The NBA trading deadline is a little over two weeks away, and Cavalier fans are anxious.  They believe their team has a chance to win the NBA title, and they are clamoring for the deal that will put their team “over the top”.  However, it’s not as easy as getting a big bat or an extra starting pitcher in baseball.  Basketball is a sport that relies on each player working with each other.  The chemistry involved is very important.

 

Right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers have great chemistry, both on and off the court.  The right trade could solidify the wine and gold’s title hopes.  The wrong deal could end the season earlier than most people would like. 

 

My comment to Cavs’ fans is to be careful what you wish for.

 

Let’s take the case of Phoenix power forward, Amare Stoudemire, who is currently on the trading block.  The Cavs could use some help on the front line; so naturally, Cleveland fans are salivating at the thought of having the big man on the floor with LeBron James, and newly named All Star, Mo Williams.  Still, would this work out on the court as well as it looks on paper?

 

First, let’s remember the Cavaliers’ philosophy.  They want to win with defense and rebounding.  Stoudemire has said he wants to go somewhere where he can be “the man”.  I take this to mean he wants to be the main scorer.  Well, he’s not going to be that as long as #23 is suiting up for Cleveland. 

 

Stoudemire is not a particularly a strong defender, so if he’s not willing to work hard on that end of the floor, he’s going to have a problem with Mike Brown, and the rest of his teammates, who have bought into Brown’s mantra of defense, defense, and more defense.

 

He also is not a strong rebounder.  At 6’10”, he is currently averaging eight rebounds per night, just one more per game than James.  He has never grabbed more than 10 boards per game in any year of his career.  As of late, the Cavs’ problem has been the drop off in rebounding, so Stoudemire is not a solution in this area.

 

If GM Danny Ferry is going get some help before the trading deadline, the player he gets has to fit in with both the players and the coaching staff.  This means he will have to be a good defensive player, not need the ball, and have a contract that expires before the end of the 2010 season.  We’ve heard the names that fit those criteria, guys like Marcus Camby or Gerald Wallace. 

 

This isn’t fantasy basketball.  It’s not as simple as getting a guy like Amare Stoudemire and plugging him into your lineup.  Perhaps Ferry can talk to the big man and find out that he will work hard on defense and his rebounding.  However, I would feel better about Stoudemire if he said he wanted to be a champion, instead of “the man”.

 

MW

 

It is a testament to how good the Cleveland Cavaliers are that their fans panic over a loss, particularly yesterday’s defeat by the Los Angeles Lakers, 101-91, that ended the wine and gold’s home winning streak at 23 games.  I understand the Lakers took both games from the Cavs’ this season, but do I need to remind you that two years ago, the Cavs won both regular season games against the Spurs?

 

San Antonio swept the Cavs in The Finals at the end of that season.

 

Yesterday’s loss was a combination of things, but the Cavaliers did not play their best game, make no mistake about it.  Here are some things that stood out to me:

 

·          The Cavs shot very poorly in the second half.  The Lakers interior defense had a lot to do with the huge edge Los Angeles enjoyed in the paint (62-24), but the wine and gold also missed many wide open looks after halftime.  These were good looks from the 15-18 foot range, shots they normally knock down. 

 

·          Ben Wallace needs to lay the ball up when he doesn’t have a running start at the hoop.  Wallace missed two dunks early in the third quarter that could have stalled the Laker rally at that point.  Big Ben received very good passes from LeBron James and couldn’t convert.  I’ve seen Wallace dunk the ball on drives, but not standing flat-footed underneath.  Those two baskets could have kept the momentum from shifting to LA.

 

·          J. J. Hickson picked the wrong time to show he’s a rookie.  LA’s Lamar Odom beat Hickson like a drum in the third quarter.  The rookie failed to box out Odom time and again, which gave the Lakers several chance points.  That’s why there will be clamoring for the Cavaliers to add another big man by the fans.  After Odom’s put back dunk at the end of the third quarter, I knew Hickson was done for the rest of the game.

 

·          The officiating was bad.  Phil Jackson did his usual subtle influencing of the referees prior to the game, talking about how James gets all the calls.  Ironic, considering Jackson once coached Michael Jordan, but I digress.  What’s disturbing about this is that it works, for some reason.  Luke Walton carried a rebound out of bounds and the Lakers maintained possession, and late in the game, Anderson Varajao was called for a phantom loose ball foul. 

 

·          Mike Brown showed his displeasure with the officials by calling a timeout with 12 seconds left, and having Wally Szczerbiak foul with around six seconds remaining.  The coach didn’t let the game end, making the referees stay out of the court as long as he could.  This is not even mentioning how many times #23 was hit going to the basket, and that Kobe Bryant clearly traveled on his high, arching jumper over James late in the fourth quarter.

 

The Lakers were without Andrew Bynum, but the Cavs were still without Delonte West.  When Sasha Pavlovic went out with a sprained ankle in the first half, it affected the wine and gold on the defensive end.  It meant Szczerbiak had to get more minutes, and although he has been shooting very well as of late, and he tries to play defense, he is lacking in that area.

 

The only alternative now that Tarence Kinsey is also out, is Daniel Gibson, and when he is in the game with Mo Williams, it makes for a very small backcourt.  So West’s injury, and the fact that the Cavs played the Lakers both times without him, makes you wonder how the Cavs would fare with Delonte in the backcourt.

 

It’s also funny that James’ excellence is such that when he scores 16 points, doles out 12 assists, and grabs 8 rebounds, people say he has an off night.  The truth is James shot the ball poorly from the floor, but he played a very good game other than that.  The Cavs needed James to get the ball in the basket on his drives, but the shot wasn’t falling for him. 

 

The Cavs still have 33 games remaining, and a lot can change between now and this June when The Finals would start.  It would be nice to see the wine and gold get healthy before the trading deadline, but it won’t likely happen that way.  GM Danny Ferry has a week and a half to ponder whether or not he needs to make a move.  It’s not like the Cavs played well and got beat yesterday.  They were far from at their best yesterday.

 

JK

 

There is a division among basketball experts on just who is the best player in the world.  Is it Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?  There seems to be no middle ground.  Either you love the raw scoring ability of the Lakers’ Bryant or the all around dominance of the Cavaliers’ James.  It will be a treat to see both of them on the floor Sunday afternoon at The Q, mainly because they meet just twice a year.

 

These same people are comparing each of the superstars’ performances against the New York Knicks this past week.  Kobe dropped 61 points on New York on Monday night, but had no rebounds and just three assists.  LeBron threw in 52 points on Wednesday, but added 12 assists and 10 rebounds, the first triple double in a 50-point game since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 1975. 

 

They are even comparing the reactions of both performances by the Knicks fans, which is utterly stupid.  The New Yorkers serenaded Bryant with chants of “MVP, MVP” at the end of Monday’s contest.  James did not receive such adulation.  Maybe the Big Apple faithful have grown used to seeing their team dominated by the best players in the NBA.

 

If Bryant is still the best player on the planet, his reign has a short expiration date.   He turned 30 years old last August.  James just turned 24 at the end of the year, and is still improving, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league.

 

There is no question that Bryant is a better shooter from outside, and his accuracy from the perimeter is why most people would prefer the Lakers’ superstar with the game on the line.  His shooting percentage from beyond the 3-point arc bears this out as Bryant is shooting 36.1% from behind the line, compared to #23’s 29.7 percentage. 

 

Kobe is also a better free thrower at 86.6% from the line.  Even though James has improved this year, he still is under 80% from the charity stripe at .774.

 

It is in the non-scoring/shooting categories that James shines.  The King isaveraging 7.5 rebounds per night, two more than Bryant, and #23 is getting 7.0 assists per game, almost two more than #24 for the Lakers (5.1). 

 

Bryant is renowned as a shutdown defender, and I would agree that he has an edge on James in this category, but LeBron is gaining rapidly and is getting support for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.  In the past week, James has guarded Allen Iverson, a 6’ guard, and Jermaine O’Neal, a 6’11” power forward.  Now that’s versatility. 

 

Still, James has the edge in steals (1.9 per game compared to 1.3 for Bryant) and in blocked shots (1.3 vs. 0.4).  LeBron has always been a good defender playing the passing lanes looking for steals and weak side blocks, and he is now improving as an on the ball defender. 

 

There is no question that Kobe Bryant is a better pure scorer than LeBron James, but James is the better all around player.  James makes his teammates better.  For example, look at Delonte West.  West wasn’t considered a good player in Seattle, but he’s a starter and a key component in the Cavs’ success.  People in Milwaukee were happy to see Mo Williams leave, but he’s put up all-star numbers here. 

 

Who has Bryant made into a better player?

 

I would put it this way:  Kobe Bryant is the better scorer, but LeBron James is the better basketball player.  I believe every team would want James, not only because of his age, but because he can fit into a team concept.  I would venture to say not every team would want Kobe because of chemistry issues. 

 

JK

 

I have made no secrets about my desire to see Manny Ramirez return to the Cleveland Indians.  Baseball Prospectus ran an article late last week identifying five teams that should go after Manny, and they included the Tribe, who need an alternative to Travis Hafner if he doesn’t return to form, and they also could use a upgrade in leftfield. 

 

Unfortunately, GM Mark Shapiro has said there isn’t any money left to spend on free agents unless he deals off some payroll.  He couldn’t trade enough players to clear payroll to sign Ramirez, who is looking for $20 million per year, although nobody is offering that kind of cash.  Besides, starting pitching is a bigger need for the 2009 Cleveland Indians.

 

However, the fact the arguably the best right-handed hitter of the last 25 years is still unsigned makes me and others wonder what is going on.  Many people point to Ramirez’ behavior prior to getting traded last season as the reason no long-term deals are being offered.  Everyone remembers the accusations by the Red Sox that Manny stopped playing hard in an effort to get the Red Sox to give him a contract extension.

 

Some people pointed to his agent, Scott Boras, as masterminding a strategy of Ramirez forcing the Red Sox hand, so that they would decline the option years on his contract, thus making the future Hall of Famer a free agent at the end of the ’08 season.  The argument was that unless Manny received a new deal for 2009, his new agent, Boras, would not get a healthy commission.  

 

If that was the case, how is that strategy working for you now, Mr. Boras?  One of the best hitters in baseball history is having a problem getting a new contract because teams are worried about whether or not he will put forth a big effort if he and his agent don’t get the amount of years and dollars they thought they were going to get. 

 

That’s my problem with Boras.  At times, he treats his clients as if they are scientific experiments, using them as guinea pigs to try to find loopholes in the system.  He has done it with top high schools players, turning down large signing bonuses and moving players to the independent leagues.  He had a junior in high school take his GED, and then try to create a bidding war with major league teams.  You have to question whether or not he is doing it for the player, to satisfy his huge ego, or to make baseball look bad.

 

Now Boras is trying to sell Ramirez by saying that the revenue his signing will generate will pay for his contract.  His remarkable career doesn’t create enough buzz on the open market.  If Ramirez didn’t dog it to get out of Boston last year, he would have gotten a three year deal somewhere, an appropriate amount of years for a player who will turn 37 years old this season. 

 

If the agent came up with that strategy, he did a disservice to his client.  Manny Ramirez has always been a different character, but no one considered him a “jake”.  The current financial climate has made Manny a risk no owner wants to take.  He should have been embraced as a player who can put a team over the top, instead it is two weeks before spring training starts, and he has no place to play.

 

MW

 

 

Super Bowl Sunday?  Who cares?  The big game for Cleveland sports fans yesterday was the Cavaliers big road win against the Pistons yesterday afternoon.  After a loss to Orlando Thursday night that had many people questioning the wine and gold, they smacked the Clippers at The Q on Friday night, and basically put the Central Division title away at The Palace with a win on Sunday. 

 

Only one All-Star?  It appears LeBron James and crew is taking the snub of their teammate, Mo Williams, personally.  It gives them just another chip on their collective shoulders.

 

The win against Detroit emphasized how important Willilams is to this team, and the Cavs no longer collapse when James is getting some much-needed rest.  Cleveland trailed 66-58 going into the fourth quarter yesterday, but caught up and took the lead before #23 re-entered the game.  Daniel Gibson got it going to start the final stanza by scoring seven straight points, and Williams finished the job. 

 

In all, Cleveland outscored Detroit 32-14 in the fourth quarter, and they now lead the Pistons by 12 games in the division and the last two games between the two teams are in Cleveland.  You can order up a Central Division Champion banner, the second in franchise history (1975-76). 

 

Anyway, Mike Brown will be coaching the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game on February 15^th in Phoenix, so at least James will not be the only person from one of the best team in the NBA represented there.  It is a joke that Williams will not be there. 

 

Last year, the Cavaliers won 48 games for the entire season.  They have won 37 games this year with 36 games remaining on the schedule.  This team is on pace to win more than 60 games this season. 

 

True, they added Ben Wallace, Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak at the trade deadline last season, but there is no question that it is Williams’ presence that turned the Cavs from a very good team into one of the league’s best.  Besides giving James more rest, he is averaging three minutes less per game than the past four seasons, he has allowed James to get the ball going to the basket.  He has definitely changed the offense of this team.

 

The Cavaliers are averaging four more points per game than they did last season.  Who do the NBA coaches think is responsible for that?  Certainly, LeBron James has improved, but Mo Williams has revitalized the wine and gold’s attack.  He deserves to be in Phoenix. 

 

The biggest reason he isn’t is the fans’ vote, however.  Allen Iverson does not deserve to be a starter, and if he wasn’t voted in, it is unlikely he would have been added to the squad.  That essentially is Williams’ spot.

 

Besides the big win, the coolest thing for the Cavs was Santonio Holmes’ celebration after the Super Bowl winning touchdown, homage to LeBron’s tossing the powder into the air before every game.  Pittsburgh might have the World Champion Steelers, but Cleveland has the best basketball player in the world.

 

JK   

 

 

Spring training is less than a month away.  In fact, in a little over two weeks, pitchers and catchers will report to the Indians’ new home in Goodyear, AZ.  There is no question, the players, manager, and the front office feel the 2009 Tribe can compete and win the Central Division title for the second time in three years.  However, there still are questions…

 

1).  The starting rotation.  As of today, the rotation is led by ’08 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona.  It would be ridiculous to think Lee can match his 22-3 record of last season, and in fact, if he wins 16-18 games, that would be a very good season.  If Carmona is healthy, he can be dominant.  He did have problems throwing strikes before he hurt his hip last year, so that is a concern.

 

Currently, the oft-injured Carl Pavano is in the #3 hole, with righty Anthony Reyes as the 4^th starter.  The fifth spot is up for grabs with Aaron Laffey the front-runner, but with Jeremy Sowers, Zach Jackson, David Huff, and Scott Lewis in the mix.  You can see why there is cause for concern.  Manager Eric Wedge and GM Mark Shapiro cannot let one of these guys struggle for two months without making a move, and you can make a scenario where all of them could have problems.

 

This is definitely the biggest question mark for the 2009 Indians.  The sleeper is the bunch is Huff, who throws harder than the rest of the southpaws mentioned, who would all be considered soft tossers.  Pavano is the biggest gamble here.  Although did make seven starts for the Yankees last season, his ERA was 5.91 in 34-1/3 innings.  His best two starts were against Toronto (6 IP, 1 ER) and Baltimore (5 IP, 2 ER), hardly offensive juggernauts.  To have him as the third starter is a huge leap of faith.

 

2).  The Infield Defense.  I know Mark De Rosa says he prefers the left side of the infield, and I’m sure that Jhonny Peralta would prefer to stay at shortstop.  However, you cannot convince me that the Tribe’s best infield defensive alignment would have Asdrubal Cabrera at short, with De Rosa at 2B, and Peralta making the move to 3B. 

 

Cabrera can be one of the better gloves in the American League at SS, and it is mystery as to why the Indians aren’t making the move.  Perhaps they are waiting to see Cabrera when he arrives at camp.  Last year, he came to Florida overweight and got off to a terrible start at the plate.  He was eventually sent back to the minors in mid-season. 

 

This might just be a test for the youngster who was called up late in the ’07 season, and helped the Tribe to a division title.  If he is in shape, then Eric Wedge will make the move to improve his infield defense.  I am not one of those who feels Peralta is awful defensively at short, but there is no doubt the defense would be better with De Rosa at 2B and Peralta at the hot corner.

 

3).  Leftfield.  The Indians have ranked in the top half of the American League for several years now without getting real production from the corner outfield spots.  To compensate, the Tribe has had good offensive numbers out of the shortstop position (Peralta), centerfield (Grady Sizemore) and catcher (Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach), non-traditional offensive spots.

 

This year, the Tribe is going to go with Ben Francisco as the regular LF.  If David Dellucci in still on the roster, he will get a chance to play against some tough right-handed pitchers.  Francisco hit .266 with 15 HR and 54 RBI’s a year ago, but faded badly down the stretch.  Is that good enough for a championship contender? 

 

If Travis Hafner returns to a guy who can hit 30 HR and knock in 100 runs, then Francisco is fine.  However, Hafner’s comeback goes into the Carl Pavano territory.  You really can’t count on it.  If Ben Francisco hits like he did through the end of July, the offense will be okay, but if he hits like he did the last two months, it’s a problem. 

 

One thing about Francisco, he should benefit from batting lower in the order.  Last year, he was thrust into the #3 spot in the order, while this year he will probably hit in the lower third of the order.

 

KM

 

Let’s face it; the Cleveland Browns are a public relations nightmare.  And their horrible record since the late 1980’s is just one reason this team is alienating their fans on a consistent basis.  The owner of the team is a virtual recluse.  Players are not fan friendly, and the team treats their operation like it is part of national security. 

 

Of course, some of these problems would be minor points if the team were winning.  There are very few complaints about a winning organization.  When a franchise is losing, people want to know how it will be fixed.  This is why the Browns’ silence is a problem. 

 

With the Indians, GM Mark Shapiro is always out front and ready to answer questions when the Tribe is struggling.  As for the Browns, there is no “face” of the franchise.  Apparently, Eric Mangini will be the point man for the organization, but he doesn’t appear to be a media dynamo.  He is like most football coaches; everything is treated like a state secret.

 

If Randy Lerner doesn’t want to be the team spokesman, then he needs to hire someone who will be, preferably a person who is dynamic and shows a passion for bringing the Browns a title.  You can criticize Shapiro and Cavs’ GM Danny Ferry if you wish, but you can’t dispute the passion they bring to their positions.

 

The secrecy that the Browns work under doesn’t help them.  The whole situation with Kellen Winslow’s staph infection this past season is a prime example of that.  I understand the laws that go along with the privacy issues, but the way his illness was treated by the team made perfect fodder for all the rumormongers out there. 

 

Now, there is the dismissal of some long-term employees, including Direct of Media Relations Ken Mather and Browns.com writer Steve King, supposedly because of the tough economic times.  We all realize that times are tough, but why are the Browns taking heat for these dismissals?  Other teams are making cuts.  Just yesterday, the Colts let 25 people go from their office staff.

 

The criticism is due to all of the contracts ownership has bought out over the years.  Following last year’s 10-6 record, Lerner rushed to give Romeo Crennel, Phil Savage, and Rob Chudzinski contract extensions and raises, despite the head coach and the general manager having just one winning season in three years.  Both men were under contract, and the prudent thing would have been to wait one more successful season before extending their deals.

 

If Randy Lerner wants to waste his money, that’s his business.  However, if that waste causes people to lose their jobs, it irritates people.  Once again, if the Browns were winning, nobody probably would have said a word. 

 

The Cleveland Browns’ public relation problems are magnified because they are losing.  Winning cures a lot of ills, but until they get things turned around, every move they make as an organization will be under a great deal of scrutiny.

 

JD

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers come home tomorrow night for a game against the Sacramento Kings after a very successful west coast trip where the wine and gold took three out of four, winning in Portland, Golden State and Utah after dropping the trek’s opener in Los Angeles.  The fact, overlooked by many, that the team won despite missing two starters makes the performance even more impressive.

 

These wins were no gimmies, either.  Portland and Utah will more than likely make the playoffs, and although the Warriors have a poor record, they do play a different style of basketball, which if you are not used to it, can be tough to defend.  The Cavs next trip out west could be a little easier opponent wise, as they will take on the Clippers and the Kings. 

 

Although LeBron James and Mo Williams were the standouts, Mike Brown got contributions from just about everyone on the trip, including an unlikely very good game from Tarence Kinsey, who played his best game as a Cavalier against Golden State.  Kinsey played solid defense, which is his calling card, but he contributed with 11 points, hitting several outside jumpers.

 

Rookie J.J. Hickson continued his maturation by playing solid minutes on the trip.  Hickson was said to already have a variety of post moves when the Cavs drafted him, and he is starting to put them on display.  His footwork, which resulted in a drop step dunk against Utah on Saturday night, should be put on a highlight tape of how to play low-post offense.

 

The good trip keeps the Cavaliers atop the Eastern Conference standings, just ahead of Boston and Orlando.  The Magic has now lost two straight games, to Boston and Miami.  Including the Lakers, it is necessary to note that of the four top teams in the NBA, the Lakers and Celts have had a decided edge in terms of the number of home games played.

 

The Lakers have played a whopping 25 of their 43 games at The Staples Center, while Boston has played two more games at home than on the road.  The Cavaliers have done just the opposite playing two more on the road than they have at home, while Orlando has played three more games away from Orlando than they have at home.

 

This is an important thing to look at when evaluating the NBA’s “Big Four”.  Early in the season, Boston was playing an inordinate amount of games at home.  When they hit the road for a long period, they dropped some games.  I’m sure the Lakers’ record will suffer when they encounter a similar situation.

 

I also agree that many “experts” are overlooking the Cavs’ injury problems.  Last week, the Hornets lost David West and Tyson Chandler, and dropped a game to Minnesota.  Sure, the wine and gold lost a game to the Bulls without West and Ilgauskas, but that was the game West was injured.  Since the players and coaches have adjusted to the injuries, they haven’t lost a game they weren’t supposed to.

 

This trip just reinforces that the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of this season’s elite teams.  The national media is drooling for a Boston-LA rematch in The Finals, but Thursday’s Cleveland-Orlando game might be a match up of the two best teams in the NBA.  When the Cavs get healthy, this team might just finish with the league’s best record when the regular season ends.

 

JK

 

In watching the NFL conference championships on Sunday, I was struck by the fact that three of the top four defenses, in terms of yardage allowed, were represented in the two title tilts.  The Steelers, Ravens, and Eagles all have excellent defensive units.  That’s why they win. 

 

Then it struck me.  When was the last time the Cleveland Browns had a dominant defense?  I couldn’t remember the Browns ever having a defense like Pittsburgh or Baltimore, and I’ve been following the team since the mid-1960’s.  Even in those years, when they were a perennial playoff team, they didn’t shut their opponents down.  It was always a bend, but don’t break philosophy.

 

So, I decided to check the Browns defensive stats since Blanton Collier retired as head coach, as this was really the end of the period where Cleveland was recognized as one of the NFL’s elite franchises.  I remember hearing my father and grandfather tell me that at that time, the Browns had the highest winning percentage in NFL history.

 

Someone born in 1970 or later cannot fathom that, as the Cleveland Browns have really been a mediocre team since that time, save for the Marty Schottenheimer/Bernie Kosar/ Hanford Dixon teams of the late 1980’s that went to three AFC Championship games.

 

I decided to focus on the yardage allowed by a defense rather than points allowed, because to me, a dominant defense isn’t one that bends, but doesn’t break.  An excellent defense allows an offense no breathing room.

 

In the 35 seasons the Browns have played since 1970, the team has finished in the top ten in yards allowed just eight times, most recently in 1994, the year Cleveland made the playoffs with Bill Belichick as head coach.  The team finished 11-5 that season, beating New England, ironically in the playoffs before losing to Pittsburgh, of course.

 

Only twice has the franchise finished in the top 5 in yardage allowed in this period, both in the 80’s in the Schottenheimer era.  The first time was 1984, the year Sam Rutigliano was fired and replaced by the then defensive coordinator as head coach.  The team went 5-11 that year and finished 2^nd in total defense, but the foundation was built in ’83 and ’84 for a defense that ranked in the top ten six times in seven years.

 

The other top five finish was in 1987 when the Browns made the second of their AFC Championship appearances, finishing with a 10-5 mark. 

 

The other trademark of a great defense is putting pressure on the quarterback.  On NFL.com, team statistics for sacks are only available starting with the 1982 season.  That would give me 27 years of data, 24 seasons for the Cleveland Browns. 

 

In over two decades of football, the Cleveland Browns have finished in the top ten in the league in sacks just five times, with three of those seasons coming in the Belichick years (’92, ‘93’, and ’94).  The high water mark was a 3^rd place ranking in 1993.  The other years, the Browns ranked 7^th (1994) and 8^th (1992).  Of course, we know the team made the playoffs just once in those years. 

 

The team ranked 7^th in sacks in Bud Carson’s first year as head coach, a season in which the brown and orange made they last appearance in the AFC Championship game.  The team’s last top ten ranking was in 2002, the only post-expansion finish involved, when they ranked 10^th, the last season the Browns made the playoffs.

 

What this shows is that for all the talk about offense and scoring points, the Browns generally win when they have a respectable defense.  They just haven’t had a good defense all that often.  Hopefully, Eric Mangini and new GM George Kokinis realize this and start building up the organization on the defensive side of the ball.

 

The Steelers have realized this for years, that is why they are making their 7^th Super Bowl appearance in a little over a week in Tampa.  It isn’t just a cliché, offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships.

 

JD

 

Monday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their biggest loss of the season, a 105-88 beat down at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.  It was the way the Cavs were beaten that was disturbing.  LA big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol dominated them in the paint. 

 

Gasol hit 11 of 13 shots from the floor, mostly from in close as Ben Wallace struggled against him.  Bynum hit a variety of short shots as he gave Anderson Varajao fits.  Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson admitted during the telecast that without Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the lineup, he wanted his team to pound it inside.  They did and they were highly successful.

 

Before anyone panics about the Lakers, keep in mind a couple of things.  One, remember that Ilgauskas is out and his outside shooting would draw Bynum away from the hoop, thus opening things up for James and others to penetrate.  LeBron drove to the basket several times and ran into a brick wall.  Also, his height would make it more difficult for Bynum to get easy buckets from in close.

 

Second, remember what Mike Brown made his bones at in the coaching profession…DEFENSE.  If the Cavs and Lakers would meet in The Finals, I feel quite confident that Brown would devise a defense which would prove a deterrent to Los Angeles’ length inside.

 

Another thing that will need to be done if the Lakers are the opponent is put LeBron James on the blocks.  There is no question that Kobe Bryant is an excellent defender, and he gave #23 some trouble when he was guarding him on the perimeter. 

 

However, James has a two-inch and about 40 pound advantage on Bryant.  If James went down there on a consistent basis, Bryant would not be able to handle him.  Likely, Jackson would change his defensive match up and put someone else on James, but if he switched to a guy like Gasol, LeBron would own the quickness advantage.  To put it simply, James’ versatility and size can give the Lakers fits, and in a long series, Mike Brown would use that to his advantage.

 

There is no question that the team’s chemistry is off because of the injuries to Z and Delonte West.  It took the Cavs five or six games at the beginning of the season before they started rolling, and West has only been out three games, so Mike Brown has some time before restoring normality.  Then again, the play of the Magic and Celtics don’t give him that much time.

 

The best situation for the Cavs is to finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference.  Obviously, getting that spot means they will have home court advantage until The Finals, at the very least.  But, it also would mean Boston and Orlando would have to match up in the second round of the playoffs, while the wine and gold takes on the #4 vs. #5 series winner.  Letting the Celts and Magic beat up on each other just might pay dividends in the conference finals.

 

JK