While We’re Waiting…Cavs-Celtics, The Next Evan Turner, Tribe Optimism

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com

A Cavs-Celtics roundtable which includes our own Jacob: “In the battle of the role players, look for the two-on-two production match between Glen Davis and Marquis Daniels against Anderson Varejao and Delonte West. Big Baby replaced KG well during the playoffs last season. Daniels is expected to get more playing time on LeBron directly, and if he is able to have any success off the bench, it is a huge plus for the Celtics. Andy and Delonte were starters in the past but they represent something Boston can’t match; quickness and hustle. The Cavaliers will need to keep fighting through screens and trying to efficiently push the pace and these two are the key.”  [NumbersDont.com Rountable Chat]

–

The next Evan Turner enrolling this fall?  “Lenzelle Smith, Jr., a guard set to start his freshman season at Ohio State, said he’s heard it more times than he can count that he’s the next Evan Turner.  ‘Every time I hear it, it’s great,’ Smith said after practice for Saturday’s High School Academic All-American Classic. ‘Those are big shoes to fill.  I don’t think it’s totally far-fetched.’  Replacing a national player of the year won’t be easy, of course, but Smith said he shares similarities with Turner and appears comfortable making the comparison with his former AAU teammate.  With Turner leaving school after his junior season as a projected top NBA draft pick, Smith is expected to get a shot to play point guard. At 6-foot-4, he has good size for a player who can distribute the basketball.  Smith is leaving high school with a 4.1 grade-point average. He and Turner briefly played together with the Illinois Stars when Smith was in the eighth grade. ‘He calls me his little brother.’” [Diamond Leung/ESPN CBB Blog]

–

5 reasons the Tribe’s season will be enjoyable as we turn the page on April: “With our up-and-down run through the first 21 games of the year, the Tribe has alternately thrilled and disgusted us.  There have already been a disturbing number of games that we have lost in manners ill befitting a major league baseball team. Less than a month into the year, we’ve had a four-game winning streak and a five-game losing streak. There are plenty of reasons to look ahead and see more monotonous mediocrity making us miserable, but I would like to offer five reasons for hope that we’ll be enjoyable to follow as we attempt to put together a season that is meaningful in some regard.” [LetsGoTribe.com]

–

NYK fans list reasons why LBJ may come there: ”The Yankees have emerged as the best team in baseball and are poised for another championship run. At some point, CC Sabathia may confide to his good pal, one of the Yankees’ most famous fans, ‘There’s nothing like winning in New York.’ The Yankees went on to win the championship, their ticker-tape parade was the day of the Cavs v. Knicks game in New York, and LeBron was treated to a Yankee tribute on his lone visit to the Garden, with CC at center court and LeBron applauding from the bench.Then recently during an ESPN pregame show at Fenway Park, LeBron was asked if being a Yankee fan could influence him to sign with the Knicks. ‘I don’t think so,’ LeBron replied. ‘My connection won’t sway what I do as a basketball player.’ Can’t win ’em all.” [Louis Roxin/Knicks RealGM]

–

Arguing for JaMarcus Russell to the Browns: “No one has ever doubted Russell’s tools.  He has an arm that could be the best ever to be on a NFL field.  He has the frame (minus the tonnage) that GM’s dream of.  He struggled at times at LSU, but his junior season was on par with Jimmy Clausen’s junior season.  Shouldn’t that count for something?  He has the talent, he is just waiting for someone to help him find it…JaMarcus Russell is one month older than Colt McCoy.  That’s it.  25 days.  Russell is still a baby.  We have no idea what kind of QB Russell can be.  He still has 12 years left in this league.  Are you willing to put the nail in his coffin before his 25th birthday?  Look at how many QB’s struggle early in their careers just to have the light bulb go on later on in their careers?  Wouldn’t Holmgren be the best person to try?” [Dawgs by Nature]

(Photo Courtesy ESPN)