While We’re Waiting… LeBron’s MVP Speech, Mo’s Nickname and CSU Football
Written By: Scott | Category: Best of the Web | Comments: 19While 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.
“Daniel Gibson technically is the starting point guard, but his tendency to use nine or 10 seconds of the shot clock while dribbling means that James takes over the offense in the fourth quarter, when it matters most. The result: James has more assists in the nine games than he has rebounds, a hallmark for a guy who truly understands the team concept. Most important, the Cavs have won seven of those nine games, with the losses by two points and one point. [...]
The Cavs had an amazing win because they got an amazing game and finish from their MVP. The only question that needs to be answered isn’t whether he deserves to repeat. It’s whether James can top that moving news conference from a year ago in the St. Vincent-St. Mary gym.” [Patrick McManamon]
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If not Mo, than what about Andy? “After Dwight Howard, who is the best big man in the East? Hard to say. But this squad was always going to need more than one big. Al Horford won the “next best big man” spot, but it could have easily gone to Bogut, who anchors a good Bucks team, Horford’s college teammate Noah, who has been the engine that drives the Bulls, or [Anderson] Varejao, who — despite a reputation as a low-skill energy player — is clearly the best big man on what has been the NBA’s best team in the first half.” [Henry Abbott/TrueHoop]
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Taking issue with Mo Williams’ “Gotti” nickname [Cleveland Frowns]
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The Indians and a free agent tht other people would actually want: “On Baseball Tonight they were talking about Orlando Hudson, one of the better 2nd baseman in the Majors on both sides of the ball, he was apparently very close to a deal with the Nationals and still is, but he has a very high asking price and is quoted as saying that he thinks he is worth more then the teams think he is. The deal with the Nats was apparently going to be a 1 year deal worth about 9 million. But apparently there are more teams that are talking with the the O-Dawg, and apparently the Indians are one of those teams. This is a direct quote from Orlando Hudson himself from an interview he did on Tuesday.” [Lake Erie Soldiers]
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And finally, Viking football, anyone? “Cleveland State wants to know if students would pay higher fees to support a football program. [...] The vote is the next phase in a process that began in late 2008, when then-outgoing CSU President Michael Schwartz floated the idea of a Vikings football team to enhance the college experience and campus atmosphere.” [Bill Lubinger/Plain Dealer]
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 2088 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
yeah. what about andy. he really deserves some notice. he’s an easier sell (drop g wallace or pierce off the team) versus trying to persuade anyone that mo belongs over rose.
added bonus… listening celtics fans whine when he gets picked over pierce!
added added bonus… he’d be taking the ‘annoying-hustling-you-have-to-respect-his-game’ slot away from the loathsome joakim noah.
Andy is and has always been a product of the Cavs’ system, in my opinion. Actually, I suppose it’s more accurate to say AV is a product of LBJ’s presence on the floor. And yes, I know that argument can be made about any player who lines up alongside a superstar. I’m not saying he isn’t a valuable piece of the puzzle, but i have signficant doubts as to what his effectiveness would be on most any other squad. Big energy guy, but I have yet to be convinced he is elite on his own merits.
For me, Frowns is bordering on becoming the “Jay Mariotti/Skip Bayless” of Cleveland sports blogging, attempting to make issues of things undeserving of any serious attention/debate. I won’t be surprised to see him on here today arguing his right to express his opinions and choose his subject matter, and he’s right. I just don’t agree with many of them, at least not recently.
The Tribe giving Hudson better than 1 year, nine million would be absolutely stunning. I can’t see the Dolans making that move when they can just plug in cheap prospects or utility guys–it’s not like Hudson is putting this squad over the top, nor is a 33-year old a building piece for the future.
I take issue with A.I. being nicknamed “the Answer,” because we all know the real answer is 42.
@1
I think Wallace deserves to be there. I’d take Andy over Al Horford, though.
Andy is a unique player and presents a unique problem. Is he a typical all-star? No. Anderon does not put up all-star numbers. But he does so many good things that are hard to quantify and plays such an important role on the best team in the NBA that all of us would like him to be recognized by the NBA. But how will that happen? All-Star? No. Sixth man award? Probably not. Defensive player of the year? Probably not. It is hard to to see where he will ever win those type of accolades.
@2
Regarding Frowns, I can’t take anyone seriously who thinks the height of cleverness is a piece of crap over a toilet. How old is this guy, 10?
@5 not saying it will happen for andy… simply saying it’s worth a look. there’s definitely a precedent for good d players on the all-star team… paul silas, nate thurmond, ben wallace come to mind.
@2 i agree andy’s a product of our system but also point out that he’s a key to our system. not so easy to replace guys who truly fit in your system. look at how orlando’s vinsanity experiment is going (last nite’s collapse by the c’s notwithstanding.).
What about Andy’s +/-? Does that bolster the pro-Andy argument?
In other news, how bout Rey Maualuga? http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4868922 Good guy.
Cant see the Indians signing Hudson. I know they were in on him last year, but woudn’t it have made more sense to at least look at Ben Sheets? OAK signed him for 10 mil plus incentives. Now if he holds up, they contend or trade him midseason. Who would have made a bigger difference on this year’s Indians? The frontline starter.
I’ll be pissed if they sign Hudson for 8 or 9 million. Rather have Victor going into this year.
Matt#2 – It helps but let’s face it, “new” stats aren’t what a lot of people look at, writers included. Baseball has proven that. I think most still look at pts, rebs, blocks etc. Andy is never going to stand up well in those catagories. I think he is really appreciated by people who watch a lot of basketball. I know Bill Simmons has his faults but he is a guy who loves the NBA. Simmons LOVES Andy and really sees how much effect he has on the game.
@b-bo, et al
Last year Andy was most definitely a product of the system. This year I think he’s developing into his own. He used to score all his points off of perfect feeds. Now if he catches the ball down low he can make something happen. On D he’s actively shutting people down, instead of just being a menace type defender. Being able to take someone off their game is so much bigger than blocks and rebounds. Staying with the theme here, you can’t measure that and thus it rarely gets noticed by the casual fan.
I loved that MVP speech.
The main issue of my post was with Mo suggesting he “deserved” an All Star berth, and that it was “a sensitive issue” for him.
That naming one’s self after a convicted murderer might also indicate a maturity issue was a subsidiary point. Anyway, I understand that there’s a lot of room for disagreement on the issue.
I also understand that pulling the Mariotti/Bayless card is an unpersuasive way to address an argument.
Re: the Frowns logo, I don’t know about “clever,” but a James Thurber quote comes to mind:
“He knows all about art, but he doesn’t know what he likes.”
Thanks for the link, Scotty.
Varejao does what he does but I’m sorry that isn’t enough to warrant a spot in the All-Star game, not even close. The only award his name should be mentioned with is for the 6th man of the year and I’m afraid Carl Landry and probably Jason Terry due to their offense will always be ahead of The Wild Thing. I have to give credit to Anderson tho because I figured once he got his $$$ from Ferry he’d take a powder but the guy has actually played better. Off the bench is the perfect role for him. If Powe can return and provide anything that’ll be a bonus so all the Cavaliers need is Jamison and I say lets rock! Oh and as of today LeBron James is hands down the MVP again, it’s not even close.
[...] this morning, we linked to a piece regarding Hudson possibly joining the Indians – an acquisition that would be the biggest [...]
@frownie YEAH!! pulling out thurber quotes moves you from bookmark pulldown menu straight to the links bar!
“It’s a naive domestic burgundy without any breeding, but I think you’ll be amused by its presumption.”
Thanks JK, that’s another great one. Thurber should be on the Ohio State flag. Or should have been on the quarter. Or something.
DONT YOU MESS WITH MY SCARLET AND GREY FLAG DAMMIT