“After the game, LeBron said that he was pleased the Bulls made the playoffs and pleased they put up such a fight. He went so far as to say that if the Raptors would have gotten in that it wouldn’t have been a test and wouldn’t have helped the team prepare for the next round.” [Brian Windhorst's Beat Blog]
Windhorst’s most EPIC podcast ever. Wait till the end when he starts going OFF on Dwight Howard.
“But there were too many quarters in this series where the Cavs seemed to think this was the regular season. Yes, they put the Bulls away in five games and did hold the home court, but they can’t possibly believe they can repeat this so-so performance and knock off Boston.” [Terry Pluto's Scribbles]
“As for the series, Chicago challenged the Cavs, especially in the last game, which could have gone the Bulls’ way had two Rose fourth-quarter shots that were all but in not somehow rolled out, and had the officials given Rose continuation and a basket in the fourth quarter when he was fouled by O’Neal. Those breaks went Cleveland’s way, and as a result the Cavs advance to face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 1 of that series will be played in Cleveland on Saturday.” [Pat McManamon - Fanhouse]
Derrick Rose and LeBron think Del Negro is a good coach
Good Vid of Game 4 Highlights.
“And if you’re ever feeling down, here’s something you can always remember as a pick-me-up — even LeBron James isn’t perfect at everything. He can’t even make clutch free throws with his off hand.” [Trey Kerby - Ball Don't Lie]
Awesome collection of picture over at WFNY. I was listening to Mike Synder last night and he said Shaq’s vest was the largest he had ever seen worn by a human being. Now I see what he meant.
Tweets To The Present: (follow me @tompestak)
@PDcavsinsider Please tell the Cavalier nation I am fine. LeBron is sleeping and I am playing Call of Duty. I will be ready for Boston. [LeBron's Elbow]
He’s up to 400 followers RT @LeBronsElbow Told them I’m fine, they keep poking me & putting me in machines. All they’ll find is awesomeness. [Brian Windhorst]
I’m not one of the people screaming for more Hickson, but last 2 games against Boston: 26 pts., 14 reb. (11 reb in last game) [Dan Labbe]
Love whoever came up with Lebron’s Elbow on twitter : )
The “Be Afraid of the Magic” article discredited itself when it said Charlotte would have beaten LA. I hate LA with all my heart, but they have a good chance to beat a solid team in OKC that is head and shoulders above Charlotte.
First time I’ve listened to a Windy podcast (BTW, why isn’t he on iTunes?) When I opened the podcast, the genre showed up automatically as Blues in my iTunes. I think that epitomizes better than anything else our approach to sports in Cleveland.
Does anyone else love the anger and personality Shaq brings to the team? Last night was the perfect example. He gets tied up by Brad Miller, makes the banking layup, and starts swinging his arms yelling, “Get off me! Leave me alone!” until Andy comes to hug him. He’s just so boisterous and you have to respect his character. So glad he made his way to Cleveland for at least one season.
Charlotte doesn’t even have cap space… right?
They don’t. Basically it’s just make upa new team and write about LeBrongoing there age. Doesn’t have to be realistic at all.
Haha, Windy 1, Magic 0:
“He gets called for fouls because he commits fouls.”
BURN!
I completly agree with Brian on Dwight’s fouls. I fail to understand time and again why they all complain so intensely while evry time we watch the replay the guy is either pushing someone out of position for a rebound or shoving another to the ground. I mean i dont neccessrily dislike dwight.I hate Orlando for the outing last year but i actually think D. Howard is capable of being on of the best centers in the NBA. he’s athletic enough But those fouls are just stupid and am glad he doesnt get away with it because he needs to discipline his game.That said there’s no way on earth he’s gooing to Bully Shaq. They will fight and claw each other if need be. I just hope while they’re at it it doesnt cost us a game. Speaking of fighting i dread to think what the next series holds. Its going to be an absolute war with the Celtics. They will do evrything in their power to make sure they can advance and if they cant they will make sure we’re wounded physically, mentally emotionally etc. I can see punches being thrown and people being ejected.That certainly makes great TV and i will be cheering on top of my couch at it but i really hope the Cavs have the discipline to contain themselves. If Leon powe Jawad Williams, Telfair and the like can come in and take the blunt for their teammates well and good but we need our starters in the game. But i know for that we’re in for a long hard battle with the celtics and Orlando if we advance.Cavs can and are very capable of sweeping but i doubt they will nor do they want to.(this is what Lebron talks about when he says i do my job at a high level. Extending a series) But its probably going down to 6 with 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter. But by the time its all done it will either be a great dissapointment or an Epic playoff series that will define a Cavs championship run or bust for a years.
I honestly wouldnt be surprised if this series only went 5…with Boston taking a win at home…I know Boston may be playing better but they arent as good as they were even last year not to mention two years ago. I dont see anyone on the Celtics stopping Lebron when it matters, and no Tony Allen wont be the guy. I cant see someone stopping Jamison when he does his ridiculous shots. You gotta think Andy and Jamison on the floor together with Andy bossing KG around…the only slight worry is Ray Allen being left wide open for 3, which we did a lot of the last time they played. Thats all the guy does, he runs around screens to get open for 3, we have to know that and expect that. I imagine Moon being on him or even parker/lebron…im not too concerned about Rondo…i still dont think he’s that good of a player..yes he’s fast and athletic but he cant shoot or really finish that well.
I loved Windhorst going off on Howard, that was great. The dude commits more fouls than he’s charged with…I never thought about the 3 second rule on offense for him, but i should pay attention to that more. It seems he just bulls his way 2 feet from the hoop and stays there for a easy bucket. But great rip on him and Van Gundy aka Ron Jeremy…
Leo, Rondo shoots 64% at the rim this year. Derrick Rose finished at 55% this year, so did Kobe, and Durant was about 67-68%, so I don’t think you’re quite accurate in thinking he’s not a finisher.
Rondo’s one of the best getting to the basket in the league, and on top of that, he’s probably the best finisher at his position as well. Don’t let his numbers fool you, he’s much better than his 14 5 10 suggest.
Lebron to…THE PISTONS?????
If he wants to make a mark in the NBA, he should GO AND REVIVE A ONCE-PROUD FRANCHISE and follow JOHN KUESTER the coach that made the offense around LEBRON that WORKED and STUFF!!!!
And with that, Mat is now welcome to the new age sports journalism world. A job well done if I do say so myself.
Lots of talk about finishing point guards. My top 5: Tony Parker, Derek Rose, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Rodney Stuckey
rondo is NOT the finisher rose is. not even close. windy said the same thing. percentages by damned.
what rondo does do that rose doesn’t is look for others when he breaks down the defense on the drive. which is more harmful, in my view…
More JJ hickson! That’s all I have to say.
Rose is great at getting underneath the big enough to just kind of toss it up on the glass, Steve Nash style.
That’s why Nash would be in my top 5.
Parker, Rondo, Rose, Westbrook, Nash
But you could certainly throw Tyreke Evans in there…. and Chris Paul… and Deron Williams…
@kj, Can you clarify what leads you to believe that Rondo is not the finisher Rose is? Because he quite emphatically is, by about 10%. Yeah, rose pulls off some incredible to watch, highlight reel material layups and dunks that stick in the memory, but he misses almost as many as he makes. Windhorst saying something doesnt necessarily mean its true: remember that podcast is done in one take, and I doubt he has all his stats to hand.
Let’s hope LeBron once again has “no regard for human life”
By human life, I, of course, mean Kevin Garnett
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siNxz63BHec
And I just have to add the Black & White version…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34b3hNVb9cY
Just for fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh2fn01cngg
Is Kevin Garnett even considered human life? Hahaha…
So, if I understand why the Magic are so good, it’s because the Bobcats don’t drive into the lane and Rashard Lewis shoots contested 3′s?? Why should big money players shoot contested threes instead of wide open threes? I must confess this strategy is a little odd…
Damnit, Tom. They have stats for shooting at the rim. If you take a layup, you will make it or miss it. That data is put into the form of percentages, so that it is relatable to other players. Derrick Rose makes fewer of his layups than Rondo. I really don’t know what else to say.
@issac
my lying eyes.
@bradleyh
the real statistical analysis question is, how many attempts does each player have? like in baseball, i can have a .400 batting average but have only 250 AB’s. that does not make me better than the guy who hits .340 with 500 AB’s.
the point i’m making is rose is the bulls go-to-guy. rondo is at BEST the third option. that makes a difference also in comparing the two. look, i’ve harped on this about the plus/minus stat as well. ONE STAT, in a vacuum, doesn’t really prove anything. it’s more complicated that that. always.
Well thought out response from kj…absolutely no room for that kind of logic here.
He is right though, Rose generally has to shoot more, therefore bringing his percentages down. Not saying he is better, but just saying you can’t go on that one stat alone.