Nets-Cavs: Dynasty vs. Dynasty

Back in 2004 Bruce Ratner bought the NJ Nets for $300 with the help of an investment team that included Jay-Z .

Make no mistake, this new management team has been making power moves. As well as I thought Jason Kidd meshed with Kenyon Martin, there is no doubt that Vince Carter is leagues better. Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson are an East coast version of the Phoenix Sun's run and gun style of play.

I have a feeling that Larry Hughes and Sasha Pavlovic are not suited defensively to play against Kidd and Jefferson, so I expect to see E. Snow and Anderson Varejao to produce some solid minutes off the bench. The Cavs have an advantage with their big man, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who averaged a double-double during the regular season - watch for the first play of the game to be Z. down and inside on the basket. Lebron James and Vince Carter should be playing each other up and down the court. That's the match-up to watch.


Speaking of LeBron, this is the sort of image that causes the hearts of Cleveland fans to stop for a moment.

For now Cleveland can breath a collective sigh of relief, since LeBron is locked into his contract for a few more years. But if the Jigga man moves the Nets to Brooklyn like he plans to do and Cleveland doesn't close the deal by the end of LeBron's contract...well, I got 99 Problems...

In any case, Cavs win this series in six to advance to the conference finals.

Thursday...

From a Wizards press release:

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Gilbert Arenas has sustained a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, and the tear will be repaired by arthroscopic surgery. Arenas, who suffered the injury in the first quarter of Washington's game vs. Charlotte on April 4, is expected to be out for 2-3 months.

Dude, the Wizards can't catch a break. Without Caron they're a long shot in the playoffs. Without Butler or Arenas, I'm not even sure they can hang onto their playoff spot. I will say this; for all his obnoxious bluster, I honestly think Arenas is less important to the team's success than Caron.

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Holy Hell.


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Oh come on!

Hughes is close to a seven-figure bonus in his contract, but he'll need his teammates' help to get there. The deal Hughes signed in the summer of 2005 includes a $2 million payout if the Cavs reach 49 wins this season.

Does he get a bonus punch in the stomach if he shoots 25% from the field for the rest of the season?

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There are a very limited number of guys in the world that I respect named Tex. This is one of 'em. At least he didn't get passed over in favor of a WNBA coach and a couple of EuroLeague coaches... oh wait. Tex Winter on getting snubbed by the Hall of Fame voting committee:

"I think my family is a little more disappointed than I am,"
"I think that they think, 'Well, Tex Winter, he was just an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls, with Phil and with the Lakers.' I coached basketball longer than anyone in history. There's a lot of things that they don't consider. Maybe they are going to wait until I'm dead." Los Angeles Times

Now there's a guy who doesn't sound bitter...

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There are two big games going on tonight. Cleveland and Miami are squaring off, with both of them jockeying for playoff position. With Washington basically packing it in and raising a white flag, Miami is rejuvenated. The Cavs are still trying to hold off the surging Bulls and maybe catch up to the stumbling Pistons. Meanwhile, across the country, Phoenix and San Antone will give us a 2nd round preview. I predict San Antonio will lose to the Suns tonight, but they will beat them in a best of 7 come playoff time. The Cavs will beat Miami, and should they meet in the playoffs, the Cavs'll do it again.

For gods sake, Git R DONE!

Well well well, a chance to guest blog for the Cap'n. Welcome one and all, this is your first mate Johnny Stee at the helm of the swag. Just stopping by from http://www.paytoilet.blogspot.com/ to throw down a little rant on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Cavs fan, but for god's sake can we Git R Done already?

In response to Z's recent comments about upset about the Cavs just settling on jumpers - Bronnie replied - "We've been getting a lot of good looks lately, we just haven't been knocking them down."

These guys are getting terrible looks, firing it backwards off the dribble, upside down with a half reversal and a triple sow-cow and a full shot clock.

And maybe it hasn't occurred to him that even if a shot looks good, either him or Hughes may not be consistent enough to make 'em count?

Here's a short list of things that we can do to "Git R Done."

1. Get in the paint.
2. Have Mike Brown create more that one offensive play.
3. Get in the paint.

I'm sick of watching Bron's minutes get wasted out there on crappy low-percentage shots. He's missing them anyways. Man up and drive it to the lane more than once a night already. We've all seen what he can do, Mr. Brown, now it's time to get your players to commit. I'm no Red Auerbach, but it's pretty clear that what we're doing isn't working.

Also - On a similar note - Isn't it great how LBJ has taught Mike Brown to do that "Whiny Toddler Face" so well when they get a bad call?

Thanks Cap'n.
Here's to driving down my street and up yours.

Johnny Stee.

Best Case Scenario: 3 Way Deal Brings Bibby to Cleveland, Here's How it Would Look...

As I just posted, ESPN is reporting that a Cavs deal for Bibby could be announced any second, with Minnesota as the 3rd team in talks. Here's a deal I put together that not only works financially under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and not only is a great deal for Cleveland, but also a sweet deal for everyone involved (remember to click on it to look at it in the Trade Machine):

Cleveland sends Ira Newble to Sacto and Larry Hughes to Minnesota. Minnesota sends Mike James and Eddie Griffin to Sacto, and Marko Jaric to Cleveland. Sacto sends Mike Bibby to Cleveland.

Why it works: Minnesota gets to unload 2 of their biggest busts, Mike James & Marko Jaric, who both have nasty contracts. And all it costs them is the mildly valuable expiring deal on Eddie Griffin. They get Larry Hughes, and who knows, maybe the combo of Hughes, Foye, Garnett, Davis and Blount can get the Wolves into the playoffs and stave off the Garnett departure for another year. Sacto gets Mike James, to replace Bibby at the point, and $6 million in salary cap relief (actually 12 mil since they're over the luxury tax line) in the expiring contracts of Newble and Griffin. The Cavs get Mike Bibby, a monster upgrade at PG, and Marko Jaric, who I still believe can be a valuable contributor. Most importantly, they pass off Hughes' hot potato contract, and get the shake up that could jump start their stagnant season.

Why it doesn't: What is Minnesota, retarded? Even Kevin McHale, who by all accounts is a shitty GM, isn't likely to pay Larry Hughes 13 million per year to be less productive than Ricky Davis(who costs roughly half as much), and spend half the year on the Injured Reserve. Not to mention, despite the salary relief, what would possess Geoff Petrie to make him think Mike James somehow makes his team better than Mike Bibby? That's just crazy talk. And finally, by locking themselves up in even more salary, and kissing off one of their valuable expiring contracts, the Cavs all but insure they won't be able to afford Anderson Varejao, this summer, when he comes for the re-up.

Just for fun(with a hint of maybe?): Peep this trade!!!!! Woah, I just got chills thinking of the possibilities. The Cavs get KG and Bibby? And the weird part is, it's not really a bad deal for either Sacto or Minnesota. The Kings get Mike James to replace Bibby along with some expiring deals, 2 great prospects (Pavlo and Varejao) and some perimeter shooting assistance in Damon Jones. The Wolves get Hughes, again not optimal, but also the great bargain in Gooden to replace KG, and 2 mil in relief from Pollard's expiring deal. Not to mention they get rid of James, which for them is pretty attractive.

Progs: Cavs get Bibby in a 3 way(don't worry, 2 chicks, 1 dude), but are stuck with Larry Hughes, and forced to give up Varejao. I am, predictably, not too pleased.

The Deadline Approaches...

It's trade deadline time...

From ESPN:
Bibby going to Cleveland, however, remains a possibility. The Cavs lack the trade assets to complete a trade for Bibby, but one scenario in circulation Tuesday had Minnesota joining in on a three-team deal that would potentially send Mike James, among others, to Sacramento as Bibby's successor at the point.

And also this:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been trying to get in the mix on Kidd, too, and apparently are willing to discuss everyone on the roster outside of LeBron James.
A package of Larry Hughes and Anderson Varejao would be something the Nets would have to consider, although the consensus in front offices around the league is that Hughes would be worth taking a chance on only if his contract were half as big as it actually is.
Another factor working against the Cavs: They do not have a No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft to trade, having shipped it off for Jiri Welsch two years ago.

Woo smokies, I would love to see JKidd in a Cleveland jersey. Actually, I wouldn't mind Bibby in Cleveland jersey. The question in this tradular game of Russian roulette is, who pulls the trigger on a loaded 13 million dollar Larry Hughes?