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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Big, big night in store

The Cavaliers enter into the NBA draft lottery on Wednesday with a 13.8 percent chance to earn the No. 1 pick in the draft.

That's the difference between drafting a potential superstar who could move right into their starting lineup, and a young player who'll need time to develop.

If they get the No. 1 pick, they'll undoubtedly take Kentucky forward/center Anthony Davis. He's a 6-10, 220-pounder with a wingspan of 7-4. He'd be an immediate shot blocker and rebounder, whether you played him at power forward or center.

If you watched Kentucky in the NCAA championship game, he affects games with his length. He had 16 rebounds and six blocks in the title game. I think he had just six points in that game, but was the MVP.

If the Cavs don't get the No. 1 pick, they'll get a chance at some other good players - ones that could start right away - like Florida's Bradley Beal, Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kansas' Thomas Robinson or UConn's Andre Drummond.

It should be a wildly exciting night, especially if you're coming down to the Cadillac Ranch on Euclid Ave. in downtown Cleveland. That's where the Cavs are hosting their draft lottery party.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

East finals schedule

My take: This should be a competitive series. The Celtics are a bit banged up, but they never quit. The Heat has learned how to win without Chris Bosh and are favored to win the series.

I'm picking the Heat in six games.

In case you were wondering, and even if you weren't, I'm taking San Antonio over Oklahoma City in seven games.

Here is the complete schedule along with national television and radio
arrangements for the Eastern Conference finals:

Eastern Conference
Miami vs. Boston
Game 1 - Mon  May 28 Boston at Miami 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN/R
Game 2 - Wed  May 30 Boston at Miami 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN/R
Game 3 - Fri  June 1                Miami at Boston 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN/R
Game 4 - Sun  June 3 Miami at Boston 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN/R
Game 5 * Tue  June 5 Boston at Miami 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN/R
Game 6 * Thu  June 7 Miami at Boston 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN/R
Game 7 * Sat  June 9 Boston at Miami 8:30PM 8:30PM ESPN/R

Additional scheduling information will be furnished as soon as possible
consistent with the need to fulfill league obligations.

If both Conference Final series are completed in five (5) games or less,
the NBA Finals will move up to begin on Sunday, June 10.  Otherwise, the
NBA Finals will begin on Tuesday, June 12.
All Conference Finals games are exclusive national telecasts.

*If necessary

R - ESPN Radio

Thursday, May 24, 2012

All-NBA team

2011-12 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM


Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        LeBron James, Miami (118)        596
Forward        Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (117)        591
Center        Dwight Howard, Orlando (75)        476
Guard        Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (104)        568
Guard        Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers (74)        484

2011-12 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        Kevin Love, Minnesota (16)        365
Forward        Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers        170
Center        Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers (33)        400
Guard        Tony Parker, San Antonio (41)        367
Guard        Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City (5)        239

2011-12 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        Carmelo Anthony, New York (1)        154
Forward        Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas        136
Center        Tyson Chandler, New York (4)        60
        Guard        Dwyane Wade, Miami (1)        235
        Guard        Rajon Rondo, Boston (4)        142        
Other players receiving votes, with point totals: LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 55; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 52; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 44; Josh Smith, Atlanta, 33; Paul Pierce, Boston, 31; Al Jefferson, Utah, 30; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 27; Steve Nash, Phoenix, 24; Kevin Garnett, Boston, 22; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 18; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 16; Deron Williams, New Jersey, 14; Rudy Gay, Memphis, 10; James Harden, Oklahoma City, 8; Luol Deng, Chicago, 5; Roy Hibbert, Indiana, 5; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 3; Danny Granger, Indiana, 3; Joakim Noah, Chicago, 3; Monta Ellis, Milwaukee, 2; Chris Bosh, Miami, 2; Luis Scola, Houston, 2; Marcin Gortat, Phoenix, 2; Paul Millsap, Utah, 2; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 2; David Lee, Golden State, 1; and DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 1.
 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

All-Defensive team



2011-12 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM

        Position        Player, Team        1st        2nd                 Points
        Forward        LeBron James, Miami        24        5                53
        Forward        Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City        20        7                47
        Center        Dwight Howard, Orlando        16        9                41
        Guard        Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers        13        9                35        
        Guard        Tony Allen, Memphis        13        7                33
       
               

2011-12 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM

        Position        Player, Team        1st        2nd                 Points
        Forward        Kevin Garnett, Boston        8        10                26
        Forward        Luol Deng, Chicago        6        8                20
        Center        Tyson Chandler, New York        13        10                36
        Guard        Rajon Rondo, Boston        9        11                29
        Guard        Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers        7        3                17        

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 19 (4); Joakim Noah, Chicago, 14; Iman Shumpert, New York, 13 (4); Paul George, Indiana, 10 (2); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 9 (2); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 8 (2); Dwyane Wade, Miami, 5 (1); Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City, 5 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix, 5 (1); Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 5 (1); Avery Bradley, Boston, 3 (1); Marc Gasol, Memphis, 3 (1); Metta World Peace, L.A. Lakers, 3; Shawn Marion, Dallas, 3; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 2, (1); Mike Conley, Memphis, 2; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 1; Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia, 1; Carlos Boozer, Chicago, 1; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 1.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

All-Rookie voting



                     2011-12 NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM

 Player Team First (2 pt) Second (1Pt) Total
 Kyrie Irving Cleveland 29 - 58
 Ricky Rubio Minnesota 21 7 49
 Kenneth Faried Denver  19 8 46
 Klay Thompson Golden State 16 11 43
 Iman Shumpert New York 15 10 40
 Kawhi Leonard San Antonio 14 12 40
 Brandon Knight Detroit 13 14 40

                    2011-12 NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM

 Player Team First (2 pt) Second (1Pt) Total
 Chandler Parsons Houston 10 13 33
 Isaiah Thomas Sacramento 5 17 27
 MarShon Brooks New Jersey 3 12 18
 Derrick Williams Minnesota 2 12 16
 Tristan Thompson Cleveland 2 12 16

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first place votes in
parentheses): Markieff Morris, Phoenix, 7 (1); Kemba Walker, Charlotte 7; Alec Burks,
Utah 2; Norris Cole, Miami 2; Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte 2; Enes Kanter,
Utah 1; Greg Stiemsma, Boston 1; Gustavo Ayon, New Orleans 1; Nikola
Vucevic, Philadelphia 1. 
 

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Kyrie Irving's Pepsi Max commercial

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Kyrie Irving voting, superlatives



2011-12 KIA NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTING RESULTS

Rookie, Team                               1st           2nd           3rd           Total
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland                117         2             1             592
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota                -              49           23           170
Kenneth Faried, Denver                1             30           34           129
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio         1             9             15           47
Iman Shumpert, New York            1             7             7             33
Klay Thompson, Golden State       -              5             15           30
Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento         -              6             10           28
Brandon Knight, Detroit                -              6             3             21
Chandler Parsons, Houston           -              3             5             14
MarShon Brooks, New Jersey       -              1             1             4
Kemba Walker, Charlotte             -              -              3             3
Josh Selby, Memphis                     -              -              1             1
 KYRIE IRVING’S SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

·         In his NBA debut, dished out seven assists (to one turnover) and added six points and three rebounds in 26 minutes against Toronto on Dec. 26. Became first rookie in franchise history to have at least seven assists to just one turnover in their NBA debut.
·         Recorded the first 20-point game of his career with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes at Indiana on Dec.30.
·         Against New Jersey on Jan. 27, scored 21 of his season-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, including 17 in the last 2:58 becoming the first rookie to score at least 21 points in the fourth quarter of a game since Marcus Williams of New Jersey (November 24, 2006) and first player to score 17 or more points in the final three minutes of a game since Vince Carter, who did it with the Nets (April 11, 2006).
·         At Boston on Jan 29, scored the game-winning layup with 2.6 seconds remaining. He finished with game highs in points (23) and assists (6).
·         Notched a game-high tying 23 points, including shooting 5-5 from the foul line, in 39 minutes against Sacramento on Feb. 19. Trailing by one with 2.9 seconds remaining, Irving knocked down two free throws to win the game.
·         Dished out eight assists, to go along with 25 points on 8-15 (.533) shooting in 39 minutes of work against the Pistons on Feb. 21. In the fourth quarter, he scored 17 points on 6-9 (.667) shooting, including 3-3 from three-point range.
·         Scored or assisted on the Cavs’ final 12 points in the last 2:36 of the game, including making the game-winning layup with 4.0 seconds remaining, in a 100-99 win at Denver on Mar 7.
·         Had a career-high 12 assists, to go along with nine points in 31 minutes against the Thunder on Mar. 9, including scoring the go-ahead basket in the fourth quarter to help the Cavs to a 96-90 road victory, snapping Oklahoma City’s 14-game home winning streak.
·         Scored 28 points on 11-16 (.688) shooting and added three rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes at Milwaukee on Mar. 14.
·         Recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 assists in 37 minutes against Atlanta on Mar. 18.
·         Finished with 29 points, a career-high nine rebounds and nine assists in a career-high 42 minutes at Atlanta on Mar. 21, becoming the only rookie this season to reach totals of at least 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a game.
·         Went 6-6 from three-point range and finished with a game-high 29 points on 11-20 (.550) shooting, to go along with a team-high five assists and three rebounds in 32 minutes against Milwaukee on Mar. 30. By shooting a perfect 6-6 from three-point range, he became the first rookie in the NBA to make at least six three’s in a game without a miss since Stephen Curry for Golden State on Jan. 5, 2010. Irving also set the Cavalier rookie record for the most three-pointers made in a game and most three-pointers made in a game without a miss.
·         Scored a game-high 25 points on 10-16 (.625) shooting in only 29 minutes at Memphis on April 23. He also added four assists and three steals.