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Five questions about the Cavs

August 26, 2011 / John Paulsen

In dire need of NBA-related content, ESPN is running a series where they ask their blogger network to answer five questions about a specific team. I’m still waiting for my invite, so in the meantime, I’ll answer the five questions about the Cavs. Why the Cavs? Because that’s the favorite team of TSR’s owner, silly.

1. Who should start at PG for the Cavs?

Cleveland has three option with Kyrie Irving: 1) give him the keys immediately, and either bench Baron Davis or trade him, 2) let Davis tutor Irving, or 3) try to play the two together. I fully support option #1. Irving is going to go through some growing pains, but the more he plays the faster he’ll get up to speed. There’s no sense in stunting his growth or asking Davis to be a tutor, which is not something he’s suited for. If this were an affable elder statesman like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, I could see doing the mentoring thing, but this is Baron Freaking Davis we’re talking about. Trade him.

2. Who should start at SF and PF for the Cavs?

The folks over at ESPN seem torn about whether or not to start Anderson Varejao at power forward, but to me he’s the best center on the team — why are you bringing him off the bench at PF? So then you have to decide between Antawn Jamison, Omri Casspi and Tristan Thompson. I’d give Jamison the veteran nod and let Casspi/Thompson battle it out for the other forward position or play the better matchup.

3. J.J. Hickson for Omri Casspi and a draft pick: Good trade or bad?

Let’s keep in mind that the draft pick that was included is lottery protected in 2012, top 13 protected in 2013, top 12 protected in 2014 and top 10 protected in 2015-2017. If, by 2017, the Cavs have not acquired the pick, they get the Kings’ second round pick. In other words, if the Kings continue to stink, this may end up being a Hickson-for-Casspi swap. But chances are Sacramento will have one good season in the next six and either make the playoffs or nearly make the playoffs. In that case, this pick could end up being in the #11-#16 range.

So is it a good trade? It depends on Casspi. Hickson showed some potential while in Cleveland but was deemed expendable once the Cavs went after Thompson, who is a rather raw (yet athletic) power forward. Casspi is a grinder who showed some flashes in his rookie season but didn’t get much run last year even though the Kings desperately needed good play at SF. If he thrives in Cleveland, this trade will work out, but as it stands, it doesn’t look good.

4. Are the Cavs on the right track or the wrong track?

It mostly depends on Irving. If he turns out to be the franchise point guard that most of us think he is, then they’re on the right track.

5. Can we talk about the Cavs without talking about LeBron James?

I did just that for four questions, but the short answer is “nope.” LeBron and the Cavs will forever be linked, and until the Cavs are once again a playoff team, we won’t be able to discuss them without thinking about LeBron and The Decision.

External Sports, NBA

2011-12 NBA season Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving

Shanahan’s running game is starting to take shape in Washington

August 26, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Say what you want about Mike Shanahan’s ego, but the man knows how to install a good running game.

Just two years into his tenure as head coach of the Redskins, Shanahan has the team’s ground attack heading in the right direction. Two weeks after racking up 140 yards versus the Steelers and one week after torching the Colts’ defense for 215 yards, the Redskins were at it again on Thursday night, compiling 103 rushing yards against a stingy Baltimore front seven.

Granted, 103 yards isn’t overly impressive but don’t forget that the Skins were playing against a very good Baltimore defense and Week 3 of the preseason is when teams play their starters well into the second half. It appears as though Washington’s offensive line has taken to Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme and is starting to gel. Cohesion is crucial to Shanahan’s system and the Redskins’ front five has apparently found it, allowing Tim Hightower to gain 56 yards on nine careers (6.2 YPC) with one touchdown last night.

Shanahan has taken a lot of heat over the past two years for the way he’s run things in D.C., specifically in his handling of free agent bust Albert Haynesworth and quarterback Donovan McNabb. And seeing as how this Rex Grossman/John Beck situation seems destined to blow up in his face, there may be more criticism of Shanahan to come.

That said, he didn’t just fall into his 152-108 career coaching record and let’s not forget that the man has won two Super Bowls. He’s quirky yes, but it’s not that big of a stretch to think that he’s starting to turn things around in Washington. We’ll know more once the regular season starts, but I don’t think the Redskins’ success on the ground this preseason is a fluke. Take notice, NFC East.

External Sports, NFL

John Beck Mike Shanahan Rex Grossman Tim Hightower Washington Redskins

Panthers owner to Cam Newton: Pass on the tattoos.

August 25, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson recently revealed that he had a conversation with Cam Newton regarding whether or not the quarterback had any tattoos or piercings. When Newton told Richardson that he didn’t, the owner responded: “We want to keep it that way.”

This, of course, has caused a small internet uproar. From what I’ve seen and read, the public has been decidedly split on the issue. There are some who believe that at 22, Newton can do whatever he wants to his own body while others suggest that he should do what the man signing his checks asks.

What’s my take? I fall somewhere in between, although before I dive into the topic I want to point out that Richardson isn’t the first owner to mandate or suggest players display a certain image. The Yankees have been doing it for decades and I think they’ve turned out just fine. Whether you were Derek Jeter or Johnny Damon, the late George Steinbrenner made sure all Yankee players had a clean look, which included no long hair, no facial hair, and no tattoos or piercings.

The Carolina Panthers are a business establishment first and foremost. They hire employees, they fire employees, they sell merchandise and most of all: they’re in business to make money. With that in mind, Richardson has every right to tell one of his employees what he wants for a dress code. There are literally millions of businesses that instruct their employees to cover up tattoos and piercings. That’s just the way it goes. There are certain connotations that come with tattoos and businessmen and women don’t want them interfering with their ability to make money. Quite frankly, I think that’s pretty understandable.

On the other hand, Newton is a grown man and has the right to do whatever he wants to his own body. Furthermore, tattoos don’t make the man. Just because Newton gets ink doesn’t mean he’s going to turn around and steal laptops, cheat on tests or get wrapped up in an NCAA-sized scandal. (Wait…what?)

The bottom line is that Richardson has every right to tell his employees how they should dress in the work place. That said, the general rule when it comes to tattoos is that you can have them, but they must be covered up. If Richardson wants the new face of the franchise not to have any tattoos, I think that’s a bit extreme. But if Richardson wants Newton to cover up any tattoos he may get in the future, I don’t think that’s unreasonable. (Of course, there’s the issue about why Newton can’t show his tattoos and other Panthers can, but that’s a topic for another day.)

Personally, if someone were paying me $22 million I’d have no problem steering clear of tattoo parlors until I was done playing. Hell, for $22 million I’d dress up like Big Bird everyday if someone wanted me to – and have a smile on under that big ass costume while I was doing it.

External Sports, NFL

Cam Newton cam newton contract cam newton tattoos Carolina Panthers Jerry Richardson

Blake Griffin begins internship at Funny or Die

August 24, 2011 / John Paulsen

File this one under “interesting”…

Stymied by the NBA lockout, Blake Griffin is going to work for Will Ferrell instead.
This week, the Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward is interning at Funny Or Die, the comedy website co-founded by Ferrell and Adam McKay. Griffin arrived at the site’s LA offices Tuesday to begin three days of work in video production.
He will help write, shoot, edit and act in several videos for the site. Funny Or Die quickly creates digital comedy videos, often with celebrity guest appearances.
Griffin said he’s a big comedy fan and an avid viewer of Funny Or Die. As an intern, he hopes to learn more about film production.
“Just to get an inside look at how things are run here is exciting to me,” Griffin said by phone Tuesday. “I don’t know what interns at Funny Or Die are like, but I’m about to find out, I guess.”

Anyone else looking forward to what he and the Funny Or Die crew come up with in the next three days? Anyone who enjoys “Between Two Ferns” is all right with me.

External Sports, NBA

Blake Griffin

The Peyton Manning situation is growing more worrisome by the minute

August 24, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Question: How worried are the Colts about Peyton Manning’s neck injury?

Answer: They just brought Kerry Collins out of retirement.

That cloud of doubt I talked about in this piece on Tuesday is starting to get even bigger in Indianapolis. That’s because according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the Colts’ “braintrust” does not believe Manning will be ready for Week 1. Mortensen says that Manning is “hopeful,” but the report and the addition of Collins say otherwise.

Granted, Curtis Painter (42.4 QB rating) has been dreadful this preseason so maybe signing Collins was just a precautionary measure by the Colts. Maybe they just wanted to ensure that Manning would have a decent backup regardless of whether or not he’s able to play in Week 1.

Then again, why would Collins come out of retirement if he didn’t think he would have the opportunity to play? He’s 38 years old and it’s not like he needs the money. Chances are the Colts told him that there’s a good chance he’ll suit up for Week 1 and then Manning’s injury status could be a fluid situation the entire year. (In other words, Collins may play more than just one game.)

Either way, there’s legitimate concern that Manning won’t be ready for the start of the season. Of course, if he only misses one or two games it won’t be the end of the world. In fact, if he needs more time in order to become 100-percet healthy, then he should take it.

But if he’s banged up all season then the Colts are in some major trouble.

External Sports, NFL

curtis painer Kerry Collins Peyton Manning

Page 240 of 2956

Five questions about the Cavs

Shanahan’s running game is starting to take shape in Washington

Panthers owner to Cam Newton: Pass on the tattoos.

Blake Griffin begins internship at Funny or Die

The Peyton Manning situation is growing more worrisome by the minute

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