Quickens Loans Closer Than You Think

Jay Miller from Crains Cleveland Business writes:
“Though it hasn’t announced a location yet, Quicken Loans Inc. has begun a process that would bring a loan production office to Cleveland. Today, Dec. 5, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority will consider granting the company a 10-year, 60% state tax credit for creating 300 jobs in the city.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans’ principal owner, said in September the company would open a loan office in downtown Cleveland by the middle of 2006. Quicken Loans is telling the state it will spend $2.2 million to create what is called a Home Loan Web Center. It also said the average hourly wage for new employees will be $28.84 an hour plus $9.62 an hour in benefits. ”

CAVS Fall Again

Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon Journal gives us a nice recap of Saturday evenings loss to the Clippers.
“In every NBA season there are invariably going to be nights when a team is destined to lose. The Cleveland Cavaliers were in that slot Saturday night as they swallowed an understandable, if not expected defeat, 102-90 at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Cavs didn’t arrive at their hotel until 3 a.m. after a physically and emotionally taxing loss Friday night in Seattle, then got stuck in USC-UCLA football traffic on the way to the game and didn’t arrive at the Staples Center until an hour before tipoff. Plus they were facing a Clippers team lying in wait and seeking revenge, having been off since they lost to the Cavs last Wednesday in Cleveland. It was obvious in the opening moments of the game as the Cavs limped out and made just one of their first 14 shots as the Clippers (11-5) galloped to a 20-4 lead. In essence, the two teams basically played the rest of the game even, though the Cavs cut the lead to eight points in the fourth quarter.
So, the stars weren’t aligned, but the fact remains that it was the Cavs’ (10-6) fourth loss in their past five games and their shortcomings continue to be exposed. Facing long odds on tired legs might earn sympathy, but their defense is simply underperforming.
LeBron James scored 30 points with six assists and five rebounds, another tidy offensive display. But his defense yet again didn’t meet the requisite standard for the Cavs to prove they’re a legitimate contender. After he gave up 26 to Rashard Lewis on Friday, Corey Maggette scored 24 with James mostly guarding him Saturday, shooting him glares and trash-talking much of the way. That is not to put undue blame on the Cavs’ star, without him it would’ve been much worse. He’s just example No. 1. Overall, the Cavs continue to allow too many easy shots, either off simple pick-and-rolls and when the ball beats their weakside defense.

The Sonics shot 52 percent on Friday, the Clippers made 52 percent on Saturday and the beat just went on. There is almost no logical way to win road games with those numbers. Clippers forward Elton Brand, like when he scored 33 points earlier in the week, had his way. Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas tried to force him to take jump shots, but he just took advantage of the space and made one after another, scoring 30 points.

Center Chris Kaman, perhaps trying to make up for his part in giving up 29 points to Ilgauskas on Wednesday and fouling out, played with more energy than any Cav. He pounded away around the basket, grabbing a career-high 19 rebounds with 12 points. Ilgauskas still got 20 points but was just 7-of-16 from the floor. In all, the Cavs shot just 35 percent, the fourth time in the past five games they’ve failed to break 40 percent in regulation. A hot overtime against the Clippers Wednesday pushed them just over that barrier.”

FIGHT CLUB

“Ilgauskas and Seattle Supersonics Sonics forward Danny Fortson nearly came to blows Friday. It started in a scrum for a rebound in the second quarter when Fortson clocked Ilgauskas in the chin struggling for position on a rebound.

Later the pair were elbowing and shoving and Ilgauskas drew a technical foul when he frustratingly complained to officials. It boiled over in the third quarter when Fortson shoved Ilgauskas to the floor. LeBron James and Damon Jones stepped in and confronted Fortson, who was given two technicals and ejected.

“The guy was throwing elbows around, I got hit in the face three times,” Ilgauskas said. “Nobody likes it when there are elbows flying around your head. He has 50 pounds on me, but we had a good battle.”

For a complete game recap CLICK HERE

Wrong Mind-Set: Cavs lose to Sonics

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James reacts to a call in favor of the Seattle SuperSonics late in the fourth quarter Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, in Seattle. “This time, we came out with the wrong mind-set. We thought that we were going to outscore them. We can’t do that with anybody,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. “Yes, we can score, but we have to get defensive stops.”

Seattle’s earlier loss to Cleveland came in the middle of a three-game stretch in which Seattle lost by 25, 27 and 41 points. Seattle was outrebounded 56-21, the largest margin in Cleveland team history.

“Last game, Cleveland spent the last half of the game laughing at us,” Seattle coach Bob Weiss said. “This was a big game for us. We had a lot to prove.”

Seattle reversed the numbers, outrebounding Cleveland 38-30, including 11 offensive rebounds, leading to 17 second-chance points.

The Cavs got within two at the end of the third behind seven points from James and two 3-pointers from Donyell Marshall. Cleveland tied it at 81 on a layup by Hughes to open the fourth.

Seattle maintained a tenuous lead. The Sonics never trailed and were never ahead by more than seven. Radmanovic added 14 for Seattle, while Marshall had 14, and Drew Gooden scored 11 for Cleveland.

“It’s frustrating, but that’s a good team,” James said. “We were one play from getting over the hump, but we just couldn’t.”

James scored 12 straight points for Cleveland early and 14 of 16, making five consecutive shots.

Click HERE for a complete game recap

Lebron as popular as the Beatles?

Ken Wiebe from SLAM SPorts says that Kevin Garnett thinks so. Accolades have become commonplace for LeBron James, but it’s not every day you get compared to the likes of John, Ringo and Paul in their heyday. While the comparison seemed a bit odd, at first, coming out of the mouth of Kevin Garnett on Saturday night, further examination left little doubt to what the Minnesota Timberwolves forward was getting at.

“LeBron has probably not only met all our expectations, but blew the expectations out of the water,” said Garnett, a 10-year veteran who also made the jump to the NBA directly out of high school. “If you’re paying for a ticket to see LeBron, it’s like a present. I hope the city of Cleveland totally understands what they get to see night in and night out.

“He’s like the Beatles right now.”

There are times when the Cavaliers superstar makes it look like he’s been playing in the NBA for years, but the reality is that James, the first overall pick in 2003 out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, recently began his third season in the Association and won’t turn 21 until Dec. 30. An improved supporting cast this season includes newcomers Larry Hughes, Damon Jones and former Toronto Raptor Donyell Marshall, but there is no question who drives this up-and-coming bunch. On Saturday night, James poured in a season-high 38 as the Cavaliers dropped their first home loss of the campaign, 89-85 to the Timberwolves. The loss came on the heels of a tough defeat to the Indiana Pacers, one of the Eastern Conference powerhouses.

“We’re not a great team right now, we’re a good team,” said James, who was averaging 28.4 points per game going into last night’s game with the Los Angeles Clippers. “But we’re getting better.”

First-year Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown, a former Pacers assistant, has come to appreciate James more and more while seeing him on an everyday basis.

“It doesn’t surprise me, but from the outside looking in you don’t know his leadership skills and leadership abilities,” said Brown.

Garnett, who suffered through some lean years with the T-Wolves, says it’s only a matter of time before LeBron and the Cavaliers break through.

“This team is new and they’re going to figure it out,” said Garnett, the fifth overall pick in 1995. “They’re going to be totally, totally, totally there. They play hard, they’ve got the talent and on top of that, they’ve got a great coaching staff. I look for big things coming out of the Cavs.”

Preview: Cavaliers at SuperSonics

Sports Betting and Gambling Online have a nice preview of Friday nights game.

Preview: Cavaliers at SuperSonics

GAME: Cleveland Cavaliers (10-4) at Seattle SuperSonics (6-8).

TIME: Friday, 10:30 p.m. EST.

LINE: Oddsmakers list Cleveland as 3 1/2-point favorites with the total set at 203.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Seattle SuperSonics last month for their biggest win of the season. With the teams` season series finale to be played at KeyArena, James knows the Sonics will be looking to return the favor in front of their home crowd.
Winner of nine of its last 11, Cleveland looks to keep rolling when it takes on a struggling Seattle squad in the opener of a three-game West Coast swing. Cleveland beat Seattle 112-85 on Nov. 9, a blowout that was the Cavs` second straight victory in an eight-game winning streak. The Cavs led by 22 at the half, and James capped a 31-point performance with a thunderous dunk that put his team up by 28 in the fourth quarter. Click HERE to view the complete preview.

James, Brand Named Players of the Month

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Elton Brand today were named Eastern Conference and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in November.
James led the Cavaliers to a 10-4 month, marking the first time the team posted 10 or more wins in November since 1977-78 and only the third time in the franchise’s history. James, averaging 28.4 points on 48.9 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.64 steals, scored 25 or more points in 10 of 14 games. In a 123-120 win over the Sixers on Nov. 19, James recorded his first triple-double of the season, with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Click HERE for a recap of what both players have done for the month.

Cleveland Cavaliers Clinics

This holiday season, December 27, 28th and 29th, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in partnership with the National Basketball Academy, will be hosting basketball clinics in 3 locations around the Greater Cleveland area. Open to boys and girls in the 3rd-8th grades, these 3-day clinics will feature:

Quality basketball instruction from the National Basketball Academy,
a ticket to a select Cleveland Cavaliers home game during the 2005-06 season and the chance to win Cavaliers autographed merchandise and other prizes.
Please visit www.thebasketballacademy.com and click on the Holiday Clinics link to learn more, register on-line, or download an order form.

If you have any questions or to order by phone, please contact the National Basketball Academy at 216-378-0932.

CAVS Snap Losing Streak

The Cavaliers looked strong Wednesday night snapping a 2 game losing streak with an OT victory against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 112-105.
Donyell Marshall made a key three-point play in regulation, then hit consecutive three-pointers in overtime while Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipped in 29 points before fouling out in overtime, and LeBron James added 28. Elton Brand scored 33 points and Sam Cassell added 26 for the Clippers.
Marshall tipped a missed 3-pointer by Larry Hughes with 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and tacked on a free throw to tie it at 95.
“I’m so frustrated with myself,” said Cassell, who let Marshall run uncontested to the hoop. “That was my assignment. I didn’t get there in time.”
Brand had a chance to win the game in regulation, as his driving jumper in the lane misfired and James grabbed the rebound as time ran out.
“I could have had us out of here,” Brand said. “It was the play we wanted. It felt good, but I missed it.”
James, coming off a season-high 38 points Saturday against Minnesota, shot only 7-for-20, hitting the side of the backboard with one baseline shot and uncharacteristically failing to finish a couple drives to the basket.
James found other ways to dominate. Playing nearly 50 minutes, he hit 14 free throws and added nine assists and seven rebounds.
“This was a real big win,” said James. “The Clippers are up and coming on the west coast and we are up and coming on the east coast. We’re very similar, but we got some defensive stops in overtime and that was it. Brand didn’t score in overtime. That was the key.”
Notes: Cavaliers F Drew Gooden had his streak of five consecutive double-doubles snapped. He had six points and eight rebounds in only 17 minutes, sitting most of the second half with a sore left ankle. “I’m not going to miss a game,” said Gooden. … World B. Free, credited with saving the Cavaliers’ franchise in the mid-80s, was honored by the team at halftime. “My biggest championship was taking a team from the cellar and taking it to the promised land (the playoffs) like we did,” said Free, who helped Cleveland go from a 2-19 start in 1984-85 to the postseason. … Both teams continued to hit free throws. Cleveland came in leading the NBA at 81 percent and made 40 of 47. The Clippers added to their 80-percent mark by converting 25 of 28. … The Clippers are just 15-37 all-time in Cleveland.