Declawing the Bobcats!

The Cleveland Cavaliers received career highs from both of their rookies and another solid night from veteran Antawn Jamison with 19 points as Cleveland defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 115-101 in the teams last home game before a seven game road trip that starts tonight in Toronto.

Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 20 points with six assists,while Tristan Thompson just missed a double double with 16 points and 9 rebounds as both players posted their best numbers in the short season thus far.

Cleveland is in Canada tonight for a Raptors rematch from the season opener after improving to 3-2 with the victory last night..

Swashbucklings

1) Look past the point numbers for Kyrie Irving and look the key number up-zero turnovers.
Of course,that is not going to happen every night or do I expect it to,but that is happened in just a players fifth game in the league and in 22 minutes of running the offense-that is quite impressive...

2) Best play of the night goes to the other rookie Tristan Thompson for his shot block of former Buckeye Byron Mullins as Mullins went up for an apparent jam.
That play looked to be a certain two,until Thompson blocked the bigger mans attempt...

3) Thompson might be the best shot blocker that this franchise has seen since Larry Nance.
Thompson just gets off the floor so quickly and has that knack of anticipation for the block that just cannot be taught....

4) I have to say that I am disappointed in the play thus far of Omri Casspi.
Casspi did hit two of his three shots (one from three point range),but seems distracted and is playing with a lack of confidence on both ends of the floor.
If the second team was not playing so well as a unit and I would not want to tamper with their chemistry until needed,I would consider starting Alonzo Gee over Casspi.

5) Kyrie Irving knows how to hustle as well,as he raced to run down D.J. Augustine's layup and block the shot.That is a simple hustle play and when your top player does things like that-hustle can be quite contagious!

6) Ten more three pointers in this one from 21 attempts.
Veteran Anthony Parker knocked down three of those,if Parker can be close to his recent consistency with the three ball,Parker could be a solid contributor to a surprising season...

Photo Credit-AP Photo

Clarkson giveth and taketh away

David Clarkson slammed home a rebound in the second period (14) to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 2-0 lead.
The same David Clarkson would commit a silly hooking penalty in overtime to hand the Ottawa Senators a power play that resulted in a 3-2 Senators win.
The Devils did earn a point for an overtime loss.
Dainius Zubrus (11) scored the other Devils goal,
The Devils host Boston tomorrow evening at 7:30.

Hell Raisers

1)  I know the Devils blew another lead,but looking at things realistically,Ottawa controlled the game for the most part.
Other than the Zubrus goal,the Devils never really got into an offensive groove and the chance that the team had to put the game away that they were unable to capitalize on showed just that.

2) I like David Clarkson as I have noted in the past.
Clarkson might even be my favorite Devil,but his penalty in overtime for hooking was mind numbingly dumb.
Clarkson did exactly what I wanted to see more with his less than a foot rebound for a goal,but he still needs to avoid the dumb penalty,which he clearly committed last night.

3) Martin Brodeur showed good and bad in this one.
Brodeur almost stood on his head at times to keep the Devils in the game,but when needed most against Eric Condra's shorthanded (Yes,another one) shot,Marty simply missed the puck.
No excuses-that play has to be made.

4) Nice fight between Eric Boulton and Ottawa's Chris Neil.
I would have given a close nod to Neil,but Boulton was landing some hard shots as well...

5) Adam Henrique was named the rookie of the month for the league in December.
Henrique continues to have a strong rookie campaign...

Photo Credit-AP Photo

Not very special Buckeyes in Gator Bowl

If the Ohio State special teams were,say average,instead of "special",the whatever.com Gator Bowl might have turned out better for the men from Columbus.
Instead a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown and a kickoff that was returned for another six points were allowed by the special teams and Florida defeated the Buckeyes 24-17.
Braxton Miller threw for both Buckeye touchdowns.
Ohio State will begin their season of probation on September 1st against the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks in their first game under Urban Meyer..

Buckeye Leaves

1) Special teams have been an issue all season and as noted,they were again in this loss.
Some of this comes down to this edition of Buckeyes simply not being as fast as teams in the past,but other issues might have been connected to the issues regarding the offensive line.

2) Which have been less than stellar as well.
Braxton Miller was sacked six times and rushed many times more than that in a performance that shows that Urban Meyer's first two recruiting classes better produce some quality linemen!

3) One positive from this game-I will NEVER have to write about a Jim Bollman offense again!
YES!!!!

4) Seriously,although I am thrilled to rid of Jim Bollman,the offensive game plan was an issue as it always seems to be.
Bollman's idea of an game plan is a variation of handoffs and telling a unpolished freshman QB to make something happen.
Well,that is the type of game plan that results in 6-7 ball clubs.
Ugh.

5) One more smack on Jim Bollman.
Usually bowl games are the time that teams put plays in for because this is the best time to try things.
In addition,Bollman knows that he is not returning,so who cares on what happens-have some fun,you know?
Not Bollman,who continued to call plays with all the enthusiasm of Sean Hannity at the Democratic National Convention.

6) Two of ten on third down for Ohio State on this day.
That number will seldom result in a win...

7) The biggest loss of the season (that occurred on the field) was defensive end Nathan Williams,who missed almost the entire season due to injury and was expected to go into the NFL Draft.
Williams announced that he will be back next season,which helps the Buckeyes,but also will help Williams draft value go up if he plays an entire season...

8) Tight end Jake Stoneburner missed the game and could go into the draft,but I think he would be better suited to return.
Stoneburner's size and hands make him a nice fit in the new offense and more passes to him will answer any questions about his catching ability.
Stoneburner also could profit from the season that former Buckeye tight end Jake Ballard had with the Giants after being similarly underutilized by the Jim Bollman (there's that name again!) offense...

9) Devier Posey finished his career with a less than great game.
On the one play that Posey did make,he coughed up the football ending a scoring threat,although Posey had gotten wide open on what should have been a touchdown before a Braxton Miller overthrow.
Posey will have plenty of questions before the NFL Draft.

10) Sorry,national media,this OSU is still winless against SEC teams in bowls because of vacating last seasons win simply will not hunt.
You can take out of the record book (Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas),but you cannot take it off the field.

11) So it's over.
A season filled with mistake after mistake from President Gordon Gee and Athletic Director Gene Smith.
From mishandling the initial Tattoogate incidents,to looking too soft and then (Arguably) too hard on Jim Tressel,from waiting so long to deal with the issue that Luke Fickell was forced into a job that he was not ready for,to consistently trying to soft pedal possible punishment instead of hammering themselves so the NCAA did not and most of all-costing next years team a bowl in order to send a 6-6 team to Jacksonville of all places.
It has been a rough year for Buckeye fans,but I feel the right man is in charge and the situation is not in the same hemisphere as the programs that Jim Tressell inherited from John Cooper.
Next season should be a great one and when a BCS level team sits at home-remember the names Gordon Gee and Gene Smith as the people that will keep the Buckeyes at home.
Go Bucks.

Back later with the Devils overtime loss in Ottawa.

Photo Credit-AP Photo

Cavaliers sizzling shooting burns Nets!

I missed the first half of the Cleveland Cavaliers game against the New Jersey Nets in order to watch the end of the Browns-Steelers game,but from what I saw,I was able to catch the better version of the game as the Cavaliers erased a six point halftime deficit to torch the Nets from three point territory 10 times in the second half to lead Cleveland to a 98-82 win.
Antawn Jamison led the team with 23 points with Daniel Gibson contributing 19 off the bench.
The 2-2 Cavaliers play the first of three games in four days tomorrow night against visiting Charlotte....

Swashbucklings

1) As noted,I did not see the first half,but the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the team was scolded by coach Byron Scott in the locker room at the halftime break.
Whatever it was that worked,it sure was effective as from what I saw,the Cavaliers controlled and dominated the game...

2) Funny note-Friday night on Facebook,my friend Josh mentioned Antawn Jamison as being "the worst player in the NBA".I mentioned that to the lovely Cherie about Jamison's less than great early play and as I said that-Boom "From Deep in the Q!" as Austin Carr loves to shout.
From then on,Jamison was on fire.
Funny out that works out so often and I wish it was just that easy...

3) Super night for Daniel Gibson,who was 5 of 7 from downtown on the night.
The Cavaliers have had a standout game in each of the starts this season from someone off the bench between Gibson,Ramon Sessions,Samardo Samuels and Alonzo Gee as often times the bench crew has outplayed the starters...

4) Speaking of Gee,he has been the surprise to me.
Putting Tristan Thompson aside as a first rounder,Gee has taken the ball to the hoop far better than expected and over four games,his shooting is strong at 56 percent as well...

5) I like Dan Gilbert as an owner.
Gilbert is not afraid to spend money or speak his mind.
Check out the full transcript of Gilbert's talk with the media before the game.
Both the Indians and (especially) the Browns could learn a lot from Gilbert..

6) We will have the next two games covered,but will miss the Friday game in Minnesota due to the 8 PM start.Next week,the team goes out West after the Minnesota stop,but off days will allow coverage of the Portland and Utah games,but will miss the Phoenix and LA Lakers games.
I may decide to do XM coverage for the Lakers contest considering the 10:30 start.

Back later/tomorrow with coverage of the Gator Bowl and the Devils vs Senators game.
Photo Credit-AP Photo

Browns hang tough,but still lose to Steelers 13-9

I had issues with the Cleveland Browns-Pittsburgh Steelers game all day.
I was very tired of winning late season games that did not mean anything that resulted in losing players that could have had a impact on the franchise-Examples being the season ending winning streak that moved the Browns from second to seventh in 2009 for the 2010 draft or this 'thrilling' win over Miami last year that was the difference in landing A.J.Green.
At the same time-It was the Steelers,so I did not have love for those guys,so in the end,it was a root for the Browns,but look at the bright side of bad things type of day.
I had thought that this was exactly the type of game that Cleveland wins,so I gave them more of a chance to win than most and had Seneca Wallace provided any offense at all,they could have done just that as the game went down to the final play in a 13-9 Pittsburgh win.
Phil Dawson kicked field goals of 26,45, and 49 yards for the Browns points on the afternoon.
Cleveland returns to action in March,where hopefully a free agent or two will be added  and in April in the draft where the Browns will pick fourth overall barring a trade up.
Had the Browns won this game,they would have picked seventh-who said I do not look at the positive! :)

Brownie Bits

1) Loved the Browns defense in this one.
The Steeler offense did not really do more than the Browns on the day other than on their one long drive,Pittsburgh scored the touchdown and the Browns settled for three points in what was another shocker.
In any case,although the defense still needs a playmaker or two,I am relatively pleased about the defense in 2011.
Still needs help in some areas (Corner,another DE and a fast linebacker),but not too bad....


2) Jabaal Sheard harassed Ben Rothlisberger all day and showed why he deserves defensive rookie of the year consideration,while Ahtyba Rubin did the same as the two combined for over ten tackles and each had a sack of Rothlisberger.
If the Browns are able to replace Jayme Mitchell on the opposite defensive end with a solid player,the DL is going to be tough on opponents next season.
Mitchell started the season strong,but disappeared thereafter

3) SO Seneca Wallace wants starting consideration for next season does he?
Well,he can have the opportunity in Edmonton or Calgary,if it was up to me.
Wallace's inaccurate throws and dumb decisions for a veteran makes me wonder if I want him on the Browns at all next season,let alone as contending for the starting job.

4) Wallace believes because the Browns had chances to win all three of his starts that he has proven "something".
I believe that the final three games proved something-that the defense is getting better and with an addition of offensive talent (Quarterback definitely included) that the Browns might be on the right track.

5) Peyton Hillis only ran the ball ten times (30 yards) while Seneca Wallace threw 41 passes?
So much for the play calling brilliance of Pat Shurmur.
Goodbye,Peyton,I enjoyed having you in Cleveland....

6) Phil Dawson may not return for 2012,so just case he does not,I want to take the time to thank Dawson for his professionalism with the Browns.
Dawson is the only player still with the Browns since the "return" and deserves to hook on with a contender....

7) No catches for Greg Little,but a strong game from Josh Cribbs (7 catches 91 yards).It happens that way sometimes when the top receiver is taken away.
Nice rookie season for Little and Cribbs finished the year strong and both should be important cogs next season.

8) Wish I could say the same for Mohammed Massaquoi,who dropped several passes on the day and seems to have regressed this season.
Massaquoi has never been the same player since his cheap shot hit at the hands of James Harrison last season...

9) Speaking of Harrison,quiet day for the king of helmet to helmet with just two tackles.
Could a Harrison that plays within the rules be just an average player???

10) The Jacksonville win over Indianapolis moved the Browns up a slot in the first round,but a Colt win would have been better-The Colts will likely take Andrew Luck,the second selecting Rams would have entertained offers.
The Browns decision now looks to be whether to take Robert Griffin III of Baylor to replace Colt McCoy at quarterback or tab the A.J. Green of this team in Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State in an attempt to give the team an elite level offensive weapon.
At least that is what I am hoping the decision comes down to anyway,although I would not be against trying to land Luck.
I would not complain at all,if Luck costs the Browns two first rounders this year (Theirs and Atlanta's) and the 2013 top pick-If that is the price,I do it.

11) Finally, another bad season in the books.
I was not overwhelmed by Pat Shurmur by any means,but I do think he deserves another season.
I would not utter a word,if he were fired tomorrow,but be fair and give him and Tom Heckert an off-season and a true training camp to see what he can do.
If 2012 is like 2011-then see ya' Pat...

I plan on a season recap some time soon on a slow day and I hope to be back later today with a short look at the Cavaliers win over the New Jersey Nets..

Photo Credits
Kuntz-Cleveland Plain Dealer
Sheard:Matt Sullivan-Getty Images

Happy New Year

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and say thanks for reading.
This past year saw our post records for a month broken five times-Including smashing the record in December!

Thanks for taking the time to visit the blog and best wishes for all in 2012!!

Kovalchuk cracks Penguins in 3-1 win!

Ilya Kovalchuk started the scoring with a penalty shot goal (12) against Marc-Andre Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils never trailed from there as the Devils finished 2011 with a 3-1 win at the Rock.
David Clarkson scored  (13 power play) on the man advantage before the second period ended and Zach Parise added the final goal on the empty net ( 13 empty net).
Martin Brodeur finished with 29 saves and picked up the W.
New Jersey gets New Years Day off before traveling to the Canadian capital in Ottawa on Monday...

Hell Raisers

1) Martin Brodeur was not voted as one of the three stars of the game.
I would have voted him the top star between several acrobatic saves and solid all around,Brodeur was the difference today...

2) David Clarkson continues to do what he must to be successful as he drilled in a bouncing puck that had just smacked off the post from a Patrik Elias shot.
Who would have thought that at the end of December David Clarkson would have more goals than Ilya Kovalchuk and the same as Zach Parise?

3) Ilya Kovalchuk scored the pretty goal on the penalty shot,but do not overlook his sharp pass to Patrik Elias to eventually wind up with the Clarkson goal.
The plays that Kovalchuk can make when he is "on" are always astonishing

4) Two assists for Patrik Elias,who despite the assists.had to be frustrated with hitting the post on what was an open net..

5) Henrik Tallinder returned from his back spasms,but Anton Volchenkov left the game in the second period with a "Lower body injury".
Will this team ever have all their blueliners healthy at the same time????

Busy next few days as the Browns finish up today against Pittsburgh,Cavaliers tonight against the Nets (Joined in progress likely),Ohio State in the Gator Bowl and more Devils tomorrow...

Photo Credit-AP Photo.