Before spring training began for the Cleveland Indians, we said one of the story lines in Arizona was how the Tribe would handle their top prospects.  Remember, this was a team that lost almost 100 games a year ago, so it would seem that a bunch of jobs would be open. 

 

Apparently, the ballclub has stayed with its tried and true method of bringing along players at a snail’s pace.  They will tell us that they are sending guys out now to give the players who have a legitimate chance to make the team more opportunities, or so the players who will be playing in Columbus can build some comradery.  However, that’s just an excuse.

 

Today, the Indians sent seven players back to the minor league complex, including catcher Carlos Santana, pitchers Hector Rondon and Jeanmar Gomez, and outfielder Nick Weglarz. 

 

The question is why the rush to send these guys out, since they have done well thus far in camp.  Granted, spring training numbers are not the same indicator they are in the regular season what with other teams playing their prospects as well, but why not let these guys play it out a little longer?  Let them play themselves off the roster. 

 

GM Mark Shapiro will tell you they don’t want to effect these player’s confidence.

 

Actually, the team’s top prospect, Santana, is the least accomplished of these guys during spring training, going 4 for 16 with two doubles and an RBI in exhibition play.  The other hitter on this list, Weglarz, was 5 for 15, with a home run, five ribbies, and nine walks!  He is coming off an injury plagued season, but he did play in the World Baseball Classic last year, so he has seen some higher competition.

 

For a team crying for effective pitching, the farming of Rondon and Gomez is curious at best.  Rondon, arguably the Indians’ best starting pitching prospect in the higher levels of the organization, was unscored upon in 5-2/3 innings, allowing just five hits and no walks.  He has fanned five as well.  His last performance was yesterday when he threw three scoreless frames at Cincinnati.

 

He was joined in doing that by Gomez, who is unscored upon in 5-1/3 frames, allowing just three hits and a walk, while striking out four.

 

Yes, yes, the Reds didn’t exactly have their "A" lineup in yesterday’s contest, but Rondon and Gomez were still effective.  More effective than some of the guys still on the roster have been.  Why not continue to give both of these guys opportunities? 

 

The likelihood is that the 2010 Indians will need three or all four of these guys during this season.  They shouldn’t be sent out just because someone "thinks" they aren’t ready.  The Tribe didn’t think C.C. Sabathia was ready in 2001, but Charlie Manuel pushed for him to make the team.  He went 17-5 that season. 

 

No one is suggesting these young players could have the same success in 2010.  But why not let their performance dictate when they are ready, not some amateur psychologist who thinks they may be devastated if they fail.

 

KM

 

 

 

Spring training has a little bit over two weeks to go, and the first roster cuts have already been made by the Cleveland Indians.  No one figured that Kelvin De La Cruz and last year’s first round draft pick Alex White were going to make the team anyway. 

 

However, the roster is starting to take shape.  The main battles going into camp were in the starting rotation and on the bench.  Here is a status report—

 

Starting rotation.  Jake Westbrook looked good against the Giants on Tuesday, and Fausto Carmona had a good outing against the Angels last week.  Justin Masterson has held his spot with three solid outings.  He appears to have a better changeup, which he is using against left-handed hitters.  He has fanned 12 hitters in seven innings, a much-needed attribute on a starting staff that needs some swing and miss hurlers. 

 

David Huff has been good twice and bad once, and so has Aaron Laffey.  Another bad outing might change their status.

 

However, the surprise thus far has been righty Mitch Talbot, picked up from Tampa in the Kelly Shoppach deal.  Talbot has made three appearances and has allowed just one run in eight innings with no walks and six strikeouts.  He may force his way into the rotation with Laffey going to the bullpen. 

 

Bullpen.  Five of the seven spots are etched in stone barring injuries:  Kerry Wood, Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp, and Joe Smith are locks, in spite of Smith’s struggles during camp. 

 

Rule 5 draftee Hector Ambriz developed an injury, conveniently, so he likely will begin the season stashed on the disabled list.  The guess here is the loser in the starting rotation battle will go to the ‘pen as well, so that leaves one spot left with the main contenders being Jensen Lewis, Jess Todd, Saul Rivera, and Jamie Wright. 

 

Our opinion is that Lewis should be tried as a starter because of his propensity to give up the long ball, which is a killer for a reliever.  Wright is a journeyman with a long history of stinking in the big leagues.  Todd has struggled thus far, allowing three runs in 3-1/3 frames.  That would leave Rivera, who pitched for Manny Acta in Washington, or a perhaps an extended look for youngster Josh Judy, who pitching in AA Akron last season.

 

Bench.  Although the Indians maintain that 1B Russell Branyan will be able to play the last week of spring training and therefore can start the season, his lingering absence opens the door for Michael Brantley to claim the LF job, with Matt LaPorta at first base.

 

Branyan’s injury puts the rest of the bench in flux.  Mike Redmond will most definitely be the back up catcher to Lou Marson, who will likely win the starting nod.  Mark Grudzielanek looks like he will be the reserve infielder, although it will be interesting to see when he will get some reps at 3B.  If Asdrubal Cabrera needs a rest, Luis Valbuena will probably move to shortstop.

 

That is, unless Brian Bixler takes one of the two remaining roster spots.  Bixler is a SS by trade, and the Tribe is using him all over the diamond, including the outfield in order to increase his versatility.  Bixler has been in 11 games already with 16 at bats.  His weakness is his bat, as he has struggling with the stick in the big leagues.  He has four hits in camp, all singles.

 

If Bixler isn’t on the roster, his spot will likely go to Andy Marte, who can play 1B or 3B, and adds a right-handed bat.  Marte is 4 for 18 thus far in exhibition games.

NOTE:  Bixler was designated for assignment shortly after this was published.  The Tribe claimed INF Anderson Hernandez from the Mets.  Hernandez is a switch hitter who played 2B, SS, and the outfield for New York last season.  He hit .251 with 3HR’s in 2009.  He’s a better hitter from the right side, so he could be a platoon partner with Luis Valbuena, which would also put Grudzielanek’s spot in jeopardy.

 

The last spot will be between Trevor Crowe and Austin Kearns.  The management would probably like Crowe to play everyday in AAA Columbus, but Kearns hasn’t recovered the batting prowess he had at the beginning of his career in Cincinnati.  His only offensive strength nowadays is his ability to take a walk.  He’s currently 3 for 16 with one extra base hit.

 

Crowe is 5 for 15 with four runs batted in and two walks in his action in Arizona.  He has speed and is a good outfielder.  Right now, it would seem that it’s his job to lose. 

 

There’s a lot of action left in training camp, but watch who is playing and who isn’t.  That usually tells you whom the organization wants to make the 25 man roster come Opening Day.

 

MW

 

 

As stated in this blog last week, the trade for Seneca Wallace was not the last move by the Mike Holmgren led front office in regards to the Browns’ starting quarterback decision.  On Saturday, the brown and orange signed free agent QB Jake Delhomme to a two year deal.  The former Carolina Panther is expected to compete with Wallace for the starting job. 

 

In a related move, the Browns then shipped Brady Quinn to Denver for RB Peyton Hillis, a 6th round draft pick in 2011, and another choice in the 2012 draft which depends on Quinn’s playing time.

 

Already, there has been outrage from the fans of the Browns complaining about Delhomme, who is coming off of a poor season with Carolina in 2009.  Why?  They need to ask one question before being critical–Are the Browns better off at the position with Delhomme and Wallace or with Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn?  The honest answer is absolutely yes!

 

Despite his poor season last fall, Delhomme has started 81 NFL games, more than Anderson and Quinn combined, and has guided three teams to the playoffs.  Don’t recall anywhere close to that kind of success from the team’s previous signal callers.

 

In fact, Delhomme started ten or more games in five seasons prior to 2009, and had a winning record in four of them.  He’s quarterbacked the Panthers to two NFC title games and one Super Bowl. 

 

You can make statistics say just about anything, but of Delhomme’s 18 interceptions last season, 11 came in three truly awful games (a 38-10 loss to the Eagles, a 20-9 loss to Buffalo, and a 17-6 loss to the Jets).  In his other eight starts, he threw 8 touchdowns and seven picks.  Overall, he 54-38 as a starter.  That’s a better success rate than any QB to wear a Browns’ uniform since they returned to the NFL in 1999.

 

The Browns will try to coach Delhomme to be safer with his throws and make the smart play.  Don’t force the ball.  However, if he continues to turn the ball over, then Eric Mangini can go to Wallace, who has started games in the NFL, and has been an efficient quarterback at the pro level.  Plus, as an added benefit, both Delhomme and Wallace will provide some leadership at the position.

 

You also have to remember that Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert are also going to pick a QB to develop in this year’s draft.  The stockpiling of draft picks, including another 3rd rounder in exchange for Kamerion Wimbley (more on that later), enables the Browns to have the ability to move up if they need to to get the guy that they want.

 

The value for Quinn dropped considerably from where it was prior to last season.  That’s probably the biggest problem Mangini created since his arrival.  The two potential starters he had going into last season went from being worth high draft picks, to being released and bringing a journeyman running back and a couple of lower choices in the draft. 

 

That said, Hillis is intriguing.  He ran well in college and also against the Browns when he played against them in 2008. 

 

As for Wimbley, apparently the front office looked at Marvin Benard, Matt Roth, and Jason Trusnick as being the equal of Wimbley in terms of production, so they cashed in their ticket and picked up another 3rd round draft choice.  Wimbley has had two good seasons with the Browns, but although he played better last season, he still didn’t approach his rookie year.  It’s not like we are talking about the second coming of Lawrence Taylor here.

 

The new regime may be doing things differently, but you can’t argue that the quarterback situation for the 2010 Browns is better than that of the 2009 edition.  If you take the emotion out of the decision, you will realize it’s true Browns’ fans.

 

JD

 

 

 

 

 

The Cleveland Indians have turned into a spring training juggernaut, winning their first five games.  Seriously, it’s better than losing these games, but there are always teams who dazzle people in spring training, but stink in the regular season. 

 

However, there are some things that stand out after the first week of exhibition play.

 

First, new manager Manny Acta is a breath of fresh air.  He doesn’t carry the somber, serious tone in talking to the media as his predecessor did.  He jokes with the players and keeps the atmosphere loose.  He probably will need to drop the hammer before the camp ends, and he definitely will have to during the season, but it’s nice to show that it’s a game that these men are playing.

 

Second, Grady Sizemore is healthy.  Last season, Sizemore was plagued by a nagging groin and elbow problems, and these issues were taken care of in the off-season. 

 

It seems people have forgotten what a tremendous player he is because of last year’s injuries.  Remember, this is a guy who had an MVP type season in 2006 at age 23.  He’s been the Tribe’s regular centerfielder since 2005, meaning this will be his 6^th year as a starter.  Yet, he will turn just 28 during the season.  He’s a three time all star. 

 

Having him back in the lineup on a regular basis will be a huge help for the Indians.

 

A third good early sign is the play of Michael Brantley.  Apparently, the young outfielder took the news of Russell Branyan’s signing personally, and has decided to make it very difficult for Acta to send him to Columbus next month.

 

Brantley has reached base in seven of his 16 plate appearances (5 hits and 2 walks), and has yet to strikeout, a skill greatly needed on the 2010 Indians.  He also has two extra base hits, which was a concern because he needs to show he can drive the ball.  It’s only 16 at bats, but it’s good to see how Brantley responded to a challenge.

 

The other young Indian to make an early impact with the bat is Wes Hodges, who has been moved to the organization’s most popular position, 1B.  This move is merited because Hodges had some problems defensively. 

 

He will most definitely start the year in Columbus, but he’s had six hits in his first 11 at-bats, with three doubles and four runs knocked in. 

 

Remember, pitchers likely aren’t throwing a lot of breaking stuff, so you have to look at hitting stats with a jaundiced eye, but both of these guys are making fans notice early in camp.

 

KM

 

The winds of change are blowing through the Cleveland Browns complex, and it includes the quarterback position.  The team acquired QB Seneca Wallace from Seattle for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick.  Now that Mike Holmgren traded for a guy who played the most important position in the game for him during his tenure with the Seahawks, it’s obvious someone is leaving.

 

Or should I say “someones”?

 

In a corresponding move, the team released Derek Anderson.  That move was very much expected. However, Wallace’s arrival probably means that Brady Quinn will be joining him in leaving the organization before the 2010 season starts.

 

Holmgren obviously brought Wallace in because he wanted someone who was familiar with his offense.  He also will be looking to bring in another signal caller to develop in the upcoming NFL draft.  Whether or not that’s the guy who will be the Cleveland quarterback of the future will be determined.

 

It is doubtful the organization will bring Quinn back as a back up to Wallace, just as it is doubtful that Wallace is being brought in to back up the less experienced former first round draft pick.

 

The former Iowa State star is 29 years old, and has made 12 NFL starts, winning five of them.  He’s completed 60% of his 556 pro passes, with 25 touchdown tosses and 14 interceptions.

 

Quinn is 25 years old, and has made 11 NFL starts, winning just three of them.  He’s completed just 52% of his 353 career throws, with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

 

Note the completion percentages.  The hallmark of the west coast offense is accuracy.  There is no question Wallace is the more accurate quarterback. 

 

Before you start to use the excuse of the Browns’ feeble offensive game plans, keep in mind that last season, the Seahawks offense wasn’t great in 2008, a season in which Wallace made eight starts.  However, Wallace’s record as a starter that season was 3-5.  Seattle’s record in games he didn’t start?  1-7.

 

Quite simply, Wallace has been a more productive player than Quinn when he has had the opportunity.

 

Quinn’s unfamiliarity with the new offense will put him behind Wallace in the mini-camps, that’s the reason the former Irish star will be likely be gone before long. 

 

However, if The Big Show can get another experienced quarterback to run the offense, then Wallace becomes a perfect back up and a mentor to whatever rookie is drafted as the future at the position.  Quinn couldn’t do that job if the roles were reversed, and it’s fairly obvious Holmgren doesn’t think Quinn can win as a starter.

 

As for Anderson, he was the victim of two horrible seasons after his Pro Bowl season of 2007.  He simply could never regain the magic he had early that season.  After the first half of the Steelers’ game in Pittsburgh that season, the Steelers took away the deep ball and DA could never adjust.

 

It’s better for him to go elsewhere and jump-start his career.

 

JD

 

As the weather warms up a little bit and the enormous pile of snow that blanketed the city begins to dissipate, we decided it was time to get some things off of our chest.  Some may seem silly, but others could affect Cleveland sports throughout the year.

 

JK:  Mike Brown’s problem with Jamario Moon. 

 

On Saturday night, Brown decided to rest LeBron James’ sore ankle.  He also said James needed a rest because he’s played a lot of minutes recently, but since he’s the guy who makes that decision, that would seem to be indicting himself, but that’s another matter to be discussed at another time. 

 

The coach decided to start Jawad Williams in James’ spot, which is fine.  However, when the team fought its way back into the game in the second quarter, it did so behind the offense of Delonte West and Antawn Jamison, and the defense of Anderson Varajao and Moon. 

 

Brown decided to go back to his original starting lineup in the third quarter.  The Bucks dominated the period, and that quarter basically decided the contest in favor of Milwaukee.  Mo Williams’ horrific shooting (3 for 17 on the night didn’t help either).  In fact, Mo’s shot has looked flat since his return (it’s more of a line drive shot), and his defense was regressed as well.  Brandon Jennings, who had been in a scoring slump, killed the wine and gold with 25 points.

 

But what stood out in the box score was Jawad Williams getting 23 minutes to Moon’s 15.  Jawad has been a surprise contributor this season, but if you can find anyone knowledgeable about the NBA game who thinks Williams is a better player than Moon, besides the Cavs’ coach, let me know.  Moon needs to play more.  Just what is Mike Brown’s problem with him.

 

 

While listening to the Tribe’s first two exhibition games from Goodyear, it seems the team’s veteran broadcaster would rather be working on his golf game.  People who listen to these games are hard core fans, and want to know what young players are doing well, and who are some of the young players playing in these games.

 

Hamilton sometimes doesn’t even know how the Indians acquired some of these players, and doesn’t want to give the lineups, just who the starting pitcher is. 

 

If he doesn’t want to do the games, let him stay home and let Jim Rosenhaus handle the broadcasts. 

 

The Indians have plenty of public relations issues coming from the ownership, and doesn’t need to turn off the fans turning on the exhibition games.  Hamilton is too good of a broadcaster for him to do less than a first class job on his homework.  It’s tough to follow these games because the managers make wholesale changes, but an honest effort is all we can ask for.

 

 

Much has been made of the Browns re-doing the contract of Josh Cribbs.  Some people are saying that Mike Holmgren has opened the door for other Browns to ask for a new contract, LB D’Qwell Jackson being the first to test the waters. 

 

Let’s spell out the criteria for the other players:  Make a couple of Pro Bowls, and then we will talk.  Anybody else should just shut up.  And no one wants to hear about promises made by Phil Savage and George Kokinis, neither of whom are with the organization.  There are new people in charge.  If Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert think you are worth more money, you will get it.

 

Otherwise, look forward to packing your bags.  These guys aren’t going to overpay for average performance.

 

 

This has been a recurring theme here, but the Dolan family’s communications with their fan base is truly amazing.  The Indians’ PR guru, Bob DiBiasio really earns his pay. 

 

Someone in the front office, maybe president in waiting Mark Shapiro needs to tell anyone named Dolan to please keep their comments to themselves. 

 

Telling fans the best they can hope for is contention once in a four year span isn’t going to sell tickets.  It may be true, but why say it? 

 

The Dolan family wonders why the fans don’t give them a break.  They wonder why the team has no buzz to it.  They shouldn’t wonder why.  The answer is staring back at them in the mirror.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Holmgren was hired as President of the Browns back in December, but his job really starts now.  Today is the first day of the NFL’s free agency period, and Holmgren and new GM Tom Heckert have been busy getting ready for this time.  Now is the time these guys can make their first impact on this football team.

 

The Browns released offensive lineman Hank Fraley and put second round tender offers on their restricted free agents, including LB D’Qwell Jackson, S Abram Elam, and RB Jerome Harrison.  The second round tender means the brown and orange will receive that pick if another team signs these players to offer sheets and the Browns do not match the offer.

 

In other words, Holmgren is saying he’d be happy to take a 2nd round pick in exchange for any of them.

 

Also, the team is reportedly trading defensive lineman Corey Williams to the Lions for a late round draft pick. 

 

Holmgren and Heckert are clearing the roster of players they do not deem to have a significant future for this franchise, thus making room for players who can help the Browns immediately.  Any extra second round picks received in return would help in making deals for veterans, perhaps a quarterback, on draft day. 

 

Also, the front office is not getting hamstrung in regards to the salary cap by paying too much for average type players.  This has been a weakness for this organization in the past.  For example, the new regime regards Jackson as a good linebacker, not a difference maker.  Therefore, they have decided he will be paid accordingly.  

 

Soon, QB Derek Anderson will also be released so as to not pay him a roster bonus.  Which brings into question, who will play quarterback for the 2010 Cleveland Browns?  Most likely, The Big Show will trade for a veteran to start, have Brady Quinn in reserve, and draft a developmental guy late in this year’s draft.  The accumulation of draft picks last year by Eric Mangini will facilitate that search.

 

In free agency, it looks like the first targets for the new management team are LB Scott Fujita and DT Justin Bannan.  Fujita was with New Orleans for many years, and presumably would take Jackson’s place at inside linebacker.  The Browns will be Fujita’s first visit.  Bannan played for Baltimore last season and is said to be meeting with both the Browns and the Broncos. 

 

Since this is the first off-season for Holmgren and Heckert with the Browns, it will be interesting to see how they operate in the off-season.  The decisions made right now will most definitely impact how they approach the draft.  The early returns say the new guys are not really enamored with the talent on the roster.  Look for a major roster overhaul before training camp starts.

 

No problem with that.  Remember that the Browns were 1-11 at one point last season.

 

JD 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 1990’s, the Cleveland Indians may have been the model franchise in major league baseball.  They had a brand new ballpark and a progressive general manager in John Hart.  It was Hart that started the practice of signing young players to multi-year contracts to control costs. 

 

They produced tons of great young players, guys such as Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Brian Giles, Sean Casey, etc.  They also traded for several minor leaguers who turned out to be stars, like Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Carlos Baerga. 

 

They took some gambles because they were an aggressive, progressive organization. 

 

Things couldn’t be any more different today.

 

Although the current administration under GM Mark Shapiro has done a good job judging talent from other organizations (Shin-Soo Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Santana), in other areas they have become a very conservative group, with an eye always on the balance sheet.

 

They put an emphasis on college players in the amateur draft, one, because they are easier to sign because they don’t have the option of going to college, and two, because they enter the Tribe system at a later age, they are at the peak of their career before they are eligible for free agency. 

 

For example, if they sign at age 22, and play three years in the minors, the player arrives in the big leagues at 25, two years before the 27-29 years of age that has proven to be the prime years for a player.  Since you have to spend six years in the majors before becoming a free agent, the player is locked with the Indians until he’s 31 years old.

 

Unfortunately, the best players should be getting to the big club at around 22-23 years of age.  Look at Grady Sizemore for example.  Sizemore was a regular at age 22, and was a star at age 23.  He won’t turn 28 until this August, meaning he’s in his prime right now. 

 

How many people realize that Sizemore is actually a month younger than his outfield cohort, Shin-Soo Choo?  Choo is coming off his first very good season in the major leagues, while Sizemore has been a regular for five seasons, and has made three all-star appearances.

 

This is also an organization very conservative when it comes to young players.  Carlos Santana is one of baseball’s best prospects and plays a position where the Indians have no clear-cut starter.   Lou Marson is the favorite to open the season behind the plate with veteran Mike Redmond backing him up.  However, Marson is actually two months younger than Santana. 

 

Why is the Tribe retarding the development of Santana, especially since they are not really a contending ballclub? 

 

The switch-hitting Santana, acquired in the Casey Blake trade with the Dodgers, should be considered a good candidate to make the 2010 Tribe out of spring training.  Why isn’t the current regime willing to take a chance on someone who showed he is a plus offensive player at Class AA Akron last season?

 

The same head scratching occurs with the signing of free agent Russell Branyan.  Branyan is a mediocre player at best, and although many are worried he is blocking Michael Brantley, he is really hurting the chances of Jordan Brown, who has won two minor league batting titles in the past three years.

 

Brown, 26, is a .308 lifetime hitter in the minor leagues.  He’s had an OPS of over 800 three of the last four years, including a career high 913 at Columbus last season.  He’s not a big power guy, but did have a slugging percentage of .532 last season.  And in a rarity on the Tribe, he doesn’t strike out a lot. 

 

Basically, he can flat out hit. 

 

Some would pooh-pooh his statistics because they were done in the minors, but minor league performance is an indicator of how a player will do in the majors.  Once again, for an organization looking to the future, why not give Brown a chance to show what he can do?

 

This is why it will be interesting to see what happens in spring training if a top prospect performs very well.  Already, indications are the Tribe will take the safe path, and send the player down for more “seasoning”.  As a benefit, the Indians also delay the players’ arbitration clock, which is beneficial…you guessed it, financially.

 

Small market teams need to take some risks, both in terms of money and in terms of player development.  The most risky thing this franchise does is trading the few starts they have for more prospects, thus forfeiting the chance to win. 

 

It’s time to change that philosophy.  Give the young players a chance.  Draft high ceiling players. If the Indians want to return to the franchise they had in the 90’s, they can’t continue down the path they are on.

 

MW

 

 

The news was released yesterday that Shaquille O’Neal would likely miss the balance of the regular season with a thumb injury that requires surgery.  The operation will occur today.  What this means for the Cavaliers is once again they will have to use the depth they’ve accumulated over the past year.

 

Anderson Varajao will log a majority of minutes at center, at least until Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ likely return to the roster on March 22^nd.  With “Wild Thing” playing the pivot, it means more time at power forward has opened up for newly acquired Antawn Jamison, and also the reduced time for J.J. Hickson will be put on the back burner.

 

It also makes the pick up of recently activated Leon Powe more important because he will get time up front as well.

 

O’Neal provided a huge low post presence on offense, but the guy who Mike Brown will replace him with will be just as dangerous near the basket.  Because the player who will become the new go to guy in the low post will be LeBron James. 

 

Just as James took over point guard duties because of injuries to Mo Williams and Delonte West, he will replace O’Neal in the post.  This is just another reason why James will be named the MVP of the NBA for the second consecutive season. 

 

It’s reminiscent of the Lakers’ Magic Johnson playing center in the NBA Finals against Philadelphia when Kareem Adbul-Jabbar went down with a leg injury.  It’s also another reason why James is more like Johnson as a player than Michael Jordan.

 

The difference here is it’s not just a one game thing for LBJ.

 

Offensively, the wine and gold will try to run more and use their athleticism to create easy baskets.  But, if and when they need a hoop late in the fourth quarter, they will go inside and James will be the primary option.  Jamison will get looks there as well because he is very creative near the basket, but LBJ is the first look.

 

Defensively is where the Cavs will miss Shaq most of all, especially with Ilgauskas still on the sidelines.  Cleveland is one of the league’s best teams in terms of least points allowed in the paint, much of it due to O’Neal.  You can still see Dwyane Wade driving to the rim against the Cavs and seeing him bounce off Shaq.  That’s the defensive presence of O’Neal. 

 

Between the size of Shaq and the length of Ilgauskas, it was a deterrent to opponents trying to attack the basket.  That’s gone for the time being.

 

It would not be surprising to see Darnell Jackson get some minutes to provide some of the bulk missing from the Cavs’ lineup.  However, no one comes close to providing the enormousness of Shaquille O’Neal. 

 

This is another case of the depth of the Cavaliers paying dividends.  Jamario Moon missed some time in January.  Mo Williams and Delonte West missed a great deal of time, yet Daniel Gibson was ready to fill in.  Actually, Shaq also missed some time with a shoulder problem early in the season, but Ilgauskas was there to fill in.  That’s why the team was put together in this manner.

 

Before any panic sets in, remember that the reason GM Danny Ferry picked up O’Neal was to combat Dwight Howard with Orlando, and the size of the Los Angeles Lakers.  It’s worked because the wine and gold is 4-1 against those two teams. 

 

However, with a six game bulge in the conference standings, the one remaining game against the Magic isn’t going to make a difference in the regular season.  If the big man returns and can play in the playoffs, particularly against those two teams (assuming the Cavs get that far), then there is no need to worry.  Actually, you will probably get a fresher Shaq at that point.

 

JK

 

 

It looked bleak for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of Thursday night’s game against the Celtics in Boston.  Their defense was non-existent and Rajon Rondo’s penetration was killing the wine and gold.  Boston was shooting over 60% from the floor.  The only thing to hang your hat on was the fact the Cavs were still in the game, trailing only by eight at halftime, 56-48.

 

The second half was a different game. 

 

In the first half, Mike Brown substituted freely trying desperately to find a combination who could slow down the green.  He used 10 players in the first quarter alone, with even Jawad Williams making an appearance in the opening stanza.

 

In the third quarter, Brown went to a lineup of LeBron James, Delonte West, Antawn Jamison, J.J. Hickson, and Jamario Moon with 3:27 left and the Cavaliers still trailing by six at 70-64.  The Celtics scored four points the rest of the quarter, and the Cavs trailed by just one at the end of the period, 74-73.

 

Mo Williams replaced James at the start of the fourth quarter, and by the time LBJ came back in for Moon with 7:48 remaining, the wine and gold was ahead 84-78.  In the meantime, Anderson Varajao replaced Jamison. 

 

You could say the defense of West and Moon, two athletic wing defenders, sparked the Cavaliers to a 20-8 run over an eight minute stretch. 

 

Suddenly, Rondo was contained.  Ray Allen stopped getting wide open looks from outside.  Hickson even blocked a short shot in the paint by Kevin Garnett. 

 

It just confirms what has been written here before.  This team needs the athleticism on the wings that West and Moon provide, and the coaching staff needs to realize it.

 

From then on, the game became a boat race with Cleveland outscoring Boston, 24-10 for the rest of the game, and 44-18 since that point in the third quarter that West and Moon entered the game.  The defense turned the game completely around.  The final score was Cleveland 108, Boston 88.

 

There is no doubt that Mo Williams’ four three pointers helped the cause as well.  Williams’ shot has been off since he returned from his shoulder injury, but he rediscovered it in the fourth quarter, and was the recipient for some wide open looks because of the attention the incomparable James receives.

 

This is also not to minimize James contributions in the 20 point win.  He finished with 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists.  He also played just 35 minutes, which could pay dividends tonight against Toronto. 

 

After struggling in the first three games since the Jamison trade, the Cavs have now won back to back contests.  Last night, they did it the way Mike Brown likes, with defense.

 

JK