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Bill Simmons: Cavs Will Only Get Better

By Amar Panchmatia | December 1, 2008 | Cavalier Attitude

Although ESPN.com's Bill Simmons has said a lot of controversial things about the Cavs and LeBron over the past several years (and as the case is turning out to be, he's just one of a zillion), let's get this straight right now: He apparently knows the Cavs as well as - if not better than - anybody.I'm not just saying that. Simmons has the track record to back it up. Back in the fall of 2006, it was Simmons who predicted that the Cavs would lose to the Spurs in the Finals later that season. Spot on. In 2007, he predicted that the Cavs would go 45-37 in '07-08, which was right on the money. This year, he predicted the Cavs to break the franchise record for wins by going 58-24. More importantly, he has the wine and gold going all the way and beating New Orleans in the NBA...

Read more | 10 Comments | Tags: Anderson Varejao, Andrei Kirilenko, Antawn Jamison, Bill Simmons, Brad Miller, Brian Windhorst, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Delonte West, Drew Gooden, Gerald Wallace, Jason Richardson, Josh Howard, Larry Hughes, Leandro Barbosa, LeBron James, Miami Heat, Mike Brown, Mike Miller, Mo Williams, Raja Bell, Rasheed Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, Shawn Marion, Steve Nash, Utah Jazz, Vince Carter, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

NBA Week 4 Power Rankings

By Joe Boikess | November 24, 2008 | MVN Outsider

There was minimal shuffling among the top teams this week. The Magic made their first appearance in my top five, while the leading triumvirate of the Lakers, Celtics and Cavaliers stayed put after all three had solid weeks. Boston is probably playing the best out of the three, having won five straight (including an 18-point win over the Pistons) and currently sitting pretty as the only team to hold their opponents to an average of under 90 points per game. The Lakers remain #1, however, thanks to another perfect week that included a pair of double-digit wins over the Suns and Nuggets in back-to-back games.1. Los Angeles Lakers (11-1) - The buzzsaw that is the Lakers just keeps on rolling, with two more convincing wins over Phoenix and Denver now added to their growing resume. They should continue to roll with a relatively easy schedule leading up to their Christmas...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Outsider, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz

Red-Hot Cavs Punish Boozer, 105-93

By Amar Panchmatia | November 15, 2008 | Cavalier Attitude

I don't want to hear about how the Utah Jazz didn't have Deron Williams, Mehmut Okur, Matt Harpring, and future Cav Andrei Kirilenko in Saturday night's 105-93 loss at The Q. Why? Because even when they've had all these guys in the past, they've still been dominated - dominated - by the Cavaliers.Saturday's win was the ninth time the Cavs have defeated the Jazz in the last 12 meetings between the two teams. It was also Utah's sixth loss in their last seven trips to Cleveland, and they have not won at the Q since Carlos Boozer's controversial defection. In fact, since Boozer's departure in the summer of '04, the Cavs have dominated the Jazz to the tune of a 7-2 record. Utah's only two wins came at home by a combined three points, each time needing a Deron Williams buzzer-beater to out-do the Cavaliers.Cleveland, by contrast, doesn't need buzzer-beaters...

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Andrei Kirilenko, Baron Davis, Ben Wallace, Carlos Boozer, Cleveland Cavaliers, Daniel Gibson, Delonte West, Deron Williams, Detroit Pistons, Elton Brand, Houston Rockets, Jay-Z, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Mehmut Okur, Michael Redd, Mo Williams, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Ron Artest, Utah Jazz, Wally Szczerbiak, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

CavsCast, Game #10: Cavs vs. Jazz

By Smooth | November 15, 2008 | Cavalier Attitude

The Cavaliers kept their win streak going against the Nuggets and are now sitting, comfortably, at 7-2. Over the streak, the Cavs have played well. But the Cavs have also played a lot of lackluster teams, so the streak should be taken with a grain of salt.Regardless, the Cavs try to go to 8-2 against the Jazz tonight. The Jazz will likely be missing 3 key pieces: Mehmet Okur, Andrei Kirilenko and Deron Williams. The Jazz are still a good team but the Cavs shouldn't have problems tonight, if they play like they're capable of playing. Wait...did I mention it's Carlos Boozer's return to Cleveland, again? Yikes!CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VS. UTAH JAZZWHEN: 7:30 PM ET, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2008WHERE: QUICKEN LOANS ARENA [CLEVELAND, OHIO]TV/RADIO: FSOHIO / WTAM 1100COACHESMike Brown -HC- Jerry SloanPROBABLE LINEUPSMo Williams -PG- Ronnie PriceDelonte West - SG- C.J. MilesLeBron James - SF- Ronnie BrewerBen Wallace -PF- Carlos BoozerZydrunas Ilgauskas...

Read more | 7 Comments | Tags: CavsCast, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz

Yes, Mike Brown Can Coach: Cavs 110, Nuggets 99

By Amar Panchmatia | November 14, 2008 | Cavalier Attitude

When you're from a city that hasn't won anything in anything in...um, 44 years and counting, then that fanbase has a tendency to take out their frustration on anything that moves.Unfortunately for head coaches in Cleveland, that's usually them. And for Cavs coach Mike Brown, it doesn't matter that he only trails Lenny Wilkens and Mike Fratello for most wins in franchise history in just his fourth year on the sidelines. It doesn't matter that he has orchestrated one of the premier defensive and rebounding teams in basketball over the past several seasons. It's all about what he can't do well - namely, construct an exciting offense.Calling the phrase "defense wins championships" a cliche has become a cliche itself, which makes the lack of adherence to that phrase even more puzzling. And when Dan Gilbert hired Brown back in 2005 to instill a championship-level defensive culture and mindset for the...

Read more | 7 Comments | Tags: Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, LeBron James, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Brown, Mike Fratello, Mo Williams, Utah Jazz

NBA Stock Market: Ford's play has Pacers soaring

By Joe Boikess | November 13, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal (flickr.com)

A week ago I tabbed the San Antonio Spurs as the team on the rise after Tony Parker led them to their first win of the season. Then Parker went down with a badly sprained ankle, sidelining him for about a month, and the Spurs have since managed only one win. This only proves that things can change in an instant in the NBA. Here's my risers and fallers for this week...Rising:Indiana Pacers - Indiana's schedule to begin the season was about as tough as it gets: games at Cleveland and at Detroit, and two home meetings with the Celtics and Suns. But after starting out 1-3, the Pacers have won their last three after notching a couple wins over the Nets and one against the lowly Thunder. T.J. Ford has carried much of the load during this latest win streak, getting within a few rebounds or assists shy of...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Andrei Kirilenko, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Outsider, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Tracy McGrady, Utah Jazz

FOX Sports: "10 players who could be dealt" before the deadline

By Amar Panchmatia | November 10, 2008 | Cavalier Attitude

When a team is armed with a massive $13 million expiring contract, these are the headlines that turn the heads of their fans. But one of the 10 is already in the wine and gold. At No. 6: Sasha Pavlovic, Cleveland Cavaliers Now we're talking about a 6-7, 235-pound swing man, who obviously has become the odd man out with the Cavs. Granted, there appears to be this sense of inevitability that president Danny Ferry will want to package the final year of Wally Szczerbiak's contract by February if things don't go well, but what if they are winning? When playing, Pavlovic has a variety of scoring skills and has improved considerably on defense. But he has played 45 minutes after six games. The combination of Delonte West, Daniel Gibson playing shooting guard -- not to mention Szczerbiak -- renders Pavlovic nothing more than insurance. He and Ben Wallace could...

Read more | 15 Comments | Tags: Boston Celtics, Carlos Boozer, Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Delonte West, Deron Williams, Eddy Curry, Gerald Wallace, Golden State Warriors, LeBron James, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Sasha Pavlovic, Shawn Marion, Utah Jazz, Vince Carter, Wally Szczerbiak's Expiring Contract

NBA Week 2 Power Rankings

By Joe Boikess | November 10, 2008 | MVN Outsider

A week ago there were seven undefeated teams left. Now there's only two, and who would have thought that one of them would be the Hawks? Atlanta is the big winner this week, but they weren't the team that made the biggest rise in my week 2 power rankings...1. Los Angeles Lakers (5-0) - After a 2-0 week was punctuated by a dominating win against the Rockets, the Lakers are one of only two undefeated teams remaining.2. Boston Celtics (6-1) - More impressive than Boston's spoiling of Iverson's debut in Detroit has been the play of Tony Allen and the C's bench.3. Phoenix Suns (5-2) - The Suns rested Shaq during their loss to Chicago last week, but he sure did make his mark the next night, notching his first 25/10 game since last November.4. Atlanta Hawks (5-0) - Losing Josh Smith for a few weeks will hurt, but Atlanta...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Outsider, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz

NBA Week 4 Power Rankings

By Joe Boikess | November 24, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Outsider, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz

NBA Stock Market: Ford's play has Pacers soaring

By Joe Boikess | November 13, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal (flickr.com)

NBA Week 2 Power Rankings

By Joe Boikess | November 10, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Outsider, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz

Fantasy Tracker: Target Gasol, Thompson to boost forward/center production

By Michael De Leon | November 5, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Every Wednesday, I'll highlight five players who you should either add to your fantasy team if you need the help or put on your watch list. I'll also list 5 players that should have their bags packed and may be on their way to free agency in your leagueADD/WATCH LISTNick YoungWhile Young was buried on the guard-heavy Wizards bench last season, he will get plenty of minutes this season with Gilbert Arenas out once again. The Wizards start Antonio Daniels to set up the offense and distribute the ball, but when they want instant offense, Young is their go-to guy. He has been averaging 16.5 points through two games, and I only see him getting better. Keep in mind that for the most part, he is mostly a one-cat guy. If you need assists or steals, you may want to go another route, but Young will provide points and he...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Outsider, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards

How the West will be won

By Joe Boikess | October 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

With the NBA regular season set to tip off in less than a week, it's time to reveal my predictions for how the Western Conference will shape up. Last year the requirement was at least 50 wins for a team to make the playoffs in the ultra competitive West, and I believe this year will be no different. That's not to say that all the same teams will be there in the end, however...In addition to ranking the teams in the order that I believe they'll finish, I decided to also separate the teams into tiers based on their potential to win the West. Here goes...Tier 1: The Clear Favorites1. New Orleans Hornets (1st in Southwest) - I realize that preseason performances should only be taken with a grain of salt, but the Hornets are 6-0 so far, and they have allowed the third-fewest points of any team during the...Read more

Read more | 7 Comments | Tags: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Outsider, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Western Conference

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