Pro Bowl????

Five shows and movies I'd rather watch instead of the NFL Pro Bowl, happening right now down in Miami:
1. A marathon of America's Next Top Model, and during commercials flip over to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."
2. Reruns of "The Magic Hour", Magic Johnson's putrid, long-since canceled late-night talk show.
3. Major League II
4. Major League III
5. Episodes of "The Golden Girls" ... oh wait, I watch that multiple times per day, it is the best show ever. Oops.

LeBron and McDonalds

Earlier this week, it was announced that LeBron James has signed an endorsement deal with McDonalds. Here's the story on ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4867029 Apparently there will be a McDonalds Super Bowl commerical with LeBron, Dwight Howard and Larry Bird. Can't wait to see that one.
Anyway, now the LeBron and McDonalds are partners, I wondered if there will soon be a McD's menu item for the King. I came up with these, send me some ideas or comment on this post:

- The Triple Double (three beef patties, three cheese slices, two slices of bacon and three buns. I am salivating already. When LeBron gets a triple double, these are free after the game at McD's. Talk about mass hysteria.)
-  The McJames (a one-pound piece of filet mignon with three different kinds of imported cheeses on an asiago cheese bun. Served with a glass of Dom Perignon, at select McDonalds. Ordered as a Happy Meal, it comes with a mini Hummer and a mini LeBron private plane. The Gloria James mini private plane comes next week. Only the best for the King.)
- Cavs Chicken Nuggets (Features replicas of LeBron's Cavalier teammates in a six-pack of nugs. You'll have a Zyrdunas Ilgauskas nugget along with Mo Williams, Andy Varejao, Deltonte West, J.J. Hickson and of course, Shaq, which will be a giant-sized nugget in its own box. The Delonte and Mo nuggets come with a head band made of cheese).
- The LFMVP, Lebron For MVP. (Two pounds of roast beef on a hoagie-style bun with french fries, onions, tomato, lettuce and topped with sprinkles that look the heads of Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. You are literally eating LeBron's competition. Who wouldn't want that?

- The Broadway Burger. (This has been put on reserve at McD's in case LeBron heads to New York this summer. If he does, McDonalds will give away two free Knicks tickets with every sandwich, because even they know the team will be that bad. The burger comes topped with special "Traitor LBJ Sauce" that is literally made up of the blood and tears of Cleveland fans that were shed when he left town).
- The Maximus, named after LeBron's youngest son (A breakfast menu item. Pancakes dipped in butter, deep-fryed, dipper in chocolate, deep-fryed, dipped in lard, deep-fryed, topped with bacon, sausage, biscuts, hashbrowns and gravy. Served with a gallon of whole milk and cigarette for after. Trust me, you'll need it.)

Like I said, post some comments with more ideas. Hope you enjoyed it. I'm off to McDonalds.

* Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Here we come, memory lane

Something to chew on, discuss with your friends before tonight's Cavaliers-Pacers game:

Cavs starting lineup, tonight (January 29, 2010)
C- Shaquille O'Neal
G- Daniel Gibson
G- Anthony Paker
F - LeBron James
F - J.J. Hickson

Cavs starting lineup, FIVE YEARS AGO (January 28, 2005)
C- Zydrunas Ilgauskas
G- Jeff McInnis
G- Eric Snow
F- Sasha Pavlovic
F- Drew Gooden
* Note: LeBron James was injured

Cavs starting lineup, TEN YEARS AGO (January 29, 2000)
C- Mark Bryant
G- Bob Sura
G- Brevin Knight
F - Shawn Kemp
F- Lamond Murray

Cavs starting lineup, FIFTEEN YEARS AGO (January 30, 1995)
C- Tyrone Hill
G- Terrell Brandon
G- Bobby Phills
F- Danny Ferry
F- Hot Rod Williams

Cavs starting lineup, TWENTY YEARS AGO (January 30, 1990)
C- Tree Rollins
G - Mark Price
G - Craig Ehlo
F - Larry Nance
F - Chucky Brown

My, times have changed.

Skip Bayless, I hate you

Dear Skip Bayless-
I hate you. Your constant, unwarranted criticism of LeBron James is old, in fact it was old about six years ago. Get over it, go get another tan and another wig.
Sincerely,
Rob Meyer.

Cavs, Bond, In-laws, dads and Yankees

Some stuff on the Cavs and other random things...

Ranking the top five wins for the Cavaliers this season:
1| at Lakers, 103-87, Dec. 25
Obvious choice. Winning on the road against the top team in the West on a nationally-televised, high profile game. Mo Williams scored a team-high 28 and the Cavs defense was incredibly tough and physical in the second half.
2 | at Miami, 92-91, Jan. 25
Cavs win for the second time in Miami, this time without Mo Williams and Delonte West. Miami had a 14-point lead at one point, Cavs stormed back thanks to a big game from Shaq and of course LeBron, whose duel with Dwyane Wade before halftime was one for the ages. LeBron was clutch at the end of the game, making shots and free throws while DWade was shut down late and missed two crucial free throws.
3 | vs. Portland, 104-99, Dec. 11
Cavs had just lost two back-to-back games at Memphis and Houston. They came back home for the opener of a homestand and defeated a very good Portand team, a victory that spurred a streak that included 12 wins in 13 games. Anderson Varejao scored 22 off the bench and LeBron added 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and had a huge block on a Brandon Roy layup in crunch time.
4 | at Atlanta, 95-84, Dec. 29 AND vs. Atlanta, 106-101, Dec. 30
I am combining these two wins into one, because the Cavs defeated one of the scariest and most athletic teams in the NBA, on back-to-back nights. In the first game, the Cavs defense shut out the Hawks for the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter. LeBron was held to just 14 points but had 10 assists. The next night at Quicken Loans Arena, Anderson Varejao hit his first career 3-pointer at a crucial point in the game, and LeBron responded to the previous night's scoring lull with 48 points. I think these two wins sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the league.
5 | vs. Lakers, 93-87, Jan. 21
The Cavs completed the season-sweep of the Lakers, and the losss prompted Kobe Bryant to question his own team's toughness. The Cavs didn't play that well in this game, but LeBron scored 37 and J.J. Hickson had unquestionably his best game of the season with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Ranking the worst three losses for the Cavaliers this season
1 | at Nuggets, 99-97, Jan. 8
Without Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets get the win as the Cavs were on the first game of their road trip. Denver has always been a place of horrors for the Cavs and this was the case on Jan. 8. The offense was stagnant and the defense gave up lots of points inside to Kenyon Martin. It's hard to say a loss on the road to a playoff team is a bad loss. But I had to pick three.
2 | vs. Bulls, 86-85, Nov. 5
The Cavs lost for the second time at home this season here. Cavs give up 38 points in the paint defensively and offensively were completely out of sync.
3 | at Jazz, 97-96, Jan. 14
This loss wasn't to a bad team, and it was in one of the toughest places to play in the NBA, and the Cavs did come back from a 12-point deficit. But they also gave up a 13-point lead. The 3-pointer at the buzzer by D-League call-up Sundiata Gaines was amazing. Just a tough, tough way to lose on the fourth game of a five-game West Coast swing.

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Super Bowl thoughts (I like the Colts)
As of Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m., the Colts are 5.5 point favorites over the Saints. I like the Colts to win, 28-21. I'll take the team with the better quarterback and the defense that doesn't allow as many big plays. I'll be working, so I won't get to watch much. Booo.

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Talking some James Bond
Veering away from sports talk for a moment ... Up until Thanksgiving, I had never seen a James Bond film in its entirety. Well, when my in-laws were at my home that weekend, a Bond marathon was on TV and I watched a few minutes of one film. It looked entertaining and my father-in-law Steve was telling me how he loved the Bond films and that I should watch them. My father-in-law has great taste in music and movies, so I took his word for it and decided to watch them, in order (thanks to Blockbuster online, better than Netflix, people). To date, I have watched eight of the 22 "official" Bond films: Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Diamonds are Forever and Live and Let Die. Of the eight, Live and Let Die is my favorite, followed in a close second by From Russia with Love. I know a lot of people think Goldfinger is the best, and I did like it. Just not my favorite. I am continuing to watch the films, and up next is The Man with the Golden Gun. Can't wait. Thanks for the idea, Pops. 

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Speaking of dads ...
My own dad is a Steelers fan, who grew up in Cleveland. How awful. Just saying. Although I am beginning to think he is the smart one of us Meyers, because in his lifetime he has celebrated six Super Bowl championships. Browns fans? We celebrate five-win seasons. Damn.

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For the first time in this space, some Yankees talk.
I am an unabashed Yankees fan, as most people know (and much to the dismay of my family and my Ohio friends). Deal with it. Anyway, the outfield has been the main topic of conversation this offseason after the team's 27th World Series title in October. Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon were let go and the Yankees traded for Curtis Granderson. I wanted Matsui to return and was impartial to them bringing back Damon. Well it's almost February and Damon still doesn't have a new team as his price tag is too high. Could the Yankees bring him back? Here's the latest story, and from what it says, GM Brian Cashman answers that question with a "No", citing that price tag. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4861828
Apparently, the team offered Damon a one-year deal last weekend but has since backed off. I'd say if they can get him to swallow his pride and take less money, bring him back. Not sure that will happen though.

Another update on Pees

If you read my blog, you know I have written about former Kent State football coach Dean Pees, who served as the Patriots defensive coordinator the past two seasons. Pees and the Patriots parted ways earlier this month, but he landed on his feet, taking the linebackers coach position with the Ravens. Getting to coach Ray Lewis, possibly the best middle linebacker ever? Nice work, Dean.

A letter to the Vikings

Dear Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Brett Favre:
Had the three of you been able to hold on to the football and avoid throwing dumb interceptions, you, and not the Saints, would be playing in the Super Bowl. Turnovers do matter.
That is all.

Cavs stuff before big game with Miami

Few things on the Cavs to begin the week ... 
Shaq's impact on the Cavs was in plain sight Saturday night. In the win over the Thunder, Shaq got the most touches he's had all season and responded more than satisfactory, to the tune of 8 of 10 shooting for 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. The only blemish was a 6-for-15 performance from the free throw line. His +/- was +13. An overall stellar performance. This makes sense for several reasons. One, the Cavs were missing a big chunk of their rotation in Mo Williams, Delonte West and Jamario Moon. So Shaq picked up the slack. Second, the Thunder don't have a center to match up with him (with respect to Nenad Kristic). This is why the Cavs traded for Shaq. What a weapon he is in these situations. You have LeBron getting a near triple double, playing one of his better games of the season. As if that wasn't enough for the Thunder to handle, Shaq is piling up points in the paint. This may not work against the Magic because of Dwight Howard. But I am curious to see if the next time the Cavs play the Celtics, Shaq gets lots of touches. Also, look for him to have a big game against the Heat tonight as Jermaine O'Neal is not much of a matchup problem.
Daniel Gibson is going to be crucial with Mo Williams out. Against the Thunder on Saturday, Gibson started poorly but hit a crucial 3-pointer late in the game. That's exactly what the Cavs need from Gibson, late-game shooting. But they may need a little more now that his minutes are going to pick up due to Mo Williams and Delonte West being injured. Gibson scored 13 points in 34 minutes on Saturday. The 34 minutes were the most he's played all year since game No. 2 in Toronto all the way back in October. Expect him to play at least that many while Williams, West and Jamario Moon are all  out. Gibson will be a key piece to the Cavs as the season progresses. They'll need his shooting, no question. I haven't always been his biggest fan so I hope he proves me wrong.
Breakdown of upcoming schedule: This week's slate features a home game against the Heat tonight, home against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, at the Pacers on Friday and home against the Clippers on Sunday. All four are winnable games, with the Heat being the toughest of the four opponents. The Cavs then open February with six straight home games, with the highlight being a Feb. 11 game against the Magic, the fifth of the six games. This stretch of 10 games might be the time where the Cavs put some distance between themselves and Boston as far as the Eastern Conference standings (although the Celtics did just get Kevin Garnett back on Friday and proceeded to beat the TrailBlazers in overtime).
Finally, trade rumors. The Arizona Republic reported late Sunday night that the Cavs are one of three teams in the sweepstakes to trade for Amare Stoudemire of the Suns. Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer touched on the rumors here:  Windhorst blog piece. In a nutshell, BW believes the rumors to come from a credible source and he hypothesizes that the Cavs would give up JJ Hickson, Z and possibly draft picks, and the condition would most likely be Stoudemire would have to sign a long-term deal (he will be a free agent this summer). This is very interesting on many levels. Stoudemire is obviously a premier talent and would be a nice star-caliber player to pair with LeBron over the long-term. But Stoudemire did not have any kind of success playing with Shaq in Phoenix, in fact the experiment worked horribly. So that part remains to be seen. I'll be writing more on this topic as it continues to unfold, if it does.

* Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Looking back at the 1999 Browns draft

The first of my complete, pick-by-pick breakdown of each of the Browns NFL Draft classes since 1999:

So, it's 1999 and the Browns are a brand-spanking new expansion team. Optimism and excitement are (relatively) high, the team is back after the Modell-Ravens disaster, and it's a fresh start. The Browns had 11 picks in the NFL Draft, and also had a 37-player expansion draft (Who was the first player they picked? Jim Pyne, left guard from the Lions. There's some trivia for you). Here's a look at each of the 11 players the Browns picked in the 1999 NFL Draft:

Principles who were choosing these players: Chris Palmer (head coach), Carmen Policy (president, CEO) and Dwight Clark (general manager).

Round 1 (1st overall): Tim Couch | Quarterback | Kentucky
Background: Couch was a record-setting QB in three seasons at Kentucky. In his senior year in '98, he was the SEC player of the year and an All-American. He completed 67.1 percent of his college passes for 8,772 yards, 76 TDs and 37 INTs. Very, very good statistically. That 1998 season was one of the best ever for a college QB, he completed 400 passes that year. Incredible. But, he was a "system" quarterback in Hal Mumme's extremely pass-oriented Air Raid offense. The Browns fell in love with his gaudy stats and his big arm.
They could have had...: Where do I start? How about everyone? Here's a few names that could have been wearing orange and brown: Donovan McNabb, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Champ Bailey.
Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: So many busts in this draft. But let's go with Akili Smith (QB from Oregon). Thank God they let the Bengals have him.
End result: Without question, Tim Couch is one of the biggest busts in NFL Draft history. He was horrible, though some maintain he never got a fair deal, playing for an inept offensive staff, playing behind a terrible offensive line and no talented backs or receivers around him. No arguments here. In any case, he was too inconsistent and injuries played a big part in his demise. He spent parts of five seasons (1999-2003) as the Browns starting QB, before being displaced by Kelly Holcomb by Butch Davis in 2003 after the two competed for the job. Couch's final stats as the Browns QB: 62 games played (59 starts)  11,131 yards, 59.8 completion percentage, 64 TDs, 67 INTs and a 75.1 rating. Not good.
Couch's best year was 2002, where he threw for almost 3,000 yards and 18 TD passes and led the Browns to a playoff berth. But he broke his leg in the last regular season game and Holcomb made the start against the Steelers in the playoffs (a loss, in case you forgot). After he was cut from the Browns before the 2004 season, Couch signed withe Packers but was released following the team's last preseason game. In the subsequent years, he made several comeback attempts with several teams, but none materialized. He was out of football for good, to be remembered as one of the worst No. 1 overall picks in the history of the NFL Draft.
Grading the pick: D, only because the Browns didn't take Akili Smith, who was worse. Seriously, though, no matter how you look at it, no matter whose fault it was, no matter the number of unfortunate circumstances involved, Tim Couch and the Browns never worked, aside from parts of that 2002 season, which stands out because its the only time the Browns have made the playoffs since 1999. So for that, I give the D grade. But an F wouldn't be wrong, either.

Round 2 (32nd overall): Kevin Johnson | Wide receiver | Syracuse

Background: A solid possession receiver, Johnson played at Syracuse, where he went as a quarterback, and did play some but lost the starting job to Donovan McNabb, hence the position switch. He was a dynamic kick returner in college and became a dependable receiver. The Browns wanted to give Tim Couch someone reliable in the passing game, particularly someone with good hands.

They could have had...: Offensive lineman Jon Jansen, who was selected five picks later by the Redskins. A solid left and right tackle for years in the NFL. This process of ignoring offensive lineman would continue in Browns' drafts for years, and they are still paying for it.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Charles Fisher, a DB from West Virginia, who went to the Bengals with the pick after Johnson. He was highly-touted coming out of WVu, but played in just one game and was apparently cursed, tearing three major ligaments in a knee and never played again.

End result: Johnson played for the Browns for four and a half seasons, totaling 315 catches for 3,836 yards and 23 TDs in 73 games.His best season came in 2001, when he caught 84 balls for 1,097 yards and nine TDs. And, who can forget the Hail Mary pass he caught from Couch against the Saints in 1999 to give the new Browns their first win? Johnson was cut by Butch Davis in 2003 and signed with the Jaguars. He played two more nondescript seasons after that with the Ravens and Lions. He was the best receiver on the Browns roster for the entire time he was in Cleveland. He was Couch's "safety valve" and his stats were better than average for three of his four seasons. He was the best receiver on the board when the Browns chose him in the draft, and although he didn't have as long of a career as the top receivers in the game do, he was still productive and was reliable when not much else was with the Browns during this time period.

Grading the pick: B+. Like I said, he was the best receiver on the board when the Browns chose him, and unlike most draft picks by the team during this time, he actually had productive seasons.

Round 2 (45th overall): Rahim Abdullah | Linebacker | Clemson

Background: The first defensive player the Browns took in this draft and their second 2nd round pick.  In the veteran expansion draft, the Browns took four linebackers with their first 12 picks. In 34 games at Clemson, Abdullah had decent numbers (198 tackles, 16.5 sacks) and one huge game in the 1998 Peach Bowl, which probably had something to do with how high he was picked. For a linebacker, he was freakishly tall at 6-6 and was notably fast.

They could have had..: Kevin Faulk, a versatile running back/fullback who is still making a difference for the Patriots and who has like 45 Super Bowl rings.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Nobody notable.

End result: Abdullah played 29 games for the Browns in two years, starting 17. He totaled 71 tackles and two sacks and was cut after the 2000 season and never played in the NFL again, but he did go on to have a good career in the CFL. Awesome. Abdullah is the prime example why the Browns have been what they are since 1999 ... a team that cannot draft impact players in rounds 2-4 (or any round for that matter). So many teams have gotten impact players in Round 2 of the draft over the years, some teams (like the Patriots) even put more time into their second round choice, because the players aren't that different in terms of talent than the first-rounders, but they are a hell of a lot cheaper. As I continues to examine these drafts, it will be evident that the Browns have swung and missed in the second round every year. This was the first time and it has continued into 2009. Call it the Curse of Rahim Abdullah.

Grading the pick: F. Abdullah started for the Browns because the cupboard was bare. He was nothing more than a fringe-special teams player, a guy with impressive measurables but none of those ever translated to the field.

Round 3 (62nd overall): Daylon McCutcheon | Cornerback | Southern Cal

Background: McCutcheon started three years at cornerback at Southern Cal, making the All Pac-10 team twice. Intercepted 10 passes in four years. He was billed as being solid in coverage and someone that didn't take too many chances. Good pedigree and, like I said, a three-year starter at a big-time school.

They could have had..: McCutcheon was the first pick of the third round. Lots of what-ifs here. Want defense? How about linebackers Joey Porter or Chike Okeafor? Or a better corner than McCutcheon, Mike McKenzie? Want offense? How about a solid blocking/pass catching tight end in Steve Heiden? Or running back Shawn Bryson, who had a stellar career at Tennessee.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Martin Gramatica. I'll take Phil Dawson.

End result: McCutcheon was a solid player for the Browns for years, though at the end of his Browns career he often got burned by faster receivers. In seven seasons with the Browns, McCutcheon played in 103 games, starting 96. He had 12 career interceptions, including two he returned for touchdowns, 63 pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. He was released from the team following the 2005 season and never played in the NFL again. Some of those defenses he played on were so terrible.

Grading the pick: B-. If you can get a seven-year starter at cornerback in the third round of the draft, that is satisfactory. But McCutcheon would have been much more effective had he not been forced to cover the opposition's best receiver each game. In other words, he would have been better as a second cornerback. As far as the draft goes, it was a solid pick in the third round, he was one of the best DBs left on the board.

Round 3 (76th overall): Marquis Smith | Safety/linebacker | Cal

Background: Smith was a safety at Cal, a pretty big safety at that. One of the top-rated defensive back prospects in this draft, ESPN projected him to be taken in the second round.

Who they passed up, in that round...:  Mckenzie or Okeafor. How about defensive end Aaron Smith, who was picked in the fourth round.Turned out to be a hell of a player for, who else, the Steelers, who almost always draft well. No surprise they got him in that spot.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round Again, Martin Gramatica. I'll take Phil Dawson.

End result: Smith played three seasons with the Browns, playing in 46 games and starting 20. He played strong safety, and at time, linebacker (due to his size). Totaled 96 career tackles and one career pass deflection. Was cut by the Browns after the 2001 season and never played in the NFL again. A forgettable player who never did anything significant.

Grading the pick: F. Perhaps the most significant thing about Marquis Smith was that Earl Little, a superior player, never got the chance to displace Smith at strong safety. Little was a solid pro, but Smith was the choice because he was drafted by Chis Palmer and his staff. Smith was a hard-hitter, but I question the choice of another defensive back by the Browns in third round, when they just took one a few picks earlier. How about an offensive lineman? Running back? Defensive lineman? Not a good pick by any means.

NOTE: At this point the Browns were looking at three picks in the fourth round. With their first pick in the fourth round, the Browns traded it and their first pick in the 5th round to the 49ers for QB Ty Detmer, who would be the new team's first starting QB. With their second pick in the fourth round, the Browns traded it to the 49ers for fullback Marc Edwards, who would become a start for the team. With their third pick in the fourth round, the Browns selected the player listed below (Wail Rainer):

Round 4 (124th overall): Wali Rainer | Linebacker | Virginia

Background: An all-ACC and All-American linebacker from Virginia. Totaled impressive sack and tackles-for-loss numbers and was one of the top linebackers rated in this draft class.

They could have had...: Offensive guard Edwin Mulitalo, who was taken by Baltimore and was a staple on their OL for seven years. Again, ignoring the offensive line comes back to kill the Browns.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Joe Germaine, QB from Ohio State (went to Rams with 101st pick overall). That guy was terrible. Also, some receiver named Craig Yeast went to the Bengals with the third pick in that round (98th overall). Funny name. That is all.
End result: Rainer played three years with the Browns, all as a starter at middle linebacker (46 total games, 45 starts). In his time in Cleveland, he totaled 244 tackles, three sacks, one INT, six forced fumbles and recovered two fumbles. His best year was 1999, when as a rookie he lead the team in tackles with 136. After the 2001 season, a newly-hired Butch Davis and the Browns traded Rainer along with the 79th overall pick of the 2002 draft for the 76th pick in order to select Melvin Fowler, who went on to become the team's starter at center for several years. Not a bad trade. Rainer had a decent 2002 season with the Jaguars, but was cut in the offseason and spent the next three years as a backup in Detroit.

Grading the pick: B-. Rainer was a solid player at middle linebacker as evidenced by his leading the team in tackles as a rookie. They traded him in 2002 because they needed a young center to take over the position, and did so in acquiring Melvin Fowler. In terms of the actual pick and where he was chosen, it was actually one of the better picks in this draft for the Browns.

Round 5 (148th overall): Darrin Chiaverini | Receiver | Colorado

Background: Chiaverini caught 52 passes for 798 yards in his final season at Colorado. A decent college receiver with some height.

Who they could have had...:Defensive tackle Roderick Coleman, taken five picks later by the Raiders. In nine seasons with the Raiders and Falcons, Coleman made a Pro Bowl and totaled 58.5 sacks. If the Browns wanted a receiver, they should have taken one earlier because at this point of this draft, it was slim pickings as far as receivers go.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Some QB named Kevin Daft from UC-Davis. Never played a snap in the NFL.

End result: Chiaverini played just two seasons with the Browns, playing in 26 games with 10 starts. He totaled 52 catches for 555 yards and five TDs (four of which came in his rookie year). He was cut after the 2000 season and played two more nondescript years in the NFL, with the Cowboys and Falcons. Perhaps it was this stellear NFL career that led Hollywood to believe this guy had skills as an actor, as he played a prison security guard in the remake of "The Longest Yard" a few years ago. How weird. 

Grading the pick: D-. He doesn't get an F because I liked "The Longest Yard". Just kidding. His rookie season was good, relatively speaking. But this guy was no more than a special teams player, at best a fourth or fifth receiver. Not a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver, as we was with the Browns. If nothing else, the Chiaverini pick shows just how little Tim Couch had to work with on offense. As far as the pick goes, they  took a receiver in the second round (Johnson) and could have addressed needs at the offensive or defensive lines. How about a running back? Again, every position was one of need. But this pick also shows how inept Policy, Palmer and Clark were in evaluating talent.

Round 6 (174th overall): Marcus Spriggs | Defensive tackle | Ohio State/Troy

Background: A monster of a man, Spriggs started off at Ohio State but struggled to find playing time, so he transferred to Troy State and got back on NFL scouts' radar. The Browns gave up their second and third picks in the seventh round to move up in this round to select him.

Who they could have had...: Tight end Desmond Clark (Wake Forest). This was a position that had yet to be addressed. This was the obvious move, I will explain below. Keep reading.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Jeff Hall (kicker). I'd rather have Phil Dawson. Once again.

End result: Spriggs was the definition of a late-round bust, playing two seasons with the Browns (Eight games, two starts). He totaled 17 tackles and two sacks, was cut after the 2000 season and never played in the NFL again.

Grading the pick: F. Well, the Browns took a defensive tackle, just the wrong one in the wrong round. How about this scenario: Selecting Rodrick Coleman in the previous round, and using this pick on a receiver. Chiaverini would probably have still been on the board, as were countless other late-round pick type receivers. Even better, what about this: They needed a tight end, so how about selecting Desmond Clark (or Billy Miller, or Jed Weaver, both who were still on the board)  with this pick, and that could have saved them for taking the crappy tight end they did end up with, James Dearth (yes, THAT James Dearth) later in this round. Total swing and miss here by the Brownies on many levels.

Round 6 (187th overall): Kendall Ogle | Linebacker | Maryland

Background: A linebacker from Maryland, was a top 20 player at his position during his senior year in 1998.

Who they could have had...: As I mentioned before, tight ends Billy Miller (still in the NFL) and Jed Weaver were available here. As was Donald Driver, but the whole NFL, aside from the Packers, missed the boat on him. But the answer to this question is one of the aforementioned tight ends. Or, once again, how about an offensive lineman??

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Nobody notable. In fairness, no linebacker taken after Ogle ever had any sort of impact in the league.

End result: Ogle played one season, appearing in two games and was cut. End of story.

Grading the pick: F. Once again, a complete miss. One could say "It's the sixth round of the draft, teams hope to get lucky." Wrong. Good NFL teams make a habit of uncovering gems in the late rounds of the draft. Yes, they have misses too, but the Brows had significantly more misses than most teams, in this draft and the ones that followed.

Round 6 (191st overall): James Dearth | Tight end | Tulsa

Background: Another physically-impressive pick, Dearth was a quarterback at some school called Tarleton State, but he subsequently transferred to Tulsa where he played tight end and long snapper. Totaled 77 receptions for 992 yards and five TDs at Tulsa.

Who they could have had...: Billy Miller. Tight end taken in the seventh round who went on to have nine good seasons in the NFL. If they would have taken Desmond Clark earlier, they could have selected an offensive lineman here. How about Ryan Young, a 6-5, 300-pounder from Kansas State, who started five years in the league. I may be reaching here, but you get the picture.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Punter Brent Bartholomew from Ohio State. One personnel decision the Browns did get right during this time was signing Chris Gardocki as the punter. He was solid.

End result: This is actually quite interesting, at least to me. Dearth played in two meaningless games in December for the Browns in 1999, recording no stats and was cut. He was out of the league in 2000. You would think that would be it for him. Wrong. He signed with the Jets in 2001 and started every game for them at long snapper that season. Dearth then went on to serve as the Jets' long snapper for kicks and punts for every game, literally (128 consecutive starts) from 2002 to 2008. He even played tight end in goal line situations and caught a touchdown pass. So, the Jets turned a tight end who never caught a pass and was cut into their long snapper for seven seasons. Pretty good.

Grading the pick: F. For the Browns. A for the Jets. The Browns didn't use Dearth as a long snapper and cut him, not recognizing his talent at that position. They did find their own long snapper, Ryan Pontbriand, a couple of years later and he was one of the best in the NFL. But still, as if you needed another, here is the latest example in this draft of the team's front office lacking in talent evaluation. Wasted pick.

Round 7 (207th overall): Madre Hill  | Running back | Arkansas

Background: Mildly-interesting story here. In 1993, Hill was actually one of the nation's top recruits and signed with Arkansas, where he had a good freshman season in 1994. He rushed for a school-record 1,387 yards in 1995 (since broken by Darren McFadden) and was first-team All-SEC. But he missed the next two seasons due to a torn ACL and MCL. He came back in 1998 and rushed for 669 yards and seven TDs. Obviously his draft stock took a enormous hit with the two missed seasons. If he wouldn't have suffered that injury in 1995, he could have piled up some big numbers and you could have been looking at a first-round pick. But this guy was damaged goods and the Browns took a shot in the seventh road.

Who they could have had...: Donald Driver. Nah, the Browns were happy with Darrin Chiaverini.

Thankfully they passed on this guy in that round: Donald Driver. Just kidding.

End result: Hill played in five games for the Browns as a below-average kick returner. He was cut after the 1999 season and signed with the Raiders in 2002 but never played.

Grading the pick: D-. Finally, a running back, even if he playing on basically one leg. Oops, its the seventh round and, apparently, the Browns were happy with Terry Kirby as their starting RB in 1999. Oh, they also used Karim Abdul-Jabbar. Remember him? What a tandem. Anyway, Hill never got a single carry. He did return kicks, but his long return was only 27 yards. So much for that. They get a D-  for taking a risk on a talented, but damaged, player.

Final analysis

Best pick: Daylon McCutcheon (Third round).

Worst pick: Choices, choices, choices. Tim Couch is the easy answer. But I'll go with Rahim Abdullah.

Biggest blunder: Not selecting a single offensive lineman. Utterly shocking. Also, just one defensive lineman selected. Football games are won up front. No wonder the Browns didn't win much.

Final grade: D+. It's not an F because this was an expansion team, and as I mentioned 30 times in this analysis, every position was a position of need. Also, it needs to be said how hastily the 1999 Browns were assembled ... it was done very quickly, and poorly. Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer wrote a book about it. Good read. The people assembling this team (Policy, Clark, Palmer and his staff) were put in place so fast and almost immediately after they were hired, the expansion draft occurred. To make a long story short, the whole operation was a complete mess and this draft reflects that. So many things can be be criticized. So many positions and players were overlooked and misevaluated.
For the purposes of this analysis, I want to focus on the offensive line. The Browns apparently thought it was a good idea to draft a quarterback No. 1 and not provided him with any weapons or decent protection (some argue they should have traded that No. 1 pick to the Saints, who were offering the world for it in order to draft Ricky Williams). How do you go through any draft and not take any offensive lineman, and just one defensive lineman? Especially in the smashmouth AFC North. Inexcusable. The Browns starting offensive line in 1999 was: Lomas Brown (LT), Jim Pyne (LG), Dave Wohlabaugh (C), Scott Rehberg (RG) and Orlando Brown (RT). All older veterans, aside from Rehberg. They needed to draft at least two lineman to develop and insure their top investment, Tim Couch. As I mentioned previously, ignoring the offensive line and manning the positions with cast-offs and over-the-hill free agents is a trend that continued in Cleveland up until recently (thank you, Joe Thomas). Games are won up front. Look it up. Same goes for the defensive line, although the Browns would try and fix that with the next draft.
Consider this draft a forgettable, regrettable, wasted one. And if you think this was draft was bad, wait until you see how the Browns fared in the 2000 draft ...

In case you want more info, here's the link to the Pro Football Reference.com page on the 1999 Browns draft: Pro-Football Reference page on 1999 Browns draft

My guess for LeBron Day "7-1"

On Thursday, I provided three reasons why LeBron James will stay with the Cavaliers when he becomes a free agent on July 1. On Friday, I provided three reasons why he'll leave Cleveland on July 1.

Today, I said I'd give my prediction as to what he will actually do. Here it is:

I have no idea. That's the truth.
In my (worthless) opinion, LeBron has no idea what he wants to do on July 1 and he won't know until this season plays out. I bet he has ideas. But he is intelligent, a smart businessman. He knows that premature decisions can often be wrong ones. He is going to let this thing play out, think about all the options, consider alternatives, and then he'll make a decision. I don't think there is a plan in place as far as him knowing where he wants to go, if he is leaving Cleveland. Maybe he knows that he's staying, and he and the Cavaliers are ironing out that plan. That doesn't seem to far fetched. But I doubt it.
A lot will happen after this season. Shaq will be gone. Z will be gone. The Cavs will have cap space and money to spend, so if I were LeBron, I'd wait to see what the team's plans are as far as personnel before I signed on the dotted line.
Does he stay if the Cavs win the NBA Finals this year? Maybe? Would it guarantee it? I don't think so. Does he leave if the Cavs don't win the NBA Finals? Maybe? Would it guarantee it? I don't think so.
Does he value loyalty over money? Money over winning? Perception above all else? I don't have the answers, but they are intriguing questions.
To close, I will say this: I will be surprised (pleasantly) if LeBron remains in Cleveland. I will not be surprised if he leaves.

Three reasons LeBron will leave Cleveland

LeBron James is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July, 1. At midnight on that day, he can sign with who he pleases, for how much he pleases. Much has been said about this topic by the national media, the Cleveland media, talk shows, fans, basically anyone with a pulse. I have my own opinion on what LeBron will do on 7-1.Here are three reasons he will leave Cleveland and sign ... I have no idea where. Too much to speculate there. But here's why Cleveland's collective heart could be ripped out on July 1, 2010:

Tomorrow, I'll provide my guess on what he will do on that fateful summer day.

1. Perception.  Ever heard the term "Global Icon" mentioned when discussing LeBron? That is what he aspires to be, he has so much as said so. A global icon. That is a big word, probably too big of a word to be used on someone based in Cleveland, Ohio. No disrespect meant to Cleveland. I was born there and I love the city.  But how many global icons do you know that live and work in Cleveland? I can't think of one. For this reason, LeBron may think (or his "people" may engrave it into his head) that he will never achieve that status in Cleveland. Only in a big city ... New York, Los Angeles, even Miami. It's not just about living there, LeBron can live in any or all of those cities and still play in Cleveland. It's about being a part of that city. Having your name associated with that city. Wearing that city's name on the front of his jersey. Yes, LeBron may value that more than money, more than championships, more than hometown loyalty. If becoming a "global icon" is something he really wants and not just one of the many untrue things that float around about him. I do know that he is a huge presence in China and that is a big deal to him. Many stories have been written about that. Let's backtrack a little bit. LeBron is already rich and even though the Cavs can often him more money than anyone else, that may not matter. When you are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, already, what's the difference between $120 million and $100 million? I'd venture to say not much, if along with that $100 million comes being the face of a New York , Los Angeles or Miami sports franchise, which includes unlimited media coverage, unlimited hype, movie premiers, celebrities and on and on and on. Cleveland can provide none of that, and to LeBron, perception may be all that matters. Familiar with the James Bond film "The World is Not Enough"? Well in this case it may be "Cleveland is Not Enough."

2. Aligning himself with a star. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are also going to be unrestricted free agents on 7-1. Could LeBron and one of these two guys (all max-contract players) go into collusion and work it so they both sign with the same team? For example, the Heat clear loads of salaries, resign Wade and bring in LeBron. Or the Knicks clear salary and bring in Wade and LeBron, or Bosh and LeBron. Or other teams doing the same thing. It could happen and if the opportunity presented himself, LeBron could be willing to share the limelight with one of these guys. Could he really, though? There are those who don't think it would work. There is only one ball and so many shots to go around. A move like that would take both guys putting their  MASSIVE egos aside and give everything they have to make it work. Also, how good would their supporting cast be if the team only has enough to pay the two of them? Hope that makes sense. The completion of this scenario would mean that LeBron values the chance at multiple NBA titles more than anything. Does he? I can't answer that. But if he does and he has a chance to make something like this happen, don't be shocked.

3. The Cavs fall short this season and he is fed up. Say the Cavaliers roll through the rest of the regular season (likely) get to the playoffs and fall flat on their face. First-round loss, second-round loss, East finals loss ... it doesn't matter. With this team, with the high payroll and high expectations and high talent level, anything short of an NBA Finals trip is "falling short." What about a trip the Finals but another loss. If so, that will be six years of "falling short" and LeBron may have had enough and want a fresh start on a team that, depending on how the landscape looks this summer, has a better shot at winning. Again, this scenario, like No. 2, is predicated on the fact that LeBron values winning more than money or fame or notoriety or status or global "iconism". He may think "I tried for six years to bring Cleveland a title. It ain't happening." If this were the case, who could really blame him?

* Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Update on Cribbs

Josh Cribbs and the Browns have reportedly had "positive dialogue" regarding a new contract. Here is a link to Mary Kay Cabot's story on Cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/01/josh_cribbs_and_agents_encoura.html
I speak for all Browns' fans when I say: Do it, Do it.

Three reasons LeBron will stay in Cleveland

LeBron James is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July, 1. At midnight on that day, he can sign with who he pleases, for how much he pleases. Much has been said about this topic by the national media, the Cleveland media, talk shows, fans, basically anyone with a pulse. I have my own opinion on what LeBron will do on 7-1. But first, here are three reasons he will stay in Cleveland and sign probably a three or six-year contract that will keep him with the franchise well into the near future.
Tomorrow, I'll post three reasons why he'll leave Cleveland.
Saturday, I'll provide my guess on what he will do.

1. He likes money. Lots of money.  The Cavs can pay LeBron more than any other team. It's that simple. It's called the Larry Bird Exception [Rights]. In basic terms, when a player has been with one team for more than three years, that team can exceed the salary to cap to sign the player, up to the NBA maximum salary, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. That's the basic definition. If you want to read more about it, Google it. Just know the Cavs can offer LeBron more money than any other team on July 1. What could they offer? Around six years and $120 million. No other team can match that. Does LeBron care about money? Have you seen his compound he lives in? Seen his cars? Seen his style? He loves the cash. And who wouldn't?  I'd feel comfortable betting that LeBron is like countless other pro athletes in all the major sports who have gone where the money is. Over winning, over hometown loyalty, over anything. It's not far fetched that LeBron would be in the majority there. Guess Cleveland fans are lucky that he happens to already be in his hometown. So he can remain loyal, stay in Cleveland, with the piece of mind that he is getting the maximum amount of money possible. He looks like a hero and he gets rich beyond his wildest dreams (not that he isn't already).

2. He likes to win. The Cavs are the No. 1 team in the East. They are a safe No. 2 behind the Lakers as far as best teams in the league. For now. Expect that to change as we get into February and the Cavs continue to get better. LeBron has been in Cleveland six years, but no ring, One trip to the Finals, one trip to the East finals. But no ring. Proponents of LeBron leaving on 7-1 love to point this out. But this year may be the year where it all comes together. If the Cavs win a title this season and make moves in the offseason to sustain a long run of success, then LeBron goes down as one of the game's best winners. One ring would be great. Multiple would put him in the conversation with Jordan, Kobe, etc.. This assumes the Cavs will make moves to make this happen, resigning LeBron and that's it won't do the job. Bringing in another star to play along with him (younger than Shaq) would guarantee the Cavs remain as one of the top team's in the NBA for a long time.

3. His really is loyal to his hometown. Not much to say here, other than for everything I have read about LeBron, he is very loyal to Akron (Cleveland) and wants to remain here because his family is here, his friends are here and he really does want to bring a championship to Cleveland. Apparently he does really love the area and wants to stay. Apparently. You can read stuff that says the exact opposite. But based on the public comments he as made on this subject, he does love Akron and has never said anything about wanting to get out. The thing is, if you have a lot of money, like he does, you can live anywhere. He can buy condos in NYC, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Cabo or anywhere else he wants. He has his own private plane. He can fly in to Cleveland on game days from wherever he lives. That's the luxury that goes along with being rich. So people that say "He doesn't want to live in crappy Northeast Ohio", that is wrong because he doesn't have to technically "live" here. So throw that argument out the window.

* Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Who the Cavaliers should be worried about

Through 42 games played, the Cavaliers have a 2.5 game lead over the Celtics for the top record in the Eastern Conference. Obviously, the No. 1 seed in the conference for the playoffs is something all teams would like to have. With that in mind, here's a look at the East's top four teams.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

31-11 overall, 14-3 home, 17-8 road, 17-6 against East, 100.9 ppg, 94.5 points allowed per game, 7-3 last 10.

The good: LeBron James is having a career year, shooting better than ever in all categories, posting his career-high in assists per game and is scoring nearly 30 points per game. Among the league leaders in every major defensive statistical category. Relatively healthy right now, minus Jamario Moon. Eleven of the next 13 games are at home. Possibility of a major trade (Antawn Jamison, Kevin Martin, Troy Murphy?) looms.

The bad: Mo Williams in midst of horrible shooting slump. Shaq's involvement in offense remains up and down, changing from game to game. Delonte West is playing well right now, but the possibility of another breakdown is always there. Execution on the offensive end late in close games, particularly against inferior teams, remains questionable a lot of the time.

Notable wins: at Magic, at Heat, vs. Mavericks, sweep of Suns, sweep of Blazers, vs. Hawks, at Hawks, at Lakers, vs. Rockets

Notable losses: vs. Celtics, vs. Bobcats, at Bobcats, at Mavericks (playing without Dirk Nowitzki), at Jazz, vs. Bulls

Outlook: Barring any major injury or other extreme circumstance, the Cavs are only going to improve and I see no reason why they can't be the top seed in the East. Some good wins against good teams, but also some tough losses, including two to the Bobcats, hurt their case a little bit. But the Cavs play the big boys of the NBA well, and a key game against the Lakers looms on Thursday. They also have to travel to Boston and still have to host the Magic. Also, don't discount a major trade happening in the next two-three weeks, possibly for Antawn Jamison, or Kevin Martin of the Kings.

2. Boston Celtics
27-12 overall (2.5 games back), 11-7 home, 16-5 road, 19-7 against East, 100.2 ppg, 93.8 points allowed per game, 4-6 last 10.
The good: Rajon Rando is morphing into one of the NBA's top young point guards, averaging nearly 14 points and 10 assists per game. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are having All-Star seasons, as usual, despite Pierce's scoring (18 ppg) being down this season. One of the best defensive team in the league, first in points allowed per game and in the top 10 in defensive field goal percentage. Despite injuries to key players (Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace), still No. 2 seed in the East and the 16-5 road record is impressive. Won 14 of 15 at one point early in the season.
The bad: Losing at home. For one of the top teams in the NBA, seven losses at home, in mid-January, is inexcusable. In each of the last two years, the Celtics have lost six games at home during the regular season. The Bucks, a non-playoff team, as of right now, are 11-7 at home. Injuries have played a major role this season, most notably Garnett, who has only played in 29 games and is averaging just 15 points and 9 rebounds per game. Rasheed Wallace has missed time, but should be back this week. Also, Marquis Daniels, a key reserve, has battled injuries all season.
Notable wins: at Cavs, vs. Jazz, at Heat, at Spurs, at Grizzlies, at Magic, at Heat, at Raptors.
Notable losses: vs. Hawks, at Pacers, vs. Magic, swept by Suns, at Clippers, at Warriors, at Hawks, vs. Mavericks
Outlook: Aside from the bad home record and the injuries, the Celtics are still are formidable team, and as a Cavs fan, the team I am most fearful of seeing in the playoffs, right now. Once all of the principles are healthy, plus any possible deadline trades, the wins will start coming and that home record will probably get better. It is interesting to see whether or not Kevin Garnett has much left in the tank. But Ray Allen and Paul Pierce seemingly never drop off. Rondo may be the key to this team. If he continues to get better and his shooting keeps improving, this is still a scary team.

3. Atlanta Hawks

26-14 overall (4 games back), 16-5 home, 10-9 road, 15-10 against East, 102.8 ppg, 97.4 points allowed per game, 5-5 last 10.

The good: Scoring and lots of it. This team has more young, athletic talent than any "good" team in the NBA wit, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Jeff Teague. Throw in veterans like Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby, and you have the makings of a high-flying, high-octane team that beat anyone on any given night. Smith is one of the most explosive players in the league, offensively and defensively with his ability to block shots. Johnson is one of the best all-around players in the league and is a 20 point scorer. They have beaten the Celtics three times this season. Jamal Crawford is a scoring machine coming off the bench and his buzzer beater to defeat the Suns earlier this month was incredible. Also, the Hawks only commit 12.2 turnovers per game, a league-low. Impressive.

The bad: Despite the star power in the starting lineup, there isn't much depth here. Joe Smith does come off the bench, but aside from Horford, there really isn't any other presence under the basket. Yes, they have beaten the Celtics three times, but they also lost to the Cavs on back-to-back nights in December. They only give up 97 points a game, but defensive breakdowns tend to happen. Allow teams to shoot 46 percent from the field, which is in the bottom half of the league rankings.

Notable wins: Celtics (three times), vs. Blazers, vs. Heat, vs. Rockets, at Mavericks, at Raptors, vs. Jazz, vs. Suns.

Notable losses: at Lakers, at Bobcats, vs. Magic, at Magic, at Pistons, vs. Knicks (twice), at Denver, at Miami, vs. Cavs (twice, back-to-back days), at Heat.

Outlook: This is an explosive team, and like I mentioned before, can beat any team on any night. Just look at that list above. Some impressive wins there, especially the three over the Celtics. However, they are 0-4 against the Cavs and Celtics. Assuming they maintain their level of play, this is a team capable of winning definitely one, and maybe two playoff series. And they could add pieces, like when they added Mike Bibby on the trade deadline. Their lack of a frontcourt does concern me and this is why the Cavs (Shaq, Z) and the Magic (Dwight Howard) present such a matchup problem.

4. Orlando Magic

26-15 overall (4.5 games back), 14-4 home, 12-11 road, 17-9 against East, 101 ppg, 96.5 points allowed per game, 3-7 last 10.

The good: A 17-4 start propeled them to where they are. Dwight Howard is a force, obviously, averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of 60.5. Their 14-4 record at home is impressive. J.J. Redick had some great games in place of Vince Carter when he was injured. They lead the NBA with 10.3 3-pointers made per game. They are incredibly deep, with Mickael Pietrus, Jason Williams, Ryan Anderson, Redick, Matt Barnes and Brandon Bass all being solid role players to go along with Howard, Carter, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis.

The bad: Where do I begin? They have lost six of eight games. They are 9-10 since that aforementioned 17-4 start and are 8-9 against teams at .500 or better. What a disappointment, although I must say that I predicted this after they let Hedo Turkoglu sign with Toronto and traded away rising star Courtney Lee for Vince Carter, who can dunk and that's about it. Carter's presence has negatively affected Rashard Lewis in a significant way, as Lewis is scoring just 14.4 points per game this year, down from 17.7 last year. He is also getting two less shot attempts per game, another direct result of Carter. He is also playing just 32.5 minutes per game, another direct result of Carter. Lewis has only hit the 20-point mark twice since December 16. Get the picture? Injuries to Carter and Nelson have hurt the team's chemistry and continuity.
Notable wins: at Raptors (twice), vs. Suns, at Celtics, at Hawks, vs. Blazers, vs. Jazz, vs. Rockets, vs. Hawks.

Notable losses: vs. Cavs, vs. Heat, at Jazz, at Suns, vs. Celtics, at Heat, at Nuggets, at Lakers, at Blazers, at Bulls, at Wizards.

Outlook: Not good at all. Don't be surprised if the Magic slide into the fifth, sixth, or seventh spot in the East as the teams behind them (Raptors, Bobcats, Heat) could all pass them. Count on Carter and Nelson to miss more time with injuries, as both have always been injury prone. Lewis' impact needs to become greater, he (along with the shooting of Turkoglu and the play of Dwight Howard) was the a main factor in their run to the NBA Finals last year. Sitting around and watching Vince Carter dunk is not going to get them past the Cavs, Celtics or Hawks in the East. Stan Van Gundy has his work cut out for him as to restoring Lewis to his form of recent years. This team can still cause problems and if they start clicking on all cylinders could get dangerous, fast. But I am not expecting that to happen. I am thinking they get to to the playoffs, maybe with home court advantage, maybe not, and are one-and-done.

Others

Bobcats (fifth), Heat (sixth), Raptors (seventh) and Bulls (eight) are the other four teams currently in the East's top eight.

- The Bobcats are young, athletic, hungry and have beaten the Cavs twice this season.  They are a team to watch and also could make a move near the trade deadline. Gerald Wallace is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Larry Brown has these guys believing they can win.

- The Heat are always a factor to be a dangerous team as Dwyane Wade is putting up MVP-caliber numbers again. Michael Beasley is starting to show real flashes. But having Jermaine O'Neal down low hurts them. There is a severe lack of talent surrounding Wade and they will hover around .500 all season.

- The Raptors (in Cleveland tonight) are also a team to watch, don't be shocked to see them rise up the standings as we get into February. They are playing as well as anyone in the NBA. Hedo Turkoglu is having a huge impact and Chris Bosh presents the same matchup problems as Dwight Howard. The guy to watch here is Andrea Bargnani, the former No. 1 overall pick who can make a difference inside and can hit the 3-pointer. With him and Bosh on the floor, the Raptors play huge and I believe they are the biggest team in the NBA.

- The Bulls are a fringe-playoff team and the Bucks are breathing down their necks. Joakim Noah is having a good season and Derrick Rose is starting to come around after a terrible start.