Most fans focus on the pitching and hitting of baseball teams, overlooking a key component of the game, defense.  Certainly, the Cleveland Indians pitching staff has not done the job this season, ranking 13^th (second last) in the American League in ERA.  However, last night, the gloves definitely let the pitching staff down in a number of ways.

 

1^st Inning.  Craig Counsell, who killed the Tribe in the ’97 World Series, batted with one out, and hit one into the gap in left center that Trevor Crowe played into a triple.  The ball could have been a double, but Crowe dove and didn’t come up with the ball and it rolled to the fence. 

 

That mistake cost the team when the next batter, Ryan Braun, hit a bouncer to third.  Jhonny Peralta, out of the world shortest term doghouse (one game) looked at the Counsell, who was heading home, looking back at the Tribe third baseman, apparently getting ready to get in a rundown.  Peralta ignored this, and inexplicably threw to first to get Braun.  He almost certainly would have had the runner at the plate.  Chalk up another heads up play for Peralta.

 

By the way, Eric Wedge said he had to play Peralta because Hafner couldn’t play (even though he will have the next eight days off), and Ben Francisco is struggling.  Has Josh Barfield been sent back to Columbus?

 

7^th Inning.  After Joe Smith, on the roster because he can get right-handed hitters out, gave up a home run to Billy Hall, who is hitting .172 against right-handed pitchers, walked Counsell, he induced Braun to hit a grounder to second base.  SS Luis Valbuena couldn’t get the ball out of his glove on the relay to first, allowing Braun to reach safely. 

 

The next hitter, Prince Fielder, hit a drive to the warning track in left center where Crowe got a glove on it, but didn’t catch it.  The ball was short of the wall, it simply wasn’t caught.  As a result, Braun scored, and so did Fielder when Corey Hart doubled of the wall in left.  Three runs scored in the inning, but if the defense was good, only one would have crossed the plate.

 

11^th Inning.  With one out and runners on first and second, Greg Aquino threw a pitch seemingly right down the middle to Mike Cameron.  One problem.  Kelly Shoppach didn’t catch it.  Whether or not the catcher was crossed up, the passed ball moved the runners to second and third, where the next hitter, J.J. Hardy hit a sacrifice fly to take a lead that Milwaukee would not relinquish. 

 

That’s four of the runs the Brewers scored in a game they won in extra innings by one run.

 

By the way, since the Colorado Rockies fired manager Clint Hurdle, they have won 12 of 13 games.  I’m just saying…

 

MW

 

The last two nights have been maddening losses for the Cleveland Indians, but still thanks to the division they play in, the Tribe is still just 6-1/2 games out of first place.  The bullpen problem has reared its ugly head once again, as Monday they blew a 12-7 lead, and last night Jensen Lewis couldn’t hold the Brewers in check allowing them to extend one run leads twice.

 

It seems the grand plan is to get healthy, which, when you think about it, really isn’t a plan at all.  In the meantime, Eric Wedge and Mark Shapiro have changed some things, but others are getting tough to watch.

 

It’s a little like hoping that winning the lottery will solve your financial problems.

 

The first change Wedge made was benching Jhonny Peralta after his horrible, seemingly disinterested game on Monday.  Peralta struck out three times, and wasn’t close to hitting the ball in either of his last two at bats.  He appeared to be going through the motions.

 

Peralta may be unhappy about moving the 3B, but he needs to get over it.  The skipper should sit him down (which he probably has) and tell him, he’s can’t play the spot anymore, and if he can’t get around that, it’s going to jeopardize his spot in the major leagues.  There is no question the Indians’ defense is better with Asdrubal Cabrera or even Luis Valbuena at SS, instead of Peralta. 

 

There is no doubt he is letting this affect his hitting. 

 

After Monday night, I don’t think the manager could look the other 24 players in the eye if he put Peralta in the starting lineup in the following game.  I still think a trade would be the best remedy here, because the player has not improved since his breakout season in 2005, and I don’t think he is mentally tough enough to play on a winner.

 

More changes are needed, however.  The Indians will tell you they don’t have any alternatives in the bullpen, but can anyone explain how Jensen Lewis has remained on the roster for the entire season?  Lewis has allowed eight home runs in 34 innings, and although he throws strikes, he doesn’t throw quality strikes.  Wedge is hiding him in long relief, but he had an opportunity to keep the team in the game last night, but couldn’t do it.

 

The Tribe needs an alternative to Ben Francisco in the outfield.  Francisco is a fourth outfielder, but playing him every day has exposed his weakness, which is he is an out maker.  He doesn’t walk much, and he doesn’t do a good job at situational hitting. 

 

They also need a starter who can give them more than five innings, which it seems is all Jeremy Sowers can give them.  How many times have we seen Sowers sail through the first three innings, only to see him struggle in the fourth and fifth frames?  By the way, walking a slap hitter like Jason Kendall under any circumstances in bad pitching.

 

Because of the division they play in, the Indians can still salvage their season.  However, it isn’t going to happen unless a bold move is made.  I’m sure Mark Shapiro is working the phones to try to make his team better, but something has to be done.  Once again, waiting for the injured players to return isn’t enough.  Grady Sizemore may still need surgery, and counting on Jake Westbrook, coming off major elbow surgery is fool’s gold.

 

HELP!!!!

 

KM

 

The rumors were all over the place yesterday.  The Cavaliers are talking to the Phoenix Suns about a deal which would bring Shaquille O’Neal to the wine and gold.  Many so-called “experts” said the Cavs aren’t helping themselves with this trade.  I have one question for them:  “Are you kidding?”

 

Yes, O’Neal is no longer in his prime.  He’s 37 years old.  However, he did make third team all-NBA, so he is most definitely still a productive player.  And if you get the ball to him in the low post, he will score, something the Cavaliers are lacking in their offense. 

 

The proposed trade would send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to the Suns in exchange for “The Big Cactus”.  These are two non-important pieces to the Cavalier puzzle.  Wallace can still defend in spurts, but is definitely a liability on the offensive end of the floor.  Pavlovic’s maddening inconsistency is well documented, and he no longer has a future in Cleveland.

 

So basically, GM Danny Ferry would be giving up nothing to get O’Neal, who has just one year left on his contract, the same as Wallace. 

 

The critics point out that the wine and gold still need a power forward and size in the backcourt, and there is no disagreement here.  However, why would anyone think that the team would make this the only move they would make in the off-season? 

 

The Cavs still could work a sign and trade with free agent Anderson Varajao, and also could deal a Daniel Gibson or a J.J. Hickson or Darnell Jackson to fill these needs, especially to teams looking to get younger or cut payroll.

 

Getting back to O’Neal, he would provide a compliment to Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and the Cavs could afford to limit the minutes of both big men.  This would keep them fresh for the playoffs.  If Shaq plays like he did this past season, he would demand double teams in the low post, opening up the perimeter game for the wine and gold’s snipers.

 

Also, you have to believe that O’Neal would be highly motivated, especially after Kobe Bryant won his fourth title last night.  Shaq would love to finish up with more rings than Bryant and playing with a dynamic player like LeBron James would certainly give him a great opportunity to do so.  Getting a chance to play in The Finals against the Lakers would perhaps be high drama, indeed.

 

It appears that the Cavs’ front office is going all out to win a title next year, potentially James’ last in the wine and gold.  As I said, this team had some weaknesses exposed in the conference finals loss to Orlando, and a low post scorer and someone with the bulk to defend Dwight Howard were two of them.  Shaquille O’Neal would fill both of these needs.

 

Remember, this potential trade is still very early in the discussions.  However, it would be fun to have the big guy wearing a Cavs’ jersey next season, and giving up two players who are expendable would help the Cavaliers as well. 

 

Even if it doesn’t happen, there is no question that Danny Ferry is going to do everything he can to improve this basketball team.

 

JK

 

What a weird day in Cleveland sports yesterday!  The day began with rumors of the Cavaliers contemplating firing the NBA Coach of the Year, and ended with a seagull helping the Indians win their second consecutive series. 

 

Anyway, here is the latest installment of CSP Notes…

 

·          The rumors have started with what the Cavaliers are going to do in the off-season, and one prominent name keeps coming up:  Rasheed Wallace.  I would be interested in Wallace, but only for a one-year contract.  If he wants two years, I’d explore other options.

 

·          Charlie Villanueva would appear to be a better fit for the Cavs, he is younger, and would give some length to the wine and gold.  The one question is his defense.

 

·          I would have to agree with everyone else that the ultimate decision maker on whether or not Mike Brown stays or goes is LeBron James.  Brown understands that, too.

 

·          It appears that Eric Wedge would like to avoid playing Jhonny Peralta at shortstop at all costs.  Luis Valbuena played there after the skipper was irritated with the formers error on Saturday, and showed more range than the statue-like Peralta.

 

·          Speaking of Valbuena, he does show some pop with the bat.  He has 9 extra base hits in 74 at bats.  Compare that to Travis Hafner (11 extra base hits in 78 at bats), Ryan Garko (10 in 132 at bats) and Kelly Shoppach (10 in 113 at bats).  Victor Martinez leads the team with 27 power hits.

 

·          With St. Louis in town tonight, it reminds me that the Indians first ever interleague game was against the Cardinals in St. Louis.  The Tribe won that one, 8-3, with Albie Lopez getting the victory on June 14, 1997.  Jim Thome had two hits and three RBI’s, while Julio Franco had two hits and two ribbies in the win.

 

·          Could Wedge figure out that Ben Francisco is not a lead off hitter?  If Jamey Carroll is in there, he should bat first.  Giving Francisco an extra at-bat is just deducting an extra out from the 27 available.

 

MW

 

It was a little troubling to see the comments from Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro defending the Pirates trade of outfielder Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves.  He defended Pittsburgh GM Neal Huntington, who coincidentally used to work for Shapiro with the Indians.

 

The Tribe GM was quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, saying, “As another general manager in a very similar market with similar challenges, I can say that the move was not only understandable but also wise. The greatest challenge in building a sustainable winner in these markets is ensuring that the pitching and position-player talent line up. Sometimes, that involves painful and tough decisions that are not easily understood by fans or players."

 

Does this mean that Shapiro is going to flush the toilet on another Indians season?

 

Last year, the Tribe waited until the beginning of July before trading free agent to be, C.C. Sabathia for prospects.  At the time, the Indians were clearly out of the pennant race, sitting at 37-51, trailing the first place White Sox by 13-1/2 games. 

 

There is no question that the Cleveland Indians are suffering through a terrible start to the season, but they are still just seven games out of first place, even with a record of 26-34 thus far.  Mark Shapiro doesn’t need to trade for prospects; he needs to improve his ball club. 

 

If the deficit were more than 10 games, or if the Tigers showed signs of pulling away in the AL Central, I would feel differently.  However, they aren’t.  They need to stop making excuses and go out and get some talent that can help this team win right now. 

 

I say this knowing that I have praised Shapiro in the past for making good use of his assets when it is clear the Indians aren’t going to win.  Last year, he acquired two prime prospects in Matt LaPorta and Carlos Santana by dealing players (Sabathia and Casey Blake) who would have left for free agency after the season.  There are many teams who would have played out the season with these guys for the sake of the fans. 

 

To continue to do this on a yearly basis gets old for the fans.  Some of us understand the realities of rebuilding a baseball team, but when it’s the middle of June, and the Tribe is less than 10 games out of first, dealing for prospects is a tough pill to swallow. 

 

Instead, Shapiro should make moves to strengthen the current roster.  If he wants to deal Mark DeRosa because he’s a free agent at the end of the year, so be it.  Just move him for a starting pitcher who can help right now. 

 

Why not look at the leadership of the ballclub?  Is Eric Wedge the correct man for the job?  Can we afford to deal a Ryan Garko because Victor Martinez may just wind up being the first baseman on this team in 2010?  Will Jhonny Peralta ever become the player we all thought he would be after his brakeout 2005 campaign?

 

The easy way out is to deal veterans for more prospects.  The tough thing is to make value judgments on your talent and decide who can contribute to a championship team, and who can’t.

 

That’s something this organization has trouble with.  With all of the 1B/DH types in the organization, doesn’t it make Garko, LaPorta, or Beau Mills expendable?  With Carlos Santana on the horizon, why wasn’t Kelly Shoppach made available in the off-season?

 

There is plenty of time to be patient.  The trading deadline doesn’t occur for another seven weeks.  If the Indians fall to 12 games out of first at that point, then trade to strengthen your farm system.  Otherwise, Shapiro needs to make his club better, and he should be looking at all options.  That would be all options, not just the safe choices.

 

KM

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished their season a little over a week ago, and now we can analyze their season with a more objectivity.  The disappointment has subsided slightly, so it’s time to look at what GM Danny Ferry needs to do going into the 2009-10 season, a campaign that has the potential to be LeBron James last in the wine and gold.

 

First, let’s get rid of the doom and gloom concerning this team.  Had Boston defeated Orlando in the deciding game of the conference semi-finals, the Cavaliers would be playing in The Finals.  The Magic was the worst matchup of any team in the playoffs for the Cavs, and they lost.  Therefore, they need to make improvements to the squad so they cannot only defend the Celtics or any other traditional NBA team, but they need to guard a hybrid team like Orlando.

 

The more I think about the series, I really think the long layoff after the sweep of the Hawks really hurt the Cavs, and that may have been the biggest factor for the defeat.  Cleveland didn’t play well defensively in the conference finals, but they played similar teams throughout the year, and beat them by outscoring them.  The days off affected the shooting eye of all players wearing the wine and gold not named LeBron James.

 

The Cavs may have been able to outscore the Magic had they been shooting well from outside.  The layoff also had something to do with the stamina of some players.  They lost their wind during the break.  You cannot simulate NBA games on the practice courts. 

 

Anyway, Orlando showed that the Cavaliers need to improve in the off-season.  However, the entire roster doesn’t have to be overhauled like some radio talk show hosts have suggested.  There is some dead weight that needs to be trimmed from the team.

 

First, Wally Szczerbiak is a free agent and will not be back.  He picked a very bad time to age, which it appeared he did between the Atlanta and Orlando series.  Joe Smith would like to come back, and the Cavs may have him stick around depending on what happens with the rest of the frontcourt.

 

Anderson Varajao is a free agent, and I suppose I would like him back, but I would have to look at the other options out there.  Varajao is a plus defender, and works well with #23 to get good looks inside, but he is a limited offensive player.  If you could get a power forward who can score, defend, and rebound, you might take a pass on the bushy haired Brazilian.

 

Sasha Pavlovic and his wildly inconsistent game should be moved if it all possible.  Pavlovic isn’t fast, but he is a pretty good athlete.  He just isn’t a very good basketball player.  Daniel Gibson had a disappointing season shooting the ball, but he has to handle the rock better if he is going to get regular minutes.  At 6’2” (or less), he has to be able to run the offense without having the ball taken away.

 

Mike Brown likes big guards, but he was smart enough to know his best backcourt players this year were Mo Williams and Delonte West.  Still, I’m sure Brown would like Ferry to get a guard who has some size, thus moving West to a sixth man role, where he can play a lot of minutes at both the point and the #2 guard spots.  The coach likes these guys because they make it tougher defensively for the opposition.  That is exactly what they need to battle a team like Orlando.

 

Ferry also has to address the age on the front line.  Ben Wallace, despite what he said after the game, is not going to retire, but his expiring contract is a large trade chip.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas would probably be best used as 15-20 minutes per night player, to lessen the wear and tear on his body in what will likely be his last season. 

 

That means the Cavs will be in the market for another big man.  It would not be surprising if Darnell Jackson or J.J. Hickson earned a spot in the frontcourt rotation, but I think the team would like a low post offensive threat as a starting power forward. 

 

The perfect guy would be Carlos Boozer, who is a good defender and rebounder, and can score enough near the hoop to occasionally command a double team.

 

The best news is that the Cavaliers, from owner Dan Gilbert to James understand they need to get better.  There will be no complacency in the front office.  A club record 66 wins was nice, but until they have a parade down Euclid Avenue, no one at The “Q” will be satisfied.

 

It seems like a lot is needed, but really a big guard and a physical big man will do the trick for the 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers.

 

JK 

 

Besides thinking of pulling my hair out while watching the local baseball team, other thoughts go through my head regarding the Cleveland Indians.  Most have to do with the way the lineup is made out, or the defensive employment of personnel.  The handling of the pitching staff and the overall philosophy of the organization come into question as well.  That’s what happens when your team is ten games below .500.

 

Some of this stuff is mind boggling…

 

 

Major League Baseball’s annual amateur draft is being held next week, and the Indians hold the 15^th pick in the first round.  The Tribe has not done a good job in recent years of picking talent in this method, which for a mid-market team should be the lifeblood of the organization.  This is clearly an area where the Indians need to improve.

 

The past couple of first round picks have progressed nicely through the organization.  The 2007 choice, 1B/DH Beau Mills is playing regularly at Class AA Akron.  The only knock on Mills would appear to be he is limited defensively, which means even at his young age, he is only a first baseman at best.  Last year’s #1 selection was Lonnie Chisenhall, who is currently playing 3B at Class A Kinston, and is doing very well.  Baseball Prospectus quoted an unnamed scout as saying Chisenhall has the best swing he has seen this season.  However, until he does it at a higher level, he cannot be considered a great pick.

 

However, outside of these guys, Cleveland has had a problem identifying talent.  Looking at the current major league roster, the only everyday players drafted by the Indians are Ryan Garko, Ben Francisco, Trevor Crowe, and the non-used Chris Gimenez.  On the pitching staff, the Tribe picked only David Huff, Jeremy Sowers, Tony Sipp, and Jensen Lewis in the amateur draft.  Although, Huff has some potential, there isn’t an impact player among this group.

 

If it weren’t for trades for other teams’ prospects and the Latin American scouting department, the Cleveland Indians would be in a lot bigger trouble than they are right now. 

 

Since picking CC Sabathia in 1999, the Tribe’s picks have had little or no impact on the big league roster.  The only other first round pick that is having some success at the major league level is Jeremy Guthrie, who would look good in the rotation now. The rest of the high picks are guys like Corey Smith, Brad Snyder, etc.   This simply has to change for this organization to go forward. 

 

One only has to look at Tampa Bay to see what kind of impact successful drafts can have on an organization.  The cornerstones of the defending AL champs were picked in the last ten years.  Granted, the Indians haven’t drafted as high as often as the Rays, but they are well below Tampa on the success meter. 

 

When Cleveland did have a top ten pick, they drafted Sowers, who is still struggling considering he was the sixth overall pick.

 

If you can’t sign premium free agents like the Tribe, you must draft impact players to stay competitive.  The Indians have failed in that regard.

 

Of course, some of the failure has been bad luck.  Adam Miller was a first round draft pick and was hailed as a great prospect during his time in the minors, but elbow and finger injuries leave his career in doubt.  Michael Aubrey started hitting as soon as he was signed after being picked in the first round, but he spent several years fighting injuries before making it to the bigs last season.  He no longer is regarded as a premium prospect.

 

This is another weakness of the Cleveland Indians organization over the last ten years, and for the Tribe to be a consistent contender for the post-season it has to get better.  Player development was said to be a primary goal of the Dolan ownership, but quite frankly, it has been a failure.  The Indians need to hit a home run with the 2009 draft.  They need to draft and develop not only impact players, but also guys that play in the center of the diamond. 

 

The days of drafting and signing guys like Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Brian Giles, and Sabathia seems like a long time ago.

 

MW

 

Now that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been eliminated from the NBA playoffs, there will be more scrutiny on the local baseball team, the Cleveland Indians.  The Tribe has been dreadful this season, mired in last place in the AL Central Division, but because they are in that division, their season isn’t over.  They sit just 7-1/2 games behind the first place Detroit Tigers.

 

Since the beginning of the season, the ballclub has made several changes.  One that should have been made over the winter was moving Jhonny Peralta to 3B and Asdrubal Cabrera to shortstop.  They re-made the bullpen after a shaky start by several relievers, bringing in veterans like Matt Herges, Luis Vizcaino, and Greg Aquino.  Herges and Aquino were signed in the off-season by GM Mark Shapiro to provide depth, and that move has paid dividends. 

 

However, if the Indians want to get back in the race, there are several more moves that need to be made. 

 

The starting pitching continues to be a mess.  Outside of Cliff Lee and Carl Pavano, none of the starters can be counted on to take the game into the seventh inning.  Waiting for Jake Westbrook is not a solution either.  Westbrook is coming off arm surgery, and no one knows if he can contribute at all this season.  Mark Shapiro needs to turn over every stone to find a serviceable starter. 

 

Jeremy Sowers is not the answer either.  He has had too many chances since his initial success in his rookie year for anyone to believe he is the answer.  Even last night, he was cruising for five innings, and then just lost his control.  I would give the benefit of the doubt, though, to another southpaw, rookie David Huff.  He did pitch well in his rain-shortened start last Thursday, and I’m anxious to see him again tonight against the Twins. 

 

There are rumors that the team is shopping Mark DeRosa for major league ready pitching, and with DeRosa now playing leftfield where the Indians have many options, he is indeed expendable, especially since he is a free agent at the end of the year.  However, it is difficult to believe another team would deal an established pitcher for DeRosa.

 

Another problem the Indians need to address is Kelly Shoppach.  The catcher is striking out at an alarming rate, and it appears his breakout season of a year ago was indeed an aberration.  Shoppach is catching on days when Lee and Pavano pitch, so he is doing a good job in that area, but his offense is a mess.  Add to this the fact that the Tribe’s best prospect is C Carlos Santana, currently playing in Akron.  If Shapiro can get an established arm for Shoppach, he has to think seriously about making a deal.

 

If they can’t trade for a starter, they should put right-hander Hector Rondon on the fast track.  Rondon pitched very well in spring training, and the Indians need only to look at the first place Tigers to see a young starter who has done well in Rick Porcello.  The Indians are afraid of having a young guy emotionally scarred by being brought up too soon, but if this team can get better starting pitching, they can make a move in the standings.

 

I do not want to hear excuses about the injuries.  Sure, Grady Sizemore is on the disabled list, but he hasn’t been close to the player he was last year.  His injury may have affected his swing, as his hand comes off the bat on outside pitches, but there are still over 100 games remaining on the schedule, so you have to keep playing.  Also, the Indians are scoring enough runs even with Sizemore being a below average hitter because of the elbow.

 

The Indians can still turn this season around, but it will take some bold moves by a front office that has been loathe to make such moves to get it done.  There are some tradable pieces here, but will Mark Shapiro pull the trigger to improve the starting rotation?

 

KM

 

In a few months, basketball fans might be able to look back on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season and think of the successes.  They had the best record in franchise history at 66-16.  They had the league’s MVP in LeBron James, and the NBA’s coach of the year in Mike Brown.  They finished the regular season with the league’s best record.  Maybe that will happen in a few months because right now, the only word I can find to describe the season is disappointment.

 

This comes after yesterday’s 103-90 loss in Game 6 to the Orlando Magic, who advanced to the NBA Finals by winning the best of seven series, four games to two.  The Cavs’ season ends one series prematurely.

 

LeBron James had nothing left after his scintlilating first five games, finishing with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.  These are great numbers for many, but judging by the standards The King sets for himself, they were rather ordinary.  The Cavs did not try to attack the basket, and they didn’t use the same set up which worked very well for the team in the fourth quarter of Game 5, setting up James at the free throw line, and letting him dictate the offense.

 

They also picked a bad time to be horrible from the charity stripe, hitting just 11 of 22 free throws.  Parlay that with getting hammered on the boards, 47-34, and you get a 13 point loss. 

 

The Cavs’ big men got in foul trouble early, with Anderson Varajao, the team’s best interior defender, getting two fouls very early in the first quarter.  Delonte West played hard all the way to the end, and Mo Williams stats look good in the box score, but he was unable to get it going early.  All in all, the wine and gold picked a lousy time to play their worst game of the series.

 

Much will be said about the lack of support James received from his teammates, and for the most part they didn’t play well, but the Cavaliers lost this series on the defensive end.  The Magic routinely exceeded 100 points per game, well above what Mike Brown’s crew normally allows.  They simply had no answer for the incredible three point shooting by Orlando.

 

Every basketball coach will tell you they are trained to allow teams to take 25 foot jump shots rather than get beat at the rim, but that conventional wisdom goes out the window against the Magic, who shot over 40% from behind the arc on the series.   The Magic play against the grain by taking so many threes, but they are awfully good at it, and if they are hitting from that distance, they are a tough matchup for everyone. 

 

I don’t blame Brown for the defeat, but I do have to question how he used James, runnerup for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, on that end of the floor.  He started using #23 on Rafer Alston, which would allow him to help on double teams, but after the first game, he should have been shifted to Rashard Lewis or Hedo Turkoglu who killed the wine and gold from the perimeter.  Also, Joe Smith should have received more time as his shooting touch from the perimeter was needed.  In the end, the three point shooting of the Magic made him useless.

 

After game one, the conventional wisdom was to make Howard make free throws instead of dunks.  Last night, he did both, getting six dunks, and making 12 of 16 from the line.  If he can make free throws consistently, he will join the trio of James, Kobe Bryant, and Dewayne Wade as the game’s greatest players. 

 

When you think about it, this series changed when Lewis hit that three in the first game.  After that, the Cavaliers played like a desparate team, trying to regain the home court advantage they played so hard for from the first game of the season.  If that shot doesn’t fall, it is a different series, and one more game would be played on Monday night. 

 

Instead, a potentially great season became a bitter disappointment.

 

JK