While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
“I told Mr. Brandon this; describing briefly the Cavaliers Fan Magazine I was referencing. He said he was thrilled to be a part of it, and really appreciated the Cavs fans remembering and celebrating his career this way. It honestly meant something to him. I’d come to find out that is probably because Terrell Brandon never wanted to leave Cleveland in the first place. He said he dreamed of playing 15 years as a member of the Cavaliers. He was devastated when he left. He loved the city, loved the fans, and had a personal relationship with everyone in the organization – from his teammates to the workers who filled Gund Arena.
Despite that, in late September, 1997, Terrell Brandon would be forced to leave. He had spent his NBA career to that point a Cavalier, after being drafted 11th overall in 1991 from Oregon. Along with Brandon, the Cavs also sent Tyrone Hill and a 1998 1st round pick (top-10 protected) to the Milwaukee Bucks. They traded Vin Baker to Seattle, and the Supersonics dealt Shawn Kemp to Cleveland. In an early October article discussing the trade, Sports Illustrated’s Jackie MacMullen included the following line: “Embry is optimistic about how Kemp will fit in with the Cavs. “Actually, we look at it as a fresh start,” Embry says. “I don’t anticipate any problems with Shawn.”
The magnitude with which that prediction was wrong is something that will forever live in Cavaliers history.” [Bowers/Stepien Rules]
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“One of the more interesting individual matchups has a Browns rookie right tackle facing a $100 million man, as Mitchell Schwartz will try to block a guy considered one of the league’s premier pass rushers. “Oh boy,” Browns offensive coordinator Brad Childress said when asked the challenges Williams will present. “Speed, size, length, reach.”
Childress called Williams a power guy with the ability to speed rush as well. It’s a tough matchup for any tackle, much less a rookie, much less a rookie learning on the fly. Schwartz has had the typical rookie curve. He started slow, looked lost in a couple preseason games and saw how fast the NFL game can be in the opener.” [McManamon/FSO]
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A Buckeye defensive breakdown analysis- “The other primary cause of explosive plays was Ohio State getting beat in man coverage. OSU played more first-half man coverage in an attempt to increase pressure. The problem for OSU in doing so is not their cornerbacks, who are a strength of this team. But Ohio State still has to account for three other receiving threats and does not have linebackers and safeties whose strength is man coverage. For instance, here is the jailbreak screen that Cal had so much success with. OSU blitzes and plays man coverage behind it. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the opposing team for having a screen call when the defense blitzes, but the man coverage defenders are slow to react and get blocked.” [Fulton/Eleven Warriors]
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“Even his true shooting percentage over March and April (47.6%), when he peaked as a rookie, placed him 122nd. I am not saying that Tristan can not reach whatever level he aspires to…but he has a ways to go. On offense, he needs to keep the ball high when in the paint. Obviously a fifteen-footer and consistent arc on his freebies would prove helpful. An explosive face-up move from both elbows seems most readily available as an offensive skill, but some post / countermoves also could reside on his wish-list.
This season serves as an important glimpse of TT’s ability to either reach elite levels or towards settling into valuable-rotation-player status. I will definitely be rooting for the former.” [Hetrick/Cavs the Blog]
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And finally, we have a winner in the facial hair of the year contest (sorry Ben)- [Kegs and Eggs]
