Cavaliers Preview Game #71: Nets at Cavs
March 25, 2009LeBron Pushes Cavs To Franchise Best 58th Win
March 26, 2009While We’re Waiting aims to be the round-up of the recent WFNY-esque information for your morning viewing. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.
Second day in a row that we lead with Power Rankings: “1. Cavaliers (57-13) The Cavs shouldn’t be considered just title contenders anymore. They should be considered the favorites. Nine straight wins heading into tonight’s game against New Jersey, on pace to win 65-plus games and only one loss at home this season. What more do they have to do?” [Matt Steinmetz/NBA FanHouse]
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When isn’t it interesting? “I like the Indians. I think they’re going win their division. But their No. 1 starter isn’t going to go 22-3 again, their No. 2 starter went 8-7 last season and Nos. 3 through 5 are question marks wrapped in enigmas surrounded by conundrums. So at the very least, it should be an interesting spring and summer in Cleveland.” [Rob Neyer/ESPN]
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Hey Green Bay, want to trade up? “The Packers are in the process of converting their defense to a 3-4 and likely are interested in versatile Texas LB Brian Orakpo (6-3 3/8, 262 pounds). Orakpo did not disappoint, posting a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump, a time of 4.45 in the short shuttle and 7.26 in the three-cone drill. Orakpo held the rest of his numbers from the Combine. Thompson would never tip his hand, but I think that Green Bay would probably be interested in someone like him for their new scheme. I know Thompson was impressed with Orakpo amd expressed surprise at how big his upper body is.” [Gil Brandt/NFL.com]
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Speaking of OLBs: “If the Browns do draft an OLB, it is not to help Wimbley, but rather to replace him. Much like the other linebackers taken in 2006’s “defense” draft, Wimbley has not developed as a pro. Wimbley’s stalled evolution and the arrival of Eric Mangini signals the following: I feel we have seen the end of Wimbley in Cleveland.” [Dave Kolonich/Cleveland Reboot]
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Getting my hopes up: “I watched part of [Carl] Pavano’s outing about four rows from the field, almost peeking over the shoulder of the home plate umpire. When the right-hander kept the ball low, it sunk and slid and was difficult for the batters to hit squarely. After being rocked for a homer, a double and two runs in the third inning (two outs caught on the warning track), Pavano regrouped to deliver three more scoreless innings with no runner advancing past first base.” [Terry Pluto/Plain Dealer]
8 Comments
I want Orakpo.
“What more do they have to do?” The answer is simple: WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
Look, fair or not, Cleveland sports teams (and Ohio State) have developed a certain reputation, and it’s not a positive one: they may have good teams (think the Browns of the 80s), they may even occasionally have great teams (the Mark Price and Co. Cavs, the mid- to late-90s Tribe). But, at the end of the day, for a variety of reasons both internal (Earnest Byner, Jose Mesa) or external (Michael Jordan), the only thing they do consistently is fall short, and often in spectacular fashion. Now is it right that this current Cavs team be underestimated/questioned? Maybe not on its own merits, but it seems completely reasonable given the history of sports in this city. The Lakers and C’s were in the title game last year, not to mention they are two of the NBA’s great all-time franchises, so they get the benefit of the doubt from the media–they have been there before, and they have come out on top. Until a Cleveland sports team shows it can do the same, don’t expect the doubters to go anywhere.
Here’s hoping this Cavaliers team is the one to take care of business and bring that long-awaited title home.
“What more do they have to do?”
Buy Marc Stein a steak dinner and a pedicure to knock him to his senses.
Wimbley gone at this point wouldn’t be a bad thing…his contract is WAY to big for his limited production. I’m all for keeping him if he can learn to stunt or spin to the inside, but seeing as all he ever does is dip his shoulder and go around the takle, his salary is money better spent else where.
As for the Cavs I consider them the best of the east..but I can’t say they are the best since they lost to the lakers twice. I’ll take my chances against the lakers int he finals as I think we can beat them but going in I have to put them at #2.
The more I look at it, I am not sold on Orakpo. If it was putting him on the line at end, then I could see it, Im just not sold that he will be able to drop into coverage. Raji is the guy I am looking at now just for the sheer fact that him and Rogers on the DL would be nasty. They would cause a pass rush by themselves, and the LBs just need to fill the hole they create on run plays.
Can we rename the Browns to the Busts?
Couch
Green
Warren
Wimbley
Faine
Brown
Edwards (TBD)
Winslow (TBD)
Quinn (TBD)
I was going to research how much money was dumped here but I decided not to so that I wouldn’t try to hang myself from my cube this afternoon. Although I think Quinn is only due to make like a million this year or something cap friendly.
@ scotty – Just think, that money could have been distributed to the City of Cleveland (or just straight to me) and a whole lot more would’ve come from it. Just sayin’.
Then again if you don’t want to hang yourself from your cube, better not think about it.
@ b-bo
your dead on. now is not the time to get complacent. luckily we do have the best player in the game on our side, which was not the case for ANY of the other teams mentioned. LeBron is not just the x-factor, he may go down as the greatest ever to play in the NBA.
lets just keep winning baby!