Martin Rickman talks media, targeting rule, and NCAA basketball – WFNY Podcast – 2013-10-24
October 24, 2013MLB News: “No chance” Tribe offers Jiménez a multi-year deal
October 25, 2013Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while we’re all waiting, the WFNY editors thought you might enjoy reading. Because you never know how long we might be waiting. So here are assorted reading goodies for you to enjoy. Send more good links for tomorrow’s edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com
Opposing scouts analyze NBA teams. Here’s one take on the Cavs: “Anderson Varejao is the Cavs’ second-most-important player. He plays unselfishly at both ends of the floor. He is an improved shooter, not a great shooter, but he can move the ball. He’s an unbelievable pick-and-roll defender, and he makes up for other people’s mistakes because he’s in the right place. He’s one of those guys you don’t like to play against, but you like to have him on your team.” [SI.com]
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Very cool to have this guy back on the basketball court: “In the case of Greg Oden, preseason basketball matters. It actually transcends basketball and brings about emotions in those dedicated to the game. Whether it’s fandom, obsession, or even the most miniscule involvement in the NBA, watching Greg Oden take the floor Wednesday night for the Miami Heat in a preseason game, that will be forgotten before the final buzzer even sounds, was a moment in time that’s hard for the diehards to dismiss.” [Zach Harper/CBSSports.com]
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Things have changed since this article, but it’s still a good read: “When I saw Matthew Dellavedova at Summer League in July, I came away somewhat unimpressed with his skills. He didn’t shoot well, wasn’t particularly athletic, and really struggled when faced with any sort of backcourt pressure. So it came as something of a surprise to me when the Cavaliers gave him a partially guaranteed contract on August 8 after his performance.” [Sam Vecenie/Fear The Sword]
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A new way to compare young NBA players: “When a player is drafted, he becomes linked with those taken before and after him. However, early in an NBA career, the more relevant comparisons are players from their high school class. The top prospects in an individual class have been rated against each other since they were 12. They played together in All-Star tournaments and were recruited by the same colleges. They have a lot more in common than a 20-year old and a 23-year old taken in consecutive picks.” [Jonathan Tjarks/Real GM]
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Looking back at Brantley’s fine season: “In fact, Brantley was so good in 2013 that it has led many to declare him the MVP of the 2013 Indians. That’s saying something considering he was by no means considered the Indians best player heading into the season. However, his overall consistency throughout the season combined with his timely hitting with two outs and runners in scoring position was too much to overlook. He hit a mind-boggling .364/.432/.500 with 29 RBI in those situations.” [Brian Heise/Wahoos on First]
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Remembering the previous 19 QBs: “As Jason Campbell prepares to debut Sunday as the Browns’ 20th starting quarterback since 1999, we pause to honor the 19 who came before him. 1. Ty Detmer, 1999, 0-2 record: His biggest contribution came after being traded to the Detroit Lions, with whom he tossed seven interceptions – seven – in a 2001 game against the Browns.” [Tony Grossi/ESPNCleveland.com]
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Film room review of last week’s dreadful Browns game: “The Cleveland Browns suffered their worst loss of the season this past Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Although the Browns somehow found themselves still within striking distance at the beginning of the fourth quarter, it truly was a game in which the offense couldn’t do anything right (thanks, Brandon Weeden) and the defense failed to fluster Aaron Rodgers.” [Chris Pokorny/Dawgs By Nature]
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Positive words hear about Urban Meyer’s discipline with players at OSU: “The Ohio State football team has seen nothing but success on the field under coach Urban Meyer, winning all 19 games since Meyer became head coach before the start of the 2012 season. Whether or not Meyer has run a similarly flawless program off the field at OSU, however, is open to interpretation.” [Dan Hope/The Lantern]
11 Comments
To me, a healthy Varejao is more important for this team than a healthy Bynum…if only because Varejao seems more likely to be healthy. Getting any kind of health out of either though would be a bonus for us moving forward. Personally, I think that if TT takes the leap forward he appears poised to be making, it’ll be enough to get us into the 8th seed.
If we get a combined 82 games out of Varejao and Bynum, I think I’ll take it.
I can see Coach Brown limiting both of their minutes once they’re both healthy. Either by limiting each game to “x” number of minutes…or letting one play on a back to back while the other rests…and then switching them the next night.
I found the rival scout piece in SI to be pretty interesting. Particularly, it was interesting because even scouts in the NBA make incorrect assumptions. I don’t think there is any evidence that the Cavs see Anthony Bennett as the big-bodied small forward to replace LeBron James, as the author suggests. Instead, it seems pretty obvious that both Chris Grant and Mike Brown see Bennett as a power forward. It’s also interesting that the scout assumed that Mike Brown would be running the offense, whereas it seems pretty obvious to those of us who follow the Cavs that Igor Kokoskov is the offensive mind on the staff.
I really think that the “experts” really only pay attention to the teams who are currently winning…or best look like they are going to win moving forward.
You’re right Ben. Managing their minutes will be crucial. Just imagine if we can get both healthy at the same time though. It’s a lot easier to limit Bynum’s minutes if AV is healthy and vice versa. When you have another legitimate option you can rest one of them without too much worry about drop off in performance. Now if your only other option is resting AV and playing Zeller heavy minutes at the 5…. it makes it harder to rest AV long periods of time
I think this scout was just as ignorant about the Cavs as most national writers are. There was a whole lot “common wisdom” BS in that “scouting report” and not a lot of real analysis. Most of us know more than this scout about the Cavs, which is probably not too surprising, I suppose…
I think if it happened…we’d likely see more of TT at center anyways. He’s better there…and we have some depth at the PF…especially if we use Earl Clark at the PF spot instead of SF.
I disagree that he’s better their. He’s too undersized. He’s an ideal PF in my opinion. But I do agree he’d get some minutes there if those guys were hurt
I only meant that he’s better at Center than anyone else on our roster if Varejao and Bynum are hurt.
Ah I got you. That makes sense. I thought you mean he’s a better C than PF. But yes I agree I’d rather him play “there” than Zeller. Hopefully we can get reasonably healthy seasons out of Bynum and AV and we’ll be okay.