The Ben Wallace Trade

I love the trade, but Nester brought up a point I never thought about. We will rely heavily on Eric Snow and Delonte West on defense because Boobie and Wally aren't good defenders.

Offensively, I think the best lineup the Cavs could put out there is LeBron, Boobie, Wally, Ilgauskas and Joe Smith. All offensive threats. You can't leave Ilgauskas open within 12 feet cause he has a very reliable jumper or he's under the hoop with the best tip back in the NBA. Joe Smith stands 12-18 feet away to knock down open jumpers. Wally and Boobie sitting on the wings hoping for an open look. Even if Wallace is in, he can take Z's spot and look for easy dunks and offensive rebounds. Joe Smith is the biggest addition in the deal and fairly underrated. He can hit open jumpers with more consistency then Drew Gooden, which is probably why he has been involved in every Cav rumor the last two seasons. Sad to see him go, but for now we're improved.

It's nice to have a guard like West who can control the offense, especially with LeBron on his side. He doesn't need to play make, just needs to play some solid defense and knock down open jumpers if LeBron creates it for him.

The Cavs are going to be very tough on the interior. I loved this trade for the sole reason of picking up some extra bodies guessing the Cavs find themselves matched up with Kevin Garnett and the Celtics in the second round. Both Wallace, Ilgauskas and Varejao can bang with him although I'd be worried if KG went outside. As long as Wallace, Ilgauskas or Varejao is patrolling the paint I feel pretty good on our interior defense.

With that all said, I think this trade makes the Cavs a better all-around team. LeBron has much more reliable shooters then he has had in his career. With LeBron and this cast of characters, I think the sky is the limit especially since LeBron gets "it" now. He's a competitor, he's a killer. He's the best talent in the NBA. Could his team be better? Yes. Is this the best group of players he's ever been around? I'm pretty sure. I expect big things and a very entertaining second round to the playoffs.

The Worst Year of My Life

Well, it's official. 2007 is the worst year I'll ever live. For those who don't know I'll list four of my favorite sport teams and how they ended their season.

Ohio State Football-Lost to Florida in the National Championship game 41-14.
Chicago Bears-Lost Super Bowl to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17.
Ohio State Basketball-Lost the NCAA National Championship 84-75 to the Florida Gators.
Cleveland Cavaliers-Got swept (4-0) vs. the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

As you can see by my previous post, I said the Cavs would win the NBA Finals in seven games. Clearly, I was blinded by the greatness that is LeBron James and I refused to believe anyone could possibly lose four championship games in a year, but I did it. The only team of mine that has completed a season that has not played for the championship was the Chicago Blackhawks, who instead locked up the #1 pick in the upcoming NHL entry draft. I'd like to thank Bill Wirtz and the Blackhawks organization for not getting my hopes this season, although I was hoping for a playoff push, but when can you do when your one offensive weapon (Marty Havlat) had injury problems throughout the season. Oh well, Patrick Kane will be the savior!

Here's my bold prediction for the rest of 2007 (seeing as I'm the unlucky charm of 07): Chicago Cubs win the NL Central, win the Pennant and drop the World Series to the AL representative, Cleveland Indians (continuing the AL Central's dominance of the AL).

It's 1:30 AM and I'm not tired and have nothing to do so I'm going to blog about something. Give me a minute to think, I'll probably talk about my second favorite June event (behind my birthday), the NBA draft.

Okay, so I got sidetracked by a bratwurst and an amusing chat about McGruff and frogs. Good times Dale, good times.

I have decided to stop the blog here for the night. Family Guy is on in seven minutes. NBA draft write-ups will follow in the coming days. Drafts on June 28th.

Wanted Dead or Alive: Skip Bayless

Please ESPN, I'm begging you to take that attention whore Skip Bayless off the air. He's a sad excuse of a man. Let's take a look at what this genius had to say about LeBron James and his Game 5 vs. the Detroit Pistons (where LeBron single handedly beat the Pistons over the the last 6 minutes of the 4th quarter and 2 OT's).

"LeBron's performance (Game 5) was a result of him taking advantage of the lack of interior Piston defense. He blew three crucial free throws down the stretch in regulation. He airballed the game winner in overtime."

Look here Skippy, performances like that happen because defense wasn't great. Jordan over Russell and Ehlo? One on one defense, but I'm sure Skip won't hesitate to bend over for Michael because of those performances. Bayless is a known LeBron hater and has rarely said a nice word about him. To criticize LeBron's game 5 effort is a joke and a disgrace to a journalist. That was one of the greatest single game performances any of us will ever see and he's bashes it. He's dumb, everyone hates him and he's on ESPN to simply stir up controversy.

Moving on, Chauncey Billups, more commonly known in the Eastern Conference Finals as Mr. Big Shot ([sarcasm] a very worthy nickname [/sarcasm]). Billups ran his mouth the entire series about how the Pistons are a superior team and why should that change after the Cavaliers were two plays away from beating the Pistons six games to zero (which isn't actually possible, just saying the Cavs were the superior team throughout the series). Here's Mr. Billups latest quote.

"I believe [we're better], I really do. There's nobody on that team who is better than ours. And maybe I'm crazy, maybe I've got too much confidence in these guys, but I believe in us. I believe we're the better team. Did we back it up? No, we didn't. But I still think we're better."

Really Chauncey? Everyone on Detroit is better than the guys on the Cavaliers? You don't say? Ever hear of a man by the name of LeBron James, Chauncey? Sure, the Pistons have more overall depth and a better starting five, but YOU GUYS GOT WORKED. I'm glad Mr. Big Mouth cost himself probably (hopefully) millions that he could've had on the open market (since he's a free agent this off-season) from a poor, unknowing team like the Milwaukee Bucks.

In conclusion, Skip Bayless and Chauncey Billups can go fuck themselves.

NBA Finals 2007: Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. San Antonio Spurs

The year 2007 has been one of sadness for me when it comes to sports. First, my favorite football team ever the 2006-07 Ohio State Buckeyes went into the BCS Championship game heavy favorites and walked out of Glendale, Arizona as the second best team in the land after getting obliterated by the Florida Gators. About one month later, I got to see the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl for the first time in my life, only to get worked by Peyton Manning & the Indianapolis Colts. Lastly, the Ohio State basketball team had an amazing NCAA tournament run, only to end up losing to once again, the Florida Gators. Now, I go into the NBA finals with the only believers seeing to be myself and the city of Cleveland. Maybe we have blind hope, maybe we should take our LeBron goggles off and take a look around. Regardless, we have hope. We have the best player in the world and the Q will be rocking. I'm excited.

I'm not sure how the Spurs plan to attack LeBron. Obviously, they'll throw Bruce Bowen at him and I expect them to try to trap LeBron up top. That means more open shots for Larry Hughes, Daniel Gibson, Sasha Pavlovic and the rest. Hughes has been great the last two games in the Pistons series during the opening moments, but wasn't able to keep consistency over the rest of the game, no help by his bum foot.

No one seems to care that the Cavaliers beat the Spurs twice during the regular season, but the playoffs are a whole new animal. The Spurs have been phenomenal since they drafted Tim Duncan way back when. They've won three titles since they drafted Duncan (98-99, 02-03, 04-05) and have never missed the playoffs. Taking down this Spurs team would launch LeBron into a God-like status and probably make him that Global Icon he so desperately wants to be.

Now, I'm going to be very optimistic about this series and I have full faith that the Cavs can beat the Spurs. Going into San Antonio and taking a game from the Spurs will be no easy feat, but neither was Detroit. We as an audience haven't seen all of the phenom that is LeBron James and I expect him to show us things we've never seen out of him in the NBA finals.

Prediction: Cavs in 7!

In the picture, that is LeBron James Jr. with his pops. Junior is 3 years old and probably already has scouts coming to look at his game. LeBron and his wife are expecting their second child (another boy) this month. LeBron has stated he will not miss a game for his child's birth if it comes to it because he damn well knows how important to this team he is (and by that I mean he is the team). Here's to the dynasty that will be the James family.

If there are people who actually read this and you haven't seen Knocked Up yet, go now. Get up and get in your car and drive to the closest movie theater. Knocked Up is easily one of the funniest, if not THE funniest movie I've ever seen. Witty humor, a bunch of pop culture references, just a great flick.

The King Has Arrived

Well ladies and gentlemen, the King has officially entered the building. What we've been expecting for years out of LeBron James is finally here and I've never been so happy about NBA basketball. LeBron's one man show in Detroit on Thursday was one of the most unbelievable sporting performances I've ever witnessed. LeBron took his below average teammates on his back, won the game and shattered the confidence of a city (not to mention the Indians continue to own the Tigers). I'd absolutely kill a man to be in the Cleveland for tonight's Game 6. Just put me in the Buffalo Wild Wings with a bunch of drunk, rowdy, championship starved fans and I'll have a blast.

In case you didn't know what Bron did to the Pistons, he scored 29 of the Cleveland's last 30 points (the last 25 points) over the last 16:35 (he completely took over the game midway through the 4th quarter). The man didn't even pass the ball in the first overtime. At one point, he crossed Mr. Big Shot behind his back and knocked down the J from the top of the key. My favorite moment of any game this series is whenever LeBron drives and Tayshaun Prince always does the same thing, get the hell out of the way. Prince has no intentions of seeing himself on a poster or a YouTube clip (see: Rasheed Wallace).

Tonight could mark the beginning of the Cleveland Cavaliers dominance of the Eastern conference. They could knock out the self-proclaimed best starting five in the NBA. It's put up or shut up time for Detroit, especially with Chauncey Billups continuing to run his mouth saying Dwyane Wade (with assistance of Shaq and a slew of championship ring starved ex All-Stars) had a better playoff run last year then LeBron (with assistance of rookie Daniel Gibson). Please Detroit, make the King a LITTLE more angry. Please knock down one his teammates like Antonio McDyess did to Anderson Varejao. This series ends tonight at the Q. RISE UP!

Prediction: Cavaliers 85, Pistons 79