As we start a new month, the last month of 2006, I decided it was time to get some stuff off my chest and make a major announcement for readers of this blog.
The Cavaliers The wine and gold have been very inconsistent this year, beating the Spurs and Bulls, but losing to teams like the Knicks and Bobcats. One of the problems has been the up and down play of many players. Coach Mike Brown can only count on a few players to do the same thing every night. Drew Gooden has been like a yo-yo. Sasha Pavlovic played every well for a few games, and then went back to being a non factor.
One thing that has been a constant has been the poor play of free agent David Wesley and the slump of Donyell Marshall. Marshall was productive last year, so he deserves time to work out of his funk, but Wesley looks like he has nothing left. The coach looks like he is starting to work rookies Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson into the rotation, but still doesn’t trust them enough to extend their minutes.
I would make a move to get off to better starts on a regular basis by moving Anderson Varajao into the starting line up and bringing Gooden off the bench. Gooden could provide the scoring off the bench that Marshall is not providing right now. The other thing Brown needs to do is to stop the team from relying on the 3-point shot. Too often, the Cavs’ are playing well, but allow other teams to get back into the game by starting to jack up 3’s. No team with LeBron James should be content with settling for the outside shot. Take the ball to the hole, please!
Don’t panic, though. This team is still one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The Heat is struggling. so are the Nets. The Pistons still look strong, and the Bulls should be improved. If the wine and gold can straighten out these minor things and give experience to the rookies, they can get to the Eastern Conference finals.
The Indians Does anyone really think Mark Shapiro is not going to make anymore moves this off season? That’s what you would think from listening to Kenny Roda this week. They didn’t sign a reliever first? It’s the end of the world! Of course, the front office knows the weakness of this club is it’s bullpen, and they will sign or trade for some bullpen help. Roda wanted the Tribe to sign sidearmer Chad Bradford for the same money they gave David Dellucci. Bradford is a situational reliever, and most baseball experts can’t believe the Orioles paid that much money for him.
Speaking of the WKNR afternoon host, how many baseball writers will he get on his show to point out the non-logic of his thoughts before he learns something. Last summer, Ken Rosenthal said he was miguided and earlier this week so did the ABJ’s Sheldon Ocker. Here’s a clue Roadman…Learn something from your guests.
Goodbye, Roger We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Roger Brown’s last raving in The Plain Dealer last Sunday. Brown continued his idiotic theory that on a neutral field, Michigan would beat Ohio State. He also took more shots at the Browns’ Coach Romeo Crennel and defended wide receiver Braylon Edwards attack on his own teammate, Brian Russell, and predicted the Cavaliers would lose in the first round of this year’s playoffs. Quite a send off, Roger. Adios. Here’s hoping the PD gives that column to Dennis Manoloff, who would provide some fresh views on Cleveland sports.
Now if only we could get rid of Kenny Roda…
Cleveland State hoops What a difference a good coach can make. Gary Watters has the Vikings at 5-3, a better record than most thought they would be after eight games. CSU has beaten a strong program like Kent State, and defeated an ACC team in Miami (FL). Also, has anyone else noticed that Rutgers, the school Watters coached last year is struggling mightily under new head man Fred Hill.
Announcement Some of our writers are hosting an internet radio show on blogtalkradio.com. The show airs Friday nights at 10 PM and is called Cleveland Sports View. Go to blogtalkradio.com, check under the sports category and you can listen. Feel free to call as well. The guys would love to hear from you.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 