Sports News Written By Sports Fans
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cavaliers are close to signing free agent guard Antonio Daniels.
The 14-years veteran was waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves following a contract buyout. Daniels can play both guard positions. He averaged 4.1 points, 4.2 assists and shot 42 percent with the Wizards and Hornets last season. To make room on the roster, the Cavs would release either Jawad Williams or Coby Karl, who have non-guaranteed contracts.
Delonte West’s wife filed a domestic violence report with Cleveland police against her husband last Sunday on her way to fly to her father’s house in New Jersey.
In the report, Kimberly West says that Delonte West had accused her of cheating on him and that they had argument in which he grabbed her and took her wedding ring and purse. Police said Monday the case remains under investigation and that no charges have been filed.
His status for tonight’s game against the Celtics is still unknown.
“Right now he is, I think he’s active for tomorrow night,” LeBron James said Monday. “It is still up in the air, I’m not sure. We hope he’s active and he’s ready to go.”
Said coach Mike Brown: “I have not made a decision yet about whether he’d be active.”
“He’s been here and he’s worked hard every day in practice to get in game shape and be ready for the season,” James said. “He knows the system, the system hasn’t changed. He’s a fast learner and he’s ready to play.”
Another year for Cleveland’s sports fans. As the Browns crawl their way to another disappointing season, and Indians rebuild (again), Tuesday can’t come soon enough for Cleveland.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will open their season on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics on National television. So let’s take a look at what local and national media are saying about the Cavs:
Jon Barry, ESPN: The addition of Shaq, provided he’s healthy, gives Cleveland a viable post-up option to take pressure off of LeBron. The Cavs will roll through the regular season.
Chris Broussard, ESPN The Mag: Last year’s collapse in the Eastern Conference finals only made LeBron hungrier and more willing to expand his game. Now, opponents can expect to see him in the post more. Scary. And look for a resurgence from a truly motivated Shaq.
Doug Collins, TNT: I think Shaq will help on that front line. They really got hammered inside last year. They had no answers for Dwight Howard. These are two very dynamic personalities that you’ve put together. Also with Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker, they’ve got some size on that team.
Reggie Miller, TNT: I think the loss of coach John Kuester to Detroit to take over the Pistons … he was the offensive guru – puts a lot of pressure back on head coach Mike Brown … Is this offense going to jell without Kuester being there?
Jalen Rose, ESPN: LBJ is the best all-around player in the game. He probably could average a triple-double. Shaq wants his fifth ring. Mo Williams can play with the best of them at the point. Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker will have perimeter impact.
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: Opening night at home against the Celtics should be a blast. Let’s see how the teams’ difference in depth plays out in that opener and over the course of the season. Right now, I rank the Cavs a solid second in the East. Boston just looks better.
Chris Webber, TNT: You have Shaq who’s a dominant post player, and you have an All-Star center in big Z coming off the bench to spread the defense and change the coverages. Now you have a guy who can shoot the jump shot, a guy who can offensive rebound.
Brian Windhorst: Brian thinks the Cavaliers will go all the way and bring the championship to Cleveland. “If they stay healthy it could be their time”
Bud Shaw predicts the Cavaliers to win the championship. “Just another Cleveland championship”
Jodie Valade of the Cleveland Plain Dealers picked the Cavaliers to win the East but the Lakers to win the championship.
Terry Pluto picks the Cavaliers to win it all and bring a championship to Cleveland. “For once, I think right will win out for Northeast Ohio fans”
Bill Livingston picks the Lakers. “Shaq vs. Kobe rivalry ends in Finals upset”
Mary Schmitt Boyer thinks the Lakers will win it all. “Cavs got better, but so did the Lakers”
Once thing Cleveland sports writers have in common: it will be a Lakers vs Cavaliers finals this time.
David Friedman: The Cavaliers posted the best regular season record in the NBA in 2009 and followed up that effort by making a series of personnel moves which essentially resulted in them swapping Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic for Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon; the Cavaliers also acquired Leon Powe, who is trying to recover from a serious knee injury but may be available in time for the 2010 playoffs. The Cavaliers will win at least 60 games and should be considered the top contender to capture the Eastern Conference title.
Michael Granito: The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big splash this year with trading for Shaquille O’Neal. With this move, the Cavs have 2 of the best centers on the team with Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. With JJ Hickson recovering from injury, and Anderson Varejao happy with a new contract, the Cavaliers have a formidable front court. The question remains in the backcourt, especially with the problems that Delonte West has had in the offseason. If West does not contribute, the Cavaliers have signed veteran Anthony Parker to play in his spot. Parker is a taller, stronger version of West, and is known for his tough defense.
In the end, the Cavaliers need all players to contribute, especially Delonte West. If West to keeps a positive attitude throughout the season and stays out of trouble, then the Cavaliers are ready to make another deep run into the playoffs.
Tariq Ali: Last year loss made this team and organization hungrier. Expect another MVP performance from Lebron James. Shaquille will surprise everyone and play with purpose. Z will be huge off the bench and Mo will have an All-Star year and expect him to show up in the playoffs this year. Expect Delonte West to put all the issues he brought in the summer away and be a huge contributor. This season will belong to the Cavaliers.
After a monthlong lockout, the NBA referees approved the collective bargaining deal that was agreed to in principle last Tuesday.
“We are pleased to reach this agreement,” NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement. “The negotiations extended further than either side had hoped, but when our regular season tips off on Tuesday we’ll have the best referees in the world officiating our games.”
The referees will be ready to return for the regular season which begins on Tuesday with four games including the Cavaliers vs Celtics. They will go through a brief training camp this weekend in New Jersey.
In a preview of what’s coming next week in the season opener when these two teams face each other at Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, the Cavaliers and Celtics starters didn’t play much but that didn’t leave the drama out of the game.
The first half ended in a skirmish. The first half ended with a skirmish. After Rajon Rondo’s shot in the lane spun out, leaving the Celtics with a 56-48 lead, the Cavaliers’ Mo Williams got up from the floor and threw an elbow that hit Boston’s Shelden Williams in the chest. The Celtic Williams then pushed the Cleveland Williams before order was restored. O’Neal ran from the Cavaliers’ bench but was stopped when he got to midcourt.
Ok… now back to the game. The Celtics won 96-82. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen didn’t play. Doc River didn’t want to play Paul Pierce but Pierce didn’t want to miss a chance to play against Lebron James. However, he played 13 minutes and scored 11 points.
Lebron James scored 18 points and Shaquille O’Neal added 16. Anderson Varejao had 10. Eddie House scored most of Boston’s points and finished with 21 points. After the third quarter, both teams played their subs.
Shaq is enjoying his time with the Cavaliers:
“It’s a fun team,” Shaq said. “It’s a young, energetic team. It’s probably the type of team a guy like me should be on at the end of his career, rather than being out there with a bunch of old guys. It’s me and Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas) and everybody else is in their early 30s or 20s. If you hang around with young people, then you feel young.”
“Being the father of six children, LeBron is one of those kids who gets good grades, does everything right. To put that into basketball terms, he’s a team player, great guy in the locker room, so I didn’t need to come in there and say, ‘Do this and do that.’ He’s earned his spot. He’s earned his name.”
Cavaliers two mega stars Lebron James and Shaquille O’neal made the October 26th cover of Sports Illustrated. The featured article by Ian Thomson talks about how the upcoming season might be the most exciting title chasing seasons in decades.
The coming season promises to be a throwback to those glorious days when leading men like Magic, Larry, Dr. J and Isiah were surrounded by talented lineups and deep benches. “That’s how it should be,” says James, the reigning MVP. “You look back in the ’80s, you not only had three or four All-Stars on the same team, you had three or four Hall of Famers on the same team. So it’s good to see the competition is getting back up there.”
Few teams have been able to take advantage of the current economics recession. Twenty five out of thirty teams have been trying to dump salaries. The Cavaliers, Celtics, Magic, Lakers and Spurs were able to capitalize on the current situation and hoard talents.
The Cavaliers added O’neal to help James and stop Haward, the Lakers became more intimidating by adding defensive power with Artest to help with Kobe, the Magic became more explosive by adding Vince Carter, and the Celtics added more experience with Rasheed Wallace. The Spurs took advantage of the Bucks financial situation and added more depth with Richard Jefferson.
With a deep team like the Cavaliers, Lebron might be playing with the best talent he will ever play with in his NBA career. So if you are a Cavaliers fan, Lebron fan, Kobe fan, or just a basketball fan, this season should offer you some real pleasure.
Competition — that’s what I like, as long as we’re getting better too,” LeBron says. “It’s going to be crazy, especially when we hit the road. It’s going to be fun.
The Referees are expected to return to work next week after an unexpected meeting between David Stern and Lamell McMorris of the referees’ union which led to a tentative agreement.
According to sources at ESPN, the League officials will not officially address how quickly veteran referees will be ready to call games until after Friday’s vote, but sources close to the process said that the veterans will indeed be back at work in time for Tuesday’s opening night.
After rash of complaints from coaches and players about how tightly games have been called in the preseason, this development will likely to be widely applauded throughout the league.
Mo Williams had 16 points and 11 assists to lead the Cavaliers to a 96-66 preseason victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers looked serious and coach Mike Brown kept his starters until building a 30-point lead in the third quarter.
Five players scored in double figures. LeBron James and Anderson Varejao both scored 12 points. Shaquille O’Neal had six points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes.