning out rookie head coach David Blatt?  The last 24 hours have delivered every angle expected from the franchise who is grossly underachieving.  The irony is that in sports we've seen this time and time again; nothing here is surprising, just the same retreaded news over and over again.  The Blame Game leads to the sacrificial lamb which leads to the chosen one and after all is said and done the result will remain the same.

The issue at hand goes back to hubris, the hubris of one that thinks he can control all around him and to an extent he can but in this world the Basketball Gods always have the final say.  The act of discontent was tried once before, the scene was much different but the game was played the same.  During a time that the Miami Heat were 9-8 in LeBron James' first season with the franchise, the King's camp let it be known that players were questioning whether or not Erik Spoelstra was the right coach for the team.

Sources say the players believe he is not letting them be themselves, that they are questioning his offensive strategies, and that they think he is panicking because he fears losing his job.

"He's jumping on them," one source said. "If anything, he's been too tough on them. Everybody knows LeBron is playful and likes to joke around, but Spoelstra told him in front of the whole team that he has to get more serious. The players couldn't believe it. They feel like Spoelstra's not letting them be themselves."

We are all aware of Chris Broussard's sources.....puppets are willing and eager in this business....

Luckily Spoelstra was never fired based on the antics of one's camp and the Miami Heat would go on to participate in four consecutive NBA Finals, winning two NBA Championships along the way.  

Rumors of discontent between the players of the Cleveland Cavaliers and their coach (Blatt) have rumbling for weeks but exploded recently due to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.....the puppet masters were at it again and the puppet, dare I say was willing and eager....

Sources told ESPN.com that there is rising concern in team circles about the level of response that Blatt is getting on the floor, with Blatt himself acknowledging that the Cavaliers "lost our energy and we lost our competitiveness"

The sacrificial lamb had been chosen and to his heir-apparent, Tyrone Lue

"Whispers about the lack of attention that various Cavs players are paying to Blatt during some timeout huddles, as well as their apparent preference to communicate with Cavs assistant and former NBA player Tyronn Lue, have been in circulation for weeks."

All of the pieces to the puzzle are in place.  The Blame Game which led to the sacrificial lamb and now the Chosen One has been selected and the genesis of the game has been cast asunder:  

"I think my relationship with the coach continues to get better and better every day,"  LeBron James said Monday "This is two months of us being together. I don't know him fully. He doesn't know me fully. He doesn't know any of the guys fully and that's to be expected. It's our first year together. But he has our attention."

Were we all supposed to forget that we've seen this story before.  At 18-12 the Cavaliers are currently 5th in the NBA's Eastern Conference, were they out west, they'd be fighting for the final playoff spots.  

The NBA season is still early as we're not even at the halfway point yet.  It is said that time heals all wounds and the Cavaliers have been scarred thus far mentally and physically.  Blatt was never supposed to be the guy for the team as currently constructed but would a potential coaching change really deter LeBron James' "Chill Mode" or Kevin Love's constant overrating being realized.  It definitely won't bring Anderson Varejao back.  

Don't panic now Cleveland for this is the roster that you chose, the coach that you picked and the King that you begged to come back.  Stay the course because a move now would scream desperation and the admittance of a mistake.  It's time to stop playing the Blame Game and try accountability.  Be the change that you want to see.  Instead of being the broken record of "We're not a very good team" try giving 100% versus the 70% that you're giving right now.  Hubris can be blinding at times.....

“Ignorance and power and pride are a deadly mixture, you know.”

― Robert Fulghum

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Rose Sprains Ankle, Bulls Fall to Cavs in OT, 114-108.

The revolving doors of the NBA continued to swing Friday night, as the Chicago Bulls lost their much hyped first home game as LeBron James got on tracked and scored 36 points.

Not only did the Bulls lose their home opener, but Derrick Rose sprained his left ankle in the second quarter.  Rose scored 20 points in just over 25 minutes of play.  He seemed in good form, scoring on contested layups and 15 foot jump shots.  Then his foot landed on Kyrie Irving's and he turned his ankle.  After the game, he said the injury is "not serious" and that X-Rays came back negative.  Taj Gibson also sprained his ankle and was able to return to the game.

This was a close game throughout and Cleveland came ready to play after their shocking home opening night loss to the New York Knicks.  James had an off-night and had 8 turnovers, which the Knicks smartly converted to points.

However, James was a beast in this game, virtually taking over the OT period with 8 points scored.  Kyrie Irving had 23 points.  Tristan Thompson, last year's starting forward moved to the bench because of the off-season addition of Super-forward Kevin Love, had a fantastic game, scoring 16 points, and hauling in 12 offensive rebounds of 13 for the night.  Cleveland dominated the Bulls in getting second-chance points and won 114-108 in Overtime.

The Bulls rallied from a 9 point deficit in the 4 quarter on the play of guard Aaron Brooks, who energized the crowd with his big baskets.  Then Kirk Hinrich made 2 long treys and a 2 point shot to put the Bulls up by 5 with 46.5 left in the see-saw 4th quarter.  But Cleveland came right back and went on a 5-0 run to tie the game.

The Bulls lost the battle of the boards 52-42.  "In this league, you have to play with an edge," Coach Tom Thibodeau remarked. 

Chicago committed 20 turnovers to just 12 for the Cavs.  Giving a team loaded with great talent extra chances to score, does not bode well for the opposition.  Joakim Noah played hard on his surgically repaired knee grabbing 13 rebounds and scoring 9 points.

Tied 98- all in OT, LeBron James took over the game, muscling his way to the basket.  One shot was a circus shot off glass that bounced in.  Chicago missed Rose, a player who can create his own shot.

This game had almost playoff atmosphere to it. Rose said it well for Chicago, "We play them 3 more times."

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Rose and Lebron: The Return of the Prodigal Sons

LeBron James stunned the sports world when he announced he was "coming home" to Ohio and to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers once more.  Home for James is Akron Ohio, only a 45 minute trek from Cleveland.  Derrick Rose, the oft injured star guard for the Chicago Bulls, is finally making his first game as a member of the Bulls since last November.  These two great players will clash when Cleveland visits the United Center next Friday night, October 31.  And that's just game two for both teams.  Both men have gone through a great deal to get to this game.

Rose, suffered a torn meniscus in his good knee, the other had gone under the knife for ACL surgery 18 months prior.  He missed the season and his teammates were rocked.  Then they found themselves and went on to become one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.  They lacked scoring. And looked tired in losing to the Washington Wizards during the 2014 NBA Playoffs.  When free-agency came they wooed Carmelo Anthony with a presentation and dollars.  In the end, the dollars weren't enough for Anthony, who re-signed with the New York Knicks for $24+ million per year.

The Anthony drama pales in comparison to Lebron's move to Cleveland.  No one knew this was brewing until the deal was done. In a moment, the balance of power shifted from Miami to Cleveland. As it stands, who can compete with James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, acquired over the summer?

Possibly, the Bulls. They increased their offense dramatically with the signing of Pau Gasol, a versatile player who's been a two-time winner through the playoffs wars.  Nikola Mirotic, a big sharpshooter who can get you points.  Don't forget Doug McDermott, the rookie from Creighton who was one of top scorers in college.  Then, there's Rose.  He has weathered many tests to get to this game. He grew up on Chicago's South Side in Englewood, a section where you need to heed caution at times to get to the next day. Now, he lives in a luxury high-rise in another world, a half hour from his old neighborhood.

Rose scored 30 points in a losing effort vs. Cleveland the other day.  He made three's, was aggressive with the ball, and made a few moves on Kyrie Irving to score a lay-up and earn a foul.  James has 4 MVP's and two titles.  Rose has one MVP and a got the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals where they fell to the Heat. With Lebron.  James deserves the lengthy ovation he will likely get at home. It is the Chosen One, who has come back.

Rose will get a big ovation too, from the hungry Bulls fans who were thrilled by this play before his injuries.  It's only game Two but it could be an indicator of things to come.

Whatever happens, it is sure to be a special moment when the Cavaliers visit Chicago.

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Will LeBron Ever Regret Leaving Miami?

Back in his old stomping grounds of Northeast Ohio, LeBron James is beginning a new journey. Gone are the bright lights and warm days of sunny South Beach. Gone are the days of the famed “Big 3 era” in Miami. A new aura surrounds the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers, one of excitement, gratitude, and lofty expectations. One question still looms: Will King James ever regret leaving what once was?

Only four short years ago, in what seems like yesterday, we were all pressed on the edge of our couches watching the infamous “Decision”, in which LeBron announced he was taking his talents to South Beach to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. We witnessed it all. The Dan Gilbert letter, the burnt jerseys, the riots in downtown Cleveland due to the departure of their former hero.

“We’ll never take him back”, “I hope he never wins a ring” were the exact words coming out of the mouths of these spurned fans, ones who have longed for a championship, after a 50+ year drought representing each of their major sports teams. Cleveland fans rejoiced when the Heat came up short against the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, a series which James played considerably poor in. They hid away in the shadows when Miami reached the promised land in 2012 and again in 2013. Fast forward to today, how times have changed.

After nearly a month of silence and speculation, Sports Illustrated released what could go down as the most powerful and inspiring piece in Cleveland sports history, and only one statement mattered: “I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m Coming Home”. Unlike the backlash four years ago, players and fans in Florida have shown class with the choice, because no matter what, home is where the heart is, and James made what he felt was the right decision not only for him, but for his family as well. 

Bolstered by a supreme supporting cast that includes Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Dion Waiters, Shawn Marion, Tristan Thompson, Mike Miller, James Jones, Anderson Varejao, and quite possibly Ray Allen, the Cavs are in a prime position to do what they couldn’t do in James’s first stint with the team: compete for an NBA championship each and every season, much like LeBron and the Heat did in their time together. While the roster is loaded with talent, many questions still loom. Of the new “Big 3″, James is the only one to have played in the postseason, as Love and Irving were never able to lead their respective teams to any playoff appearances. There are serious doubts of Love’s defensive ability, but playing with the best all around player in the world, that should improve, much similar to Chris Bosh’s situation when he joined Miami four seasons ago (Bosh is now one of the best pick and roll defenders in the league).

Let’s take a detailed comparison of the old “Big 3″ vs the new “Big 3″

Dwyane Wade vs Kyrie Irving

Coming into the ’10-11 season, Wade clearly has the edge over the now 22-year-old Irving. While Wade was 28 going on 29 in his first season with James, he had already shown his leadership abilities in full, leading the Heat to their first NBA title in 2006, virtually on his own (he averaged 34.7 ppg that series). Wade was also arguably a top 4 player in the NBA at the time, and it’s debatable if Irving has even cracked the top 10. Kyrie averaged 20.8 points per game last season, and also finished with career highs in assists (6.1) and steals (1.5). This upcoming season will only be Irving’s fourth professional season, and with a teammate like LeBron, expect immense growth in his game. Coming into 10-11, Wade was coming off a season in which he averaged 26.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Clearly superior numbers than Irving’s, but at the time, Wade was a seasoned vet, while Kyrie is still finding his footing in the NBA. With the health and advanced age of Dwyane now, Irving is clearly the answer long-term, but at the time, give me Wade any day. Advantage: Wade


Chris Bosh vs Kevin Love

Looking at these two versatile forwards, who can both score inside and out, you can’t find too many differences. Coming into his first season with the Heat, Bosh was coming off a career year with the Raptors. He averaged 24 points, 10.8 rebounds, and a block a game for the 09-10 season. With the limited talent on that Toronto roster, Bosh was unable to lead them to the playoffs that year. In the same shoes as Bosh, Love is coming off a spectacular individual season as well. Last year, he averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, and a career high in assists (4.4). The only difference, Kevin was never able to lead his team to the playoffs in his six seasons in Minneapolis, and his abysmal .5 blocks per game numbers have many questioning his defensive ability. Overall, this is pretty even. Love is the long-term answer similar to Irving, but in fair comparison, Bosh is now 30, not 40. Advantage: even

LeBron James (2010) vs LeBron James (2014)

Clearly the new LeBron is the one you’d rather go into battle with. He’s now a proven winner, a two time champion, and has the ability to hit big shots in any games biggest moments. While not bolstering the same athleticism as four years ago, James’s jump shot is much improved now, and he is not as streaky. We’ve seen significant increases in his three-point field goal percentages the past three years (2012-36% 2013-41% 2014-38%). There is very little to argue here, the new LeBron is a much better all around player than the old LeBron. Advantage: Now

Supporting Cast: 2010-11 Heat vs 2014-15 Cavaliers

While taking a detailed look of the pieces James had to work with then to now, the advantage goes to Cleveland. In 2011, the Heat were stuck with limited role players such as Carlos Arroyo, Erick Dampier, Jamaal Magloire, Eddie House, Joel Anthony and broken down versions of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mike Miller, and Mike Bibby (Miller would later get over his injuries to be a major contributor in the following years). Currently Cleveland is loaded with young talent and savvy vets such as Dion Waiters, Mike Miller, Shawn Marion, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, James Jones, Brendan Haywood and could possibly add Ray Allen in the near future. Of the supporting cast, Miller, Jones, Marion, and Haywood are all wearing championship rings. Of the 2011 Heat, only Eddie House was sporting a flashy piece on his finger.

Will the King ever feel any regret about leaving sunny South Florida? Long term, maybe not. The odds seem against it, but you can never bet against Pat Riley and the Miami Heat. Maybe the Big 3 had one last run in them, I felt they did. Now all we can do is wait. Only time will tell.

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It's August and Prognostications Don't Mean That Much

It's early August, the time of year when many people are planning vacations or are on them.  Taking it easy for  few weeks in a place where you can walk at night and dream pleasant thoughts.

In the world of the NBA, teams are tinkering with rosters.  The New York Knicks made some recent changes, getting Quincy Acy in a trade with the Sacramento Kings.  I just heard a NBA analyst handicap the Eastern Conference saying, "If Kevin Love joins Lebron James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, they'll be the team to beat."  Others say Chicago will have much better team, depending on the health of Guard Derrick Rose.

Remember, it's August.  Training camps are a few months away.  Recently Cavaliers' F Mike Miller, the tough guard who can throw daggers from three-point land, stated the following:

“LeBron makes things easy, but it’s also about what this organization is about.....Cleveland is a hard-working city, and winning a championship takes a lot of hard work. It’s a blessing and we’re excited about the opportunity.

“It’s going to be crazy this year and we understand that. ‘Championship or bust’ makes basketball not as fun as it should be, but [a championship] is our goal.”

It doesn't sound like fun to know you have to play great, without even playing together once and considering there will be a learning curve for new guys and guys in new roles.  With that being said,  Lebron's coming back.  Just as there will be one with Chicago with all the new players they will have starting this Fall.  Most of all, how will Rose hold up moving up and down the court?  Can he make the shots he's converted in the past?  According to those who have seen him play, he can.  We will know more in a few weeks when Team USA prepares to get ready to play in Spain.

Let's everyone take a deep breath, and take a nice swim in the family pool or ocean. People are forgetting about the Washington Wizards who have so much talent.  And, don't count out the Miami Heat, until the season ends or the playoffs. A team put together by Pat Riley is tough to beat.  They will get their share of wins.

Last season, everyone put down the East. This season,  it's gonna be a tougher Eastern Conference, that's for sure.

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LeBron James is going back to Cleveland: What this means for the rest of the NBA

                                           

Over the past couple of weeks, talk of LeBron James going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers slowly morphed from being pie in the sky to a strong possibility. Now it's more than just a strong possibility. It is a reality. LeBron James told Sports Illustrated in an interview today that he has decided to rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers after abandoning them 4 years ago to chase championships in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. It's pretty obvious what this means for the city of Cleveland. It means that they have a championship caliber team with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Andrew Wiggins. Rather than talking about what this means for Cleveland, since that's pretty obvious, what I will do in this article is try to articulate what it means for the rest of the NBA.

The number one thing this means for the rest of the NBA is that the Eastern Conference just got really interesting. Now we aren't looking at another Heat-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals. We are instead looking at the Cavaliers, Pacers, Bulls (with or without Carmelo Anthony), and possibly the Raptors as contenders in the East. In addition, this means the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets will all be battling it out for the Southeast division title instead of the Heat taking it in a cakewalk.

As for the Western Conference, this means that the San Antonio Spurs without a doubt are the team with the biggest target on their backs. So long as the Heat had LeBron James, the Heat in some sense still had the biggest target on their backs, but now that LeBron is going back to Cleveland, the San Antonio Spurs are undoubtedly the team that EVERYBODY will be honing in on to beat. It doesn't mean the Cavaliers won't have a target on their backs since LeBron James by default has a target on his back, but it does mean that the Spurs are clearly the favorite to win the NBA title and clearly are the team that everybody should be most afraid of.

As for the Oklahoma City Thunder, this means that provided they can get past the Spurs, they have to really like their chances of winning a title next season. Kevin Durant no longer needs to feel like he needs to go Hollywood to chase a title like Carmelo Anthony did when he bolted the Mile High City for Broadway. LeBron James going back to Cleveland is great for the the Thunder because I think it will motivate Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to stay in their small market town of Oklahoma City and continue to pursue a championship.

More broadly speaking, this is great for small market teams everywhere. To see the world's greatest player leave Miami (technically a mid-major market) for Cleveland (a small market) has to give small market teams hope that they too can hang on to stars and build a contender if they get the right kind of players. Teams like Utah, Minnesota, Portland, Memphis, and Indiana have to feel like if Cleveland can become a contender, so can they.

Overall, I think LeBron James going back to Cleveland is great for the NBA. It energizes Cleveland, it makes the race for the Eastern Conference title way more interesting, and it gives hope to small market teams everywhere that they too can compete and contend for championships. This truly is a great day in the NBA.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

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Three-Team Trade Helps Brooklyn Immensely

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

July 9, 2014

Three-Team Deal Helps Brooklyn Immensely

chatsports.com

The LeBron James 2014 off-season factor made its way to Brooklyn on Wednesday, as the Cleveland Cavaliers in need of clearing cap room to offer James his max contract, basically just handed players away. The three-team deal also included the Boston Celtics, who acquired Marcus Thornton from the Nets, Tyler Zeller, and a 2016 protected pick from the Cavaliers. The Nets made out excellent in this deal, receiving Jarrett Jack to replace Shaun Livingston, and 2013 first round pick Sergey Karasev.

Even though James isn’t coming to Brooklyn it shows the effect that he is having on the off-season with many players and teams waiting on him to decide. For Brooklyn his interest in the Cavaliers allowed them to get the Point Guard they wanted in Jack, and a 20-year old with a lot of potential in Karasev.

Jack, was the Nets first option for quite a while when it became apparent that keeping Livingston was going to be unlikely. Jack is coming off a bit of a disappointing season with the Cavaliers after a great post season with the Warriors the year before. Jack averaged 9.1 PPG on a poor 41% shooting from the field to go along with 4.1 APG, and 2.8 RPG. If Jason Kidd was still coaching the Nets, you would certainly a lot of Jack and Deron Williams playing on the court together, but Lionel Hollins tends to go with a more traditional lineup so it will be interesting to see how Jack is used. Jack has two years left on his deal worth $12.6 million, and a team option for the 2016-17 season.

Karasev is a very interesting pickup for the Nets, with Karasev being a 6-7 Shooting Guard that was the 19^th overall pick last June. The Nets had a lot of interest in the Russian in that draft, which they eventually picked Mason Plumlee with the 22^nd pick. Karasev only played in 22 games last season, but brings the Nets a great shooter and ball-handler. He does however need to add some strength to his frame, which will come with him being only 20 years old. Getting Jack and Karasev for Thornton’s expiring contract is a good haul for the Nets, who have added a lot of young players this off-season. The Cavaliers will now be able to offer James what he wants money wise, and after just giving away players, they better hope he is indeed interested in coming back home.

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Prospect Examination: Tyler Ennis

"I'd like to thank Coach [Jim] Boeheim, the coaching staff, my teammates and the amazing fans of Syracuse for the opportunity to play at a great university like Syracuse," Ennis said in a statement as he declared for the draft. "I feel this experience has helped prepare me to fulfill my lifelong dream – to play in the NBA."

Tyler Ennis entered this years college basketball season as a nobody since he's wasn't talked about in comparison to the other freshmen. At the start of the season Ennis wasn't thought of as a potential lottery pick and as he improved throughout the season it became more obvious to the oblivious that he would declare for the NBA Draft after his strong but surprising freshmen season ended. The Canadian product wasn't known or hyped up coming out of High School and didn't receive great ranks from respected High School athlete ranking sites (I.e. scouts.com, maxpreps.com, 247sports.com and rivals.com). Actually 247 Sports had him as a five-star athlete. But his high school rankings mean nothing now as he was clutch this season showing calmness in the court the entire 40 minutes.

This season with the Syracuse Orange he was a semi-finalist for the Naismith College Player of the Year and was named to the Second Team All-ACC (2014), All-ACC Freshmen Team (2014), All-ACC Defensive Team (2014). In 34 games he averaged 12.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 41.1% (FG%), 35.3% (3P%) and 76.5% (FT%) in 35.7 minutes.

Ennis is expected to be a mid-late first rounder as he is believed to have more weaknesses than strengths, he is believed to be the third-best Point Guard in this years crop behind Dante Exum (Australia) and Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State). 

"If you were to ask me right now whether I'd take Ennis over Kyrie Irving, I think it's Ennis," an NBA GM said. "He does all the things that help a basketball team win basketball games. You can pick him apart on individual flaws, but I would take this kid right now and trust him to run my team. I think there's very few freshmen you could ever say that about."

Watching Ennis throughout the season it can be seen that he is very mature as a 19-year old and with that maturity he was given a bigger role and opportunity by long time Syracuse Head Coach, Jim Boeheim. Boeheim doesn't show if any admiration for freshmen but to him Ennis is different.

"Tyler, for us, he’s so valuable," Boeheim said on Ennis' importance. "He plays 40 minutes in the [ACC games]. We can’t win a game without him. Literally. If you talk about the best pro prospect (in the ACC), it’s Jabari Parker, but who’s the most valuable to his team? We don’t have a point guard, I don’t know where we would be without Tyler Ennis."

Scouts are impressed with Ennis' poise when he plays the game and it's obvious that he has a feel for the game that some players are missing which sets him apart from his other with a tremendous IQ and smooth operator like attitude. He has great handles as he only averaged 1.7 turnovers per game. On the court he has showcased leadership and great communication skills as he got his teammates into the right spots on the floor to make the offense flow like a waterfall which was a main reason as to why Syracuse started the season 25-0. Ennis will attempt to follow in the footsteps of former Orangemen guards Michael Carter-Williams and Dion Waiters into the NBA but the question is, Where will he get drafted? Most if not all NBA teams have a franchise Point Guard at this point in time and Ennis isn't good enough to become a franchise player but will be a backup in this golden age of Point Guards, the acculturation of the position is tremendous and it will be interesting to see how Ennis adjusts. 

Ennis' pick-and-roll game will translate perfectly to the NBA if he is teamed up with a good finishing big-man. If you compare Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Jrue Holiday to their respective college careers you would notice a difference in their points averaged from college to the NBA. The reason for that difference is because most colleges especially big schools have a offense they they refuse to change regardless of the players and players from smaller schools as in Damian Lillard and Jimmer Fredette who had to be scorers for their respective schools. 

Ennis is a mixture a pass-first guard and a scoring-guard; typically he's a traditional Point Guard in the first half but in the second half he's what most of this generations point guards do and that is score and if needed he will takeover. Some believe he's to unselfish, but there's no such thing of that at the point guard position since his job is to do what's best for the team and go with what  the defense gives him. He's an All-Around great Point Guard as he averaged a 3.24 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio along with having a 5.38 Pure Point Rating which was good enough for 18th in the nation. 

When in the NBA he'll need to improve his jumpshot as it is very inconsistent. This past season he averaged 4.4 made shots per game on 10.6 attempts. As the season progressed Ennis gained more confidence to take that shot and would sometimes catch fire with it when his defender least expected it; sometimes on the fast-break when you think he's going to do something else he pulls-up for the shot, his shot wasn't as deadly as his driving ability to the rim. When needed he can score in bunches in a variety of ways if it's with hit shot, driving ability, runners, floaters etc.

At 6'2" and 180-pounds he isn't the biggest defender on the court and his lack of mass is quite evident. Despite his lack of size, he did average 2.1 steals, 3.9 steal percentage and 2.2 defensive win shares all show how IQ on that side of the court but he doesn't have the potential to become a good defender and could just be average on that end; possibly a liability. 

"I think he’s a great college player," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "I think physically he probably could’ve used another year. A little bit different than Dion Waiters who I had a couple of years ago who left. I think Dion was physically better, more physically ready."

When in the NBA Ennis' might not be selected to the All-Star team but will be a solid contributor to any team he's on. He contains things not can't be taught but only born with. As a team leader he brings positivity to the court as he never seems down in any situation and seems very positive. It'll be great to see how he performs during the combine and pre-draft workouts.

"He’s a tremendous player and a very, very smart point guard," Jim Boeheim said. "And I think the one thing I think is point guard is probably the hardest position to break into in the NBA, it’s a very difficult position, but he’s got the skill set to do that. It’s just a question of him landing in the right place."

NBA Comparisons: Chauncey Billups, Ray McCallum, George Hill, Austin Rivers

Best fits: Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks & Toronto Raptors.

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Re-making The Cleveland Cavaliers From a Fan's Perspective

The city of Cleveland hasn't enjoyed a championship parade in any of the four major four sports since 1974. Back in 2003 the Cleveland Cavaliers hit the jackpot when they drafted hometown kid LeBron James, who was dubbed the "Chose One" and "King James" coming out of high school. James was the "Chosen One" in Cleveland, but his coronation as "King James" didn't come until he took his talents to South Beach in the summer of 2010......the rest is history. Right now the only buzz in Cleveland is the Browns' Quarterback Johnny Manziel, who hasn't even laced up a pair of cleats yet in a regulation game.

Since James departed from the franchise, the Cavaliers were in rebuilding mode. After going a dismal 19-63 during the 2010-2011 season, and having a dubious NBA record for futility with a 26-game losing streak, the franchise was desperate. After having a 19.9% chance of winning the lottery, Cleveland rocked by winning the No. 1 pick. They went on on to draft Duke Point Guard Kyrie Irving, giving him the keys to their car.

Individually, Irving had a good rookie campaign, going on to win the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year award. He accomplished this even though his team failed to make the postseason with a 21-45 record in the lockout condensed season. With the No. 4 pick in 2012, Cleveland decided to bring in Syracuse Shooting Guard Dion Waiters to be  Irving's sidekick.

The 2012-2013 campaign was nothing special with Cleveland, as they struggled creating an identity, as their young core went through the growing pains of the NBA, suffering a multitude of losses with wins far and few between. Cleveland ended another dreaded season with a 24-58 record and had a 15.6% to win the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft. Unfortunately for Cleveland, it was labeled one of the worst drafts in recent NBA history.

*Just with their luck,* Cleveland would go on to win the lottery, and surprise the world by selecting UNLV Canadian freshmen forward Anthony Bennett.  Experts and fans alike shared the same sentiment of shock and awe when Bennett's name was announced. ESPN's Bill Simmons had a classic reaction to the selection, as he exclaimed loudly and was as confused as the viewer.  

Right off the bat, Bennett going No. 1 wasn't a fan friendly pick and his 2013-2014 rookie year did nothing to change people's thoughts. Bennett's inept play was quite moronic at times. His career wasn't off of to a sexy start as most No. 1 picks were in the past. It took Bennett five games to score his first basket as a NBA player and admitted he never previously struggled like that in his basketball life. Bennett's play was so anemic that there was talk of him becoming the first No. 1 pick to be sent to the D-league. The thought was that he would regain his confidence and start to play like a No. 1 pick to a certain degree. 

"It's something I'd think about, for sure," Bennett said on possibly going to the D-league. "It's not a bad thing, especially going down there, hopefully playing a lot, going out there, building my confidence."

"It's a learning process, and all I can do is just work hard, you know?'' Bennett said. "I'm just patient. I missed the whole summer due to the surgery, so I'm kind of behind in everything, trying to catch up on everything. Like I said before, the only thing I can really do is work hard. It doesn't show much in the games, but in practice I've been going hard. My conditioning is a lot better. I lost weight and everything. So it's coming along slowly."

Bennett would go on to average an underwhelming 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in his rookie season.   Bennett's struggles were just one of the reasons the Cavaliers had a tumultuous 2013-2014 season, as Irving and Waiters were involved in rampant trade rumors, and GM Chris Grant was fired.

Many of these problems could have been avoided had Cleveland went a different direction in the 2013 draft, selecting Victor Oladipo instead of Bennett. Drafting Oladipo would've made the most sense, as he is further along in his development, and has been compared to Avery Bradley, but with a higher ceiling. Oladipo isn't a ball dominant guard and is more of a slasher and off-ball player, the type of sidekick that would mesh well with Irving's needs.

With drafting Oladipo, the Cavaliers would have gotten a special player, not only with how he plays but how he carries himself. Oladipo is a very conscientious man with his work ethic that would be contagious to his peers. The Cavaliers needed someone like Oladipo in the locker room as he is youthful but has the maturity level not many 22-year olds carry with them.

Also, Waiters would have been able to slide into the sixth man role, a situation he succeeded in at Syracuse. Scoring is his first, second and more often times than not, his third option. He is a capable distributor when he wants to be, but the Cavaliers already have a ball dominating guard in Irving in the starting lineup, so moving Waiters to the second unit would help everyone involved. In the NBA, if you are a potent scorer with not much else to offer, then you are  better suited to come off the bench with a scoring mentality, ala Jamal Crawford, J.R. Smith, Jordan Crawford, Nick Young and Nate Robinson.  

In May of 2014, the Cavaliers become hypocrites by firing Mike Brown one season after calling it a mistake when they originally gave him the pink slip in 2010. In just four short years, Brown has been fired three times (Cleveland twice and Los Angeles Lakers in 2012).

Cleveland now has a vacant head coaching position and many coaches are being linked to their somewhat lucrative position, in which they have many options. Cleveland could hire a former head coach, current assistant coach on another team, or just give someone a opportunity.  Former Warriors coach and current ESPN analyst Mark Jackson is a strong candidate. The reason why Jackson has culminated as the best option for Cleveland is because he's a players coach, someone who can get the most out of young players.

Back in the Bay Area, Jackson took a team which was fun to watch but addicted to losing weren't winners at the NBA level, and turned them into one of the most exciting teams with a winning attitude at "Roaracle," the popular nickname for their home court, Oracle Arena. In three seasons, Jackson compiled a 121-109 record (.526) and led Golden State to the second-round of the postseason for the first time since 1991. In the process, they compiled their first 50-win season since 1993-1994. Jackson developed Stephen Curry into an All-Star point guard, something he should have a penchant for after playing the position from 1987-2004. He is the coach Irving needs to take the next step in his development into becoming a floor general and finding the balance between scoring and passing, something he struggled with at times throughout his career thus far.

"Being in our particular position, he'd obviously help a guy like Kyrie [Irving] being as he played the position," Cavs guard Jarrett Jack said about his former coach. "The type of person he is and the attitude he has, he demands certain things -- respect, discipline, togetherness. Those are three things that he definitely incorporates. That's the thing you can't measure in wins and losses."  

One can agree with Jack's sentiment because Jackson preaches to his players as somewhat of a father figure; he is beloved by anybody who crosses his path. Jackson isn't the most stringent person and that's something most players appreciate, but at the same time he isn't a pushover, letting his presence be felt when needed. The Cavaliers need a coach like Jackson to bring a winning attitude back to Quicken Loans Arena, the "Q". With him being a former player, he would gain more respect from players.

On May 20, 2014 the Cleveland Cavaliers become the second team with a 1.7% chance to win the lottery.  This is the third time in four years that the Cavaliers have won the lottery, and unlike the Anthony Bennett pick, they can't mess up this time around with the unprecedented amount of hype this years draft class has received from basketball pundits.

The three top prospects in this years draft are Andrew Wiggins (Kansas), Joel Embiid (Kansas) and Jabari Parker (Duke). You can't go wrong with any of the trio, but all have their flaws going into the draft. Selecting Wiggins is a toss up because watching him play, it seems as if he lives off his athletic ability, a pure talent with no skill. His basketball instincts are up for debate, but for the Cavaliers to be safe their top two choices should be Embiid and Parker.

Embiid has been linked to Cleveland since they won the lottery, but medical reports about his back have made them skeptical about him, even though there are conflicting reports about it. The thing with Embiid is that he's only been playing basketball since 2010. He has a massive amount of potential to blossom into a dominant big-man which is something the NBA is deviating from. Having Embiid would be advantage because not every team has a traditional center, most teams are playing forwards at the five. Embiid, if healthy, would dominate the league and with the look to develop into an Andrew Bynum-type of player when he was a All-Star with the Lakers. 

Even with that said, the Cavaliers would be best off having Adam Silver announce, "With the first pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Jabari Parker from Duke University." Parker in wine and gold is the best fit because of his scoring and shooting ability, rebounding, athleticism, work ethic and maturity. Parker is an All-Around player and has equal or possibly more potential than Embiid. 

The NBA is entering a golden age of Small Forwards, and to win a championship it's becoming more crucial to have a wing player that can defend and shoot. Parker has all the intangibles and a high IQ, giving the Cavaliers their first real shot to fill the void at the 3-spot since James left a few years ago.

The Cavaliers need to do their homework to make the most of this pick. In all reality, you cannot go wrong with either Parker or Embiid, as either would go well with Irving and Waiters and hopefully a rejuvenated Bennett. In a perfect world Irving and Waiters would already be combined with Oladipo with Parker being added this year and Jackson manning the sidelines. But this is the Cavaliers we are talking about, so they have to make due with what they have and hope it is enough to convince Irving to stay in town past his rookie contract and have some talent come and join him in Cleveland.

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Nets Lose to Cavs, Clinch 6th Seed in East

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 16th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 85 Cavaliers 114

nba.com

The Brooklyn Nets finished up their regular season with a blowout loss at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a tough start to the season starting (10-21) they finished (44-38), which landed them the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, and a first round match-up with the Atlantic Division winning Toronto Raptors.

Player of the Game: Andray Blatche

Jason Kidd elected to rest his starting lineup leaving his bench players to play nearly the whole game with just a seven-man rotation. Andray Blatche in the extended time was able to snag a double-double in the blowout in 39 minutes of play. Blatche finished with 20 points on eight for 18 shooting to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds. It will be interesting to see how much Blatche will be playing in the playoffs with the emergence of Mason Plumlee and the return of Kevin Garnett.

Positives:

The biggest positive of the game for Brooklyn wasn’t anything that happened from a player on the court, but the way things worked out for them in the standings. The Nets loss and the Washington Wizards win the Nets got the sixth seed, and with the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls both losing, it sets up a first round match-up against the Raptors. The Nets didn’t seem to want any part of the Bulls, and for good reason, so now they get a much better match-up against the young inexperienced Raptors.

Negatives:

Brooklyn seems to be healthy going into the playoffs, but although they will be rested and ready, they are also not heading into the playoffs playing their best basketball, as they have lost four of their last five games, all to teams under .500. The Nets are a veteran group so being healthy is the most important, but it will be interesting to see if their poor play of late will carry into the first round.

Actually on the court for the Nets, they were totally dominated by the Cavaliers in almost every aspect of the game. Off the bench the Cavaliers got a big game from Tyler Zeller, who scored a game-high 22 points on nine for 11 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds. Zeller wasn’t the only big man on the team to have a double-double, as Tristan Thompson scored 11 points on five for nine shooting with 10 rebounds.

Dion Waiters came through with yet another good game against the Nets, as he scored 19 points on seven for 12 shooting. In four games this season Waiters has played well this season against Brooklyn, as he finished averaging 19 points per game on 45% shooting from the field.

Next up for the Nets will be Game 1 of their playoff series against the Raptors on Saturday at 1230.

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W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers April 16th, 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 16, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Pre-Game News and Notes

ourbksocial.com

The Brooklyn Nets coming off a loss to the New York Knicks at home will be heading to Cleveland for the final game of the regular season against the Cavaliers. The Nets are now (44-37) on the season and will be either the fifth or sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, which will send them to either Chicago or Toronto.

- Limping In

Brooklyn has been playing great in the calender year of 2014, but heading into the playoffs the Nets don’t seem to be firing on all cylinders in the final games leading into the playoffs. In April the Nets have had four very bad losses, which could have been the difference between them starting a playoff series at home or on the road, as wins may have put pressure on the Raptors or Bulls. They lost four games to teams under .500 including the Knicks twice, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Orlando Magic. Three of those losses have come in the Nets last four games, as Rookie Head Coach Jason Kidd is trying to manage a veteran team for the first time heading into the playoffs.

- Scenarios

Wednesday is the final day of the regular season, and for the Nets it will let them know where they will be traveling to and what seed they will have. A Nets win against the Cavaliers or a Washington Wizards loss to the Boston Celtics will give the Nets the fifth seed, but a Nets loss and Wizards win will put the Nets in the sixth spot, as the Wizards own the tie-breaker. The battle for the third and fourth seed between the Raptors and Bulls can be decided rather easily if the Raptors beat the Knicks they will be the third seed, but a Raptors loss and Bulls win against the Charlotte Bobcats will give the Bulls the third seed. The Nets this season are 1-2 against the Bulls and 2-2 against the Raptors, and it seems like a popular consensus that the Nets much rather play the inexperienced Raptors in the first round than the Bulls, who knocked them out of the playoffs last season, and pose many more problems with their big lineup.

- Bothering the Waiter

If Brooklyn would like to go into the playoffs on a positive note, they would be smart to try and slow down Dion Waiters, who since moving into the starting lineup has been playing very well for the Cavaliers, and has also played very well against the Nets this season. Since moving into the starting lineup, Waiters has averaged 21.4 points per game in his last 14, and playing against the Nets this season he is averaging 19 points per game. Luol Deng will not be playing against the Nets with a sore back, so there should be some extra shots for Waiters to grab on Wednesday.

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Nets Win 12th Straight at Home

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 28th, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Cavaliers 97 Nets 108

philly.com

The Brooklyn Nets were able to return home to the Barclays Center after an extremely tough road-trip that the Nets had to play three overtime games. On Friday they were able to avoid a fourth straight overtime game, and extended their winning streak at home to 12 games with the victory against the Cavaliers. The win moves the Nets to (39-33) on the season, and keeps them 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division, as the Raptors defeated the Celtics on Friday as well.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce was the Nets best scorer on Friday in the win, as he only had to play 20 minutes, but had a huge impact on the game. In his limited time Pierce led all scorers with a game-high 22 points on five for six shooting from the three-point line, and going a perfect seven for seven from the free throw line. Pierce scored 17 of the 22 points in the first quarter, and all of Pierce’s points came in the first half. He also was able to extend his 100 three-pointers made in a season to 14 straight seasons a remarkable feat for Pierce.

Positives:

Brooklyn’s starting lineup did a pretty good job along with Pierce having a great game in the easy win. Joe Johnson was also very efficient shooting the basketball, as he went six of eight from the field, which included him going two for three from three-point range to extend his streak of a game with a three-pointer made to 20 straight, in route to him scoring 14 points. Deron Williams played well too, as in 26 minutes he scored 13 points on five for 10 shooting to go along with five assists, two rebounds, and two steals.

Shaun Livingston was the do it all guy for Brooklyn on Friday, as he led the team with 34 minutes and also had the highest +/- of any player going +28. Livingston finished with just eight points, but was efficient going four for five from the field, and like in a lot of games this season it was more than just scoring for Livingston. Along with the eight points, Livingston added eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

In the battle of the bench’s, Brooklyn had the advantage going into the game, and it showed on the court. The Cavaliers bench only combined for 18 points compared to the 48 points for the Nets. Alan Anderson was the leading scorer for the Nets off the bench, as he scored 13 points on six for 10 shooting. Andray Blatche was also in double figures, as he scored 10 points on four for five shooting.

On the road-trip the Nets really struggle to defend opposing team’s frontcourts and rebound, but on Friday the Nets did a much better on the glass, as they out-rebounded the Cavaliers 41-35. Mirza Teletovic was the Nets best player on the glass, as he grabbed 10 rebounds in 28 minutes. Mason Plumlee also did pretty well rebounding, grabbing seven in 20 minutes.

Next up for the Nets will be a home game on Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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W2W4: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Brooklyn Nets March 28th, 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 28th, 2014

W2W4: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets

Pre-Game News and Notes

After a very difficulty three-game road trip for the Nets that included three overtime games, they will be back at the Barclays Center for a Friday night showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Heading into Friday the Nets are 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division, and the Raptors will also be in action Friday playing at home against the Celtics.

ourbksocial.com

Match-Up of the Game: Jarrett Jack vs. Deron Williams

The Cavaliers have been without their best player in Kyrie Irving, but Jarrett Jack has picked his game up in his absence. In the last three games Jack is averaging just over 20 points per game, as Williams will have his hands full at the Point Guard position even without the All-Star Irving. In the last two game Williams has been very good on his own in two overtime losses, as against the Pelicans he scored 23 and then against the Bobcats he scored 29 points. Both players are talented and playing well in their last few games, so it should be fun to watch Jack and Williams’ battle on Friday.

- Playing Spoiler

In the Cavaliers mild three-game winning streak they have been able to play a bit of spoiler lately. The first game of their winning streak came in a huge come from behind win against the New York Knicks, who are trying to get the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The second win was even more impressive as they were able to take down the Raptors, who the Nets have been chasing for months. The Nets have been red hot in the Barclays Center, but it wouldn’t be wise to overlook the Cavaliers.


- Defending the Big Men

Without Kevin Garnett the defending opposing team’s frontcourts have been a disaster for the Nets and their small lineups. On Friday the Cavaliers have two pretty good ones they’ll be using in Spencer Hawes and Anderson Varejao. Hawes and Varejao are two very different players, but both can hurt the Nets in different ways. Hawes is the more offensive minded Center, as he can really stretch out a defense with his ability to hit three-pointers. Varejao on the other hand is more of a blue collar player that will be fighting for every rebound, which maybe more troublesome for the Nets, as they struggle badly to rebound the basketball. Skill wise Hawes and Varejao aren’t near Anthony Davis or Al Jefferson who the Nets have played recently, but both of them excel in certain departments, which could hurt the Nets in the frontcourt.

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Knicks Playoff Hopes Delivered Big Blow With Embarrassing Home Loss to Cavaliers

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

AFP Photo/Don Emmert

The New York Knicks playoff hopes suffered a big blow Sunday night, as they suffered an embarrassing loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-100. A 15-point halftime lead was not enough for the Knicks, as they imploded in the second half and reverted back to playing how they did prior to their eight-game winning streak. It was a heart breaking loss for the Knicks as the Atlanta Hawks had lost earlier in the day to the Toronto Raptors, presenting an outstanding opportunity for the Knicks to climb closer to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The loss tonight ends the Knicks winning streak at eight, with their next game being the start of their west coast trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Player of the Game: None

Throughout the game there were a couple Knicks that had some positive plays, but nothing sustained through all four quarters.

Match-up of the Game Recap:

Tyson Chandler was a no show for the Knicks tonight. He didn’t have an impact on either end of the court, finishing with only four points, six rebounds and four turnovers; if anything he was hurting more than helping. On the other hand, Spencer Hawes did not have much of an impact either, but he did have a nice highlight with a left-handed floater driving baseline. Hawes finished the night with seven points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Hawes wins the match-up tonight because his team not only got the victory, but also finished +7 while Chandler registered a -17.

-Positives

Amar’e Stoudemire continued his strong play for the Knicks tonight. He finished the game with 12 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, adding six rebounds and one assist as well. Stoudemire has been on fire since being inserted into the starting lineup, showcasing improved defense and continuing to be the Knicks most efficient scoring option.

Offensively, the Knicks guards had a strong game. Raymond Felton scored 14 points to go with eight assists, while J.R. Smith added 18 in the starting lineup as well. Off the bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pablo Prigioni had strong games as well. Hardaway Jr. scored 12 points, while Prigioni made both his three point attempts and handed out three assists as well.

AFP Photo/Don Emmert

At the start of the game, Carmelo Anthony was on fire for the Knicks. He started the game off knocking down 6-7 shots, as the Cavaliers had no answers for him defensively. Anthony’s success early on was a big reason why the Knicks built a 15-point lead going into halftime.

-Negatives

Anthony after those first seven shots struggled mightily. He finished the game making only two of his last 13 attempts, going 8-20 overall for the night. The Cavaliers ramped up their effort in the second half and took Anthony out of the game offensively. The Knicks offense also became stagnant as they became over reliant on Anthony, putting him into isolation situations he was unable to take advantage of.

On the perimeter the Knicks reverted back to how they played prior to the eight-game winning streak. Felton and Hardaway Jr. couldn’t stop a cold and got torched by whoever they matched up against. Jarrett Jack feasted off the poor defense, pouring in a season high 31 points to go along with 10 assists and 5 rebounds. They also had trouble containing Dion Waiters, who scored 22 points of his own.

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Woodson once again hurt the Knicks and showed why he should not be retained beyond this season. Woodson, for the second consecutive game, did not put the Knicks in a position to win with poor game management. Tonight he stood idly while Jack torched Felton, and reverted back to his isolation heavy offense. Woodson made no adjustments after halftime as the Cavaliers came out in the second half determined to get back into the game and the Knicks never mounted a response. It was an embarrassing lose for the Knicks that could have been easily avoided with a little more leadership and smarts shown by their head coach.

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