While We’re Waiting… Indians/Red Sox ALCS, Big Ten Title Talk, and BDL’s Cavs Preview
Written By: Scott | Category: Best of the Web | Comments: 18While 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 in the sidebar.
Just a reminder that two years ago today, the Indians were beating the Boston Red Sox to take a 3-1 series lead in the ALCS. [Will Burge/Twitter]
–
“The Wizards aren’t the only team around the league who could stand to lighten up a little, or go with that particular flow despite the criticism of others. Take, for instance, the aforementioned Cavaliers. LeBron has been accused at various times of not being serious enough, of having too much fun, or—and this might be separate—of focusing too much on his corporate brand. Pairing him with Shaq, who has spent his entire career battling these accusations, and as a younger player supposedly wanted to do everything but excel on the court, might seem like a terrible idea. At least as far as appearances are concerned. But what’s the point of having O’Neal around if you’re not going to encourage the team to stay loose? Shaq will reinforce what’s good about LeBron’s attitude, not bring down the team by turning it into a stand-up act.” [Bethlehem Shoals/Baseline]
–
How the Hawkeyes win the tiebreaker for the Big Ten title if Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State all finish with one conference loss. [Rivarly Esq.]
–
BDL Previews the Cavaliers. Must read. “Few have been tougher on the Big Fella than I. I’m often sick of a lot of his me-first maneuvers, but you have to remember something very, very important: Cavs land Shaq for Wallace, Pavlovic
They acquired the guy, try to stay with me here, for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. They gave up … nothing.
So it’s not as if he’s throwing off chemistry. If things fall apart, give him all of Ben Wallace’s 23 minutes per game from last season. I’m sure O’Neal will better Wallace’s averages of three points and 6.5 rebounds. With a block. I’m sure Shaq, for all his idea-stealing ways, can top that. If he can’t handle that? Move him to the end of the bench. Dump the guy. Because you gave up, if you’ve already forgotten, Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to get him. This is found money, dammit, so stop acting as if you just bought something with your life savings.” [Kelly Dwyer/JE Skeets/BDL]
–
Not that you needed them, but here are six reasons to hate the Pittsburgh Steelers. [Matt/Kardiac Kid]
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1701 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
The BDL position is exactly what I have been saying all summer.
Shaq won’t cause any problems. BOOK IT!!
Shaq will be a critical part of the teams success. BOOK IT!! (with odds please)
There are only two words that need to be said when it comes to questioning how Shaq will act in Cleveland: Contract Year. He’s going to be good. Like milksteak good.
In any other town, meltdowns like the Tribe’s in the ‘07 ALCS and in the ‘99 Division Series would have nicknames and be a huge part of the local sports lore. Here, they don’t even make the top ten.
The BDL article mentions again (as others have) that we still have match up problems with LAL & ORL. Of course it’s impossible to match up well with every team but with those two in particular, does any team in the league match up really well against them? Is this a moot point because everyone has fits with them? I mean, that’s why they’re good, no?
@Charlie: Well, if the NBA Finals last year showed us anything, it’s that the Lakers match up quite well with the Magic. I would say the Celtics do as well. They took Orlando to 7 games and played them MUCH tougher than we did. And that was without Garnett.
Orlando is good, yes, but they are not the best team in the East, IMO. I still think the Celtics are a frightening team if they can stay healthy, and I think they showed that with Garnett they are a better team than Orlando.
I think Orlando made themselves easier to match up with by letting Hedo walk and bringing in a smaller Vince Carter who can’t shoot as well as Hedo on the perimeter (my opinion). Rashard is still a tough matchup, but when you no longer have to account for TWO 6′10″ guys that shoot from the perimeter, it makes it a much easier task. They also let Courtney Lee go in the VC trade, which I think will come back to bite them in the rear end.
It’s hard for me to see how Orlando got “better” this off-season, whereas the Cavs certainly did. Obviously, a lot hinges on Delonte being 100% and with the team.
I agree with Rock; the C’s are the toughest team for us to match up with in the east, when healthy.
In ‘07 they were already to Game 4 of the ALCS on Oct. 16. This year, the ALCS is just starting (and 3 of the ALDS series were sweeps). Is any sport worse to its fans than baseball (except for those in the big markets)?
If we’re going to apply the “when healthy” tag though I think Leon Powe comes in to the mix – which makes the Cavs much, much deeper and arguably harder to match up with if nothing else for the huge range of looks they can give you. Go big with LeBron at the 3 or go small with LeBron at the 4, Powe at C. Just unreal possibilities. When Healfy.
@ Clown Baby: I bet your favorite hobby is magnets.
If the Celtics are healthy it will be a minor miracle.
Personally, I think we’re better then them at full strength. I also think that there is a difference between healthy and old. The Celtics could very well be “healthy” by the summer, aside from the normal bumps and bruises. They are also going to be sucking wind. We saw it last year. That’s the Celtic’s fatal flaw with the way they are constructed. Orlando is going to be much better (than Boston) when it matters.
@8, no. There is a reason for it this year (World Baseball Classic), but baseball is the worst to its fans of the four major sports.
I don’t know Alex, I’m not a big fan of PSLs that come about in the NFL.
The other thing that nobody talks about with the Celtics was how they had an emergence of Big Baby. If the Cavs get surprised by an improving player like Gibson, Hickson, or the rookie Green, it will just be gravy for this team.
You can’t predict those year over year improvements, but it would be nice if it happened for the Cavs this season.
@ Denny, A huge range of looks is great in theory, and I don’t want to get blasted by folks on this, but we’ll still have Mike Brown setting these lineups. Is he going to be able to make the right lineup adjustments when we’re not mathing up well? How about forcing the other team to make adjustments to us, instead of just reacting? Time will tell, but I don’t think he has proven as much to date. Similar to no second half adjustments by the Bucks if you ask me.
@ jack – I totally agree with you. At this point we don’t know what Brown is going to do or how he can handle the team and its egos. When the Shaq trade happened, I said this puts more pressure on Brown and I think it’s increased with the plethora of talent the Cavs have on the bench now. We’ll see how it goes and it may be ugly at first, but honestly we just need things to be clicking come March.
OMIGOD, what is in that picture just over Casey’s shoulder?