Today's Cleveland Sports Conversation - 10/4/2005

After the fun the Deezo and I had with last week's conversation, I figured we would do it again. A lot has happened since then. The Indians finally folded it in for the year after battling the whole second half of the season. The Browns completed their bye week, and the Cavs have started their two-a-day practices. So I started things off this week. My comments will be in red and Deezo's will be in Blue.

So, now that the Indians shit the bed in the last week of the season, are you more excited about the rest of the Browns season with their lackluster chances of making the playoffs, or are you more excited about Lebron and company who should make the playoffs with their new lineup of role players and starters?

How about the return of Alan Henderson? Who saw that one coming?

I am more excited, at this point, to see what the Browns can continue to do to improve. They seem like they are still lacking in talent in several areas, but I am really psyched by the improvements that I do see, including an apparent hardass as head coach. He talks a good game about wins and doesn't seem to pull any punches in the media or in his locker room.

Regards,
Craig

Lots of questions....so lemme get started.

I am still reeling from the Indians collapse...so much so infact that I have begun to read and research the NHL’s rule changes. I am contemplating watching hockey this year for no other reason than I may feel less emotionally attched to it because I have no frigging idea what the guys on the ice are doing.

Honestly I like the direction the Browns are headed in though. I think they are trying to establish a hard nosed offense that can run the ball and mix you up with some shots down field...this is very Patriot-esque...so I am all for it. I think were they are hurting right now is in the depth department. They may have 22 decent guys, but after a 1st stringer goes down...they are S.O.L!

Defensively I think Romeo is as good as advertised when it comes to game planning for an opponent (Case and point the Colts game). I am pumped to see what he can do once he has his own guys running his system. I
don’t think I am going out on a limb here by saying half of this defense won’t be here in 2 years.

I haven’t really followed the NBA in like 5 years. I think the quality of play right now is horrible. I can’t handle all of the clear out bull shit essentially making the game a 1 on 1 or 2 on 2 battle. I also have no tolerance for people who shoot under 70% from the free throw line...which is like 40% of the NBA right now. I still can hardly pass up on a NBA Classic game with some of the teams from the 80’s (Celtics, Lakers, Pistons). I hate to sound like an angry old man, but I remember when having a good screen and roll game was common place, and not the most devastating play in basketball (I.E. Duncan & Ginobli). I also remember when a point guard who involved his team mates wouldn’t be considered MVP caliber because THAT IS WHAT POINT GUARDS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!!! I could go on about everything thats wrong with the NBA, but that would take hundreds of years and cost millions of lives, so Ill just talk about the Cavs.

In actuality I will probably pay a little more attention to the Cavs this year because from what I hear and read (famous last words) they have some components of a decent team. I think the addition of Larry Hughes is going to be big for them, as is the addition of Donyell Marshall to be a scoring threat in the front court.

I am out,
Fizzil

Well, I can definitely identify with your pain involving the quality of play in the NBA. We should have seen it was coming when Mike Fratello was run out of Cleveland after winning an amazing amount of games, with a mediocre roster, by playing slow-down basketball. Sure it wasn't necessarily all that good for business, but he did win games. How was business after they got rid of fratello and guys like Randy Whitman were killing this team?
But I digress.

I have been optimistic about the Cavs' chances for a long time. And I have been nothing but wrong every year, so far. But, I did see some really promising stuff last year. And, I think it is the kind of stuff that will keep a purist like you happy. Sure, they still play up the one-on-one and two-on-two style game to an extent, but with Lebron James on the court, you know that the amazing assist to set up a team mate is always really close on the horizon. You won't see Lebron forcing garbage at the rim nearly as much as other superstars.

Also, I know that great players are supposed to make their teammates better and all that stuff, so why should we praise them, etc, but if Lebron can be the start of the domination of fundamental basketball in the game again, I think that is a great thing.

I think a lot of the reason that the level of play has dropped is because the age of the players has dropped so much. The high school experiment is slowly dwindling away because the players don't have the necessary fundamentals even when they are athletic freaks of nature. So wouldn't it be ironic if the death blow to the league drafting players without fundamentals was delivered by ... a high school player ... named ... Lebron James?

Regards,
Craig

Keeping asses in the seats is more important than winning in professional sports. Sometimes they coincide, but most times people are paying to see the "superstars" . That is why Indians games against the Yankees, and Cavs games against the Heat ALWAYS will sell out. The Browns are a bit of an anomaly because people go to them for the atmosphere more than the product on the field.

I agree that the NBA is going after players who are way too young. Kids in HS don't have the maturity or skill in 99% of cases to handle the rigors of an NBA season. Also, how much better would the college game be if these players had to stay in college until they were 21 or at least the end of their sophomore season?

The best thing that could happen to the NBA right now is a rebirth of fundamental play. I wish I could take 12 goofy guys from rural Indiana on a bus trip around the country and wow people with jump shooting, solid man to man defense, and chest passing, but sadly the And1 Mix tape has destroyed the perception of fundamental basketball players. I think now a days if a kid walks into a gym for a pick up game, he had better be able to dribble with his knee and dunk or he won't get picked to play regardless of how good a jump shooter he is or how tough he is on the boards ... and frankly that bothers the shit out of me.

Out,
Dizzil

And that is how we will end today's session. Deezo calls for 12 goofy rural Indiana boys to spark the rebirth of fundamental basketball.

I guess the only question is whether or not Gene Hackman is available to coach those fundamental warriors?