Cavs on a Roll with Suns on Tap

I'll be the first to say that I am very surprised by the Cavs recent play and surge in the Eastern Conference standings. I attribute the success to myself not criticizing their play in the last month. That and the play of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and of course LeBron James. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I actually saw more than three different offensive plays out of the Cavs last night.

What has taken place during the Cavs 11-2 record over the last 13 games is pretty amazing considering where they were to start the season and at the quarter mark of the season. They are up to 4th in the Eastern Conference standings and completely crushed a Wizards team last night that is current 5th in the standings and who have given Cleveland fits over the last three years.

Varejao is making a difference. His play if much more under control compared to last year and he is quickly getting to a consistent double-double level night in and night out. Big Z may be having the best year of his career. Sure he has scored more in other seasons and even pulled down more boards, but from a flow perspective he is right in stride with what the offense has been trying to accomplish lately.

I'm back on the bandwagon and back in a big way. I'm seeing things that I have always hoped for during Lebron's time in Cleveland. Role players are finally starting to hit wide open shots. That's not to say that Hughes and Gooden don't get out of control still, but when wide open, the guys around Lebron are hitting their shots. Lebron will always draw three guys when the ball is in his hands, leaving at the least two perimeter shot opportunities. Over the last 13 games, the role players are delivering.

The team still has some holes, but like last year's holes, they can still make it to the Championship series the way they are. A point guard would be nice, as would another 3-point shooter, but this team can beat Boston and repeat as Eastern Conference champions. They beat Boston once this year and in the other head-to-head match-up in Boston, Lebron was on the mend.

Tomorrow's game at the Q against the visiting Suns will be a nice test to see where this team truly is at this point in the season. It's been a while since the Cavs topped the Suns and the Suns are a great regular season team coming off a horrible loss last night to the T-Wolves.

Here's an interesting stat on Lebron. He is shooting 48.2% from the field this year. That's better than all but two NBA teams this year. He has yet to shoot 30 times or more in a game this season. Considering Cleveland only shoots 43.5% as a team, would it be all bad if Lebron stepped it up to 35 shots a game?

Cavs Win Friday On & Off Court

I'm not one to root for a player to get injured or one to applaud an injury when it happens. But, with the news Friday that Larry Hughes will be out of the Cavs line-up for at least four weeks, I had to crack a smile.

The injury comes as no surprise. A hang nail would put Larry on the shelf for two months. It's way past time for Danny Ferry to trade him for anything, even a draft pick in the 2010 season would work for me. Larry Legend he is not. The team plays 100% better when he is not on the court. I'm not sure where the Larry Hughes has gone that once played for Washington, but he has yet to show up in Cleveland.

He has never shot over 40% for the Cavs and this season is shooting a miserable 29%. It's not like he contributes in other areas either. No assists, no rebounding, no defense and the most selfish player on the court. He could be shooting 1 for 11 in a game and will continue to keep on gunning.

The Cavs front office had better get their act together and very soon. It's a shame to see the numbers that Lebron puts up without the victories to go along with it.

Makes some trades to unload pure crap, to free up some money and please do not sign Anderson Varejao. Sure he makes the crowd cheer every so often, but he isn't worth a dime when it comes to wins & loses - the only thing that counts.

10 Random Hump Day Sports Thoughts

1. ESPN2 will lead all cable channels in sports ratings tonight. Why? Akron U football is center stage.

2. America's number one sports channel could use a better college football analyst than The Bachelor.

3. I'm eating my words #1 - The Cavs are hurting and need some help. I love the win at Golden State last night, but tonight's game at Utah can tell a lot. Back-to-back road west coast games. Tough way to start season.

4. I'm eating my words #2 - Shannon Brown is disappointing and probably gone next year. Devin Brown is underachieving to date as well. Key to Cavs going all the way is with a Brown though - Coach Mike Brown. Get rid of him and this team has a chance.

5. I'm eating my words #3 - The Celtics are good, real good. The Nuggets are no pushover, but you wouldn't know that tonight. Not sure how Doc Rivers is doing it, but things are looking bright in Bean Town.

6. America hates Ohio State and Red Sox fans. Not so much because the teams have been pretty darn good lately, but because fans of both are the most arrogant there is about their winning ways. Go Bucks!

7. Thad Matta has created an NBA factory with Ohio State hoops and I support it 100%. Better it be O-H-I-O that figured it out, than that team up North.

8. The Sporting News reported a couple weeks ago on who may be the #1 pick in the NBA Draft next season. Yep, another Buckeye - Kosta Koufos. Best 7 foot offensive center in hoops and only a freshman.

9. The rich get richer. No, not the fact that the Patriots have the 49ers first round pick next year. How that happens, I don't know, but because Ohio State hoops have top five rated recruiting classes for 2008, 2009 & 2010. If Koufos goes #1, the Buckeyes could break unprecedented ground with five straight #1 freshman picks in the NBA Draft: 2007 - Greg Oden, 2008 - Kosta Koufos, 2009 - B.J. Mullens, 2010 - work in progress, 2011 - either DeShaun Thomas, Jared Sullinger or Trae Golden (all top 10 recruits). Could this actually happen, no. Am I an idiot, yes. Go Bucks!

10. How does a fantasy football team lose a game by the score of 126.56 to 126.52? Yes, how does a fantasy football team lose by .04 points in head to head play? Shoot me a line and I'll let you know.