Brian Windhorst's Cavaliers Blog

Here ye, here ye, new blog is up and running!

2005-09-25T23:17:00.000-07:00

New site is ready to roll. The link is below, check it out and tell all your friends:

http://blogs.ohio.com/cavaliers_blog/

The new blog will be linked off the front page of Ohio.com and my stories. Thanks for making this a regular stop and I look forward to seeing all of you over at the new place.

Brian

Changes are afoot

2005-09-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

Good day, blog loyalists.

Just wanted to give you all a heads up that this little section of the blogosphere will be moving to another site in the near future. It's in an effort to make the blog better as it gears up for its second Cavs season. Hopefully you will all like it.

The site's gotten over a 100,000 hits (the counter at the bottom wasn't added until midseason last year) and generated lots of response. Most of it calls for more, which I'm going to do this season.

I'll post all the details here when the new site is up and running and the links at the bottom of my stories on Ohio.com will change as well.

Until then, as always, thanks and take care,
Brian

Tryin' to be like Mark

2005-09-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

After all the media had cleared out of the Damon Jones press conference yesterday at Gund, ahem, Quicken Loans, Arena, Danny Ferry wanted to talk baseball.

Next door the Indians were about to start another winning effort. One of his best friends, Tribe GM Mark Shapiro, has his budding masterpiece continuing to mature. Count Ferry as one of those who is in awe of Shapiro's work rebuilding the Indians and how is long ago promise of "2005 is our year" is coming true.

Ferry only wishes he's half as successful with his maneuvers.

Several e-mailers over the last week have suggested Danny Ferry be made president, or at least the head of FEMA. I'll, too, tip my cap to Ferry this offseason. He had a massive responsibility: to properly spend $28 million in cap space. He added a dynamic potential superstar in Larry Hughes, re-signed an All-Star in his prime in Zydrunas Ilgauskas, added a multi-talented veteran who can shoot and play multiple positions in Donyell Marshall, and picked up probably the best shooter on the open market in Damon Jones.

As evidenced by the e-mails and some of the talk shows I've heard, many fans are down right giddy with the moves. I'll say, too, that for the most part I think Ferry has done an excellent job. I think he paid fair market value for Jones and Marshall and actually got Hughes to turn down more guaranteed money from the Wizards. I think he gave Z too many years (5 for $53 million), but I guess he did what he had to do get the deal done.

However, the reason Ferry feels a little envy for Shapiro is that his buddy's had much more time to do his job and now knows many of his bets have paid off. Shapiro was given years to rebuild, Ferry's Cavs better win this year or else.

With all these guys now in long-term deals and Eric Snow and Ira Newble signed for many years, the Cavs are pretty much locked into this roster. Any player can be traded and any deal can be made, but for the most part these are your Cavs. It's Ferry's best shot at this point in time and he knows all too well exactly what I'd say to fans: He's worked hard, he's spent money, but the proof will be in the win-loss record, not the preseason excitement.

Those who love Ferry today, could be ready to string him up tomorrow.

Borrowing from George Will's view of having fidelity to his staunch conservatism, sum it up like this: The NBA is a demanding mistress and she can really pass out migraines.

p.s. ESPN Insider John Hollinger is good at digesting all sorts of statistics and compiling various lists. Last month he wrote this on free agent shooters. If you don't have insider, he determined Damon Jones was the second best available shooter on the free agent market and Donyell Marshall was third. The 76ers' Kyle Korver was first.

p.p.s. I'll have some more links for you later, currently Ohio.com is acting up and I can't link my recent stories on Jones or my notebook today where I report the Cavs may sign Alan Henderson.

Take care all,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Varejao blow

2005-09-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

Injuries happen in the NBA, just about every team has to deal with them. Usually when a bench player goes down it isn't viewed as serious. In the case of Anderson Varejao, the affect is more wide-ranging.

Losing Wild Thing hurts the Cavs on a number of fronts. They are now suddenly thin in the frontcourt, with really only three big men on the roster: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Donyell Marshall and Drew Gooden. Based on what I saw in summer league, I'd be surprised if Martynas Andruiskevicius could really contribute anything this season. This means they not only must must another big man, maybe even two, they are going to have to stick with Drew Gooden for the foreseeable future.

At this point in time, I still think Gooden, unless he has a totally gonzo season, will be traded at some point. He's in the last year of his contract and he'll be restricted next summer. With Marshall under a long-term deal and Varejao looking like he's the power forward of the future, I don't see the Cavs investing millions into Gooden. I stress the "this point in time" reference, because things in the NBA are always changing.

I don't think you'll see Varejao until after the New Year and perhaps not back to his old self until around the All-Star break in February. It is unfortunate this happened while Varejao was playing for his national team, which is why owners like Mark Cuban have said NBA teams shouldn't allow their players to play in offseason international competition. But even Cuban has to yield, Dirk Nowitzki is playing for the German national team. It is just a bad-luck situation.

When I first saw Varejao play during training camp last season I knew he was special but I was worried he'd be injury prone because of the way he plays. Even though that hasn't really stopped Manu Ginobilli yet. Andy's had a couple injuries now, but haven't been because of his frantic style. Last season's sprained ankle was freak injury, I know because I saw it. This injury, I'm told, was as well.

Anyway, the point is before, the Cavs really needed a point guard and wanted another big. Now they have two rather glaring needs and the pickings are slim.

Obviously the Cavs chances of landing Damon Jones were damaged when Michael Finley signed with the Spurs this week. It is explained why here. Then there came the worse news on Friday when Earl Watson signed with Denver Nuggets. Not bad news because Watson is off the market, the Cavs talked to him but he didn't really fit, but because reports are that he got a contract starting at $5 million.

In my opinion, that's crazy money for a career backup. From Cavs perspective, it might lead the Heat to overpaying Damon Jones after all. The Cavs only really hope on getting Jones at this point is if the Heat lowball him. Now, I think that's probably less likely.

Enjoy Labor Day weekend, all.
Brian

One man's trash...

2005-08-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

As Terry Pluto describes today in his View from Pluto, there's a general bewilderment over the three-year, nearly $7 million contract DeSagana Diop got from the Mavericks last week.

I guess "Gana" had a good camp in Las Vegas and actually had teams bidding over his services. The whole "you can't teach size" idioms are all applicable here. Personally, I'm happy for Gana, who is continuing the long-standing tradition of redispersing Mark Cuban's wealth. Although after Cuban's heartfelt explanation of why he cut Michael Finley because his days of overspending are over on his blog, this deal still confuses me. But it's still just ridiculous.

Last season I read a book about Sebastian Telfair called "The Jump." In there were a few pages on Diop. It was about how when he was a senior at Oak Hill Academy, then UNC coach Matt Doherty was begging for him to come play with him for a year and brought him a listing of the rookie salary scale. He was trying to show him that if he played one year in college, he could double his money. Boy, did that backfire, once Diop saw that he could make $3 million even if he was the last pick in the first round, he decided there was no way he was going to school. This even though he couldn't make a left-handed layup.

When Gana was at Oak Hill I went down there for a few days to do a story because LeBron James and St. Vincent-St. Mary were playing his team at that time. I interviewed him and watched them play two games and decided he was a circus act because all he'd do was stay at the defensive end and block shots and I was no scout. I saw Shargari Alleyne play in high school and thought he was more skilled and he's now a bench warmer at UK. Still, the Cavs fell all over themselves to take him at No. 8.

I brought all this up to Diop before a game in Philadelphia last season. He smiled and admitted it was all true, he knew he was really raw but didn't care. Actually, he said he thought he should've been drafted higher. He also told me he didn't really care about the Cavs and not playing because he knew he'd be in the league somewhere next year and getting paid. He was right, after all.

I've been keeping my eye on the Cavaliers while vacationing in Maine and Boston last week. This week, I've been covering the NEC Invitational in Akron. The Cavs are waiting to hear on Damon Jones and considering I think Finley is going to Miami, there's a good chance they're going to get him.

Next week I'm completing a suspended journey. Many of you got a hardy chuckle out of my travel difficulties I talked about on this blog last season. But they don't compare to a failed trip I took in May of 2004.

Helping my friend move from Toledo to Denver, which constituted driving a 1998 Chevy Blazer while towing a Uhaul trailer. We had a grand tour planned, crossing there on I-70, dropping off his stuff, then returning to native Akron via I-90 though the Dakotas with a stop at Mt. Rushmore before dropping off the car, which belonged to his father.

Well, things went a little haywire to say the least. On day two, a Friday afternoon, we blew the engine in Manhattan, Kan. When we tried to get a hotel room, we learned it was Kansas State University graduation weekend. We ended up renting a car and driving 30 miles to get a room. The next day we learned we'd either wait a week for a new engine or buy a new car.

We tried to get a full size Uhaul, but in a small college town at the end of term the one-way rentals were taken, needless to say. Well, the car stayed in Kansas and we somehow got to Denver but were never able to finish the trip because we flew home. There are many more details, but I will spare them.

Anyway, I'm off this week to Denver and we're headed across the north to finish the job. Should be enjoyable...gulp...I think.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

For an August diversion...

2005-08-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

At long last, my World Series of Poker stories started in today's Beacon Journal. Today's is a general overview of the event, tomorrow there's a piece about some of the players.

I did the research while I was in Las Vegas for the Cavaliers summer league and wrote the stories several weeks ago. People kept asking how I did at the tables there, but between being at the WSOP, the summer league at UNLV, and covering the Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas deals that got done, I barely had time to eat.

Usually I detest long stories. I often say if a story is longer than 30 inches (about 1,300 words) it better make you laugh or make you cry. In this case, and tomorrow, too, I violated my rule because I found it just so damn interesting.

Hope you do too, if poker is your cup of tea.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Random thoughts at the end of the moratorium

2005-07-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

In the Suns awards haul at the end of the regular season, general manager Bryan Colangelo won the Sporting News' Executive of the Year award. I will argue that Colangelo didn't win this award for anything he did between July 2004 and the end of the season, which included the signing of Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson along with a key midseason pickup of Jim Jackson. No, I think he won it when he convinced Isiah Thomas to take on the huge long-term contracts of Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway during the 2003-04 season. It cleared the Suns' debts and allowed them the ability to be reborn.

In that light, I'd like to be the first to cast an executive of the year vote for the 2006 to the Nets' Rod Thorn. And even though he's had a terrific month, I think it was something he did a year ago made it all possible. When his new owner told him last summer that he wouldn't pay for Kenyon Martin, causing Thorn to lose a staredown with the Denver Nuggets, it had to be personally and professionally hurtful. He traded Martin and Kerry Kittles, two starters from the championship teams he built, for nothing but draft picks and trade exceptions. Instead of pouting, he thought long-term.

He's turned those into Vince Carter and Shareef Abdur-Rahim and one of his last draft picks, Nenad Kristic, has the potential to be an All-Star center. With Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, the Nets figure to turn into title contenders again.

On to the Knicks. Larry Brown going there is poetic and everything, but I'm not sure it's the best thing. Isiah had just started to sort of float the idea that rebuilding is in order -- the battle cry trained observers have been suggesting for some time now -- and he went and hired a first-class coach. No rebuilding now. With an average an waaaaaay overpaid roster, I'm not alone in thinking that problematic club needs a surgeon more than a coach. But if there's one thing Isiah believes in, it's band-aids. Here's another one.

On the Cavaliers. I hear a lot of people on the radio and read message boards where fans are ready to coronate Danny Ferry for his offseason. All I can really say is that he's spent a lot of Dan Gilbert's money. Don't judge the team until it plays. I'm not being critical, I'm just saying not to rush to judgment yet. Until the off-season is compete and the roster is filled, you can't give a grade. And not until you see how the team comes together can you judge how good the decisions were.

By the way, the Suns absolutely must match Joe Johnson's offer sheet he'll sign with the Hawks. The owner, Robert Sarver, doesn't want to see a huge payroll and Johnson's deal will give the Suns four guys making more than $10 million, but he does want to win a title. That means keeping Johnson. If it doesn't work out, he can break the team down later.

Finally, we just passed the one-year anniversary of Carlos Boozer signing with the Jazz. An article in today's Salt Lake Tribune looks back at it all. Having covered it and written about it more than any other writer in the country, I grew tired of it long go. So even though I think this story misses on some points I don't care anymore.

It was summed up well, I think, for me at the end of the season by a Cavs official:

"I'd lie to my mother for a million bucks, probably much less. All Carlos had to do was lie to Gordon Gund and Jim Paxson for $30 million."

I'm not calling him or anyone else a liar, I'm just saying there's some perspective there.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

There's no amnesty for E. Snow

2005-07-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Over the last week I've a load of two sorts of e-mail: Blog loyalists thrilled with my little explanation of the salary cap and readers wanting to know why the Cavaliers haven't released Eric Snow yet under the new "amnesty" clause.

So let's continue with more NBA legalese to satisfy both parties.

Before I begin, let me put it to rest: The Cavs will not be releasing Eric Snow or any other player.

This has come up because many fans have read or heard about the provision in the new collective bargaining agreement that allows teams a one-time chance to waive a player and not pay the luxury tax on his salary.

That is a complicated statement that is being misunderstood, based on my readings, by many fans and media outlets. If a team uses this clause, they still must pay the player and the contract still counts against the salary cap for the length of the deal.

It only saves money for teams who are over the luxury tax threshold, which this upcoming season will be around $60 million. Teams that are over the tax line, pay a dollar-for-dollar tax. So the Knicks, who were about $40 million over the line last year, wrote a check for $40 million.

The Cavaliers are going to be no where near the tax line, so they won't waive Snow. It makes no sense whatsoever to do so, they don't save any money. In addition, they won't likely be near the tax for at least two seasons (when LeBron's new contract would kick in) so it doesn't make a lot of sense long range either.

Two names that immediately came up were Allan Houston of the Knicks and Michael Finely of the Mavericks. Both make sense because those teams are hopelessly over the cap for the next few years and by releasing them, both clubs will save tens of millions in tax money. Plus both have injury problems. I mean the Mavericks could save money by waiving Dirk Nowitzki, too, but he's in his prime.

I also think Brian Grant of the Lakers and Eddie Jones of the Heat are options, because those teams are over the tax line. For the Lakers, it could mean the difference from being in the tax or out of it. Jones is past his prime, but still valuable.

Jalen Rose of the Raptors has been mentioned by many a media outlet, but I don't think this makes sense because the Raptors are not in the tax. I've also heard the Theo Ratliff of the Trail Blazers. I personally don't think that's likely because the Blazers are headed below the tax in the next year or so.

A guy I'd throw out there, although I haven't heard this anywhere else, is Adonal Foyle of the Golden State Warriors. He's got a crazy deal for five more seasons and the Warriors will be into the tax in two years, I think, because Jason Richardson, Baron Davis, and Troy Murphy all have high-dollar deals that are only growing in value.

I've heard that teams will have until Oct. 1, basically the start of training camp, to decide on whether they want to waive a player. Obviously the players want the date moved up so the released players have options. That will all be finalized by next Thursday.

Back to the free agency watch. Will my torrid off-season (coach search, president search/destroy, GM search, free agent chase) come to an end soon? One can only hope.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

p.s. By the way, thanks to Ben from realcavsfans.com, who is a true salary-cap expert.

I take no exception to all this

2005-07-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

May I say, I'm so proud of my readership. In the last week, I've probably gotten 20-25 e-mails asking me about the semantics of the salary cap. I take great pride in trying to explain it as well as I can in my stories and in numerous radio interviews.

Some beat writers don't bother with it, figuring the average fan doesn't care or it is too complicated from them to understand. I've always said the real fans do want to know because this is what they talk about when there's no game to watch or talk about. Thanks to many of you for proving me right.

OK, now hopefully I can clear some of this salary cap stuff up for you.

Whenever you hear or read anything about an "exception" it means an exception to the salary cap. The NBA, unlike the NFL, has a soft cap. (Don't ask me about the NHL, I think their's might eventually be a hard cap). Soft because teams can exceed it under certain "exceptions."

Now, because the Cavaliers will be $28 million under the cap on Friday when the new NBA fiscal year starts, they get NO major exceptions this year.

The most common one you hear about is the mid-level exception or the MLE. This means teams get what an "average" or "mid-level" player is worth to exceed the salary cap each season. This is for teams OVER the cap or under the cap by less than the MLE. This year, the MLE is expected to be about $5.5 million.

You also hear about the Larry Bird exception. This means teams can exceed the salary cap to sign their own free agents or players for which they have so-called "Bird rights" to. It is named for Larry Bird because the Celtics broke the cap to sign Bird back in the 1980s in the landmark case. To have "Bird rights" a player must have been under contract for at least three years. This is why the Cavs didn't have Bird rights on Carlos Boozer, he'd played just two years.

There is also something called the million dollar exception. It used to be a worth a million, now it is worth $1.7 million. Many will just refer to it as the $1.7 million exception. You can only use this every other year if you are over the cap. The Cavs used it for Tractor Traylor last year when it was worth $1.6 million.

Teams over the cap can always sign players to the to a minimum contract at any time.

Now, many of you are still wondering why the Cavs can't spend $28 million and then sign Zydrunas Ilgauskas because they own his Bird rights. Well, this is a another little lesson concerning a thing called cap holds.

Until they are signed or "renounced," free agents have a cap hold on their team's books. The rules on these vary greatly, but just understand this, Z's cap hold is 105 percent of his salary from last year. So that's about $15 million. Jeff McInnis' cap hold is 200 percent of his salary, $7.2 million.

These holds are in place until a player is renounced or signs with a team. So, if the Cavs sign Larry Hughes for about $12 million, Z's $15 million cap hold will eat up all the rest of their money and they can't sign anyone. If they renounce him, they lose his Bird rights so they can't go over the cap to sign him later. So they will just sign him to a deal starting around $9 million and move on.

I hope you call understand all this mumbo jumbo. I'm glad so many of you are interested. Hopefully, this has helped you become a better NBA fan. Trust me, it is just a small piece of the ins and outs of the salary cap.

Take care and thanks for your loyal reading,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Anatomy of a Free Agent Search

2005-07-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas -- So I was hanging out with Pete Rose inside a casino, when I was distracted by a fight and bumped into by Norman Chad, which almost caused me to ignore my cell phone that was vibrating in my pocket with information about Larry Hughes.

What a wild week it's been, let me tell you.

I've been splitting my time here at the World Series of Poker collecting information for a story I'll do later this month, at the Vegas Summer League working over NBA executives and agents, and sending dozens and e-mails and making calls to trail the Cavs free agent search.

Oh, and I did spend some time playing blackjack a few feet from a 60s and 70s cover band that was apparently being paid in booze and entire focus on this evening was to get a 40ish plus size fake blonde to dance her way out of her taught spaghetti straps. I won $45 and the straps, thankfully but with not without some tense moments, held. Always double down on 11.

After five days, I'm ready to leave, but it isn't yet in the, ahem, cards. I'll be here awhile longer searching for information.

Last year while I was here covering the Cavs in summer league I was closely observing my friend Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News handle covering a team with $20 million in salary cap space. One night Kenyon Martin showed up at the games and to talk to Nuggets officials and later he was signed. I tried to learn as much as I could.

It has come in handy this year. Thrashing around, I was able to stay on top of the Larry Hughes chase. I actually got a call at 5 a.m. local time on Friday morning telling me my story that had run that day was on the money. The Cavs had a deal with Hughes.

The Wizards people are here. I worked them over. The Cavs people are here. They had nothing to say. There's an agent, whose's client is friends with Hughes. We talked. There's an executive with another team who wanted Hughes who was talking to Hughes' agent. We talked. Bits, pieces and guesswork to be sure. And with $16 million left in cap space much, much more to be done.

But now I'm off to the WSOP, where I continue to try to figure out what the hell is going on after three days. I asked Pete Rose, trust me, he doesn't know either.

If you're bored or just dying for more Hughes info, here's my Sunday Column.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Nothing's free in free agency

2005-07-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's July 5, do you know who your shooting guard is?

A week ago, I thought the Cavs would've landed a free agent by now because they have the most money in the market. This morning ESPN reported that Ray Allen will re-sign with the Sonics, which I think will start a flurry of signings in the next few days. Whether the Cavaliers get a piece of it or not is yet to be seen.

I genuinely think Micheal Redd will wait until the Bucks decide on a head coach before deciding what team he'll sign with. I think it is a good sign for the Cavs that he hasn't taken the Bucks offer, a total max out worth more than $90 million for six years, over the Cavs $70 million offer over five years.

But remember, Redd has hinted to the Bucks for months that he intends to re-sign and now has $20 million reasons to keep that promise. If he doesn't, he'll want an exit strategy and maybe if the Bucks don't hire a coach he's thrilled with, he can bolt.

Interestingly, I'm told the Cavs shipped him a video that marketed the city, the new ownership and LeBron James. Supposedly, through some slick editing, there's a scenario in there where James drives to the basket, draws a double team and kicks it to Redd for an NBA winning 3-pointer. Hmm, didn't that just happen when Rasheed Wallace stupidly doubled Manu Ginobili and left Robert Horry for an open 3-pointer in the real deciding game (No. 5) of the Finals?

Anyway, that's the package the team is selling.

Mr. Redd: Come be LeBron's Scottie Pippen and end up on the list of NBA 75 greatest players 17 years from now.

Whether or not that pitch makes up for $20 mil is a matter of money and the mind. In that case, I usually bet on money.

Speaking of money and free agency, I'll be in Las Vegas for the next week for Cavs Summer League. I'd be telling you all about Luke Jackson and Martynas Andruiskivicious. But I'm also going to be gathering information for a series of stories I'm going to be doing on the World Series of Poker, the Main Event $10,000 buy in is going on at the same time. I'll be glad to detail it for you soon.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Learning curve hits Dan G.

2005-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

In the haze and humidity that camped over Lake Erie Monday, Dan Gilbert's private jet bounced around like a pinball on his way into Cleveland for his press conference to introduce Danny Ferry as general manager.

He showed up at (Your Ad Here) Arena looking a little green and with some sweat on his brow. For the first time, I felt like he was grasping exactly what he'd gotten himself into. The long, hard process he'd just gone through showed all over his face. And, frankly, I think that's a good thing.

Four weeks ago when we assembled at the arena for Mike Brown's press conference, it was grandly staged on the practice court on the fourth floor with fine Danish and orange juice, stages for cameras and the honored guests. Gilbert was in a well-selected and wonderfully tailored suit. He had props and jokes prepared and he drilled the media for the Larry Brown rumors and their so-called lies. He explained away his decision to hire a coach before a GM and told us how he was going to hire a president and a vice president/general manager.

Monday no one wore a suit in a cramped room deep in the arena bowels and there were no props or fancy foods. It was done on the run, just like Gilbert's hiring of Ferry as owner now explained that no, he didn't need a president now. Peaking around the 8-ball, he admitted he could no longer wait on Larry Brown and do so in the humblest of manners.

Everyone I spoke with who interviewed with Gilbert and his fellow owners praised him and said they think he'll be a great owner. I said I didn't think he knew what he was getting himself into at all and his brashness resembled Nero fiddling as Rome burned.

He thought he could sell his team with confidence, energy and slick marketing like it was an interest-only loan. But in the end it was Ferry holding Gilbert over the fire. Ferry doesn't need Gilbert's money and really didn't need a job, even though he wanted it. So he laid down the terms and Gilbert, feeling the intense pressure of holding his shredded plan together, and made the deal.

I think this was a very, very valuable learning experience for the new ownership, one that will ultimately help them as they move forward. Gilbert became a better owner after going through these last six weeks and it will show up down the road. It was something that needed to happen.

Danny Ferry and Mike Brown are two of the best young minds in the NBA and the Cavs have some bullets to fire that could make this next month and upcoming season very exciting. The problem is, this next month may largely determine how their tenures go. So stay tuned.

For some great stuff, also check out my notebook from today with stuff on Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Larry Brown and more.

Take care,
Brian

Getting Moody in Chicago

2005-06-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

There are people who set their whole year up around the NBA Draft and are enthralled with it all. I am not one of them.

Understanding that, I returned from the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago this weekend feeling like I'd just been through a sausage grinder. First off the Cavs, as you may know, don't have a pick in the draft but they want one and may indeed make a trade for one. For the life of me, I don't why. After watching three days of bad basketball I was running out of Moody Bible Institute ASAP.

I'm not a trained observer so I don't pretend to evaluate talent, ahem, unlike some of my media brethren. So I watch the games with NBA assistant coaches and scouts that I know who do know what they're talking about. They point out stuff like the angles point guards deliver passes, the post footwork of power forwards and the importance of "length" on defense. It is for these reasons that listing the stats of players at the camp means nothing, yet this is what most media outlets do without thinking.

Yet, I still find it very difficult to evaluate anything at the camp. I've been to several pre-draft camps and they remind me of what I saw at the ABCD Camp I attended in New Jersey when LeBron James was a high school junior. Just a bunch of athletically-gifted players trying too hard to impress on hastily-organized teams. How they will react when they get into an organized NBA setting feels nearly impossible to judge. I assume the private workouts teams use provide greater insight.

Plus you look at the group knowing there are perhaps just a handful of first rounders and you wonder why you bothered fighting the heat and traffic to get into the damn place.

But, like I said, I'm no draftnik. For them it is pure heaven on earth.

Instead, Moody is a place where just about every general manager, coach, and scout gather. It means it is a great time to talk to sources, which is why I was there. Mostly, I was chasing Kiki Vandeweghe. That and to eat at Harry Caray's, which is certainly one of my favorite restaurants in the country. I recommend the chicken parmesan, but ABJ compatriot Tom Reed, who did this interesting story from Chicago, couldn't speak more highly of the salmon.

We actually tried to eat at Harry's twice in one day (it's a huge menu and I love the bread). In the afternoon in downtown and late night in Rosemont, near O'Hare airport where we were staying. But the hostess denied us seating at 10:02 p.m., saying the kitchen closed at 10. An angry Reed issued the following retort: "You'd never make it downtown, sister, you're staying in the bush leagues forever!"

Instead we went to a Greek greasy spoon nearby and had a terrible meal. News-Herald scribe Bob Finnan -- of "Planes, Trains and Bob Finnan" fame, and if you don't know what I mean and are new to the Blog, please refer to December entry "A series of unfortunate events" for a real hoot -- and I made the mistake of ordering spaghetti. After asking for additional sauce, which more resembled Manwich than marinara, he resorted to salt and pepper to make it edible.

When the waitress, who fairly warned us before the meal that she never actually ate there herself, looked down at him and asked if he was done, Finnan deadpanned: "Well, no, I guess I'm still trying to make something of it." This from the man that got on the elevator at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas with me in March and politely said to a group of German tourists near the control panel: "Six, please."

Maybe you had to be there, but after 72 hours of Moody blues, I nearly slid off the booth to the floor in stitches, my own neglected spaghetti not noticing.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Writing the tough one

2005-06-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

Normally the more people you interview when your working on a story, the more clear the subject/topic becomes. At least that's what they teach you in journalism school. Sometimes that simply isn't the case.

I just completed a very complex story on a man name William "Wes" Wesley. The roots of this story started more than a year ago when I started noticing Wes around the Cavaliers and especially LeBron James.

Well, I was very late in picking this up, he'd been around LeBron for years and the Cavs, too. Recently, though, I have been hearing lots and lots of things about Wes. Especially when I was learning about why LeBron dropped his agent, Aaron Goodwin. Then I learned that he helped Cavs owner Dan Gilbert get in touch with Larry Brown, a story we all know very, very well by now.

Last week, the Detroit News did an interesting piece on Wes, groundbreaking really, and I felt compelled to follow it up. It has become clear to me that he's an important figure in the Cavaliers realm and someone that fans should know about. Though I'll bet he and the team disagrees.

It was hard to know how to go about it. There have not been many stories written about men like Wes, dealmakers and connectors, the guys who work deep in a word of famous faces and millions of dollars. Most of my colleagues have never written a story about a guy like Wes. My editors didn't even know how to define the story, they were trusting me

So I started talking to people and making calls, the ones who returned them. I talked and talked and wrote and wrote. For days I talked to people about Wes and listened crazy and amazing stories, too many rumors to count, and lots of opinions. I mean lots. To give you an example, I was told he was everything from a "broke-ass street hustler" to a person who "when he goes to heaven, he'll be called to the front of the line by St. Peter because he knows him." See what I mean by complex?

I struggled to decided what to write, what I could prove, what I should throw out, what I should ignore. Mostly, it was hard to define him because when I asked people to do that, I got dozens of different answers.

The thing is, most of the people I talked to didn't want to go on the record about it. I learned very quickly that he's a powerful person, at least when it comes to influence and connections. Some people wanted me to rip him in the story, some wanted me to praise him. In the end, neither side was probably happy with how it turned out.

My guess is that Gilbert didn't like what he saw or Wes or others mentioned in the story. I think there will probably some fallout for me for delving into this area, which has been ignored by the media for some time. I expect to take lots of heat from some and perhaps even some praise from others. But that is the journalism business.

In the end, my opinion is that Wes is probably a very dynamic person. He is excellent at what he does and he is respected as a trusted friend by many people, many high-profile people, many smart people. He probably helps people make tough decisions but also is there to help them in tough times.

But like all of us, he needs and wants money, too. People told me he has a big heart, but he isn't doing his out of the goodness of his heart. He knows people, he gets them together. If those people make a deal, he probably gets a cut. This happens in every industry, it just sometimes happens more out in the open. In the NBA, where there are billions to be split up, everyone looks for their share.

Those of us that cover the NBA worry about more than what is on the court, we try to report on everything we can that affects what happens on the court. That means free agents, coaching searches and people that determine major decisions. In my research, I've learned Wes' has influence so I tried to tell the story of why and how.

With so many murky details, some reporters might've steered clear of this story, perhaps I'll wish I had. This was far from a complete piece, I know. But it won't be the last words or the most important written about Wes, I am sure of that.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Browns coming to town

2005-05-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

So the Cavaliers have hired Mike Brown to be the head coach. You can read all the details here. Who is he? Well, the first thing you are going to hear is that he's young. Um, he's young and he's not Phil Jackson.

Well, that's true, he's just 35. In fact, he's been 35 for just two months. And he's not Phil Jackson or Flip Saunders, who a lot of fans wanted and who Jim Paxson would've hired if he were still the general manager. But Cavs owner Dan Gilbert actually believes he's found the next Phil Jackson in Brown. I'm serious, he's told people that.

It isn't that Brown is 35, he's been in the league since he was 22 so he has experience. It's that he's a first-time head coach. He's never been a head coach on any level. That means the margin for error is much smaller and the Cavs really don't have much of a margin for error right now. That's why Saunders would've been safer.

But with Larry Brown looming as the potential boss, no coach with a real choice would take the Cavs job. Not with LB hanging back there in the bullpen ready to take over when he feels like it. Plus, with cash coming for LB, the owners weren't looking to lay out huge dollars for head coach.

That said, everyone I talked to said good things about Mike Brown, calling him a perfect head coach in waiting. He's focused on defense, which was very important to Gilbert, but he also has a good history of developing players. Perhaps it'll be a great investment. But perhaps one of a dozen hot shot assistants hit it big as head coaches. For every Rick Carlisle, there's a basket of coaches who don't work out.

For the moment, however, I am much more interested in just how Gilbert is going to explain himself. He told everyone he planned to hire a GM/president first and the a head coach. So, either, A) he's violated his word and started building the team the exact opposite way that everyone knows is the right way. Or, B) He knows Larry Brown is going to take the job despite the fact that the Pistons are supposed to be playing for a championship and isn't LB supposed to be scheming and signing off on a new head coach for another NBA. That ought to go over real well.

Look, I'm not saying I could do any better. But Gilbert has already made some mistakes and right now he's trying to thread a needle. Hey, it's his money so it's his call. But if he thinks hiring Larry Brown is going to trigger the media to throw a ticker tape parade, he can forget it. If he was going to coach, OK, that's something different. As a president? The guy wanted to trade Allen Iverson a bunch of times. If LeBron has a bad practice, will he want to do the same? I can't predict what the fan base will think, but don't expect the media to line up to swallow kool aid.

Hey, maybe Gilbert will look like a genius in the end. He's used to that with his companies so we'll see if it carries over, I guess.

For more, check out my Sunday column and Terry Pluto's view.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

It wasn't sausage gravy, rather a peanut butter sandwich

2005-05-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

This from the ever witty blog loyalist Alan Tucker:

"You haven't written a new blog entry for almost three weeks. Hell, even Anne Frank found something to write about on a slow day. So if you can't think of anything else, at least jot down what you had for lunch. "Sausage and gravy" is better than blank space."

With such strong encouragement, how could I not blog?

The NBA coaching carousel is starting to spin and the Cavaliers are still interviewing new candidates as you can read in my story from today about Indiana Pacers assistant Mike Brown. Last week there was a little dust up about Kiki Vandeweghe and Chuck Daly, which I had to address.

But I still think the Cavs are just spinning their wheels waiting to get an answer from Larry Brown. Just about the whole NBA knows that Brown will retire from coaching at the end of the season, due to health problems and because it's time to leave Detroit. Whether or not the Cavs can convince him to be their top man is yet to be seen.

"Larry loves to be romanced," one NBA executive told me.

"I talk to everyone in the organization and nobody seems to know what's the plan is, except they all expect us to go after Larry Brown," one Cavaliers official told me.

So it is my current belief that all of this will be a wait and see until after the playoffs are over. If you read my story from today, the word out there is that the Cavs want to stay cheap on their head coach and perhaps GM so they can throw a lot of money at a president (the role Pat Riley has in Miami, Larry Bird has in Indy and Danny Ainge does in Boston to name a few). It seems like that's where Brown could come in. I don't think they officially hire a GM or coach until that is all settled, but I could be wrong.

This is really a three-ring circus for me right now. There's the coach, the front office and LeBron James firing his agent. Speaking of that, I wouldn't pass judgment on LeBron's decision to fire Aaron Goodwin, a man I personally respect, until we know exactly what his intentions are. That will become clear (hopefully to me so I can tell all of you) in the next two months.

I'm working to sort all this stuff out and I'll be in touch.

On a personal note, I'm finally home for awhile after my season-ending travels. I visited Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Denver and various points in Colorado, Boston, Washington D.C. and Las Vegas and Death Valley, CA. It was a nice relaxing ride, even though I was almost constantly on my toes concerning the Cavs.

Also, for housekeeping purposes, I'm told by the folks at Ohio.com that all of Akron Beacon Journal blogs are soon to move to another host site. I know this is going to be a pain, it will be to me as well. I'm not sure of the timetable, but I'll keep you informed.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

p.s. On a personal note, I'd like to wish my close friend Jon Wile luck this week as he starts his new job at the Washington Post. If any of you subscribe to the Cleveland Plain Dealer (if you must), Jon was responsible for the great designs on the sports page over the last two years. He'll now be doing it for the folks in D.C.

The smart guy

2005-05-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

Can you believe I'm blogging again? See what a little free time can do to a person.

This one is a little different. The other day I saw Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room (warning, the website is complex). It is a limited release film, so I'm not sure if it is playing near you, but it is very interesting. Though it is produced by fellow blogger and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban -- and he doesn't need the money from this low-level endorsement -- it is an interesting flick. I'm no business major so I didn't understand all the lingo (it's a documentary), but I was struck by the pompous attitude of the company's top executives even as it was obvious they were going down in flames.

Which is why I'm blogging about this. The Enron leaders' attitude reminded me, cryptically and cynically, of new Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and his cronies. Perhaps it is just the way highly successful millionaires handle things in the modern business world. Make no mistake, I'm not saying that Gilbert's business is shady like Enron, though I have trouble understanding the value of an interest-only mortgage. I openly say I wish I had about $500,000 to invest with Gilbert's venture capitalist firm about seven years ago.

But the brash swagger of Enron's execs and the belief that they were smarter than everyone else was their downfall. I'm not suggesting Gilbert is setting himself up for fall, but he's certainly confident despite the huge task in front of him. Two of his co-owners have the nicknames "Search" and "Destroy." I need not say more.

Just yesterday, Nets owner Bruce Ratner, who is to real estate what Gilbert & his gang are to mortgages, admitted to the ravenous New York media that he was unprepared to be an owner when he took over last summer. And he didn't have to hire and coach and general manager, either.

In fact, Gilbert has already made as many or more important big decisions than any owner (except perhaps Lakers owner Jerry Buss) this last season and he's been in control barely two months. Yet he's not shy about taking swings at the media or to assuring everyone that once his people are in place things will be different. Maybe he's right. But boy, I couldn't shake an eerie feeling during that movie.

Either way, I recommend it.

p.s. I found it comical that Jason Williams got fined 10 large for screaming and taking a pen away from a reporter the other night. I have seen things happen between reporters and players that were worse. In fact, Jeff McInnis' treatment of me this season was worse. But it didn't happen in front of television cameras and wasn't on ESPN like Williams' incident.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Giving thanks for my little corner of the Blogosphere

2005-05-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

So this afternoon, I was milling about a book store in the hamlet of Dillon, Colo., and I found a title called Blogosphere: The Challenge to the Monopoly of the Mainstream Media.

It is an entire volume of how blogs are killing off big media. So, because I am technically part of the mainstream media, I questioned whether this little exercise is akin to eating my young. Let's hope not.

It did, however, lead me to think about my beloved little blog here. It was an idea I hatched last fall and turned into fruition with the help of several colleagues at the Beacon Journal, especially Ohio.com's Jim Arnold, whom I'd like to give thanks.

As we basically wrap the first season of the blog -- don't worry, I'll be writing all summer -- I'd like to thank all of you, my readers.

This has been a highly engaging endeavor, one that is still very much evolving and most of it has been due to great response from many of you. I'm still learning how to make this rewarding. Like you, I wish I could've written more and I intend to sort of streamline the process before next season so we can be more in touch. I'd like to add more links and, of course, more posts.

This is a dynamic time to follow the Cavaliers and even though I'm in the hard-hearted media, I am thankful to have the chance to report the goings on to all of you. This summer promises to be packed full of team-changing events and actions and I will do my best to keep you on the inside the whole way, while occasionally tossing you a slice of my weird little life.

So again, thanks for joining me in the Blogosphere, I look forward to its future.

For updates on Phil Jackson, read this story from today and this from last week. Yes, even away on my mind-clearing odyssey, I'm still filing.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Many miles, many thoughts

2005-04-30T02:31:00.000-07:00

So, I limp back into cyberspace. I've been on mental health leave and traveling the countryside. I'm currently on a three-week journey westward and I'm writing from a festive Minneapolis, where the 40 degree temps have not deterred Friday night festivities. Last night, just outside Milwaukee, I dined at a friend's house and watched Scott Williams explain on NBA TV the positive influence Dan Gilbert's had on the Cavs. Tonight I visited a friend who lives in an apartment building with "John Dillinger" painted across the front door. What a long, strange trip it's been and I haven't even hit Vegas yet.

In many hours on the road I've done a lot of thinking about the Cavaliers. I cannot believe the honeymoon ended so quickly. What I mean by that is that I figured the pressure of winning and the depression of not meeting expectations would strike next year, not this just finished season. Especially when the gents were cruising along in first place.

Here are my thoughts looking back in no order. Oh, and I have some Phil Jackson feelings as well at the end.

--Jeff McInnis' personality hurt the team. At his core, Jeff is a streetballer. He will always be concerned with himself first, which is deadly for a point guard. But it manifests itself when he's threatened because he tends to take a bunker mentality and believe everyone, even sports writers, are the enemy. In the end he quit on his teammates even as they messed with the balance of the team by standing up for him when he was benched.

--LeBron is great when he doesn't score. This may shock you, but I thought LeBron was at his worst going down the stretch. Not that his worst is bad and not that he did it on purpose. Without help as he poured his heart out in never leaving the floor, but he wasn't playing good basketball. As he would pound the ball and force shots or jump for steals and get out of defensive rotation. Sure it made for great stats, but not too many wins. He's at his best when he's leading by sharing and contributing, like in the season finale in Toronto when he nearly had a triple-double at the half.

--You can't win regularly without identity. Just think, what were the Cavs about this season? It goes to stability, of which there was none considering the ownership and head coach changed midseason. But even on a small scale, the team didn't display a constant attitude in anything. This is especially glaring at the defensive end where they were constantly trying to fix what was wrong with broad changes without realizing that was part of what was wrong.

--This season was one game from success. Had the Cavs started 12-20 and then finished 30-20, everyone would've hailed them. Instead it was the other way around and they were deemed failures. In truth, a lot was accomplished this season especially with LeBron, which is most important. The team growth was stunted at the end, the playoffs were missed by a game and the physche was harmed. In the end, the team did win seven more games than last year and is likely poised to increase it by the same number next season. So fans, don't be happy, but don't abandon optimism either.

Now, for the news of the day, Phil Jackson. Here's my latest story on the matter.

I'm not sure why Phil wants to pick from this sickly lot, which basically includes the Lakers, Knicks, Cavs and Blazers. The Lakers hate each other and Jackson and Kobe Bryant have deep issues. The Knicks and Blazers have proven that you can throw hundreds of millions at a team and it can still stink. If I were him, I may wait for a better choice.

The Cavs actually have the most upside with LeBron and valuable cap room. But can you really see Phil in Cleveland? I mean, I suppose Dan Gilbert's money is enticing, but does Phil really need money? Most people in the league I talk to think he'll eventually wind up with the Lakers again but not before the Cavs get a little red-faced in wooing him.

I suppose there is no harm in it, especially since the team can't really target many GM candidates with the playoffs going on right now. And if they somehow get him, it would be the sort of splash that might sell out the season before it starts.

Trust me, even though I'm away I'm making dozens of calls on the matter daily. I'll being updating more frequently during the searches as they heat up. Until then, next stop is Denver and a Rocky Mountain high.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care,
Brian

So what do you want me to say?

2005-04-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

Five days ago I thought the Cavs were in. Today I think no way. Tomorrow it could be different again.

I've been putting a lot of thought into what has happened this season, which is certainly one of the wackiest in Cleveland sports history. I have some thoughts, which I will share with you in full at the end of the season.

Here's what I know, I've decided I'm not going to assign blame to any individual or individual act. There are a number of things that got them to this point.

It would be therapeutic for the team to make the playoffs and a nice important step. But in a week and a half things all the issues with this team will still be there either way.

I give the team credit for playing hard in Washington and Detroit, but I have very little sympathy for them after wetting themselves against the Knicks. That loss is a little glaring now, eh?

So we'll save the reaction for this week and this season until it's over. Until then, here's some light reading:

Check out my season-long diary that was published in today's Beacon Journal, along with my Sunday column, which has a bunch of information about what the team would do this summer.

I'll be back soon,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Upon further review

2005-04-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: MCINNIS, WINDHORST BURY HATCHET!

After the game in Orlando the other night, J-Mac approached me and said he was sorry for the things he'd been saying to me. On his own, no less. Harumpf! I told him OK, it was too bad that he became enraged about something I wrote. He said the bad PR really hurt him in his contract year and I told him bad PR means nothing if you keep playing the way you are, that's what will get you paid. So we'll try to stay out of each other's way the rest of the season.

Say what you will about this being the pros, it is very much like any CYO team. When the team is winning, things are grand, when they're losing, things are bad. Even with the beat writers.

It is sort of like my favorite writer, George Will (no, I don't agree with all his politics) and his feeling about the designated hitter. He once felt it was the greatest abomination on America's game since WWII forced the cancellation of the game. Now, its tradition compels the Greek conservative Will to believe the DH is a blessing to the pastime, bestowed on the rulemakers by the benevolent finger of God.

As such...

Last week, I deemed the Cavaliers an inferior and disorganized outfit that was deeply flawed and injected with such hubris that they're destiny was nothing less than a draft-pickless lottery and a summer of discontent for LeBron James, who would sit knowing he wasn't a star enough to get his team into the playoffs (again).

On second thought...I think they may be a tough-minded bunch with steely reserve and a willingness to sacrifice their individual success for the team goal of getting to the playoffs for the first time in seven years, an act that could bond some core players for the long haul.

OK, so like Will, I may be overstating on all angels. Allow me to say this, though, certainly the negativity around the team has melted away with the last few wins combined with Philly and Jersey finally losing a game. They are still flawed, aren't very good on the road, don't play consistent defense, can't make a jumper.

But it is more than that for me, I couldn't be more impressed with the way Drew Gooden has played since Zydrunas Ilgauskas went down. His discipline and drive while playing almost as many minutes as LeBron has really sold me on the guy. I cannot ignore his talent and his willingness and ability to step up has me thinking he's maturing, which is what can be taken from this stretch run.

Anderson Varejao's hustle and fearlessness is vital in close games and will be very important in the playoffs. I really don't think he's ready to be a starter in this league but he's the kind of reserve that is extremely valuable.

I don't care if he is a Silas guy, the Cavs should bring Robert Traylor back next season. He has a very reasonable salary at $1.76 million. He's too small to play center and takes to many jump shots, but he always plays with energy and always tries to keep the team upbeat.

As a whole, the team has really impressed me with how much they want to make the postseason. You could just see it in the way they played in Philly and Orlando, they fought very hard and played without fear, something that has really been lacking on the road for the whole second half of the season. I mean, did you notice how many "and 1s" they had against the Magic? Like, probably, six. That means they're going to the basket and they're going hard.

So here's way I'm saying: This team has warts, but don't let me or anyone convince you that this was a failed season. There was an ownership change and a coaching change and that messed some stuff up and they underachieved for awhile. But no Cleveland team has made it to the playoffs in three years and the Cavs haven't been there in seven. That's something to hang your hat on.

Think of the way it will look in the the history books:

2002-03: 17-65
(LEBRON)
2003-04: 35-47
2004-05: 4X-3X
2005-06: 5X-2x?

By the way, these were the Bulls w/Michael Jordan
1983-84: 27-55
(JORDAN)
1984-85: 38-44
1985-86: 30-52
1986-87: 40-42
1987-88: 50-32

Take care all,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

p.s. Can you tell the first back-to-back days off in a month has allowed me to get some sleep?

Nothing but blue skies and gray hopes

2005-04-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Orlando -- Woke up this morning, ate Cherrios, went to shootaround at the O-rena (I know it's called the TD Waterhouse Centre, but it'll always be the O-rena to me). Jeff McInnis wore his practice jersey backwards (just for me?), then proceeded to curse me out on sight and swore to continue doing so for the rest of his life. All for a two-sentence note I wrote two weeks ago that was true, because he told me so. When I reminded him I've written about 20 times as many positive things about them as negative, he swore at me again. I'll continue to act like a professional, even if the crabby millionaire won't. I understand, after all, I'm his biggest problem.

Then I had to check the pulse of Drew Gooden, who was rumored to have been killed in an auto accident last night. The news was being reported on radio stations in Orlando and Cleveland. I found him alive, in good health, and good spirits. He said he was watched Napoleon Dynamite at his house here.

Afterward, played putt-putt golf with fellow beat writers. Mary Schmidt Boyer of Cleveland Plain Dealer netted four aces and Bob Finnan, the only non-golfer in the group, proved to have a steady stroke. But neither could deal with my stinging consistency as I was victorious by eight strokes (that's right, Boyer had four aces and I still was undaunted).

It's sunny here and currently sunny in Cavsland because they actually won a game on Saturday. I scoffed at it, it was fool's gold. My belief in the team's chances has waned considerably because I flat out have no faith in their defense, especially since the All-Star Break. They used to play good team defense in the fourth quarter early in the season, but they've dropped a lot of the principles that got them to 11 games over .500. They don't challenge, they don't rotate, and they don't help consistently.

There are plenty of reasons for this, some which lay at Paul Silas' feet and the players willingness to help each other. Even in beating Milwaukee, when they held them to 81 points, it was more because the Bucks couldn't run pick and rolls because Joe Smith was out with injury and Desmond Mason got ejected. Also, Michael Redd and his teammates were out there freelancing and taking jumpers, letting the Cavs get long rebounds and run.

When the Cavs score, they can beat anyone. That's what LeBron James does best and when he's at his best, like Saturday, he's almost unbeatable. I will admit, it was quite a show even for those of us that see him everyday. But he can't do that every night, especially on the road where he doesn't shoot as well. I may have to take this back later, but I don't see any light for this team as it is currently constructed. I know that is a chance in stance from my thoughts earlier, but we all know this is a changed team.

For more on the Cavaliers current state and what life is like for Brendan Malone, read by Sunday Column.

Take care all,
Brian aka bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

These are savage times

2005-04-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

A sampling of recent e-mails/comments:

"Hey Windhorst, if you spent less time eating and more time updating your blog everyone would appreciate it." -- Matt Neff

" There are three factors involved in appreciating New Orleans: 1. Bourbon Street is NOT what New Orleans is all about. It's what it's all about for tourists who visit New Orleans. There are cool places in the Quarter, but none of them are on Bourbon and tourists don't know about most of them. 2 . The place grows on you and grows on you -- after a while, you don't even notice the fact that it's run down and dirty because it has so many other charming qualities. 3. What New Orleans IS about is life, and how it should be lived. It's about being cordial to strangers, having good friends, slowing down and enjoying life and a good meal. It's about art and culture and quirkiness. It's about France and Spain and America, about black and white and everything in between. It's quite simply the best city I've ever lived in and you can bet that I'll retire there in about 20 years -- 15 if I'm lucky." -- Jim Banks.

"Here comes that (blanking) Mr. (blanking) negative mother(blanker) Windhorst" -- Jeff McInnis at practice the other day

"Hey, I really enjoy your blog," guy on Continental Airlines Flight 2952 yesterday.

Can't you just feel the love? And I'm supposed to be in freaking Philadelphia, city of, well nevermind.

Things are going just wonderfully in Cavalierland. Jeff McInnis officially hates me because I correctly wrote he was wearing his practice jersey backward to send a message that he no longer cared about the team. He now curses me out just about every time he sees me. Brendan Malone knows he doesn't stand a chance with anything -- his players, his owners, or the media -- so he's doing his best to just finish out the season so he can focus on the real love of his life...baseball. No, that's not a joke. Dan Gilbert is being questioned by everyone from LeBron James to Pete Vecsey for his actions since taking over the team.

With the exception of three or four players, I don't think the Cavaliers really care about making the playoffs - read about all the laughing on the bench here - and they're certainly tired of seeing me around everyday. I think LeBron cares, I think Eric Snow cares, I think Andy Varejao cares, I think Z probably cares, after that I'm not sure. Drew Gooden will follow the crowd. I'm not sure Sasha Pavlovic has emotions. I'm pretty sure Jeff McInnis, Lucious Harris, Robert Traylor, Scott Williams, DeSagana Diop, they all know they're gone and are making vacation plans. Or at least they're playing that way. Ira Newble seems cool either way.

I haven't been blogging much because I'd prefer to think about what has happened to this team as little as possible. Frankly, they're not that pleasant to be around, certainly much less than last season when they were a losing team the whole way.

As a member of the media, we don't have rooting interests. In fact, when a team is going bad like they are now, it often makes for some of the best stories. But the real issue is that if the team is awful, then they become irrelevant and if they become irrelevant, fans don't care. That hurts the fan and it hurts the reporter.

Since Gilbert took over the Cavaliers my enthusiasm to see what happens with the franchise has been completely zapped. Now, I'm wondering just how they can avoid totally screwing it up. The Cavaliers have become a mess, the thing they worked hard to emerge from when the got James and Paul Silas. They will fire Jim Paxson as I wrote last week in my Sunday Column before Stephen A. Smith started spouting falsehoods. So that means a new GM, a new coach, or a new GM/coach and $25 million in cap room to deal with this summer. Some would see that as a chance for a fresh start, my current thinking is that it is a chance to screw everything up even more. So, what of LeBron's future? I don't think anything more has to be said at this point. The clock is ticking quickly.

Look at what wins in the NBA: A star, stability, character role players and defense. This is what the Spurs have, this is what the Pistons have, this is what the Heat have, this is even what the Sonics have. Yet there is no stability whatsoever in the Cavalier organization and I don't think I have to mention the lack of role players or defense. All they have is a star, one that is growing more upset by the day. They win when they shoot well, which is why they only win at home. When they don't shoot well they have no chance because they can't play defense.

This is the end of the season, when teams fall into two categories, those rising and those falling. Last season, even though they missed the playoffs, the Cavs were rising. Now, well, I think you know. It is also the time when players, coaches and even snarly beat writers get sick of it all.

Take care,
Brian

The Big Sleazy

2005-03-28T13:15:00.000-08:00

I've read Dante and the Bible but I don't pretend to know that much about hell. But I can tell you this, it simply must smell better than Bourbon Street.

I hear people talk about New Orleans like it is some sort of religious experience. I think the architecture of the old Southern homes is amazing, the food is excellent (I had Parmesan shrimp last night), but I'm sorry, I can't get over how disgusting it is.

This is my fourth trip to the Big Easy, but last night was the first time I've made it into the guts, the innards if you will, of the French Quarter. It was a full moon and boy were the wackos out. But forget about all the smut, and the drunks, and the bead flingers. What about the smell, the freakin' smell!

I mean, I'm walking down this street with a bunch of run down buildings, where people mingle through the cars in traffic, where the gutters are filled with a menagerie of liquor, body fluids and trash and everyone is peddling trinkets. Tell me that isn't how you'd describe main street in the third world nation.

Sorry, if I'm offending anyone, but I just call it how I see it. Now, I'm lucky to travel around the country for my job and I also do it as a hobby, so I've seen just about every corner of the country. And I've spent many, many days in Vegas, so I'm not prude. But nothing quite compares to the trash I saw down there.

Compatriot Bob Finnan of the News-Herald studied the sign outside one house of ill repute and informed me that, for a few bucks, you'd be permitted to wash the female of your choice. Based on what I saw around me, I guessed it would probably take a little more than Zest and a washcloth to disinfect what lay inside. Instead we waded through the unwashed back to our hotel.

Now, on to the wheezing Cavs. I just want to relate a little story from Saturday:

The Cavaliers were on the court finishing their shootaround at the American Airlines Center. They'd just finished their prep and were about to do their normal light shooting when the Mavericks walked out onto the court and literally took it from them. Several players were icing on what is the visitor's bench and new Mavs coach Avery Johnson walked over the kicked them out of the gym. Without saying a word and while putting on their warmups as they left the arena bowl, the Cavs took it. A few hours later, the Mavs kicked them off the court again...by 31 points.

Now, it's not that big a of a deal. But just how much fight the Cavs have left in them is questionable. Think Jordan would've allowed his team to be kicked off a court? Or even another team would try it? I doubt it. Not that I'm saying this team resembles the Bulls.

They're is going to make the playoffs, if you look at the standings they can't help but make it. And they should be applauded for getting there for the first time in seven years, that is progress indeed. LeBron James has had a wonderful season and he's on his way to greatness.

But another late-season skid is preventing this team from reaching its potential for a second straight season and that isn't progress.

For more check out game stories from losses at Dallas and at Houston. Plus my Sunday Column is loaded with Cavs stuff. Also, check out Tom Reed's in-depth pieces on Brendan Malone and Ira Newble.

Take care,
Brian
bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Blogged down

2005-03-24T09:02:00.000-08:00

"Gee, Brian, anything much happen since your last post on Carlos? If you're not going to keep this up, why don't you just pull the plug on it? Your frequency online is pathetic! Since your last post, we've seen LBJ set league and team records, the chances for the playoffs diminish due to poor play, and (oh yeah) a coaching change! None of this seemed worth noting in your blog? I've enjoyed what you've written so far, but I'm just not sure it's worth my time to even check your site if you're not going to be more active." -Don Bianco, Columbus

Ouch! But Don's right. It's been a busy road for me. Here's how wacko I've been: I'm in Houston for the start of a three-game road trip across the South and I didn't pack a short-sleeve shirt or a pair of shorts. Just totally, freakin' forgot. I'm not right in the head these days. I'm off to the mall before shootaround this morning.

So, I'm sure your waiting to hear what I think about this whole Silas thing. First, let me relate my circumstances. I took a few days off last weekend to visit some family in Florida. I ended up racing across Alligator Alley listening to the press conference on satetille radio and making 34 calls on my cell phone and getting 22 on the day Silas was fired. Between Monday night and Tuesday afternoon, I did no less than eight radio shows and led our coverage from 1,000 miles away. I flew back just in time for Tuesday night's game, Wednesday morning's practice and just made my Wednesday afternoon flight to Houston (after absent-mindedly packing). At least I got in on time, due to weather problems, fellow beat writers Branson Wright and Bob Finnan took the later Houston flight, which was delayed no less than six hours. My computer tells me they arrived at the airport at 4 a.m. this morning. Guess I won't be calling them to join me for breakfast.

So...sorry about the Blog, but I'm hoping for some understanding.

OK, basicly, here's how it went down.

From the first day that Paul Silas met Dan Gilbert, he was a little skeptical to say the least. He grumbled that they met with him for an entire hour. Here's what you have to understand about Paul, he does things his own way. He doesn't like listening to anyone, especially his bosses and even his own assistants. When he was in New Orleans, he hated the new owner there. When I called him on a December night while we were in San Antonio and told him Gordon Gund was selling the team -- No, he didn't know, I broke the news -- he wasn't happy and he didn't even know the new man's name. He probably knew then that his days were limited.

Now, before I go on, Gilbert and his right-hand man, David Katzman, have every right to do whatever they want and make whatever suggestions and comments to their employees. They paid the $375 million, they're the bosses. I certainly respect that, but, then again, they don't get to tell me what to do.

But Silas didn't like it. When Gilbert took over he was very active in making suggestions to Silas. This to a man that hated just having to take one call a week from Gund. I know Gilbert denies instructing Silas to play Anderson Varejao when he became healthy. I'm not saying he's lying, but I know for a fact it was made clear to Silas.

Gilbert and Katzman were upset at the way the team was playing and, after just three games as owners, were all set to fire Silas after the team got blown out by Seattle and Miami and lost at Philly. But they held off after the team went on a three-game winning streak, but didn't take off any pressure.

So, last Friday, on the morning before the Cavs lost to the Sixers at home, Paul and I spoke at length following the morning shootaround. He told me that he didn't want to come back at the end of the season, that he wanted bought out of his contract. He told me an owner and a coach getting together is like a marriage, when you get together it can be great, but if you are betrothed (like he was with Gilbert), it doesn't work out. He wanted a divorce. He said he hate to leave LeBron, that would be the worst part, but that he didn't want to go through again what happened to him in Charlotte.

He told me these things because he wanted me to write it, though I couldn't quote him. I thought long and hard about doing it, even talking with Terry Pluto about it. Paul gets very down after losses and he was in a bad streak. His team was still in fourth in the playoff standings and I flat-out didn't want to write something that would prove to be totally wrong in a week or so. You lose credibility that way. I once thought I had a huge story when I wrote that Jeff Van Gundy was going to be hired by the Cavs. Well, he really almost was, but in the end, I turned out to be wrong. But Paul knew that if that got out there, he may get fired, which is what I think he wanted. But, even though I have some regret about it because maybe had a written it the fans wouldn't be so shocked, I just didn't.

But, frankly, he was coaching like it anyway. He wasn't as active in practices or games. His decision not to play McInnis AT ALL, really pissed off the players and made the owners wonder what his motive was. When you don't have the players or the bosses on your side, you're in trouble. So they fired him. It took guts and it was probably the right decision.

All-in-all, I think Paul did what he came here to do. The Cavs needed a transitional coach to bring order to the franchise and Paul did that. To get him, the Cavs had to sign him to a four-year, $16 million deal. It is unfortunate that he didn't coach them in the playoffs and last another year, which would've been the for the best.

No, the team is not in disarray. No, they don't need to start over. Yes, they next a coach and a key player or three to take them to the next level. Silas and LeBron raised the team up, now on to the next.

More to come, I'm off to Target.

Brian

My Ode to Carlos

2005-03-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

Before I begin, let me refer you to Tom Reed's column from today, he says it a lot better than I ever could. Though I did write a story about Carlos Boozer's decision to skip Cleveland.

I became exhausted with writing about Boozer back in January, especially after he took a personal pot shot at me during the Cavaliers visit to Salt Lake. He doesn't like me, would never talk to me again if he had his druthers. So I really didn't want to waste any more of my time or my paper's ink in dealing with him. But HE just won't let it die.

His decision not to come to Cleveland for tonight's game is spineless. I don't want to hear about how he has to get treatment on his foot, the Jazz trainers and strength coaches are in Cleveland and the Cavaliers have a state of the art training room that Boozer used hundreds of times. Do you want to know who else thinks so?

The fans? Sure. The media? Of course. But how about his fellow players? You better believe it.

Nobody will say anything on the record because they all really wish the whole thing would just get over with. But trust me, the other Jazz players aren't happy he's hiding at his mansion in Salt Lake. In fact, according to what I'm told, Boozer's reputation within the Jazz locker room has been taking hits all over place.

Not only has his owner and coach questioned his heart and competitive spirit, his fellow players didn't exactly respect him after he had to meet with the team owner with his wife to clear the air. Even the owner told people he'd never had such a meeting with a player AND his wife over basketball issues. In fact, there were even some within the Jazz organization that privately ripped Boozer for firing his agent and going back to Rob Pelinka, who got Boozer the infamous deal in Utah before his agency forced him to severe ties with Boozer, after the owner bashed him. One official told some reporters off the record that it was like "he had to run back to his mommy."

Two games after the meeting, he seriously injured his foot, which is terrible, you never want to see a player get hurt. It is understandable that he can't play tonight. But what isn't is that this is the first road trip he's missed this season.

Now, listen, I think Carlos is a great player and I think he'll bounce back next year, though the Jazz will probably be trying like crazy to get rid of him this summer. I've dealt with his wife, CeCe, at length and I think she's very intelligent. But, as Tom Reed wrote, they really don't get it: when you do something just for money that's usually all there is. Being rich is great. Being rich and hated isn't as grand and being rich and not respected is another thing entirely.

I really hope he's either still in denial or all this is just an act, because he loves to just laugh the whole thing off. But from what I can gleen, and here's the worst part, Carlos doesn't know that he doesn't know.

Take care all (you, too, Carlos and CeCe),
Brian

p.s. For some non-Boozer stuff, check out my Sunday Column. I hate to admit it because I shunned it at first, but I can't stop writing about Usher. I did it again in my game story from Monday. I'm transfixed for the moment, but I'm not buying any Crunk Juice.

bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

When the going gets tough

2005-03-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

It has been a long week. Since we last spoke, the Cavs' losing streak stretched to six after last night's nightmare against the Heat.

So you're all here to see what I have to say about it. First, read this, to see some number-crunching and analysis of what's been going on. Also, check out some interesting stuff in my Sunday column.

Well, here I go:

On the first possession Sunday night, I saw the ball go inside to Z and four guys stand around the perimeter and watch. Nope! Wrong answer. No one possession makes or breaks a game, but it showed me there isn't much growth going on. And that's the real issue, growth, and the Cavs appear to be regressing.

At the start of the season when the team lost three straight, the last losing streak to speak of, I saw the Cavaliers playing hard and losing. In fact, in most of their losses this season was the case. Even in the hard road losses, ones at Orlando, Lakers, Seattle, New York, etc., there was fight. But good teams don't get blown out like the Cavs have been. Not even blown out, the score doesn't really matter, it was the way it went down. The Cavs were lifeless in losing at Indiana, and at home to Seattle and Miami. Even the close losses in New Jersey and Philly were racked with needless mistakes.

After the game last night, the teeth started coming out. Silas ripped his players, the players ripped themselves, for the first time there was visible anger since the streak began. We'll see if that carries over to tomorrow. I'm not sure anger will work, but it is worth trying, because nothing else is.

Today Jim Paxson made the point that the roster is better than last year when Jeff McInnis' injury triggered an eight-game losing streak. That's true and another way of saying there's no excuse for this. That's also true. So what does that mean, it means the pressure is getting turned up.

I know there are many fans and some in the media that are giving up on this team. I admit that as I look at the last 24 games, I think it will take some pretty good play just to go 12-12 considering the schedule. Yet this is the NBA, and just as things looked good 11 days ago, everything could be different again in two weeks. LeBron James is still good and so is Zydrunas Ilgauskas and when the role players snap out of it, there's still time to right the ship.

Do I truly believe they will? Ask me tomorrow.

For more on this, check out Tom Reed's column.

Take care, e-mail as always at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

Brian

Quad dubs, MRedd, and Money!

2005-02-28T13:59:00.000-08:00

Before we get the latest installment, first let me issue some information that will cool the hot flow of e-mail to my inbox. Last week I got a question about the history of quadruple doubles. I heard from no less than 15 of you in response. Many thanks to those who e-mailed, consider this a response to all of you stat nuts. Keep up the good work and thanks for reading.

Here are the recorded four, though Wilt Chamberlain likely had numerous before they were tracked.

Nate Thurmond, Chicago, 10/18/74: 22 pts, 14 reb., 13 ass., 12 bks.
Alvin Robertson, San Antonio, 2/18/86: 20 pts, 11 reb., 10 ass., 10 steals
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston, 3/29/90: 18 pts, 16 reb,. 10 ass., 11 bks.
David Robinson, San Antonio, 2/17/94: 34 pts, 10 reb, 10 ass, 10 bks.

Of course I could've looked it up the other night, but it was late and I didn't feel like it.

There were also several comments about my Sunday Column, in which I compare the Carlos Boozer situation to what is developing in Milwaukee with Michael Redd.

I get dozens of e-mails about Redd, most Cavs fans think he's the answer to what the team needs most. He would certainly help because he's a great shooter and All-Star, a major piece in the puzzle. Plus he's from Ohio and he's a free agent.

But it might be a good idea to start dealing with the idea that Redd isn't coming, even though my column suggests trusting him in Milwaukee may be dangerous. There are a number of players who can help the Cavaliers and they don't have to be through free agency.

There's a hundred different ways to use the invaluable cap space the Cavaliers will have this summer. Last summer, the Denver Nuggets used cap space to get Kenyon Martin by trading two draft picks for him for example. There also other trades and free agents out there, namely Joe Johnson of the Suns. Ray Allen will also be free, but it sounds like he wants more money than the Cavaliers are willing to offer.

In other news, tomorrow the Cavaliers will officially belong to Dan Gilbert. I'm told the money changed hands today. Now, Gilbert, his good friend Dave Katzman (read the Sunday column) and hip hopper Usher bought the team for $374 million.

There's about a $100 million in debt, less the $37 million outgoing majority owner Gordon Gund won't get because he's keeping 10 percent of the team. I'm sure there's taxes and other legal fees, plus a bunch of very small minority owners to deal with. But here's my point, Gund is still going to be clearing more than $100 million. I mean, how do you celebrate that? Surf and Turf and a bottle of merlot? Seriously, how would you celebrate that?

Okay, with that bouncing around your head, think about the Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban. That dude sold some websites for $6 billion back in the booming '90s. SIX FREAKING BILLION! I mean, that's like, unreal. I can not compute those numbers.

So, loyal, savvy, and whitty readers, if you were Gordon Gund, how would you celebrate cashing in on LeBron and only having to pay him like $7 million over the last one-plus seasons? Best ideas make the blog.

Alright. I just got back from Jersey and boy do I need a shower. I'm sorry any NY/NY readers, but you should know how I feel. I did make it back on time this morning on Continental flight 525 and I had hot water at the Newark Airport Marriott. If you don't get these refereneces, I implore you to read the "A series of Unfortuntate Events" entry from December. Trust me, it's worth your time.

Take care,
Brian aka bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com

p.s. This was penned with Black Betty, Lenny Kravitz's Where Are We Runnin', and Dr. Dre's Still D.R.E., and Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London among others. I told you my tastes were wacko. Cheers!

We get letters

2005-02-26T01:49:00.000-08:00

Indianapolis--OK, Cavs got drilled by Pacers tonight, 105-82. Total blowout and a joke. Paul Silas ripped the team in the locker room after the game. Head to ohio.com to check out my stories.

I will forget about it for the moment because I've seen this several other times this season, especially at Chicago, at San Antonio, and at Sacramento. We'll see if what I saw tonight becomes a trend.

For now, more viewer mail.

"I'm looking forward to reading your Cedric the Entertainer story.
I'm assuming it involves the two of you doing battle with Star Jones
for the last corned beef sandwich at the press table. Even if it doesn't,
embellish it. Remember the rule of thumb they taught you at Kent State:
Celebrity stories are always a lot funnier if they involve Star Jones, food and a fistfight." --Alan Tucker.

BW: OK, the All-Star stories got buried in the computer problems and the trade deadline. I'm using my brand new computer by the way. Here's the 10 cent version: My computer died before the Rookie Challenge on Friday night, which basically ruined my weekend (and my planned blog updates). But during halftime, while I was using a borrowed computer, I needed to use the facilities at the Pepsi Center. The bathrooms in bowels of the arena were a little overwhelmed, so there was a line out the door. So I wait my turn and when I'm, ahem, ready to step up to the plate, here comes Cedric the Entertainer in top and tails from his courtside seat. Then dude cuts me off at the pass. Seriously, I got big-timed at the john, bypassed at the head, etc.. I should've been like "Ced, man, you can't do me like that." But I took it like a fool. But I did hear a story from ol' buddy Bob Finnan that some waiter spilled a tray of wine on Star Jones and her new hubby lit the poor kid up for it.

"I am no NBA expert or analysis and don't try to be. This is something that has been bothering me for sometime and finally after watching this embarrassing Indiana game, I'm forced to write you. Why have I not once heard anyone bring up what, to me, is a very obvious issue. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is one of the clumsiest players...ever. Am I missing something? Is it expected for a 7'3'' center to constantly mishandle, trip, fall, flub and generally goof it up?" --Travis Ellis.

BW: My answer would be, you try being 7-3 and see how you do. Yes, Z is a lightweight and he hits the floor and awful lot. Part of the reason is that he doesn't have much bulk, therefore he gets knocked around. Another is that
he really tries to get players off their feet so he can get fouls and gets hit a lot. He is probably the best 7-foot free-throw shooter in the NBA, so he wants to get to the line. The other day he went 17-of-19 at the line. I think it is just a part of Z being Z.

"What I want to know is what would do if you where the GM? Who would be expendable and to what ends would you have gone to get another shooter by yesterday?" --George "Chip" Thayer

BW: I thought the Cavs did well yesterday, I think Welsch is a credible shooter and they didn't give up any bodies to get him. No, they didn't land Chris Webber. But their thought process was not to take on big contracts. Of course Welsch got hurt tonight, so who knows? By the way, Jiri was on my flight this morning and I found him to be a nice guy. We'll see if he can play.

""I couldn't help but wonder as I watched Lebron rack up steals against Chicago, has a player ever recorded a 'quadruple' double. Is it even remotely possible? Could it happen once in Lebron's career?" --Sean

BW: They didn't start keeping half of these stats until the '60s and '70s, so maybe it has happened, but honestly I don't know. It is possible LeBron could do it, but I'd bet against it. Once in grade school, I had a triple-double. 10 turnovers, 10 missed field goals, and 10 missed free-throws.

"I realize that you watch the Cavs from a courtside vantage point. However, I and many others see most games on TV. Do you have any idea why Spite, Nike, Bubblicious, etc. don't air their LeBron commercials during Cavs' games? I think a Sprite one was aired once during a national game on TNT. Instead we have to endure endless repeats of the same Alltel shlock and Michael Stanley hawking cars. Sure seems to me that CAVS GAMES would be a good opportunity to air some cool LeBron commercials. Any thoughts?" --Annette Webb, Wadsworth

BW: I guess those are all national campaigns and we're podunk local. I wear adidas shoes because they treated me the best when I was covering LeBron's shoe contract wars. Even know and then, LeBron rips me for it. So that's fun. Incidently, before tonight's game he made a comment about my pants. They're Dockers khakis, thank you, Bronny.

"Add me to your posse, yo...Could I suggest a blog topic? Could you spend a few bandwith on the Cavaliers and the salary situation for next year?" --Heath Florkey, Dayton

BW: As of this moment, the Cavs have about $26 million committed for next season. LeBron will make $4.6, Eric Snow $5.4, Drew Gooden will get $4 million. Those are the biggies. The team will have around $18-$20 million in cap space. You have to figure at least $10 mill will be spent on Z. So that will leave $8-$10 to sign a shooting guard. They can go over the cap to sign Jeff McInnis, but it is complicated, which it why they may not do it. For the lastest on Michael Redd, read this.

OK, that's enough for now, it's 1:50 a.m and time for bed. I'll check back in after the weekend after I travel to beautiful New Jersey (insert gagging sound). If you have more questions, keep them short and hit me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care,
Brian

p.s. Thanks to Chuck Thomas and Michele Grimm, both of whom wrote me with music suggestions. Believe it or not, both suggested "The Killers." As soon as I get my computer set up, I'll be checking them out.

Not to toot my own horn, but...

2005-02-24T14:34:00.000-08:00

I believe this was posted at 9:55 a.m:

"Now the trading deadline is just a few hours away and to be honest, the guy I think the Cavaliers should try to get is Boston shooting guard Jiri Welsch."

Well, well, well, I might know something about the NBA after all. Cavaliers traded their 2007 first-round pick to get Welsch this morning, though I didn't find out about it until about an hour after a posted my blog. Honest!

I've liked Welsch for the last two years, probably because I've seen him just kill the Cavaliers in person. His 3-point shooting is down this year and so is his scoring because the Celtics have a rookie named Tony Allen they've been playing ahead of Welsch. I think he's a quality shooter that can help the team. Honestly, though, I said the same thing about Luke Jackson and Lucious Harris and neither panned out.

There's only about another half hour until the deadline, but I hear the Cavs are trying to move one of their umpteen wing players. They now have LeBron James, Harris, Jackson, Dajuan Wagner, Sasha Pavlovic, Ira Newble and Welsch and they all basically play the same position.

Will check back in soon!

Brian

I've returned....with no bandwidth

2005-02-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

I'm limping back into cyberspace with great appologies. I'm still operating with a laptop that is not from this century. It's a trusty-looking thing, but it just doesn't have what ya need. In Cavaliers terms, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is hurt and I'm going with Scott Williams as a starter.

If you know me, you know the tale of what happened is coming in great detail, but first let's discuss the Cavaliers as is, alas, the true purpose of this site.

I have the following obversations after last night's 100-91 victory over the Bulls:

--Zydrunas Ilgauskas is in his prime. This is slightly dangerous because he's going to get a contract that reflects it and, of course, at the end of that contract he won't be in his prime.
--Paul Silas can't be so stubborn with his bench players. Angry about their play last week in Minnesota and early in the game Wednesday, Silas barely used the bench. He played Eric Snow only three minutes. That simply cannot work in the long run.
--Want to have a little fun? Observe the little chess match going on between Silas and general manager Jim Paxson over 10-day contract man James Thomas. Silas really wanted Jerome Moiso to be signed for the rest of the season, but Paxson said no and Moiso was released. Thomas is Paxson's selection, while Moiso's was Silas'. So now watch Thomas not play for the next eight days.
--The Cavaliers and Bulls have the stage set for a heated rivalry. Not only are they young and loaded and, along with the Washington Wizards in my opinion, the future of the Eastern Conference, but the two teams have little vendettas going. Eddy Curry and Ilgauskas have a thing, especially after Curry ripped Z and said he should've made the All-Star team instead. Notice Z had 33 points to Curry's 12 last night. In addition, LeBron James hates the Bulls Andres Noiconi. He won't say why, but I believe it goes back to the Olympics when Noiconi played for Argentina. He has a reputation as a dirty player and he must've done something to James because LeBron has been pushing and shoving him since the preseason game with the Bulls in St. Louis way back in October.
--I know all of you have been bombarding me with e-mail about Michael Redd, but I really don't think it is going to happen. Now the trading deadline is just a few hours away and to be honest, the guy I think the Cavaliers should try to get is Boston shooting guard Jiri Welsch. I know Redd is a perfect fit, but I simply don't see a trade like that happening right now. Welsch is available and a very good shooter.
--Drew Gooden was wearing black diamond earings after the game Wednesday. I mean, who is this guy, Ozzy Osbourne. I told Drew that Kobe Bryant was wearing blue diamond earings at the All-Star Game press conference last week in Denver. His response: "Oh, blue, those are tight." Indeed!

OK, I'll be back later to regale all of you with my weekend mess, including my run-in with Cedric the Entertainer, but I have to attend practice at this juncture. Now, you know you'll be rewarded for checking back!

Until then, though, check out the great notes I had in last Sunday's column, my story today about Dan Gilbert's impending ownership, and the crazy stuff I saw at Niketown in Denver.

Peace,
Brian

From the files of Murphy's Law...

2005-02-19T17:01:00.000-08:00

Last night my computer, a Dell Latitude D600 for those of you who can commiserate, crashed. Died, spit the bit, dumped, adios, etc., etc. Thus it has made keeping my promise of updating the blog all weekend a little more complicated that I'd imagined. On the bright side, the story of my Friday evening should make you laugh at my fortune.

Remedying efforts are underway, I hope to be able to expound ASAP.

Thanks for your undying loyalty,
Brian

All-Star Weekend here I come

2005-02-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

Minneapolis--It's 15 degrees here in Minnie, I'm groggy from a 5 a.m. wake up to catch a plane after the Cavs home win over Atlanta last night, and there's another 7 a.m. flight scheduled for tomorrow. Yet, here I am updating the Blog. What a trooper...with no life!

Anyway, if you're looking for bonus coverage of All-Star Weekend in Denver, where I'm headed tomorrow, this is the spot. First, of course, check out tomorrow's Akron Beacon Journal special section on LeBron's first All-Star Game and all my print coverage.

But for all the behind the scenes action -- well, not all of it, I haven't yet secured an invite to Nelly's or Carmelo's parties -- but for the flavor only a brilliant and witty mind like mine can provide, check here throughout All-Star Weekend.

I've sworn a blood oath to update the blog daily through the weekend -- barring any unforeseen better offers, you know that stuff about the Rocky Mountain High -- and you can marvel at just how uninteresting the All-Star Game is...until I spice it up!

Take care,
Brian, aka bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

p.s. Anyone notice DD (DeSagana Diop) got 15 minutes of action last night? Could've it have been his comments to me last week or something else.

p.p.s. A new feature I'd like to start here is a little music section. I usually listen to tunes when I blog and my wacky taste -- from rap to classical -- is ledgendary. Currently, I'm rolling to "Get down on it" from Kool & the Gang. Got some better tracks? My Napster service will hook me up, so let's hear it at the above e-mail address.

Nothing like a Lithuanian cheese wheel to brighten your day

2005-02-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

I have returned to blogland by demand. This is after I replied to literally a 100 or so e-mails I was back-logged on in the last 90 minutes. Why? Because I'm at home alone on Valentine's Day.

Putting on my thinking cap, I am now going to predict the Cavaliers will finish the season with a record of...47-35!

Can someone, anyone, remind me of what the Akron Beacon Journal's Brian Windhorst predicted the Cavaliers' season record would be back in November? Anyone? Oh, 47-35. Not bad, eh!

How did a come to this conclusion? I thought you'd ask.

After win over Lakers, the Cavaliers are 29-20 and have 33 games remaining, 17 at home and 16 on the road. They are currently 19-5 at home and 10-15 on the road. Of the remaining home opponents, seven have winning records. Of the remaining road opponents, five currently have winning records. This, of course, can change.

I am predicting the Cavaliers will finish the season 32-9 at home and 15-26 on the road. This is based on a complex formula of looking at back-to-back scenarios and potential tough stretches with an upset margin of error either way. Call me a fool, but I'm a realist.

Oh, a late entry reveals I picked Cavs to go 45-37. Blast!

Sights and sounds over the last 10 days:
-Fan at Gund Arena tries to hand Zydrunas Ilgauskas a hunk of cheese as he walks off the floor after win over Raptors. Z declines.
-Sasha Pavlovic sweats after talking with PlayBoy Playmate Carmella DeCesare at a bar, it winds up in a gossip column and his girlfriend reads it on the Internet. On the other hand, I was forced to go to PlayBoy's website for business purposes and background information.
-LeBron James tells me he's tired of seeing me wear addias shoes. I went out and bought new triple stripes in response.
-I lose $$ when I bet assistant coach Stephen Silas would beat advance scout Wes Wilcox in a game of horse.
-Gloria James approaches me after a game to ask me to stop writing negative stories...doesn't rip my shoes.
-Jeff McInnis pouts and complains about officials after North Carolina's 71-70 loss at Duke.
-Jeff McInnis cheers and lauds officials after Maryland beats Duke.
-I create the DGI.

For more fun, check out my midseason grades. And have reactions like this:

"I just finished reading your midseason grades. What's the deal with the two "D-" grades? It's a cop-out. I know grade inflation is the big thing these days, but come on. If DeSagana Diop deserves a D-, then Paris Hilton deserves a Pulitzer Prize." -Alan Tucker.

More reader reax:

"You have a front row seat for a traveling carnival." -Rick, Ashtabula.

"When Anderson "Wild Thing" Varejao comes back I think they should play the Tone Loc version of Wild Thing when he scores! Get on the horn and call your friends at the Gund and have them get rid of the oldies version. With those over-hyped break dancers running around it just doesn't’t fit in with the theme at Gund Arena. I know this may be a moot point for the next six weeks, but it has been eating at me ever since I went to my last game." -Bob Strausser, Akron.

"I saw you get cake on your face when you had your birthday. Maybe you should've had the salad, not the meat." -Frank, Mentor.
BW: Thanks, man, can you pass the potatoes?

"For as many mistakes as you make in the paper, you're lucky you get paid." -Tim, Ravenna

"Hey, why don't the Cavaliers wear the old wine jerseys, they're just as cool as the gold ones?" -Mary Spencer, L.A.
BW: In the works for next year, I hear.

"Your blog cracks me up, you can't be this funny in real life." -Geoff, Columbia (S.C.)
BW: My roommate thinks my habits are a joke.

"You blog is a hit in the U.K., made several new Cavs fans in my office." -Percy, London.
BW: Well, if "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" can go to England, so can I!

"Brian, get back to doing REAL work!" -My boss.

OK, keep the feedback coming, bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

I'll be blogging from All-Star Weekend! What an overrated bore!

Brian

Birthday bashed, "Meat," and the South Florida Blues

2005-02-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

Miami -- It is rainy this morning here, appropriate to the quagmire the Cavaliers find themselves in.

Since I've last written -- and we'll get to all your fine responses a little later -- the Cavaliers have badly spun their wheels and fallen out of first place. I don't know about you, but the losses at Orlando and at Miami this week have really taught me something about this team.

I think they're a playoff team for sure, I think they have some quality pieces and a very bright future, but I don't think at this juncture that they're going to make much noise this season. I think there are just too many flaws still present.

Since winning a bunch of games over weak opponents to start the new year, they're below .500, having lost seven of their last 12 games.

Why? Because Jeff McInnis too often lets people drive right by him. Zydrunas Ilgauskas commits too many fouls. Eric Snow can't be counted on to make any jumper, especially with pressure. Drew Gooden still makes too many mental errors. Lucious Harris isn't consistent. Sasha Pavlovic doesn't play with confidence. Robert Traylor fights hard, but at 6-8 often get rebounded over because he's too short to be a backup center. For how great LeBron James is, he still allows too many baskets at the defensive end.

So there's the melancholy truth. There's a lot to like about this Cavaliers team and I expected them to be very fun to watch the rest of the season. Taking the long view, this time may be on it's way to greatness, in the short view, hey, they've got their issues.

Now, on to the fun stuff.

Thanks to Mary Schmitt Boyer and Jon Wile of the Plain Dealer, who conspired to embarrass me on my 27th birthday last week.

Um, as an aside here, I have made the argument that being 27 still constitutes being in my mid-20s. I mean 20, 21, 22, 23 is early 20s; 24, 25, 26, 27, is mid 20s; and 28 and 29 is late 20s. I see no problem that theory, thank you.

Their little plot involved Cavaliers mascot Moondog, who brought me a cake during the second quarter of the Cavaliers win over the Bucks Sunday. Just for good measure, he put a dopey birthday hat on my head and smeared icing all over my face. But it was a vast conspiracy as the incident was captured by Ch. 43 and put on the videoboard at Gund Arena as Michael Reghi and Joe Tait chided as well.

What can I say, I guess they kid because they care.

Now hear this: I know when all your birthdays are and I will get you back!

Finally, I feel compelled to tell you all about the experience I had yesterday afternoon here in Miami which myself and my compadres have simply been referring to as "Meat."

Acting on advice from Plain Dealer beat writer Branson Wright's wife, Lori, Mr. Wright, Bob Finnan (of Planes, Trains and Bob Finnan fame) and I went to this restaurant called Porcao.

There is no menu, just two choices: meat or salad. We were instructed to say "meat." What happened next is almost beyond explanation.

Instantly, a parade of servers came by the table with huge chucks of meat on spits and they sliced away. None of them speak English well, some not understanding the word "enough." They heaped the lamb, filet, top sirloin, duck, flank, strip, bacon-wrapped turkey, chicken, and chicken hearts by the pound.

They kept coming in waves along with curry, beans, rice, fries, potatoes, and fried bananas. I'd never seen such a feast, I felt like Henry VIII without all the alimony.

Not until you flip over a little card on your table that resembles a stop sign will they cease.

It has been nearly 24 hours and I haven't needed a meal...which is good because the price of the feast, well, it felt like it was for breakfast, lunch, dinner and breakfast again. At least that's how I'll explain it to the boss when I turn in the receipt.

That's all for now. I'm still gathering responses for my upcoming fan column, send them to bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care,
Brian

The Blog turns

2005-01-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

Hello again all, I'm back in wonderful Cleveland and I've got a proposition for you.

A number of you, my wacky band of readers, have asked why they can't post comments on this site. Well, it is part of a family newspaper and obviously we (meaning the folks of the Akron Beacon Journal) have to control the content.

But obviously my editors don't read this, otherwise they'd never let me get away with it. Nevertheless, I have to keep it semi-professional, even if I'm not.

With that said, here's the deal: If you have something you want to get off your chest about the Cavaliers, let's hear it. Or even if you want to blast me, fire away. It's interactive, baby!

Now, keep it short because I'd like to post a bunch of these. I mean short, like a parapraph or two. And and keep it clean. The more witty the better and, of course, I have the right to edit everything. Include your name, first, last, whatever, and your hometown.

Send them to me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. If you all can be as funny and cool as me (ha, ha), we'll make this a regular feature.

So back to the Cavs.

Today was pretty gloomy at Gund Arena. As you can read about, Andy Varejao is out 4-6 weeks with a sprained ankle and it's bad. He couldn't put weight on it last night after the weird loss to the Wizards. Jeff McInnis and Dajuan Wagner aren't right either.

I daresay things may get worse before they get better. McInnis was struggling before he got hurt. Zydrunas Ilgauskas has given a couple of good performances lately, but is defense has been spotty at best and he's constantly been in foul trouble. As you can read in my Sunday column, which, I must say, is pretty packed with new info, Drew Gooden is in one of his classic funks.

Of course LeBron James is playing out of his mind, which has some believing the dream that he could one day average a triple double. He can certainly carry this team, and it looks like he's going to have to for awhile with the bench shorter and the key supporting pieces looking for consistency.

Still, the Cavs are in first place and it good position for the stretch run with three winnable games this week. So all it not lost, yet.

Take care,
Brian

Sleepless in Seattle, Brian gets Cavs a technical foul and other tall tales

2005-01-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

Sacramento -- There is a new phrase in my vocabulary, which has been perpetuated by several close friends. It was running through by head as I was going down 10 flights of stairs at 1:45 a.m. last Monday morning.

Blog fodder.

As I was evacuating my hotel due to a fire alarm and going out into the pouring rain in Seattle in my jammies, I was thinking that would sound pretty funny if I was reading about how it happened to someone else. Thankfully, a lawyer named Frank from "Southern California" offered shelter in his nearby rental car. Why he said "Southern California" is beyond me, like he couldn't have said San Diego, Anaheim, L.A., or Redondo Beach and I wouldn't have known where he was from. Thank you Frank, I'm from Northern Ohio...no, Northeastern Ohio!

Now, back to the Cavs, which is what you are here for. Let's catch ya'll up since I last blogged.

Seattle

Cavs lose to the Sonics, which isn't such a bad thing these days. But had they taken advantage of one beat writer's courage maybe they could've gotten over the hump.

In the second quarter, Sonics center Jerome James got peeved when getting called for his third foul. I'll admit, it was tick-tack. But his reaction was not. He grabbed the ball and chucked it toward a table on the baseline. But he's tall and the table was low, so instead of hitting it, it hit me, right in the melon.

Confused (as usual), and now dazed, I recoiled in pain that would've made an eight year old hypochondriac laugh. However, official Kevin Fehr, who I once took a flight with, remembered what an awesome dude I am, and nailed Jerome with a technical foul.

Did I get an "Atta boy" from the nearby Cavs bench? No. They made fun of me. There was Scott Williams and Tractor Traylor, not swearing to have my back if I went out on the floor to settle the score, but laughing and pointing at me. To make it worse, Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed the free throw.

In a follow up, Cleveland Plain Dealer beat writer Branson Wright ran into Jerome the next night at a restaurant and he took BWright's cell phone and called to apologize. All is well.

Portland

Wearing a sparkling new pair of adidas, I dare to walk around the Nike campus outside Portland. The place is almost surreal, as I describe in this piece.

I kept thinking all these people just hanging out and playing sports on a rainy day are being paid for show or something. That and I feared a broad-chested man in a black suit with a crew cut and dark glasses would appear from a secret passage in a bush and remove me and my sneakers from the face of the earth.

Anyway, the Cavs rally the next night to beat the Blazers, 107-101 as LeBron finally gets the triple-double. Now, I know he said all he cared about was the win, but don't think it meant nothing to him. After the game, he and some Nike people had a little spirited party with his mom, Gloria, who is out here on the road trip and setting fashion trends all the way.

Sacramento

OK, Cavaliers didn't have much of a chance in this one even before the Kings came out hot in torching them. But before the game it was fun to remember the last time I was here when LeBron made his debut, a night he, I, and probably thousands of his fans will never forget. In case you forget, here's my story from that night.

Before the game, though, there was some great chatter. Ira Newble was lamenting his 29th birthday, knowing he was on the clock for the big three-O. Then, big Z was regaling all with his thoughts when first seeing 7-foot-3, 330-pound Ha Seung Jin come in the game the night before.

Now big Z knows what it is like to sit courtside with Paul Silas walking in front of you all game. Seriously, I mean I get great seats at games, but most nights I could better tell you the thread count in seat of Silas' pants than what actually happened on the floor.

Whew, that gets us updated. Have a good weekend all. I'm in day 10 of the roadie and I'm going to finish strong.

As always, hit me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com with comments. Just don't hit me like Jerome James.

Take care,
Brian

The sights and sounds of SLC

2005-01-16T06:57:00.000-08:00

Salt Lake -- Been a weird three days here in beautiful SLC, which included perhaps the strangest Cavs game of the season last night, when they beat the Jazz 84-71.

The following occurred within my bizarre little world:

--Saw two guys in their mid 20s laying on their backs on the grass in a downtown park smoking joints in broad daylight.
--During a nice little chat, old friend Carlos Boozer accuses me of inciting Cavaliers fans to hate him with my articles. Well, check this one out, Boozy. I guess he's still pissed at me about this one from July .
--Didn't get invited to dinner at Boozer's house.
--Didn't get invited to dinner with coaches at Fleming's Steakhouse.
--Didn't get invited to dinner with players at Benihana.
--Settled for dinner with the mayor at a downtown bistro...well, he was at the next table.
--Complimented Jazz coach Jerry Sloan on his John Deere hat, which he said he's had for 15 years.
--Jazz center Curtis Borchert compliments my Stanford hat and asks me if I went there. I tell him no, I went to the Stanford of the Midwest...Kent State.
--Fan at Delta Center drops a loud f-bomb at Eric Snow when he checks in during the fourth quarter. A stunned Snow turns around and says "I didn't think you guys said that here."
--Leaving lobby at hotel where Cavaliers and I are staying, a fan sees my NBA media pass and asks for my autograph. I blush and say, give me $10.
--Laughed hysterically watching Jeff McInnis twist in the wind and dance all around the locker room while watching his beloved Steelers in overtime before the game.
--Nearly came to tears when McInnis, laying flat on the floor in anticipation of winning field goal attempt, had his view blocked by an oblivious Sasha Pavlovic.
--McInnis then goes out and badly misses more field goals that Doug Brien...but still scores 24 points in win.
--Coach Paul Silas nearly loses voice after giving Cavs halftime screamdown for playing like zombies for the first 24 minutes.

Well, I'm off to Seattle. Oh, luggage update for those of you following: didn't make it so well from L.A., one wheel is about to fall off. I predict this suitcase isn't coming home with me.

Comments? Hit me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care,
Brian

My spurs a jingle, jangle, jingle...

2005-01-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

So in the last few days I've gotten about six e-mails and calls from both mom and dad offering solutions to my torn suitcase (see below). OK, OK, OK, it's a small tear, I was just aiming for sympathy. I'll be fine.

Currently preparing for Wagon's West by packing, blogging and mining Napster for all songs called "California." Um, there's like a 100 of them. And I'm not talking about songs like Hotel California or the one I've got now, the Chili Peppers' Californication. Just songs called California. There's even on from someone/thing named Dressy Bessy. Though I can't exactly agree with Joni Mitchell's version when she says "Gonna see the friends I dig, maybe even kiss a sunset pig."

More likely, when I return from the six-game, 12-day ride, I'll be humming Jackson Browne's Running on Empty.

So, with that, here's my short, incremental thoughts on the Cavaliers. Oh yeah, them. Well, they've won four straight and six of seven after beating those Bobcats. Not a bad run when preparing for the impending onslaught. Here we go:

--Eric Snow is amazing at breaking up 1-on-2 breaks. Like, when he's defending and two guys are rushing at him. He messed two up last night and has probably done so maybe 10 or 12 times this season.
--Robert Traylor's finger is still bothering him, he came back too soon and is playing through pain but doesn't complain.
--Has anyone noticed LeBron has 16 turnovers in the last two games?
--When Drew Gooden skips, he's ready to play. It usually happens after he's been benched, like last night. He'll literally come into the game skipping. He skipped in the fourth quarter, scored nine points and the Cavs won.
--I like referring to Zydrunas Ilgauskas as simply "the giant Lithuanian." Is that wrong?
--Jeff McInnis got his braids redone before last night's game and they looked really, really, tight, much more than usual. Then he went 4-of-15. Coincidence?
--I'm developing a Saturday morning cartoon series based on the lives of Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic. The working title is Wild Thing and the Angry Motenegran. Hey, the Harlem Globetrotters made basketball cool on Scooby Doo. Seriously, Sasha doesn't smile. Anderson doesn't frown.
--Speaking of the Wild Thing. When the Cavs traded for him, his last name was pronounced Vare-ra-jow. Then it was Vare-ra-joe. All season it's been Vare-ra-jean. Now he says we're all messing it up, it's something like Vare-ra-jaa. As Annie Savoy said to Ebby Calvin LaLoosh in Bull Durham, "Honey, you need a nickname." Wild Thing lives!
--Ira Newble only makes jump shots from the baseline.
--Scott Williams misses his wife back in Phoenix. The other day, he grabbed trainer Max Benton's butt during a timeout.
--Luke Jackson is miserable and not just because his back hurts him a great deal. He feels like he's let a lot of people down this season, especially his own high standards.
--I'm starting to wonder if the doctors know more than they're willing to tell us about what's caused all of Dajuan Wagner's illnesses.
--Lucious Harris shoots his jumper with his hand totally under the ball instead of behind it. I mean I can't make granny shots, so it's not like I know, but I'm just saying.
--DeSagana Diop has resigned himself that it's over for him in Cleveland. But he's still smiling, maybe it's because it getting almost $30,000 a game.
--Strength and conditioning coach Stan Kellers and assistant coach Kenny Natt are more ripped than just about every Cavs player. Stan could probably kick some tail, except he's like, 5-foot-6. But, he could surely handle me so I should shut up.
--Paul Silas should wear pink more, he can pull it off.

OK, I'm rambling now and I'm on Phantom Planet's California. All The O.C. fans know what I'm talking about. Speak to you all again from the Wild West. Until then, you can get me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care,
Brian

Show me the money

2005-01-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I've been lax. But I'm back, so here I go.

Conversation I had with Dan Gilbert last week:

BW: You have this pet phrase, "money follows, it doesn't lead," can you tell me exactly what you mean by that?
DG: Well, a lot of companies just look at profit and loss sheets and they're always trying to squeeze expenses out of the middle to make the bottom line better. We don't believe in that. We believe that you get talented people and give them the tools and, well, the money will follow.
BW: In that case, will you buy my newspaper?
DG: Um, like, subscribe?
BW: No, I mean, like, buy the whole thing.
DG: (laughs) I don't know, maybe.
BW: Well, I think I have a LeBron quality about me.
DG: Really?
BW: Well, no, but I can do a wicked crossover with him on NBA Live 2005 and I can spell Zydrunas Ilgauskas without looking it up.

OK, I digress. The point is that Gilbert doesn't believe in doing things on the cheap. That's what he says and that's what he does. His company, Quicken Loans, gives employees loads of perks. As a result they have a high retention rate, a high morale, and one of the fastest-growing revenue streams in the country.

Does this mean he'll spend wildly with reckless abandon? No. Spending lots of money doesn't always equal greatness, look at the freaking Knicks, their payroll is $100 million. But Gilbert's philosophy should get Cavaliers fan excited.

Now is the time to spend money. The payroll is going to explode soon. Z and Jeff McInnis are free agents. Drew Gooden and LeBron James will want massive extensions soon. Then there's free agents like Michael Redd and Ray Allen out there. And here's Gilbert saying he wants to get talented people and give them the tools.

Sounds like this could be a good marriage.

Want more? Check out my game stories on the Cavaliers wins over the Bobcats, Hawks and Knicks last week. Charlotte gamer has funny stuff about LBJ's mask.

If you're joining the Anderson Varejao cult, you'll enjoy my Sunday Column from last week. Oh, and I know he looks like Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons. But please, I've worked very hard to cultivate the "Wild Thing" moniker that I gave him in the preseason. I've even bribed Gund Arena sound man and Kenny Roda Show producer Andre Knott to play the song when he does something wacky in the games. So don't disappoint me, call him Wild Thing.

To explain why Luke Jackson's had a lost season along with other news and notes, check out this week's Sunday Column.

I promise to update more often. Cavs are heading West, six cities in 12 days. I imagine I might have something to say about it. Plus you can check in to see if I'm having any more travel nightmares. I have flights planned on five different airlines to get it done and will be toting around two suitcases, one of them with a concerning tear, so I'm sure there will be some hijinks.

As always, e-mail at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care all,
Brian

Time to be the bully

2004-12-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

I've been speaking with some high-ranking NBA officials just to verify the Cavs win over the New Orleans Hornets Sunday officially counts in the standings. Apparently, it does, even though I'm fairly certain the Hornets aren't really an NBA team.

I mean, no offense to Matt Freije, I know he had a great career at Vandy, but this dude isn't a starter in the NBA. And Corsley Edwards? I'm not a director of player of personnel, but I think I'm pretty familiar with the rosters of every NBA team and even I did a double take when ol' Corsley checked in. I'd never heard of him.

That's OK, though, I might be caught off guard tomorrow night in Atlanta with the state of the Hawks' roster.

So what's my point, here?

It wasn't too long ago Yogi Stewart, who's a great guy and family man, by the way, Tierre Brown, Smush Parker and Milt Palacio were lacing up for the Cavaliers every night out there. And you know what other teams did to that outfit? They beat the living heck out of them!

So with the Hornets down and two games with the Hawks, two with the Bobcats and home games with .500 floaters New York and Houston upcoming, the Cavaliers dearly need to be the bully now and pump up their record.

Since erasing that 0-3 start by winning nine of 10 games last month, the club's been spinning its wheels. Going anything less than 4-2 in this stretch, 5-1 is more like it, to get their record to 20-13 or 21-12, may prove costly.

Let me just tell you that six-game West Coast trip next month will be unpleasant and just about that time Indiana and Detroit should be finding their midseason stride. Getting these victories against the weak teams will be invaluable in March and April when everyone is jockeying for playoff position.

In closing, let me thank all that have e-mailed me ( bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com ) with sympathy or just laughter about my travels back from New Jersey last week (see below for a good time). Some have even written with travel tips.

Thanks for caring, I care about all of you (in the platonic, writer/blogger-to-reader sense, mind you).

And for the latest update, I'm writing this while being stalled at Hopkins airport. My flight to Atlanta is delayed and there's an irate child screaming five feet to my right (us quasi-adults all wish we could, too). And by the looks of him and the timbre of his song, I think's his vocal cords have some stamina...this could be another long day.

Take care all,
Brian

p.s. One more thing, if any of you watched the game Sunday, I hope you saw the pass LeBron James threw to Ira Newble in the first half. LBJ came out of a spin move and threw a no-look pass through two defenders that hit Ira right in the gut...he didn't even see it coming and why would he, it was impossible. I think it's safe to safe LeBron would have been more successful throwing into triple coverage than Luke McCown, though Lukey seems to be giving the ol' college try whenever possible.

OK, that's all, honestly.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

2004-12-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

What I'm about to tell you has little to do with the Cavaliers, but does explain why my postings have been scarce of late. It may bore you, though I predict it will make you laugh. Either way, at the end of the day it is still my blog so I decide what goes on it.

For the update on the on hiatus Cavs, check out my latest story on their situation, which is growing bleaker by the way. Also, if you watched the 92-90 loss to the Nets, I predict you will like my Sunday column . Also, read about how Lee Nailon wants revenge.

Now, hear this and understand why I laugh so that I may not cry.

Planes, trains and Bob Finnan

Thursday morning myself and Bob Finnan, the Cavaliers beat writer for the Willoughby News-Herald and the Lorain Morning Journal, my friendly competition and frequent travel compatriot, awoke at the lovely Newark Liberty Airport Marriott. He in room 805, where he had hot water but no toothpaste, and I in room 828, where I had toothpaste but no hot water. You see where this compatriot stuff comes into play.

After taking in the Cavs loss to the Nets the night before, Bob and I heard from family and friends the details of the snowy grip on Northeast Ohio. Our outlook looked grim and we knew it. Not only we were concerned about somehow finding our way to Cleveland, but neither of us had purchased a single Christmas gift and had budgeted Thursday for such bliss.

Our flight from Newark to Washington D.C.'s Dulles airport went off without a hitch. Sparing you as many details as possible (I know after the toothpaste thing, it's too late), we then sat for many hours and watched every flight to Cleveland get canceled. We were told perhaps we could get home Saturday (Christmas), but more likely Sunday. Bob's wife and three children were not happy with this news. Did I forget to mention Bob was severely under the weather with a cold?

After brief talks and phone calls to friends in Pennsylvania and Ohio to gauge road conditions, Bob and I decided to drive home. I picked up a car with two miles on the odometer and two hours later there were 51 miles (other people were driving too, we found). Now hang on, this is where the story gets interesting.

Roughly nine hours later we arrived at Cleveland Hopkins Airport congratulating ourselves. Roads were fine, we had good luck finding music (other than that brief and odd high school wrestling match we found on the radio outside Breezewood, Pa.) and we were going to be home soon...or so we thought.

First, it took 20 minutes to get from the rental car area to the airport (traffic). Then it took 20 minutes for our parking shuttle to arrive (traffic) and we got to Bob's car at 1:30 a.m. It was in a block of ice, behind a mound of ice. But it was all moot, the car didn't start...it was frozen, too. Then we took the shuttle back to the airport, it took 20 minutes (traffic).

We got into a taxi to go to my house (2 miles away) for the night. The driver, Habib, was not happy. He demanded $20 for the ride. I told him if he was looking for a fight, he came to the right guys. So he went to find another fare so we could double up. Then he nearly got into a fight with another taxi driver about the situation.

When we finally pulled away, there was a loud banging sound and the mini-van shook violently. Bob informed him that he had a flat tire, but he was defiant. He was like Baghdad Bob, denying there was anything wrong while the bombs exploded in the background. Finally he pulled over on the side of the highway.

He was screaming his dispatcher on the radio and calling his friend, Kashmir, on his cell phone trying to get instructions how to change the tire. Meanwhile as we watched the spinning meter, Bob, myself and our new friend, who'd just flown in from Phoenix (I'll bet he wish he'd stayed), couldn't help but laugh at the situation at hand.

Kashmir arrived to help with the tire. But once the jack slipped and cause the car to crash to the road, we'd had enough. We demanded another cab be called. Bob and I arrived at my house at 2:30 a.m.

As of now, Christmas Day at 2 p.m., Bob's car is still in the ice and our plane is still waiting to leave Dulles and I've grown tired enough of spending time with my family that I've chosen to blog.

So Merry Christmas to all and to all a wonderful holiday season,

Brian

More Malice at the Palace

2004-12-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

This just in...the NBA just suspended Ron Artest for five more games after what happened last night.

But seriously, folks, will Paul Silas ever get another good egg roll in Cleveland again?

I'm getting flooded with e-mails today about the Paul Silas-Eric Snow showdown last night in Detroit. Here's what happened and then my take:

The Pistons started pressing in the second quarter. Snow had the ball and instead of dribbling through it, gave up and called timeout in the backcourt with 19 seconds on the shot clock. This displeased Silas. Then, after the long TNT TV timeout, Snow went to inbound the ball. You have to clear halfcourt by the time the clock hits 16, no matter what. But Snow passed the ball backwards to Anderson Varejao and it resulted in a turnover. This infuriated Silas.

He yanked Snow from the game. Snow explained to him no one was open. Silas didn't accept it. Then Snow, with his back turned, issued a profane statement that rhymes with duck. Silas then marched down, screamed him down despite Ira Newble and Scott Williams trying to be cooler heads and kicked him off the floor.

OK, based on everything I saw, and I was sitting about 20 feet away, Silas just simply over reacted. I think Snow's curse was out of general frustration. He wanted to stay in the game. He's a competitor. But Silas is a stern man who doesn't like to be challenged and he went after him just like he went after Newble last season in Atlanta when Newble mouthed him and Silas called him a "hip-hop blank-blank (rhymes with other sucker)."

It was made worse after the game when Silas blew up at Columbus Dispatch writer Bill Pfieffer while cameras and tape recorders were rolling, unlike last season with Newble, which caught the media by surprise. I asked the first question about Snow and Silas said he didn't want to talk about it. I don't think Bill intended to cross him by questioning deeper, but he made the mistake of saying the word "Snow" again, which set the Grizzly bear off.

Now, Snow is a consummate pro. He is a leader. He is a coach on the floor, not a cancer. He needs to say he's sorry to Silas and Silas needs to say he's sorry to him. Make it a speed bump and move on. Both guys are old pros and they need to handle it like they are.

We won't find out anything until tomorrow, the Cavaliers have canceled practice today.

Stay tuned,
Brian

Remember Me?

2004-12-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry, blog fans, the rigors of the NBA season (I've been away from home for 12 of the last 15 nights) plus the news of the Cavaliers impending sale to Dan Gilbert have taken their toll. But I'm back by popular demand. OK, just demand. OK, OK, I got an e-mail from one of my seven blog readers, my sister.

With their 92-86 win in Memphis on Monday, the Cavaliers hit the quarter pole of the season. Here's my player-by-player breakdown after the first quarter. Oh, but, since we haven't spoken in about 10 days, here's what you may've missed: Loss to Bulls, loss to Spurs, all about Dan Gilbert, and my Sunday column.

Caught up? OK, here we go:

Drew Gooden -- This guy is just fascinating, a riddle. He's really a pretty smart guy and can be thoughtful, but often times on the court he slips into a daze. He'll be lost and the next minute feed a no-look alley-oop pass to LeBron or something. So I just think I can sum it up like this: Gooden's basketball IQ and focus is sometimes questionable, but his athletic skills are undeniable. If LeBron and Paul Silas keep him positive -- always keeping him focused is impossible - he's going to have more good games than bad. But he'll probably never be really consistent.

LeBron James -- What do you want me write? I've told people since he was 16 that the reason LeBron is different from everyone else is that he actually lives up to the hype. He answers the bell. he never lets you down. He's made those promises come true. But I just want to focus on one thing here: his defense. He's currently third in the NBA in steals, which has added a major level to his game. But his defense is still his weakest point and he needs to be better off the ball, because that's where he makes the most mistakes. Trying to do too much, he let Bruce Bowen have three straight open jumpers last week in San Antonio in the fourth quarter. That can't happen.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas -- Big Z is big Z. He has excellent offensive skills, a major weapon. His defense hasn't been as consistent as it was at the end of the last season. This season he's been out of position a little too much and also been committing too many stupid fouls. But the Cavaliers are at their best offensively when Ilgauskas touches the ball at least once during a possession.

Jeff McInnis -- J-Mac is having a career year scoring the ball, averaging 15 points. But there are several reasons for this. First, he's shooting it well and he's getting more shots. He's been playing the two-guard down the stretch of games with Eric Snow playing the point. And with LeBron getting double-teamed, McInnis is getting open shots. To his credit, he is making them, especially in clutch spots. His defense, though, has maybe taken a step back from last season. He seems to allow opposing point guards to easy penetration access. Gary Payton, who is four years older than him, showed it could be done and many teams have followed suit from seeing the film.

Ira Newble -- Let's be honest, he probably shouldn't be a starting shooting guard in the NBA. But he has played better than last season. The problem is he often winds up with open jumpers when teams double James and rotate away from Newble. He's not a good jumper shooter, he's at his best going to the basket and in the open floor. Plus his defense has been hurt by the tighter rules on contact. Still, Newble is a solid part of the rotation and takes pressure of LeBron by defending the opposition's best offensive wingman. That's why Silas will keep him in the starting lineup.

Lucious Harris -- Harris may be starting to show his age with his inconsistent jump shot. But he knows how to win and also is the team's best rebounding guard. He really goes after the ball. He's bound to go hot and cold from the field.

Robert Traylor -- He's been a great pickup, especially for $1.6 million. Has been the most consistent player off the bench. People like to call him fat, but you wouldn't say so if you saw him with his shirt off. Sure, he's wide and he's heavy, but he knows how to use it. Can't say I like him taking as many jumpers as he does, but he's been better than expected.

Eric Snow -- Snow hasn't scored as much as he was expected to, but his personality shows on the team. He is a big-time stabilizing force. He's not that physically gifted anymore, but he's so very, very smart and experienced. If you attend a game, just watch the way he moves on the court and the decisions he makes. He certainly has his limitations, but he's won the Cavaliers quite a few games already.

Anderson Varejao -- I can't get enough of watching this kid play. He's wild and intense and very naive. He doesn't have any sort of grasp of what he's doing yet, but he still comes in from time to time and provides good minutes. Then again, sometimes he comes in and fouls everything that moves. He has a chance to develop into a player.

Luke Jackson -- Fans keep begging for him to play but Silas won't budge. Nobody works harder and nobody hates sitting more. Eventually he's going to get a chance, but he still has a lot to learn. He gets lost in the offense sometimes, he doesn't always show confidence, and he's still not that physically strong. But his gifts and ethic will eventually serve him well.

Sasha Pavlovic -- Good athlete, good shooter, good skills. But he seems to go out there and give phantom minutes. Maybe he needs more seasoning. I can't really get a read on him yet, only that he'd probably be better with more playing time. But how do you give him more time when he rarely impacts the game? Let's check back in at midseason.

Dajuan Wagner -- He's got talent, he may yet have a good career. It won't happen in Cleveland. Everything else that needs to be said has been already.

DeSagana Diop -- He's 7-foot and he has a long wingspan. He's good at getting in the way. If you want anything else, you come to the wrong person.

Scott Williams -- Great character, very little left in his legs. Not a good idea to rely on him every night, which is why Tractor's injury has stung a little.

Alright, chew on that stuff for awhile. Feel free to e-mail me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. For a nominal fee, I may respond. Just kidding, I respond any time, day or night.

Take care,
Brian

p.s. I just ran spell check on this junk and the word "blog" isn't in the site's dictionary. Are you kidding?

On Sunday, everyone rested

2004-12-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

It's been a long week for the Cavaliers and for me, four games in six days in three time zones. I was dragging Saturday night when I wrote my game story on the Cavaliers' 105-97 win over Toronto. And all I do is write, I'm not running up and down the floor.

Here's the week that was:

Sunday--Flew to Los Angeles. Why do they ask to see your ticket like 75 times at the airport yet they have just one guy in glasses staring at the X-ray screen? I feel the urge to tell them that the terrorists all had tickets, too. Went to dinner at restaurant where Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Cavs folks -- PR flaks Garin Narain and Amanda Mercado and video coordinator Betsy McAllister were eating. When big Z opened his wallet to pay for his meal, I saw bats fly out (yes, yes, I know he makes $14.6 million, but he has a rep for being a little tight).

Monday--From the moment I saw the team at shootaround in the morning, I noticed their energy level was down. This happens when people travel to the West Coast, even teams that have won nine of 10 games. It carried over to that evening when the Clippers started hot and the Cavaliers never recovered. With 2:40 seconds to play, DeSagana Diop takes a 3-pointer, which may've been a final straw. He's played just five minutes in the three games since.

Tuesday--Took early morning flight to Phoenix. While checking e-mail at airport, I learned Butch Davis had quit, realized NE Ohio sports fans wouldn't care what I had to write about the Cavs on this off day. Went to practice at America West Arena, where it was so cold that the Cavs worked out in sweats. Watched World Series of Poker reruns on ESPN2 rest of day (don't tell boss).

Wednesday--Suns guard Steve Nash flicks off the Cavs bench before the tip. I realize this is a bad sign. Cavs then start to run up and down the floor with Suns in their house. Worse sign. Suns hit first five shots of second half, good night now. After the game I see LeBron James agent, Aaron Goodwin, who is wearing a $2,000 suit with LeBron's Nike logo sewn into the collar. Appropriate, I think, LBJ probably paid for it.

Thursday--Went to Denver, where it was 18 degrees. My winter coat was in the closet in Cleveland. Nice, eh? I write on blog (see below) that Cavs will get beat. Then I tell audience on WKNR the same thing. 45 minutes before the game, there are 10 Cavaliers out on the floor shooting and only one Nugget. Cavs start 25-of-40 from the floor, the Nuggets start 5-of-31. Coincidence? Game is never close, I have egg on face.

Friday--Answer snotty e-mails about prediction, work on Sunday column and chill with friends in Denver (boss steams, again).

Saturday--Return to Cleveland dragging tail. Go right from airport to Gund Arena (still without winter coat, mind you) where I find out Vince Carter got bad chicken wings at the Ritz-Carlton at 2 a.m. and is out. Should've gone to the Winking Lizard down the street, I guess. Jeff McInnis has the flu and was too sick to have his hair rebraided after he pulled it out (no, it wasn't a fashion statement), but he's the first player on the floor shooting at 5:15. Before the game, Paul Silas says the Cavaliers (and their beat writers) will be off on Sunday. I give him a high-five. Cavaliers decide to take off a little early, after getting up 23 points, they nearly let Toronto back in it. But another massive LeBron dunk saves the day.

Between us, LBJ's dunk was the probably the best of the season because of the consequence, but I already made a big deal about the one in Charlotte (see below) that I couldn't really come over the top too much.

Sunday--Fell asleep watching riveting Browns-Pats game. Fish out winter coat. Take out trash. Blog. What else is there in life?

Take care,
Brian

Thoughts, comments, rip jobs, hit me up at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

"Hold your water, yo"

2004-12-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

Denver -- As the national anthem was wrapping up last night in Phoenix, where the supernovic Suns slapped the Cavaliers 120-101, Paul Silas delivered the line of the night.

Referring to the rendition of the theme, which seemed like it took five minutes, Silas leaned down to me at the scorer's table and said:

"Like the kids say: That was brutal, yo!"

He should've saved that line for after the game.

Right now the Suns are the best team in the NBA and they just happened to play their best half of the season against the Cavaliers turning a close game into a rout.

Now, I could sit here and go over what happened and what not -- like perhaps it wasn't such a great idea to run with the Suns and maybe a slowdown game might've worked -- but witnessing it firsthand, I can tell you that no team in the NBA would've beat Phoenix last night.

So after that nice little 9-4 start the Cavaliers have hit some rough road out here in the West. And as I write this at 2:46 p.m. Mountain Time from my hotel room here in snowy Denver, I'm predicting another hit on the chin against the streaking Nuggets tonight.

So here's where the words of my friend and mentor, Plain Dealer college writer Elton Alexander come into play. Whenever Elton sees a good team on a bad streak -- whether it be in a half, a game or a month -- he is fond of using the phrase "Hold Your Water."

This is a family blog, so if you don't get it, let's just say the point is don't get too rattled over something that you need a new pair of underwear.

This, I believe is the advice Silas will be giving his young Cavaliers after they return from this trip. Next week another three-game road trip awaits with a stop in San Antonio, where they haven't won since before Al Gore invented the Internet. So fans should heed the same advice at this juncture.
The Cavaliers indeed have been hot and right now they're not and the immediate future may spell more losses. They are currently in the midst of playing six of nine on the road and five of them in the West.

But if they can maintain some good play, and take advantage of their upcoming home games, the second half of December presents a very manageable schedule and a chance to make up some lost ground.

Anything to add? Hit me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care all,
Brian

Chillin' in LA...seriously

2004-11-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles -- Sorry I haven't written in a few days, it has been busy following the Cavaliers. But not as sorry as I am about the weather here in SoCal, where the high is in the 50s and the locals are wearing hats and gloves...though as a hearty Midwesterner I scoff at them.

Heading into tonight's game with Los Clippers, the Cavaliers have put together quite an impressive little November, their best in more than 10 years in fact.

Here's some of the "best ofs" thus far, in my humblest opinion:

Best game: Cavs 114, Suns 109. LeBron scores 19 points in the fourth quarter. Big Z drains 3-pointer to send it to overtime. Carried the Cavs to six straight wins.

Best dunk: C'mon, scroll down, LBJ reigning over Steve Smith in Charlotte.

Best pass: Ilgauskas' no-look, over the head, behind the back, dish to Rob Traylor in the fourth quarter in win over Bulls last Saturday night. Had Tractor finished instead of being fouled, it would've been in SportCenter's Top 10.

Best quote: Boston's Gary Payton to Paul Pierce, trying to call him down before talking to the media after loss to Cavs: "PP, let me holla at you for a hot second." As Bania said to Seinfeld, "That's gold." One wonders if one of Ron Artest's teammates at started a sentence "AT, let me holla..." while he was laying on that scorer's table in Detroit, the NBA might not be in this mess.

Best performance: LBJ going off for 43 on 15-of-22 shooting in a payback game on Larry Brown and the Pistons last week. For the background, check out my Sunday Column.

Biggest surprise: Just how darn good LeBron has been thus far. Read on for more details. That and Jeff McInnis, who is having a career year in a contract year. OK, I guess this technically isn't a "best of."

That's all for now. Feel free to hit me up with some of your Best Ofs or just holla at me for a hot second at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com.

For more award-losing content, check out my game stories from Cavaliers' victories over the Celtics and the Bulls from last weekend.

Take care all,
Brian

Giving thanks for LeBron

2004-11-25T16:39:00.000-08:00

Boston -- Though this may draw a hearty guffaw, those of us in the media really try not to dote. What I mean is, we really don't like to dole out heapings of praise on anyone. Heapings of criticism, sure, but it usually you feel a little queasy extolling a pro athlete to outrageous means because, well, because of Kobe Bryant for example.

That said, it is becoming more challenging by the day to document LeBron James this early in the season. Just on this blog alone in the last few weeks, I've gone on and on. I'm doing it in print as well, as you can read in my game story from Wednesday's 92-76 win over the Pistons. But after seeing him put up 43 points on just 22 shots -- I mean, I remember games when Allen Iverson scored 22 points on like 43 shots -- it makes you dig deeper to relate what you've witnessed.

A beat writer must do everything with totality in mind, which means you have to remember that what your writing today has to be put in tomorrow's perspective. That's a fuzzy explanation, I know, but it basically means you have to be careful ripping a player, especially one who reads your stories, and many do, who could be going crazy in two weeks. And vice versa. In addition, we're still in November and one must remember the dancing doesn't come until May and June.

Yet I find myself constantly seeing new levels from LeBron and being compelled to discuss them, even if it dangers on losing the reader. His performance so far thus season has been unprecedented, which of course comes after his unprecedented rookie season.

So, the deeply buried point: Please excuse we who wax on LeBron. It may become tiresome at times, indeed, but no more tiresome than seeing him continue to post power performances.

Dribbles:
--Check out my version of LeBron's To Do List this week, might make you laugh. Might make you pity me further.
--Anyone notice the irony of LeBron exiting the game with two minutes to play, signaling the end of the game, was the same time Larry Brown brought Darko Milicic into the game?
--Luke Jackson may not have an NBA body yet and still has to work on his game, but I believe you'll start seeing him get more playing time.

Take care all, e-mail me at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com if you wish,
Brian

My NY State of Mind

2004-11-22T07:53:00.000-08:00

New York -- May I say, with apologies to Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel and the like, that I really don't care for NYC. Somewhere between paying an international-level tariff to cross the Hudson and having my cabbie stop and sell a cell phone left his his cab to some wacko on the street, I was in my usual NY bad mood Sunday. And that was before by $20 roast beef sandwich for lunch.

It seemed it carried over to the Cavaliers, too, as they were lethargic in losing to the Knicks, 98-88. It broke the club's six-game winning streak. There's no real harm in such a loss, going on the road on the second game of a back-to-back is going to produce such results.

However, this is the type of game the Cavaliers are eventually going to have to win. They've already made great strides this season in beating the teams they need to beat. Getting victories over Golden State. Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington may seem routine because the Cavaliers are better, but they lost to a whole bunch of teams they were better than at the start of last season. That overtime victory over Phoenix also showed they could finish what they'd started in the late comeback.

These are growth points for this still young team. Another level -- the level of being not just a winning team but a dominant one -- is to find a way to gut out wins when things aren't going your way or you're tired. The Cavs were down just two points going into the fourth quarter Sunday night but couldn't get the job done.

Not the end of the world, no, but far from the end of this team's maturation.

Dribbles:
--I attended the David Stern press conference at Madison Square Garden before the game. Never have I seen the man more serious. The player's association can fight these suspensions, but I don't see Stern budging an inch.
--For more on the brawl as I saw it, check out my Sunday column.
--Like the Miami Heat before them, the Knicks used sagging zones and extra man-to-man defenders to deny LeBron James Sunday and it worked. Look for this strategy to be employed again and see how James handles it.

Able to leap tall defenders in a single bound...

2004-11-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

Charlotte, N.C--I've seen LeBron James dunk since he was 14. I've seen hundreds of his games, practices, his dunk contests, his commercials. But I've never seen him throw down a dunk like he did in Thursday night's 106-89 win over the Bobcats.

Those of us in the media don't react when we see high-flying dunks, we're used to seeing them. We see them everyday. But just as everyone at the Charlotte Coliseum was on their feet when James exploded like 14 feet in the air to thrown down an alley-oop from Jeff McInnis, my fellow writers and I were left to just look at each other and exclaim "wow." For those of us who not only take pride in being icy emotionless islands at courtside, but are used to seeing these physical feats from James, that is saying something.

When I looked to my left, I saw Cavaliers' play-by-play man Joe Tait, who has seen 1,000 times more NBA dunks than me, was shaking his head. Cavs TV play-by-play man Michael Reghi was almost out of his seat, extolling him as an airborne ballerina. But none of that affirmed what I just seen was special as something I experienced a few minutes later.

It wasn't until I was walking out of the media room to return to the court after halftime. In the tunnel leading to the floor, a towel draped over his head, LeBron stood and glared at a television showing first half highlights. It was a Bobcats TV feed, so it was showing their exploits from the first 24 minutes. But LeBron was willing to wait for it, he wanted to see it for himself, even though the rest of his team was already on the floor warming up.

Finally, the highlight came. It showed him soaring over Steve Smith not once, but three times. I stood and watched with LeBron, equally interested in seeing the replay. When it was over, he pulled the towel from his head, closed his eyes, and smiled while staring at the ground.

Sometimes he even amazes himself.

--For more, check out Charlotte Observer columnist Scott Fowler's take on the amazing jam.

--Reach me at bwindhorst@thebeaconjournal.com

Take care all,
Brian

Hugs all around

2004-11-16T03:11:00.000-08:00

Everywhere you looked there were hugs at Gund Arena Monday night in the Cavaliers 99-88 victory over the Warriors. Drew Gooden was hugging Zyrdunas Ilgauskas, Robert Traylor was hugging Jeff McInnis and Paul Silas was going around the locker room wrapping people up.

I was taught in kindergarten that there's good hugs and bad hugs. There were some of both this night. Some hot-blooded emotions at the end of the game, which may or may not have been picked up on FSN Ohio's telecast, put a little bit of a damper on the Cavaliers' first over .500 experience since 2001.

With the Cavaliers struggling to take control of the game late, Gooden and McInnis got on a different page during a play and the possession got all messed up. McInnis screamed at Gooden right in front of the bench - and the media members sitting three feet away. Gooden gave him the deer in the headlights look he would give Silas when he'd get benched the first week of the season. The two didn't make much eye contact for the rest of the game.

This is the best and worst of McInnis. He had 20 points, a season-high, in the win and showed great leadership in getting big baskets. But he just has a tendency to whack out sometimes and get under his teammates' skin. He was right, it was Gooden's mistake and it happened at a costly time, but his reaction caused a rift at a time when the team needed to come together. But last Saturday he was like a conductor in brilliantly dishing out 11 assists in the win over Washington.

McInnis has a ton of talent and he's playing the best basketball of his career. His arrival last season started the Cavaliers on the right path. I think he's got a great personality and is a proud man. He's also one of the best actors in the NBA, often getting calls by flailing and screaming. But well all have our little flaws, and his is keeping his composure. And that's is vital for a point guard.

After the game Silas came to the locker room after the players showered - something I don't remember seeing him do before - and grabbed Gooden and McInnis and gave them hugs. Winning can solve lots of things. But if the Cavaliers are going to keep winning, they need McInnis to show all his good sides, not is few bad ones.

On another note, LeBron James' behind-the-back, reverse between the legs dribble (does that even make sense?) and subsequent jumper over Ansu Sesay in the second quarter was one of the most amazing things I've seen him do in his career. Last season there was a drive and dunk over Atlanta's Boris Diaw that was amazing. But nothing overcomes a dunk he had in practice last season when he came from the right wing and jumped over Kevin Ollie's head. There was a television crew there and as soon as the dunk was over - at it was determined James was OK after literally tripping over Ollie's head - they wanted to know if it was on tape. Alas, they were not rolling.

That's all for now. You know the drill, questions and comments to bwindhorst@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care all,
Brian

Getting an early read

2004-11-13T23:26:00.000-08:00

Surprised the way the Cavaliers dismantled the Wizards 105-74 Saturday? So was I. From where I sat, I wasn't exactly impressed with the guts of the victories over Atlanta and Phoenix earlier this week. They had to go all out to beat the hapless Hawks and, while the comeback against the Suns was inspirational, one must remember what happened to get them down by 19 points.

Last Saturday night as I was sitting in Milwaukee watching the Cavs get hammered by the Bucks, I was wondering what I was thinking when I predicted this team would win 45 games this year. This Saturday, seeing the core players all perform at once, I questioned whether my estimate was low. The truth will unfold as we get a deeper look at this team.

Until then, though, I'm watching some things closely. After six games, here's some things I've noticed that are tells as to what you'll probably see from the Cavs on a given night:

-Jeff McInnis' body language. As J-Mac will be the first to admit, he's cocky and he plays his best when he's running his mouth. But that means he's being active, getting the ball up the floor quickly and making smart decisions. When he's getting it, he can see two or three passes into the future. But sometimes when he isn't getting in the flow, he gets frustrated and holds the ball too long. You can see it by the look on his face. His smack talk also can become patronizing, like Wednesday when he got chippy with the Suns' Steven Hunter even as Hunter was embarrassing the Cavs.

-Drew Gooden's defense. Yes, his rebounding and scoring are more visible. But watch how he guards his man. If he's low, fighting for position and denying, it means he's doing the same going after boards. For more depth on Gooden, check out my Sunday column.

-How many times Zydrunas Ilgauskas hits the floor. I'm sure Gordon Gund cringes every time he hears Z's done it. He was down there three times in the first half Saturday after loose balls. It inspires his teammates.

-Reliance on LeBron's scoring. LeBron is one of the best scorers in the NBA, but when defenses concentrate solely on him, like Miami did in the second game of the season, they can frustrate him and force him to settle for jumpers in traffic (his worst offensive trait). One of the best indications the Cavs were playing well Saturday was they were ahead 28-11 after one quarter and James had just three points.

Thanks for visiting the blog. I'll check back in soon. As always, e-mail questions and comments to bwindhorst@thebeaconjournal.com.

Take care all,
Brian

Welcome to the Blog

2004-11-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Cavaliers fans, avid Akron Beacon Journal and Ohio.com readers, the bored, and the angry. Some of you may be familiar with the e-mail newsletters my cohorts at the ABJ Terry Pluto and Patrick McManamon have done in the past. Well, this a newer, I hope more cutting edge way to get inside Cavaliers information that you can't get anywhere else.

For starters, my name is Brian Windhorst and simply, I go where the Cavaliers go. I'm at every practice, every game, every day. While my daily stories, notebooks and Sunday columns in the Beacon Journal will provide plenty of news, stats and analysis, this is a forum for information that goes deeper, above and beyond.

I'm going to be more informal and personal here, allowing you to get to know the Cavaliers players, coaches and staff better than conventional newspaper stories allow. From LeBron James to Luke Jackson, from Paul Silas to Stan Kellers (Who's that? Well you'll find out).

I hope you like it and will check back often, I plan on posting every few days or maybe more. Please send feedback at bwindhorst@thebeaconjournal.com, your questions and comments will become a part of the blog.

Take care all,
Brian

Coming soon

2004-11-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

Brian Windhorst blogs the Cavs.