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Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott using rookie…

PlenKeymn — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:29:16 +0000

With less than six minutes remaining and his club trailing by seven points, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott replaced his most effective player with a rookie point guard searching for his rhythm and jump shot.

Without context the decision sounds indefensible, and it’s certainly one Miami’s Erik Spoelstra or Boston’s Doc Rivers won’t have to make anytime soon. But Scott’s objective is more complex, his balancing act more delicate than many of his peers this season.

The Cavaliers coach is simultaneously trying to win games and develop youngsters. Sometimes, those desires intersect to form peculiar moments like the one Monday night at The Q as Ramon Session, the game’s leading scorer, was subbed out for 19-year-old Kyrie Irving, who had hit 1-of-8 shots to that point.

It wasn’t an exhibition or a meaningless late-season game, but the opener in front of a sellout crowd. Scott said he’s sure some fans second-guessed the move in the Cavaliers’ 104-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

But it’s one the coach made after mulling it for more than two minutes.

“It’s a developmental thing right now,” Scott said. “I’ve got to get this young man (Irving) used to closing out games and I have to find out what he has, what he’s made of when the games are on the line in situations like that.”

In his 12th season as an NBA coach, Scott estimates it’s just the third or fourth time he’s replaced a hot hand – Session had 18 points and six assists – in favor of a player on the learning curve. It’s one thing for coaches to say they want to cultivate rookies. It’s another to do it with a game on the line a season removed from a league-record 26-game losing streak.

Of course, Irving isn’t some kid fresh from the NBA Development League. He’s the top pick in the June draft, and one of the Cavaliers’ future cornerstones. Irving finished the night with six points on 2-of-12 shooting, while adding seven assists.

“I can sit here and put two minutes on the clock (at practice) and say we’re down four,” Scott said. “It still doesn’t simulate what you are going to go through when the game is on the line and you’ve got 17,000 people in the stands as well. As many times as he can be put in that situation the better off he will be.”

How will it play with season-ticket holders or the veterans who hear the horn and see Irving or Tristan Thompson, 20, trotting onto the floor? Some wondered how Baron Davis would react to such a scenario. The injured point guard was waived two weeks ago and signed by the New York Knicks.

Sessions, who’s spent much of his four seasons as a reserve, said he understands what the Cavaliers are doing. He offered no objection Tuesday to Scott’s late-game decision.

“That’s what the Young Fella is here for,” Sessions said. “He started the game and he is going to finish it. The Young Fella is really talented. You guys have seen that. That’s his job.”

Almost immediately after entering the game with 5:28 left Irving launched a long jumper his coach termed a “rookie mistake.” Nevertheless, Scott liked that the point guard wanted the ball and wasn’t afraid of the moment.

Irving converted 1-of-4 shots down the stretch along with three assists, a turnover and a steal. After the game, he appreciated the coach’s show of faith and his teammates’ support. Session reminded him of his 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and that 65 games remain.

Scott said once Irving gets accustomed to playing with the starters he and Sessions could see time in the same backcourt.

Irving wasn’t made available to the media Tuesday following a flurry of interviews the past few days. After patiently answering every question Monday night, he tweeted: “Learning process . . .”

His coach figures to give him many opportunities to learn on the court – sometimes at the expense of others.

Feel free to leave your comments below.

Questions for Cleveland Cavaliers center on bench

bobbie56hagen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:37:25 +0000

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Near the end of the Cavaliers’ 90-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons in the preseason finale Tuesday night at The Q, coach Byron Scott pulled backup center Ryan Hollins aside and let him have it.

Hollins fouled out of the game with 55.8 seconds left, sending Detroit’s Greg Monroe to the line for two free throws that pulled the Pistons within 87-86. After an active 11 minutes in the first half, Hollins had four fouls and three turnovers in the fourth quarter as his emotions seemed to get the better of him.

“When he picked up his sixth foul, I was yelling at him to relax,” Scott said. “I tried to tell him afterwards that he has to understand time and situations. You don’t want to stop the clock and give them two free throws and take yourself out of the game completely.

“So I was a little heated up about that. I think he understands, especially as a six-year veteran, you can’t make those types of mistakes. You’ve got to use your head a little bit more out there.”

With center Semih Erden still unable to play because of a broken right thumb, Hollins is battling Samardo Samuels for the backup center spot behind Anderson Varejao.

Scott said he had not made up his mind about that spot yet and joked that reporters might not know who the backup center is until Varejao comes out of the season opener against Toronto on Monday.

The rest of his rotation seems set, with starters Varejao, Antawn Jamison at power forward, Omri Casspi at small forward, Anthony Parker at shooting guard and, eventually, rookie Kyrie Irving at point guard.

The backups likely will be Samuels or rookie Tristan Thompson at power forward, Alonzo Gee at small forward, Daniel Gibson at shooting guard and Ramon Sessions at point guard.

The Cavs have until Saturday to cut their roster from 17 to 15. Rookie free agents Mychel Thompson and Kenny Hayes are the most likely candidates to go, but Manny Harris has yet to practice because of an ulcer on his right foot. As a nod to the shortened training camps and sped-up season, teams can dress 13 players per night this season as opposed to the usual 12 in past seasons.

But those final rotation spots likely will remain in flux until the season gets going.

So far, Hollins thinks he’s doing OK.

“I think I’m doing fine, right on pace,” he said. “There’s no way to really gauge what goes on. The season will come and we’ll be thrown into the fire.”

Luke Harangody made the most of the 56 seconds he played Tuesday. He grabbed a big defensive rebound and made two free throws down the stretch and could have won the game had he hit a wide-open 10 footer or gone to the hole as time expired.

“That’s a tough position. I think everybody on the bench, coaches included, were hoping and praying he would’ve made it [the winning shot] because it would’ve been such a great story for him just to come, in that type of situation, and be able to win the game. I put him in a tough situation, but I thought he did a wonderful job,” Scott said.

Erden remains a mystery to the Cavs. He has been hurt almost the entire time he has been in Cleveland since being obtained from Boston, along with Harangody at the trade deadline last season.

“There’s a big question mark with Semih,” Scott said. “I think he has tremendous potential, but we’ve not had the chance to see it when he’s healthy. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll get the chance to see some of it.

“The injury part is a concern, yeah. He said it was bad luck when I first saw him that he keeps getting hurt. I said his luck has to change sooner or later. I’m thinking and hoping for his sake it does this year. Hopefully it’s the last injury he has for a while.

“He has to start drinking more milk. He needs to get those bones stronger.”

Irving improvement: Irving has done enough already to impress fans and teammates during the preseason.

“I really like his game,” Varejao said. “He’s a smart point guard. He’s sees things that other players don’t see.”

Irving had 11 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals against Detroit on Tuesday, and he has averaged 16 points in the two-game preseason. Although he has made just 9 of 26 shots (34.6 percent), Scott was pleased to see him cut down his turnovers from five in the first game to zero Tuesday.

“I thought he did a really good job,” Scott said Tuesday. “He got better from game one to game two and I just think he’ll keep improving. I’m really happy with the way he’s running the offense. The only thing that he has to improve is on the defensive end. I know he can defend a lot better.”

Irving said slowing down was the key to taking care of the ball.

“When I played at Detroit, there were a lot of jitters going in my first preseason game,” he said. “In this game, I changed up my pace. I just slowed the game down like I did at Duke. I had to make quicker decisions, which will be one of my biggest transitions to the NBA.”

The last word: From Varejao, on rookie Thompson, who is more energetic than effective at this point, “He reminds me of me.”

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

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Cleveland Cavaliers’ Anderson Varejao is back on…

Tess Walters — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:53:40 +0000

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — For Anderson Varejao, it’s good to be back — in Cleveland, at the team’s practice facility, with a basketball in hand.

“I am so excited to be back and be playing again,” Varejao said Friday after working out with Cavaliers teammates Ramon Sessions, Luke Harangody, Samardo Samuels and Manny Harris.

Varejao, the Cavs’ popular power forward, declared himself 100 percent recovered from surgery on Feb. 12 to repair a torn tendon in his right foot. He suffered the injury during a running drill at practice Jan. 6, so he didn’t play basketball for 11 months.

Never before had he gone 11 months without playing.

“That was the first time,” he said.

After missing the final 47 games of last season, Varejao spent most of his time rehabilitating at home in Brazil over the summer. He was able to run and shoot, but he didn’t have any contact until returning to Cleveland about a month ago.

So nobody was happier to see the inside of the Cavs’ practice facility on Thursday than Varejao.

“It was good to be back there,” he said. “I feel like I’m at home when I’m there.

“I’m very excited. I’m really excited to see my friends and the fans. Everybody’s excited. I can’t wait for the season to start.”

Although NBA players were able to return to their team’s facilities this week, it will be another week until training camp officially starts — pending final agreement between players and management on the new collective bargaining agreement.

Varejao thinks most of his teammates will be back by Monday. He’s looking forward to that — and to getting to know rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. He met them before the lockout, but he hasn’t been in touch since.

He closely followed the news of the lockout and always had faith there would be a season, which was why he tried to stay in shape in spite of the uncertainty. Now he’s eager to see what kind of condition he’s in.

He said his foot gets a little sore after a tough workout, but he wants to test it in practice.

“I need to go through a practice to see how I feel,” he said. “I won’t really know until I start running and doing drills.”

He envisions a much healthier and improved team from the one that went 19-63 last season.

“Without injuries, I believe we can do much better,” he said. “We’re going to try to get to the playoffs.”

Preseason schedule: The Cavs will host the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 20 in their only preseason game at The Q.

The Cavs also will host a free intrasquad scrimmage at The Q at 1 p.m. on Dec. 18. The Cavs will open the preseason with a game at Detroit on Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The preseason schedule, normally eight games, was shortened after the lockout caused the start of training camp to be pushed back to Dec. 9, and the start of the season to be pushed back to Dec. 25.

Ticket information for the preseason game and scrimmage will be announced next week. The full regular-season schedule will be announced Tuesday. It appears (unofficially) that the Cavs will open Dec. 26 against Toronto.

Christmas schedule: In what many Cavs fans will see as a gift, the Dallas Mavericks will hoist their 2011 NBA championship banner before their nationally televised game against the Miami Heat on Christmas Day. That game will be televised at 2:30 p.m. on WEWS Channel 5, followed by the Chicago Bulls at the Los Angeles Lakers. TNT will open the day with a game between Boston and New York at noon. ESPN will show Orlando at Oklahoma City at 8 p.m., followed by the Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State.

Charge signings: The Canton Charge, the Cavs’ new D-League team, signed former Louisiana Tech guard Kyle Gibson and former Massachusetts forward Dante Milligan.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

What are your opinions.

Toucher & Rich: Scott Raab On Delonte West…

CliffutCoonia — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:09:48 +0000

LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat talks with Delonte West #13 of the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Scott Raab, the author of The Whore of Akron: One Man’s Search for the Soul of LeBron James and a writer for Esquire Magazine, joined Toucher & Rich to discuss stories involving Delonte West, the way the media covered the Cleveland Cavaliers and of course, LeBron James.

Raab covered the 2009-2010 Cavs team that included West, who moved on to play with the Celtics last season.

“Late that summer, he’d been arrested outside of D.C. strapped with three weapons including I think a shotgun and a guitar case. Just an awful series of events, a marriage that was falling apart and he was off his meds and it profoundly affected that team,” Raab said.

Several stories came out of Cleveland to try to make excuses as to why LeBron blew big games. Were they fabricated by people close to LeBron?

Raab also revealed that the Cavaliers partied the night before a 2010 playoff game and then fell to the Celtics in dramatic fashion.

Also, why does LeBron say it’s so easy to win when he never has?

Raab also discussed getting hate mail from LeBron’s die-hard fans and how LeBron has become one of the most hated athletes in sports.

Listen to the segment:

Toucher & Rich: Scott Raab On Delonte West & LeBron James

Not much else going on in the NBA world today.

Voice of the Cavs’ Joe Tait and Terry Pluto, best…

uniluendy — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:16:05 +0000

WKSU News Channel

9:00
The Takeaway^TM
The Takeaway is a national morning news program that invites listeners to be part of the American conversation. Hosts John Hockenberry and Celeste Headlee, along with partners The New York Times, BBC World Service, WNYC, Public Radio International and WGBH Boston, deliver news and analysis and help you prepare for the day ahead.

10:00
On Point
On Point unites distinct and provocative voices with passionate discussion as it confronts the stories that are at the center of what is important in the world today.

12:00
Here and Now
Here! Now! Imperative: not to be avoided: necessary. In a typical week, the show will cover not only all the big news stories, but also the stories behind the stories, or some of the less crucial but equally intriguing things happening in the world.

1:00
The Story
Less “blah, blah, blah,” more “aha!”

No dispassionate pundits or sterile academics allowed. That’s the credo of The Story, a new program hosted by the renowned Dick Gordon that fills in the picture of events in the news with compelling personal experiences.

2:00
To The Point
Hosted by award-winning journalist Warren Olney, To the Point presents informative and thought-provoking discussion of major news stories — front-page issues that attract a savvy and serious news audience.

WKSU Classical Channel

Classical Music
With John Zech

6:19
Johann Sebastian Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 5 (King’s Violins)

6:30
John Hebden: Concerto No. 5 (Cantilena)

6:43
Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 2 (Minnesota Orchestra)

Ohio

Former Cleveland Cavaliers radio broadcaster Joe Tait swore he would never write a book about himself.
The 74-year-old Hall of Famer retired last year, after missing most of the season with pneumonia and heart surgery. But after signing off for the last time, Tait took his piles of scrapbooks and called his best friend, Cleveland sports writer Terry Pluto.
Joe Tait and Terry Pluto’s new book, “It’s Been a Real Ball,” starts with Tait’s days in grade school in Illinois and travels through his 38-year career as the first and up-until-then only voice of the Cavs.
WKSU’s Amanda Rabinowitz sat down with them both, and Terry’s first question was, why Tait kept EVERYTHING.

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Not much else going on in the NBA world today.

Voice of the Cavs’ Joe Tait and Terry Pluto, best…

coiciorry — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:16:05 +0000

WKSU News Channel

10:00
On Point
On Point unites distinct and provocative voices with passionate discussion as it confronts the stories that are at the center of what is important in the world today.

1:00
The Story
Less “blah, blah, blah,” more “aha!”

WKSU Classical Channel

Classical Music
With John Zech

6:19
Johann Sebastian Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 5 (King’s Violins)

6:30
John Hebden: Concerto No. 5 (Cantilena)

6:43
Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 2 (Minnesota Orchestra)

Ohio

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Blue alerts for crimes against cops

There is no need for a national system. Each state can set up their own. There are already too many Silver Alerts diminishing the effectivness of the Highway …

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I can’t find any address for you Ford engine plant
#1 in Brookpark? May I have that address
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in purchasing a …

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I have been to Cedar Point many times and I was very interested in reading the article about the psychological study group that went to Cedar Point to “Face The…

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I’m sorry I missed Mr. Donovan over the weekend in downtown Cleveland. It would’ve been great to talk with him.
As one of those in daily support downtown Clevel…

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IT MAKES ME VERY NSAD TO HEAR THE PLANT IS CLOSIN G I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE WORKED THERE. I DREAM OF WORKING THE DOOR LINE AS A METAL FINISHER AND ALL THE…

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My grandmother, Alice Breymaier Hall, was born in 1888 in the No. 13 House. I can remember many Easters walking in the gardens. Zoar is a part of my life and …

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Thanks for visiting our blog =).

Cavaliers player Kyrie Irving continues his…

AlfredR7 — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:38:32 +0000

(WOIO) -

Former Duke Point Guard Kyrie Irving was the number one pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, heading to the NBA to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But now that the league is in a lockout, Irving is heading back to Duke to continue his education.

Irving, who spent only one year at Duke, is making good on a promise he made to his dad, who played hoops at and graduated from Boston University.

“I just said to Kyrie, listen, if you decide to leave you have to promise me to get your degree in five years,” said Drederick Irving.

Irving is enrolled in four classes, and while he made the decision to leave school for the NBA, it’s pretty clear he is not, and never was, a go to school just to play basketball guy.

“I love the vibe,” said Kyrie. “I love Duke. I’m back because I love it, Duke is the place.”

He already knows there is more to life than just basketball.

“I wanted to set my mark in the basketball world at the same time, me having my mark on the real world is something I wanted to do. And me having my degree when I’m finished playing this game, I’ll be able to do that.”

There is the quick update of the day.

NBA Lockout Update: Boston Celtics Schedule Loses…

LisaSilver — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:36:42 +0000

Read More: nba lockout, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Bobcats, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers

The first two weeks of the 2011-2012 NBA Season have been cancelled after the league failed to reach an agreement with the Player’s Association on Monday night (Oct. 10, 2011).

As a result, the following games on the Boston Celtics schedule have been cancelled:

Nov. 2: Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
Nov. 4: Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks
Nov. 5: Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers
Nov. 9: Charlotte Bobcats at Boston Celtics
Nov. 11: Los Angeles Clippers at Boston Celtics
Nov. 12: Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers

Unfortunately the work stoppage may continue after the two-week period expires as no new developments have been reported and the two sides are currently far apart on most (if not all) of the major sticking points.

The NBA and the Player’s Association are expected to meet at some point next week, which leaves them little time to save the remainder of the season if by some miracle the wrinkles are ironed out in time to play ball.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Two years later, Delonte West explains his…

Nathilliaryip — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:22:55 +0000

NBA stories don’t come more unsettling than the one that saw then-Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West(notes) arrested two years ago while driving a motorcycle (complete with sidecar) while carrying a disturbing amount of guns and rifles. The resulting fallout has created a litany of legal woes for the talented hybrid guard, who now plays for the Boston Celtics.

Little has come out about how West put himself in that dangerous, frightening situation until recently, when SLAM’s Tzvi Twersky asked Delonte to tell his side of the story.

West was already groggy from his prescribed nightly dosage of Seroquel when some ne’er do wells partying in his home studio came across his stash of guns and hunting weapons. In his take, West insists he was attempting to keep his mother happy by riding his stash to another one of his houses. From SLAM:

“Ma Dukes came running upstairs into my room, cursing me, saying she wanted all these MFers out of my house,” recalls West. “I came to like, What’s going on? I was already on my Seroquel trip. A few of my cats had found some stuff in the studio and they were living the whole gangsta life thing—guns in the air and this and that,” continues West. “And I said, ‘Oh my God. What the **** are y’all doin’ in here? Y’all got to go. Momma ain’t on that. Kids are running around upstairs. It’s time to go.’”

Gassed up from the commotion, West decided it would be prudent for him to relocate the guns to an empty house he owned nearby. So, with his other vehicles blocked in by guests’ cars, and expecting it to be a short trip, he haphazardly loaded up his Can-Am and placed the weapons in a Velcro-type of bag—”not a desperado, hardcase, gun-shooting-out-the-side type case”—and set off.

“I’m on the Beltway, cruisin’,” West says, voice high, emotional and inimitable. “Soon I start realizing I’m dozing in and out. I open my eyes and I went from this lane to that. I’m swervin’, and by the time I wake up, I’m about three exits past my exit.”

Yikes. It could have been a lot worse, apparently.

The interview is a must-read. It delves into West’s continued struggles with bipolar disorder, and discussing the heretofore unrevealed fact that West was under a version of house arrest during the 2010-11 season. It also includes the line “I ain’t lookin’ for no nipple to cry on.” So you can’t lose, really.

Related: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

Delonte West, former Cleveland Cavalier, tweets…

Mixfrisillsix — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:41:24 +0000

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Guard Delonte West has played six seasons in the NBA, with his contracts adding up to about $14 million.

The Cleveland Cavaliers paid West about $9 million of that bonanza from Feb. 21, 2008 — when he was acquired from the then-Seattle SuperSonics as part of a three-team trade — through the end of the 2009-10 season.

Cleveland traded West to the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 26, 2010. Though they regarded him as a gifted player, the Cavaliers understandably felt they could no longer depend on him due to his personal problems.

West played last season with the Boston Celtics, and is scheduled to become a free agent. Now, though, with the NBA and the NBA Players Association unable to settle on a new labor deal, the league has locked out the players. If the lockout continues into the season’s scheduled start in late October, players won’t get paid.

He’s not yet missed any paychecks, but West is preparing for such an event.

With the national unemployment rate at 9.1 percent — and much, much higher than that when including the people who have stopped looking for work – and with West’s savings from his modest income maybe running dry, he’s taking action.

On his @CharleeRedz13 Twitter account, West tweets:

It’s official.. Pride 2 the side.. just filled out a application at Home Depot.. Lockout aint a game..

Thanks for visiting our blog =).

Cleveland Cavaliers react to Shaquille O’Neal retirement announcement

thorrooferzaquxt — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:31:51 +0000

CLEVELAND, Ohio — J.J. Hickson had just one word — although it was a long one — when he heard the news that Shaquille O’Neal had announced his retirement on Wednesday afternoon.

“Nooooooooo!!!!” Hickson tweeted in tribute to his former teammate.

Daniel Gibson’s Twitter response was the same word but three times that long and concluded with, “Say it ain’t so Big Homie! Say it ain’t so!”

O’Neal, 39, announced his retirement on the new social media tool Tout, a real-time video messaging service: “We did it. Nineteen years baby. I want to thank you very much, that’s why I’m telling you first, I’m about to retire. Love you, talk to you soon.”

A four-time champion, 15-time All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP who was the 2000 NBA MVP and the 1993 Rookie of the Year, O’Neal is fifth on the all-time scoring list with 28,596 points. According to ESPN, he is the only player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for 13 seasons.

“Shaq is one of the NBA’s all-time great players and ambassadors,” said Cavs General Manager Chris Grant. “He will truly be missed for not only all he accomplished on the court but also the impact he made in every community in which he played.”

O’Neal, who spent this past season with the Boston Celtics, spent just one season with the Cavaliers — 2009-10 — which ended not as he or his teammates had hoped. The Cavs finished the regular season with a league-best 61-21 record, but lost to the Celtics in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, leaving O’Neal far short of the fifth championship ring he sought.

Limited to 53 regular-season games because of injuries, O’Neal averaged just 12 points and 6.7 rebounds in the regular season and 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 11 playoff games.

Obtained by the Cavs on June 25, 2009 from Phoenix in exchange for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round pick in 2010 and cash, O’Neal did a masterful job of toning down his big personality in order to fit into a team he clearly saw as LeBron James’.

From Miami, James tweeted, “What a career for Shaq Diesel!! The most dominating force to ever play the game. Great person to be around as well. Comedy all the time!! He will be missed!!”

O’Neal has called a press conference for Friday at his home in Isleworth, Fla., outside Orlando, but he told ESPNBoston.com’s Jackie MacMullan that a persistent and painful Achilles injury led to his decision. He told MacMullan he had more than five cortisone shots, over the objections of team physician Brian McKeon, in order to try and play against the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs last month.

O’Neal said he rejected the notion of surgery, which could require up to nine months to recover, virtually wiping out the second year of his contract with the Celtics.

“I didn’t want to let people down two years in a row,” he told MacMullan. “I didn’t want to hold Boston hostage again.”

As great as his basketball career was, O’Neal also built a second career in entertainment, including music, movies, television shows and commercials, and he also was active in community service and charity work, much of which went unpublicized.

“I tried to make people happy,” he told MacMullan, “and I tried to have fun. I think I did both.”

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Here’s the link to Shaq’s video announcement.

Cinesport video: Shaquille O’Neal retires

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

What are your opinions.

Cleveland Cavaliers Seemed Locked Onto Kyrie Irving At Top Of 2011 NBA Draft

Greatssmums — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:07:31 +0000

Read More: Kyrie Irving (G – Duke), Virginia Cavaliers

Sometimes it’s the day before and others know for weeks, but the top selection in the draft of any sport generally knows ahead time whether or not they are the choice. The same story is unfolding in the 2011 NBA Draft coming up in late June as the Cleveland Cavaliers, holders of the No. 1 overall selection, seem focused on Duke point guard Kyrie Irving as their primary choice.

While no official announcement has been made (nor is there any urgency for it), Irving has publicly stated at the NBA Combine that he will not work for any team other than the Cavaliers. Such deals are typically made under the table with an NBA team telling a particular player if they plan on selecting him. It’s the same theory behind why Boston College point guard Reggie Jackson has been completely missing-in-action while his peers are running themselves ragged through a myriad of workouts and interviews.

The selection of Irving is not questionable on paper, since most draft experts agree that Irving is the surest bet in the draft. While others might enjoy the upside of the several international big men or the possibilities offered by Enes Kanter in the middle, Irving has a complete game at a key position where most teams have a weakness. And that’s where the selection becomes a bit muddy. For it’s at the point where the Cavs are the most settled.

Of course, the players manning the point position for the Cavs are hardly franchise players, so the fact that Irving is their likely choice shows that they’re going all the way to the bottom to rebuild. Ramon Sessions and Baron Davis did a decent enough job for a team that needs a serious post presence and scoring along the baseline, but neither one will take the team to the next level either. As it was, they were simply the only position that was not embarassing this last season. That’s apparently not enough for the Cavs.

This does, however, give Cleveland a trade chip in Sessions, since there’s no way they’ll be able to trade Davis’ contract without taking on another albatross in return. If Cleveland is wiping the slate, expect them to trade Sessions, perhaps on draft day, and go with a point tandem of Baron Davis and Kyrie Irving to go along with whoever they choose at No. 4 overall.

There is the quick update of the day.

LA Lakers to introduce Mike Brown as coach today

oppopyPogitte — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:41:27 +0000

FILE – In this May 3, 2010 file photo, then Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown screams at his team in the third quarter of Game 2 against the Boston Celtics in the second round of an NBA basketball playoff series in Cleveland. A person with knowledge of the discussions says the Los Angeles Lakers are in serious talks with former Cleveland coach Mike Brown about their coaching vacancy. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, on condition of anonymity because the Lakers’ coaching search isn’t complete yet. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) (Mark Duncan)

EL SEGUNDO – The Los Angeles Lakers hiring of former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has drawn heavy criticism from the media and fans and today team executives will explain to the public for the first time the reasons Brown was selected.

Brown will be introduced as the successor to Phil Jackson an afternoon news conference at the team’s El Segundo headquarters. Jackson retired after
coaching the team 11 of the past 12 seasons, guiding it to five NBA championships.

In a column headlined “Lakers’ hiring of Mike Brown is the wrong move,” Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke wrote of Brown, “He guided (LeBron) James and the Cavaliers to consecutive league-best records in 2009 and 2010.

“But he is best known for being badly outcoached in postseasons as the Cavaliers failed to take the top seeding into the Finals, last season losing in
the conference semifinals to a Boston team that made them quit.

“He also led the Cavaliers to a surprise appearance in the Finals in 2007. But he is best known for getting schooled by his former mentor Gregg
Popovich in a four-game sweep by the San Antonio Spurs.”

A letter in Saturday’s Los Angeles Times from Erik Schuman of Fountain Valley called Brown, “the single worst non-interim head coaching hire in
Lakers history.”

“The Lakers will not only not win an NBA title under Brown, they will be lucky to make the conference finals,” Schuman wrote.

Josh Davidson of Baton Rouge, La. wrote on his Twitter page Monday,

“I’m still in mourning over the whole Mike Brown hiring. It’s really haunting
my sleep. Brown is a joke who rode others’ coattails.”

Davidson wrote that he would have preferred that Brian Shaw, a Lakers assistant coach since 2005, be hired as coach.

“He has the players’ respect and trust, plus he’ll run a similar system,” Davidson wrote.

Jim Buss, the Lakers executive vice president, player personnel, told Times columnist T.J. Simers he was surprised by the reaction to Brown’s hiring.

“I wish people heard him speak,” Buss said. “Let him show you what he showed us.”

Buss told Simers that Shaw and former Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman also were interviewed for the position by him, general manager Mitch Kupchak and Jerry Buss, the team’s owner and Jim Buss’ father.

Jim Buss called Brown, Shaw and Adelman “all fantastic coaches.”

“When the three of us talked later, we all came back to Brown,” Jim Buss told Simers.

Brown, 41, coached the Cavaliers for five seasons before being fired following the 2009-2010 season. He spent the past year as an NBA studio analyst
for ESPN.

When several news media outlets reported last week that Brown would be hired, former Laker star guard Magic Johnson, now a team vice president wrote on his Twitter page, “For Jim Buss, this is a bold move hiring Mike Brown and I hope it all works out.”

Laker guard Derek Fisher wrote, “Will miss Phil but excited to start a new chapter under Mike Brown. Looking forward to a different style and
energy!!”

On his Twitter page in response to a question, Laker center Pau Gasol wrote, “I’m excited about our new coach. I hope he can lead us to more
titles.”

Los Angeles Clippers guard Mo Williams, who played for Brown for two seasons in Cleveland wrote, “Lakers won’t be sorry for that hiring.”

Brown had a 272-138 record with the Cavaliers, and was named as the NBA’s Coach of the Year for the 2008-2009 season, when he coached Cleveland to a franchise-best 66-16 record.

Brown graduated from the University of San Diego in 1992 and began his NBA career that year with the Denver Nuggets as a scout and video coordinator.

Following five seasons with Denver, he became an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards in 1997, remaining there until 2000 when he began a
three-season stint as an assistant coach with San Antonio. Brown was the Indiana Pacers associate head coach in the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Lakers to introduce Mike Brown as coach today in El Segundo

FaltWeats — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:47:34 +0000

Mike Brown will be introduced as the Lakers’ head coach today. Mark Duncan/Associated Press (Mark Duncan)

Lakers To Introduce Mike Brown as Coach Today

The Los Angeles Lakers hiring of former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has drawn heavy criticism from the media and fans and today team executives will explain to the public for the first time the reasons Brown was selected.

Brown will be introduced as the successor to Phil Jackson an afternoon news conference at the team’s El Segundo headquarters. Jackson retired after coaching the team 11 of the past 12 seasons, guiding it to five NBA championships.

“But he is best known for being badly outcoached in postseasons as the Cavaliers failed to take the top seeding into the Finals, last season losing in the conference semifinals to a Boston team that made them quit.

“He also led the Cavaliers to a surprise appearance in the Finals in 2007. But he is best known for getting schooled by his former mentor Gregg Popovich in a four-game sweep by the San Antonio Spurs.”

A letter in Saturday’s Los Angeles Times from Erik Schuman of Fountain Valley called Brown, “the single worst non-interim head coaching hire in Lakers history.”

“The Lakers will not only not win an NBA title under Brown, they will be lucky to make the conference finals,”

Schuman wrote.

Josh Davidson of Baton Rouge, La. wrote on his Twitter page Monday, “I’m still in mourning over the whole Mike Brown hiring. It’s really haunting my sleep. Brown is a joke who rode others’ coattails.”

Davidson wrote that he would have preferred that Brian Shaw, a Lakers assistant coach since 2005, be hired as coach.

“He has the players’ respect and trust, plus he’ll run a similar system,” Davidson wrote.

Jim Buss, the Lakers executive vice president, player personnel, told Times columnist T.J. Simers he was surprised by the reaction to Brown’s hiring.

“I wish people heard him speak,” Buss said. “Let him show you what he showed us.”

Jim Buss called Brown, Shaw and Adelman “all fantastic coaches.”

“When the three of us talked later, we all came back to Brown,” Jim Buss told Simers.

Brown, 41, coached the Cavaliers for five seasons before being fired following the 2009-2010 season. He spent the past year as an NBA studio analyst for ESPN.

Laker guard Derek Fisher wrote, “Will miss Phil but excited to start a new chapter under Mike Brown. Looking forward to a different style and energy!!”

On his Twitter page in response to a question, Laker center Pau Gasol wrote, “I’m excited about our new coach. I hope he can lead us to more titles.”

Los Angeles Clippers guard Mo Williams, who played for Brown for two seasons in Cleveland wrote, “Lakers won’t be sorry for that hiring.”

Brown had a 272-138 record with the Cavaliers, and was named as the NBA’s Coach of the Year for the 2008-2009 season, when he coached Cleveland to a franchise-best 66-16 record.

Brown graduated from the University of San Diego in 1992 and began his NBA career that year with the Denver Nuggets as a scout and video coordinator.

Following five seasons with Denver, he became an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards in 1997, remaining there until 2000 when he began a three-season stint as an assistant coach with San Antonio. Brown was the Indiana Pacers associate head coach in the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Lakers to introduce Mike Brown as coach today

Clultypaptall — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:41:00 +0000

Head coach Mike Brown of the Cleveland Cavaliers calls out instructions while playing the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 1, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio.