Shaq and the Cavs beat the Clips on Saturday (Getty Images)
The Cavs went 3-2 on their roadtrip, like I predicted in this space. Wins against the Clippers, Warriors and Blazers (what a great game) and losses to the Nuggets (sans Carmelo) and to the Jazz (boy, did that one hurt). That 3-2 mark is good,but not great. So after 42 games, the Cavs are 31-11, good enough for first place in the East, two games ahead of the Celtics. Forty games are left on the schedule, and 11 of the next 13 are home. In this upcoming three-game homestand, the Raptors come to the Q on Tuesday, the Lakers Thursday and the Thunder on Saturday. That Lakers games is going to be intense, especially after that Christmas Day game between the teams. I'd say based on the start the Cavs got off to this season, 31-11 with the best record in the East is pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.Don't forget about Leon Powe. In the offseason, the Cavs signed a forward who played a key role for the Celtics the last two years. Problem was, that forward was coming off ACL surgery and microfracture surgery on his knee last May. That player is Leon Powe. Remember him? Like I said, he was a key inside presence for the Celtics in their 2008 championship run. But he tore up his knee and they didn't sign him, apparently thinking he'd never be 100 percent. He's been working out, and according to Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer, could be back around Feb. 18. Here's a link to the piece about Powe written by Windhorst:
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/01/leon_powe_eager_to_play_as_he.html
This guy could be a real key for the Cavs down the stretch. He's long, tough and is a rebounding machine but can also score in the paint. Don't forget about him.
LeBron James may be having his best season yet. Yes, it's hard to argue last season not being his best. But take a look at these numbers:
29. 6 points per game (second to Carmelo Anthony), 7.7 assists per game (career high), 51.1 field goal percentage (by far a career high), 1.8 three-pointers per game (career high), 37.2 three-point percentage (by far a career high), 77.9 free throw percentage (career high). Those number say that LeBron is getting teammates involved than ever before (assists), and that he is shooting better than ever before (field goal, 3-point, free throw percentages). When you factor that he is scoring almost 30 points a game, it's more than fair to say he has having his best season, statistically. Things that aren't good? He is committing a career-high 3.6 turnovers per game, and his late-game execution has been off at times (so has the the entire team's).
Trade Shaq? No. No. No. No. NO. The Cavs will not trade Shaquille O'Neal this season. End of story. Don't believe anything you hear to the contrary.
I'm not sure about Anthony Parker. The Cavs' acquisition this offeseason from Toronto hasn't hurt the team. But he just doesn't seem to make the impact I thought he would. It's safe to say the Cavs brought him in so that when LeBron and/or Shaq get double-teamed, Parker can spread the floor and convert some 3-point opportunities when the ball gets kicked out to him. Well, through 42 games, he has done that to an extent and shot the ball relatively well, making 59 of 127 3-point attemps (46.5 percent). But, like I said, he just hasn't had as big of an impact as I'd like. He doesn't seem to be involved in the offense and sometimes it's easy to forget he's even out there.
Anyone remember Chris Gatling? Man those were the glory days for the Cavs. What about Chris Mihm? Or as coach John Lucas called him, Chris Mihhhhhmmsss.
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I was shocked the Jets won on Sunday. The Chargers are arguably the most talented team in the NFL and are playing at home. The Jets have a rookie QB (Mark Sanchez) and a rookie RB (Shonn Greene) doing the heavy lifting. And they go into San Diego and win? Unreal. But, maybe not. After all, the Jets lead the league in rushing offense and lead the league in stopping the run. Add in a QB who does enough to win and solid offensive and defensive lines, and there you go. Dozens of teams have won the Super Bowl with that exact recipe. This reminds of the season the Steelers won Super Bowl XL over the Seahawks. A young QB (Roethlisberger) doing enough to win, playing behind a great offensive line, with a solid running game (Bettis, Parker) and a lights-out defense. Rex Ryan looks like quite a find at coach. And, don't forget, the Browns had Mark Sanchez and traded him to the Jets for Abram Elam, Kenyon Coleman, and some draft picks. Oops.Vikings-Colts in the Super Bowl. That was my pick, preseason as well. I know you have no way of verifying it, but trust me. It was. Seriously.No joke. Seriously, I'm not kidding.
Early Vegas lines on the conference championship games: Colts (-7.5) over the Jets. Saints (-4.5) over the Vikings. I'd lay the points with the Colts and take the Vikings as 'dogs. But, here's better advice for anyone reading this: Don't bet on NFL games!!! Especially playoff games!!! It's like talking a wad of cash and flushing it down the can.
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Quote from a United States male figure skater on Sunday after his event: "My costume looked pretty, so I'm happy about that. It was fluffy, I looked special." Read into that what you will.------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodfellas or Casino? I have always gone back and forth on which one of these classic two movies is better. I just recently watched Casino, for the 167th time, but this time on Blu-Ray. Goodfellas is up tonight. I'll try and make a decision and write something later on what I pick.
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There was a really good story by Bill Lubinger in The Plain Dealer today about Mike Holmgren, the man, not the football coach. Here's the link: (It's a long one, so read it when you get home from work or when you have 30 minutes to kill)
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Good story by T.J. Quinn of ESPN.com on Tony LaRussa defending Mark McGwire:
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