Dion Waiters was playing however, and he made sure people were aware of that fact. Early in the 2nd quarter, the rookie drove to the basket and threw down a powerful dunk over the “Birdman” Chris Andersen. Waiters finished with 16 points, but the Heat snuck out of Cleveland with a 96-95 victory.

We all thought the Cavs’ misfortunes in the late 80s was purely a result of the Greatest Ever, MJ himself, bursting onto the NBA superstardom scene in a long series of destroying Cleveland with his legendary clutch play, including the oft-mentioned running jumper against the Cavs on a series-clinching buzzer beater in 1989 (known as “The Shot”).  Turns out a full-on curse spanning two and a half decades has translated all the way to this day, most infamously when today’s greatest NBA player, LeBron James, decided to take his talents to South Beach.

And in their latest morale blow, the Cavs blew a 27-point lead that just so happened to be against LeBron and the reigning NBA champs in the 4th quarter. Because, you know, the Cavs could use more gut-wrenching, soul-crushing defeats – especially against a former legendary ally that betrayed them.

Mar 20, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) walks to the bench during a timeout in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Worst of all, LeBron once again showed the Cavs fans – in Cleveland – what they’ve been missing since his departure, posting another triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.  Not quite his monster 48-point performance in his first return to Cleveland since The Decision, but impressive nonetheless.  When Cleveland showed some resolve after their severe implosion, they cut Miami’s lead to one with just under five seconds left in the game.  And to add insult to injury, the refs made a very dubious call after the ball went out of bounds with two seconds left; the video replay showed LeBron knocking the ball out of bounds, yet possession was somehow granted to the Heat.  Cleveland had one more shot to send the game into OT, but CJ Miles’ three-point attempt clanked off the rim – a fittingly symbolic imagery of the continuing misfortunes of this team.

That just seems to be the trend with this Cleveland franchise – they show glimpses of hope, but there just seems to be one bad break after another that sets them back.  The fact that this perceived curse spans the generations of Michael Jordan AND LeBron James speaks volumes about how eerily bad the Cavs’ luck has been for several years.

This is the latest misfortune of yet another rough season for Cleveland post LBJ.  We all know how bad they’ve been since LeBron’s departure.  Hell, some even argue that David Stern felt so bad for them that he fixed the 2011 lottery to help Cleveland land their newest promising All-Star in Kyrie Irving.  Their bad luck has translated to both long and short-term affairs – the long-term ones being free agency (or lack thereof) and health (another lack thereof), the short-term being in games.  Even in the game vs. Miami tonight, their two best players (and arguably their two lone bright spots) in Irving and Dion Waiters were out with injuries.  Irving will likely sit out the rest of the season with an injured shoulder, an injury which took major zest out of the Cavs’ season.  And despite Irving’s All-Star season up to that point, the Cavs were still among the league’s worst.  Now without both Irving and Waiters, as well as a prior season-ending injury to Anderson Varejao, it’s difficult to imagine a positive outlook for the rest of the season and beyond.  When it comes to both in-game luck as well as health, the Cavs can never seem to catch a break.

The lesson here is, if you think your team has had some bad luck, you would be wrong – unless you are in Ohio.  And for all the sports analysts that will ramble on and on tomorrow about how this streak will affect the Heat, please stop and consider talking about the worst of Miami’s victims during this winning streak.

To all Cavaliers fans:  you will always have my deepest sympathy.  That is, until you get 25 years of good luck to balance the last quarter-century out.

Mar 5, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) during a game against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena. Utah won 109-100. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Despite Kyrie Irving still being bothered by a sore knee, the Cleveland Cavaliers have no plans currently to shutdown their star point guard. Head coach Byron Scott told reporters on Thursday that he would consider pulling Irving so that he could get healthy but a new report suggests that there was a miscommunication between Scott and Irving.

Irving missed three games with a hyperextended knee after banging knees with a teammate in practice two weeks ago. However, he played 38 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Utah Jazz finishing with 20 points and 10 assists. He is expected to be in the starting lineup Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Irving prompted Scott’s comments after he told reporters that the only way he would get better would be to sit out the rest of the season. The Cavaliers say that they will continue to monitor Irving’s knee and he will continue to receive treatment. At this point it looks like he is just dealing with ongoing soreness and isn’t risking future injury.

Irving has missed 14 games this season but 11 came due to a finger injury earlier in the season. He is averaging a career-best 23.2 points and 5.7 assists this season and was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star game for the first time.

Dec 15, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) gestures after scoring during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 103-102. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Good news for the Cleveland Cavaliers today, as it appears that Kyrie Irving will return to action tonight. Irving has missed the last three games after suffering a hyperextension of his knee. According to the New York Time’s Howard Beck, however, he should be able to go tonight against the New York Knicks.

Kyrie Irving listed as probable for tonight’s game vs. Knicks, per AP report. Irving missed last three games w/hyperextended knee.

— Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) March 4, 2013

The Cavs aren’t making a playoff push or anything, but it’s always nice to have the team’s best player back in action, especially for the fans. Tonight is also Kyrie Irving bobble head night in Cleveland, which would have been a bit weird with Irving sitting on the bench.

Jan 7, 2013; Rosemont, IL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott against the Chicago Bulls during the second quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers have opened the season 9-29 despite the dominant play of Kyrie Irving and the resurgent rebounding Anderson Varejao. The talent on the Cavs’ list is from championship calibre, or maybe even playoffs quality, but second last in NBA for wins behind the Wizards is laughable and represents a much further problem with the Cavaliers organization beyond the standard rebuilding pains.

Often, firing a coach from their post is a poor way to scapegoat an individual when a team has a multitude of personnel issues on the roster and in the front office (what’s up, Mike Brown?), but in the Cavaliers’ case it is definitely the best way to move forward. After three years of not just failure, but embarrassing record-breaking failure, the Cleveland Cavaliers must part ways with Byron Scott if they hope to move from stalling to progressing any time soon.

The ultimate goal of any time that is developing is fundamentally to improve, and the Cavaliers have failed to do so as a team this season while they manage to do so individually. In the first season after LeBron James left for sunny South Beach, the Mo Williams/Antawn Jamison led Cavaliers sat at 8-30 after 38 matches, while improving to 15-23 at the same mark the following season under Kyrie Irving and the veteran Jamison. The following season, they’re one missed Kyrie Irving jump shot  away from matching the horrendous start to the 2010-11 season.

During that season, not a single player averaged more than 20 points per game, nor did a single Cav pull down more than 10 boards per game (Varejao came close with 9.7 in his 31 appearances). This wasn’t a situation like the championship Detroit Pistons, where the talent pool was balanced and deep – it was a team built to accommodate a star and a contract like LeBron James, only it lacked LeBron James.

The turnaround the following season yielded two more truimphs and eighteen less defeats in the lockout compressed season. They were the only team, along with Indiana, Minnesota and the Clippers, to improve their record in spite of the shortened season. Personnel wise, the Cavaliers didn’t drastically improve. While Kyrie Irving was the huge new face, the Cavaliers lost the duo of Baron Davis and Mo Williams from the season prior and also dropped Ramon Sessions at the deadline; which meant Irving alone couldn’t justify the huge swing in record. Tristan Thompson, drafted fourth overall, didn’t make a huge impact in his maiden season.

Entering the second year of the Kyrie Irving Era in Cleveland, expectations were growing. Although the loss of Antawn Jamison was always set to hurt the Cavaliers’ offense, it provided a chance for Kyrie Irving to up his scoring (check) and rookie Dion Waiters to dazzle (inconclusive) while giving increased time to rebounding sensation Tristan Thompson to expand his game. The addition of former Jazz guard C.J. Miles also gave the Cavaliers a unique scoring punch that gave them one of the better young backcourts in the NBA.

Despite the roster overhaul, built mainly through the draft, the Cavaliers are still struggling. Byron Scott was brought in to help foster Kyrie Irving’s development given his success in New Orleans with Chris Paul and likely has retained his position because of Kyrie Irving’s impressive leap after his Rookie of the Year debut season. Even if the hype behind Scott’s ability to develop a young point guard is to be believed, Irving has done enough on his own to demonstrate he is here to stay regardless of who’s calling his plays.

When the crosstown Cleveland Browns fired Coach Pat Shurmur, Bryon Scott told CBS Cleveland he was surprised with the move.

“Just watching them I think they made leaps and bounds over last year. They have a lot of good pieces, they have a good quarterback, a good running back, and some good receivers, and a solid defense.” he said, justifying Shurmur’s case to keeping his job.

That opinion didn’t gel with the ideas of the Browns’ front office, but Scott better hope the Cavaliers feel differently.  The Cavaliers also have a lot of good pieces, they have a very good point guard, a good Center, and some good prospects and a not-at-all-solid defense, and his failure to get them to improve as a team this season in spite of their individual improvements should see Bryon Scott join Pat Shurmur on the unemployment line.

Nov 5, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Walters (3) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Cavaliers defeated the Clippers 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Wow. I’m still trying to catch my breath after witnessing that display of utter “cold-bloodedness” last night.

We’ve all had the opportunity to witness (pardon the Cleveland pun) Kyrie Irving’s radical 4th quarter brilliance last season. Heck, we’ve already experienced it this season, as Irving scored the Cavs last 13 points in Milwaukee on Saturday night, only to come up short, thanks to Brandon Jennings’ buzzer beating ways.

Kyrie did it again last night in Los Angeles, with a game-clinching three ball in the game’s dying seconds. Though on this night, he also had some help in the form of his fellow 20-year old, rookie backcourt teammate Dion Waiters. Both of these young studs showed that there is no age minimum on making a statement. The statement was simple: The backcourt of the Cleveland Cavaliers is in great hands for years to come.

All the Cavs backcourt duo did was walk into the Staples Center and rip the hearts out of the Los Angeles Clippers and their Hollywood-dwelling fans. Slashing the lane and kicking it, or drilling long 26 foot daggers, you name it, they did it. The victims included one Chris Paul, famously known for his own 4th quarter heroics time and time again. Paul is older and wiser, but no less fearless than Irving, or perhaps Waiters, given last night was the standard. That’s what they’d like you to know.

Like “ball,” the numbers don’t lie, and they break down like like this: The two combined for 52 points on 18-40 shooting, including an incredible 11-19 (58%) from behind the arc. They also dished out 11 of the team’s 23 total assists.

What the numbers don’t show, perhaps the more important factor, is that these guys had zero problems handling the ball and handling the burden (I’m sure they would call it otherwise) of taking the final shot(s) in what is often a very hostile environment, last night included. It’s very telling that two 20-year olds can handle pressure in such a smooth fashion. Not only do they handle it, they make it extemely exciting to watch. I personally get chills when Kyrie has the ball at the end of the game, he seems unstoppable. The clutch shots and the active hands on defense that caused plenty of problems while the Clippers tried desperately to dig out of hole after hole.

Waiters is a different type of player than Irving, positionally and instinctively. He loves to shoot the ball. The more dramatic the shot or the occasion, the more he seemingly likes it. Remember, we have only a handful of games to judge this, but with some guys you can just tell. Big shot after big shot in the final period, Waiters looked like he was in his element out there, rookie or not.

All of these elements are a sign that the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be fun to watch this season, and next, and the one after that.

Are they going to make the playoffs this season? Most, including myself, would say it’s very unlikely. Will Irving and Waiters have their share of bad shooting nights, taking ill-advised shots at the worst of times? Of course they are, you can count on it. But those will be growing pains, we all have them. The greater point is that they’re willing to take those shots without questions asked and understanding the consequences. Kyrie has they keys to this team and he knows it. Despite often being left unsatisfied, those are the expectations of a #1 overall draft pick in this league. He takes the ball, embraces the moment and makes you watch without blinking, or hold your breath like I did earlier.

The Cavs are still very much planted firmly in “rebuilding” mode, but despite only a short time having passed since LeBron left town, the Cavs have something special coming. You can feel it. Just like you can feel it when Kyrie has the ball in his hands, like something exciting is always going to happen. If we’re talking upside, this backcourt possesses some that is off the charts. They have a situation where they can put the Cavs back on the map. Are they there yet? No, and it might take a couple of eventual acquisitions to complete the transition from rebuilding to playoff contender. But people are starting to pay attention.

Irving (last season) and Waiters are out to prove the word “rookie” is simply just a measure of tenure. Last night’s slaying of the Clippers was a prime illustration.

Apr 23, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) shoots the ball during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

Kyrie Irving
Resume: 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 30.5 minutes, 47% FG, 40% 3PT, and 87% FT… Team record in games played: 17-34 (4-11 without)… 1st Team All-Rookie, Rookie of the Year

Hey, I’m just going to need a minute to take my foot out of my mouth. Can someone give me a hand? Oh crap, none of you are actually near me. Okay, just a second.

Alright, I’m good now. I guess I shouldn’t have been so anti-Kyrie Irving for so long. Well, you live and you learn, and I learned the hard way. I’ve been taking shots at Kyrie for over a year now, starting back in June 2011 when the draft rolled around and I claimed that it made no sense for Cleveland to use the number one pick on a guy who played only 11 games in college and the consensus number 2 pick (Derrick Williams) ripped through Irving’s Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament like he was the Tasmanian Devil. Even once the season was under way I continued to go after Kyrie, calling him “a quarter of a star” in an Eastern Conference power rankings post. Let me make some perfectly clear: Kyrie Irving is a full star. It took me a while to realize this and it has been a little bit of a shock to me, but I’ve finally seen the light. Why does this shock me? Well…

1: He never looked like a sure thing at the college level. Granted, he was dealing with an injured Sgt. Hulka throughout the year and I may have had my Duke blinders on, so I probably brought this on myself. Anthony Davis looks like a sure thing to me. Derrick Rose looked like a sure thing to me. Blake Griffin looked like a sure thing to me. Adam Morrison looked- eh, just forget I said anything.

2: He’s 1 month younger than me. This might not seem like that big of a deal, but for the first time in my life a star player in the NBA was born after I was. That’s sort of depressing in a weird way. I get jacked up to play intramural games once a week… he’s battling the best players in the NBA on a nightly basis and succeeding even more than the biggest Kyrie Irving fan could’ve expected. Nobody could’ve predicted that Kyrie would not just lead all NBA players in clutch stats, but do it by such a wide margin. Per 48 minutes of Clutch Time (4^th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points) Kyrie Irving averaged a ridiculous 56.4 points per game. The only other player in the league to average more than 50 was Kevin Durant. The third highest was Carmelo Anthony at 43.6 per 48 minutes of Clutch Time. It doesn’t end there though, Irving shot 54% in Clutch Time, better than anyone else in the top 15 in scoring. Add in the mix 67% from three-point range (again, better than anyone in the top 15 in scoring) and 89% at the free throw line, and you already have a resume being built as one of the best late game players in the league.

3: He’s handling this fame and success remarkably well, coming off as a cool, humble and savvy kid. He even starred in Pepsi Max’s Uncle Drew commercial, which would’ve made just about any player in the league look like the coolest dude alive.

4: Let me just state this one more time: Kyrie Irving is one month younger than me and he’s already one of the top 25 players in the NBA. If you didn’t believe that what he did during the season was enough, then all you needed to do was listen to what people (including some of the best players in the world) were saying about him during the Team USA vs. USA Select Team scrimmages over the summer. The word floating around was he was lighting Team USA up, and he was even good enough to challenge Kobe Bryant to a one on one game for $50,000 and not have it seem totally ridiculous.

Let me say it one more time so I can hopefully get the taste of my own foot out of my mouth… Kyrie Irving is a full star, and he will be for a very long time.

Apr 28, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls injured point guard Derrick Rose (1) is helped off the court by medical staff during the fourth quarter in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. The Bulls won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

• DERRICK ROSE, PG, Chicago Bulls
  Last season: 35.3 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 7.9 APG, 23.10 PER
  I get it, listing Derrick Rose as the Bulls’ X-Factor is weak and certainly not my attempt to be labelled a rocket scientist anytime soon. We can claim we believe in the Bulls even without him (record-wise, this checks out to a certain degree), but let’s be honest, they go as far as he takes them. Trying to pin down an exact time at which Rose will make his season debut is anyone’s guess, and trust me there are scattered reports. I’ve heard some say Christmas, some mid-March, others say he’ll miss the entire season and some (though the name escapes me) are saying he’ll be ready for opening night. Take your pick. The bottom line is that Derrick Rose is one of the most important players in the Eastern Conference and league, let alone his own team. So while it seems simple to state this, I’m of the opinion that his team doesn’t even make the playoffs if his return is closer to that mid-March date. Is D-Rose an X-Factor? It’s arguably that he is THE X-Factor. The rocket scientists concur.
• 

  Jan 6, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (17) prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. Cleveland defeated Minnesota 98-87. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

  ANDERSON VAREJAO, C, Cleveland Cavaliers
  Last season: 31.4 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 18.93 PER (25 games)
  Kyrie Irving is the Cavs best player, hands down, it’s not even disputable. However, “best” and “important” can sometimes carry different weightings. Anderson Varejao represents the Cavs entire defensive identity. His energy and relentless hustle encapsulate what this young team should try to be on the defensive end. Varejao’s 2011-12 season was over in early February, during which he acculated 14 double-doubles in 25 games. With some extremely young players (Thompson, Samuels, Zeller, Leuer) behind him in the depth chart, the Cavs NEED Varejao to stay on the floor and be that embodiment of defense if they want to contend for a playoff spot in the East. Varejao’s offensive numbers will look even better this season as well, playing a full schedule with Irving running the show.

• 

  Mar. 16, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Pistons guard (3) Rodney Stuckey controls the ball against Phoenix Suns guard (31) Sebastian Telfair at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Pistons 109-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

  RODNEY STUCKEY, SG, Detroit Pistons
  Last season: 29.9 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, 17.62 PER
  When I tell you that the Detroit Pistons backcourt is thin, I’m talking LeAnn Rimes thin. The days of Billups/Hamilton are long gone and now they have Stuckey and Brandon Knight, a second year player, representing the guard situation. Listed on their depth chart right now in the backup roles are the undersized Will Bynum at point guard and rookie Kim English at shooting guard. Scary would be an understatement. Stuckey is the key to this mess. While Greg Monroe will take over as the number one option on offense, Stuckey (with his 5 years of NBA service and slight production drop last season) is the default leader in the backcourt. Even though Brandon Knight improved over the course of his rookie season and will now assume a bigger role in the offense, I think Stuckey has a near obligation to bring his numbers up and better match up with the other premier shooting guards in the league. If not, the Pistons go from bad to worse.

• 

  May 8, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers shooting guard George Hill (3) dribbles the ball against Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson (14) during game five in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Orlando 105-87. Mandatory Credit: Michael Hickey-US PRESSWIRE

  GEORGE HILL, PG, Indiana Pacers
  Last season: 25.5 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 2.9 APG, 15.77 PER
  Sometimes it simply comes down to the weakest starter being the most important piece of the puzzle. While he’ll replace Darren Collison and split some minutes with newly acquired D.J. Augustin, George Hill is expected to take over starting point guard duties in Indiana. Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, David West and the improving Paul George comprise one of the strongest starting combinations in the league. George Hill is the only question mark, and that could be considered reaching. Historically, Hill has never been a big assist guy (2.5 per game over 24.8 MPG in his career), but that may change this year, given that he will be responsible for being the primary playmaker and the guy with the responsibility to get the ball to the first four scoring options mentioned above. If Hill averages another 25-30 minutes per game, expect his assist number to shoot up. With his added ability to score when necessary and even defend a bit, expect Hill to help push the Pacers deeper into the playoffs.

• 

  April 13, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings (3) during first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

  BRANDON JENNINGS, PG, Milwaukee Bucks
  Last season: 35.3 MPG, 19.1 PPG, 5.5 APG, 18.46 PER
  This is the year that Jennings needs to take the next step, and I’m not talking about scoring. At 19.1 PPG, he’s proven he can score. I wrote earlier that I didn’t think Jennings was an elite point guard, because of his lack of assists and his spotty shot selection, and I completely stand by that. Perhaps a more crucial attribute that Jennings needs to strengthen for his team to succeed is his leadership. He needs to be the catalyst to bring this team together. Between himself and his star backcourt teammate Monta Ellis, scoring the basketball is easy. The Bucks have solid role players but really no real star talent elsewhere on the roster. Jennings needs to facilitate, distribute the basketball and reassess his shot selection. That is what’s going to help this team climb into the playoff picture in the East, not dropping 35 points on 13 for 31 shooting. If he grows, the team grows.

Mar. 3, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers point guard Raymond Felton (5) during the fourth quarter of the game at the Rose Garden. The Timberwolves won the game 122-110. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

While we’re coming off a fresh supply of basketball with the Olympics and before that, the Summer Leagues, it’s easy to lose track of those players that were sidelined with significant injuries to end last season. There were some major players (no pun intended) who will be battling back from injuries in 2012-13. Not all of them will be ready for the start of the season, but nonetheless remain a focal point to what the team might consider a successful season.

Before we carve into stone a Heat vs. Lakers NBA Final, let’s take a look down the comeback trail.

The very first name that comes to mind when we think “injury comeback” is the 2011 MVP, Derrick Rose of the Bulls, who tragically blew out his knee (torn ACL) in the first round of the playoffs last year. Even though Rose may be the biggest name on the board here, I feel like this is the least significant injury with regards to the ”when will he come back?” factor. If things go according to schedule, we already know that it’s looking like a March return for Rose, at which point I fully expect the Bulls to be either very close to being eliminated from the playoff race or just hanging on. Joakim Noah‘s gimpy ankle that kept him out of the playing in the Olympics for France is also something to keep an eye on. I feel like the Bulls lack firepower this season and personally, I’m very down on them.

In Boston, the Celtics are dealing very much with the unknown. They have holes to fill with the departure of Ray Allen and dare I say it, even Greg Stiemsma. The key guys to replace those minutes are Avery Bradley and Jeff Green, who were on the shelf for an extended period of time. Green, who came to Boston as part of the Kendrick Perkins trade with Oklahoma City, unfortunately found out before the season that he had a heart condition that would require surgery and force him to miss the entire 2011-12 season. An injury to an arm, leg or back is one thing, but to come back from a heart condition? That will be a challenge.  With Green out last year, the Celts had to plug the bench small/power forward hole with the likes of Stiemsma and Chris Wilcox. Even though they drafted young bigs in Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo, Jeff Green’s versatility at the forward positions will be key to the inevitable Rondo-led youth movement in Boston.

Avery Bradley, a second-year guard, was a surprise contributor to the Celtics last season, to the point where they eventually trusted him with the starting spot and want him to be their shooting guard of the future. Bradley, now known for his elite perimeter defending, is coming back from major shoulder(s) surgery to repair a dislocation, which kept him out of key playoff games down the stretch for the Celtics. At this point, Bradley’s timetable to return is still up in the air, but he will definitely miss the first part of the season, which they will fill in with Courtney Lee and Jason Terry… not a bad contingency plan.

When the talk of ”Timberwolves” and “playoffs” now surfaces, only two words matter in the heart of Minnesota… Ricky Rubio. Rubio burst on the scene and was immediately better than advertised. Questions about his shooting still linger, but the way he distributed the ball to Kevin Love and company was nothing short of breathtaking. Before Rubio tore his ACL in March, the Wolves were pushing hard for the playoffs. With too many games sandwiched in March and April, they simply collapsed in the tough Western Conference. Rubio won’t be ready for the start of the season, but with an anticipated December/January return date, the Wolves hope they’ve collected enough talent to make it through the first trimester this time. While Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea aren’t superstars, they aren’t scrubs either and should be able to hold down the PG spot. But one thing we saw last year early on was that as Rubio goes, so do the Timberwolves. After years futility, you really can’t help but root for this young, potential franchise-saving grace in Rubio (and Love).

Kyrie Irving‘s broken hand was hot “freak accident” injury news in Cleveland this summer, after he smacked his hand against a padded wall in practice for the Vegas Summer League. Irving would be the landslide winner for the hypothetical ”dumbest” injury award. While he needed only 8 weeks to recover, he will obviously be ready for the start of the season. He will bounce back with ease, but with a hand injury, it’s something to keep on eye on. One hard strip foul and it could be trouble. The Cavs ENTIRE hopes of making a playoff push for the bottom of the East rest solely on the shoulders of this young (and still immature, watch the Kobe challenge) man.

It’s amazing how big a deal Iman Shumpert became in New York in such little time. He went from rookie role players to almost “untouchable” in trade talks, especially when it came to including him in any Steve Nash deal at the time. While his offensive numbers didn’t explode at you, he was a pleasant defensive surprise for the usually inconsistent Knicks and it’s clear that the fans at The Garden absolutely love this guy. After tearing his ACL in April, he needed all summer to rehab and get ready for next season, to which he’ll start in street clothes. His defensive ability, especially on the perimeter, is something the Knicks will miss sorely. Shumpert may only be a big name in New York City, but it won’t be long until he has a league-wide reputation.

Comebacks to WATCH closely:

Brook Lopez, Nets (Ankle), Andrew Bogut, Warriors (Ankle),  Jeremy Lin, Rockets (Knee), Chauncey Billups, Clippers (Achilles), Dwight Howard, Lakers (Back), Dwyane Wade, Heat (Knee).

Feb. 22, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andris Biedrins (15) against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Warriors defeated the Suns 106 - 104. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE.

Thankfully, all the Dwight Howard drama that just ended didn’t heavily involve actual contract talks, but rather the various pieces that made up the final trade puzzle. The contract stuff? Oh that will be next year. Although you just might hear it mentioned once or thirty times during the season itself.

But speaking about contracts, let’s move away from Howard. There are plenty of bad contracts scattered throughout the league and EVERY team has been guilty of handing out a bad contract or two over the past few seasons. It’s a reality of NBA business and sometimes the decision to offer an unproven NBA player a sizable contract is the indirect portrayal of an NBA GM’s quality.

Frequently, a “bad” NBA contract has as much to do with length (number of years given) as it does with the dollar value and guaranteed money. However, in this instance, we’re going to eliminate the length factor and focus in on simply the 2012-13 NBA salaries and determine the ugly contracts haunting some teams.

Andris Biedrins, Warriors ($9,000,000)
Few players have fallen off the earth as quick as Biedrins, so let’s start here. Just a couple of seasons ago, the Warriors thought they had their center of the future and a defensive force in Biedrins. What they got instead, since his very nice 2008-09 year (11.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.0 spg), were three seasons full of injuries and declining production. In averaging only 15.7 minutes per game last year, (and even started 35 games) he averaged 1.7 ppg and 3.8 rpg. Worst of all, the guy shot 11% from the free throw line! 11%!! Good thing the Warriors are only investing $9 million dollars into this terrible situation this season.

Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets ($19,752,645)
Personally, I didn’t like this contact the moment the ink dried on the paper. I completely respect Johnson’s game and do think he’s a great talent, but he’s not a max player. While we know he can score the basketball, he’s better suited to be #2 option or even an equal part of an outstanding backcourt like he will be in Brooklyn with Deron Williams, rather than “the” guy. Obviously his 25.0 ppg in 2006-07 was impressive, but he also only played 57 games that year. Simply , there are better players in the league that are making a fraction of Joe’s $20 million. Now joining the Brooklyn Nets, he gives them four players that now make at least $12 million (Humphries, Lopez, Johnson, Williams). While I think the Humphries and Lopez contracts are bad as well, Johnson’s seems to bring least bang for $20 million bucks.

Ben Gordon, Bobcats ($12,400,000)
Although Gordon finally lands in a place where he’ll be featured as at least “a” primary scoring option again, he’ll be doing it for an extremely costly $12.4 million! Other than scoring, Gordon has failed to provide anything else of significance on the court (I suppose that one could make a small case for his three-point and free throw shooting). For the bulk of minutes he’s played, his career averages of 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game are disappointing. Really, it’s almost unfathomable to think that Ben Gordon will be making more than $12 million next season. But then again, doesn’t that perfectly reflect what the broken Bobcats are these days?

DeSagana Diop, Bobcats ($7,372,200)
Speaking of the Badcats, how on earth is DeSagana Diop still making THIS much money? Really, how is Diop even in the league at all? His 2011-12 stat line represents what a complete travesty this salary is: 12.0 mpg, 1.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.5 bpg. On top of that, I didn’t think that 36% shooting was even possible for a 7-foot center. Keep the dollars and losses flowing Charlotte.

Jose Calderon, Raptors ($10,561,982)
With the signing of Kyle Lowry to be the new starting point guard in Toronto, Calderon’s contract becomes an even bigger disaster. Calderon, currently the highest paid player on the Raptors squad, ultimately got handed a multi-year deal for his career year in 2008-09 when he averaged 8.9 assists, shot 98% from the free throw line and was at the top of league in assist-to-turnover ratio. However, by acquiring Lowry, Jose will now come off the bench, making him an extremely overpaid backup point guard. The Raptors failed to find partner to move him this offseason, so they now have to endure one more season of this inflated deal. Even though his numbers haven’t declined significantly, his impact has been minimal and doesn’t justify a $10.5 million contract.

Luke Walton, Cavs ($6,091,363)
The glory days of Luke Walton being an important role player appear to be over, though he is still being paid like one. While there will be more opportunity for minutes in Cleveland than there was in L.A., at 32-years old and with a limited skill set to begin with, Walton won’t contribute like a $6 million player should. Luckily, the Cavaliers have a very young roster, lots of cap space and really no other terrible contracts on the team. It’s not ideal, but they’ll be able to absorb the signing of Walton’s paychecks for one more season.

Amare Stoudemire, Knicks ($19,948,799)
There really couldn’t be a “bad contract” post without mentioning a New York Knick could there? Look, Amare Stoudemire is still a solid player, he’s just not the same player he was during his Suns glory days and certainly not a guy that should make $20 million dollars. Even though he now represents one third of New York’s “Big Three,” this is an absolute joke of a contract. Amare really needs to bet back to the 20 and 10 player he used to be and avoid punching fire extinguishers to validate this monstrosity.

Hedo Turkoglu, Magic ($11,815,850)
This contract doesn’t even need an explanation, as it’s punchline popularity has spanned a couple of seasons now. The contract is so attached to Turkoglu like it’s a cancer that whenever he’s mentioned in a trade scenario, the question is always, “who is going to take on Hedo’s contract?” The Raptors were on the hook for giving Turkoglu a 5-year, $54 million deal in 2009, but now the Magic hold the three remaining years on this juggernaut.

Marvin Williams, Jazz ($8,287,500)
As a former #2 overall pick, a big time bust with an even worse contract. Somehow has averaged 30.4 minutes and started 78% of his games over his career. Marvin’s coming off season of 10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg and shooting a career-low 43% from the field, certainly not worthy $8.2 million. But you really can’t blame him, he cashed in and the Jazz traded for him. It may be begrudgingly, but Utah now has to pay the guy.

Dishonorable mentions
Al Horford, Hawks ($13,000,000), Kris Humphries, Nets ($12,000,000), Carlos Boozer, Bulls ($15,000,000), JaVale McGee, Nuggets ($10,000,000), Corey Maggette, Pistons ($10,924,138), Rudy Gay, Grizzlies ($16,460,538), Zach Randolph, Grizzlies ($16,500,000),  Richard Jefferson, Warriors ($10,164,000), Brad Miller, Suns ($5,104,000), Stephen Jackson, Spurs ($10,059,750), Amir Johnson, Raptors ($6,050,000)

Take: Irving’s dominance as a rookie in 2012 has been one of the game’s most overlooked aspects since Cleveland’s early season novelty wore off, and it’s a real shame.  We haven’t seen a first-year player with this combination of physical talent, poise, understanding, and overall effectiveness in a long, long time.  Looking at how he’s played just this season without the bias of projecting his future, a valid argument can be made that Irving’s been the best rookie since Tim Duncan took the league by storm in 1997.  He’s been that good.

Mar 25, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) dribbles during a game against the Phoenix Suns at Quicken Loans Arena. The Suns defeated the Cavaliers 108-83. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

And that way beyond-his-years combination of traits above is most illustrated in what Irving does when his team needs him most.

Some of the league’s best players struggle well into their careers to find their proverbial niche in crunch time.  LeBron James, obviously, is the most well-known – if not most apt – example, but even noted “closers” like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Derrick Rose have seen their effectiveness down the stretch limited by defenses adjusting to their shot-happy tendencies, and only sometimes do they adjust accordingly to their team’s benefit.  Chris Paul, for instance, was chronicled here just last week for his changing game-ending style of play in his first season with the Clippers.  Point being: a player’s crunch time effectiveness is something that’s fluid on a game-to-game and season-to-season basis and takes real experience to hone.

Unless you’re Kyrie Irving.  He not only leads the league in points per 48 minutes of crunch time but also in free throw attempts, all while shooting a staggering 54.4% from the field and even better 66.7% from the free throw line.  These are numbers no player in the NBA come close to matching despite Irving’s low number of baskets assisted on, poor supporting cast, and status as the opposition’s clear biggest threat.  And he’s only 20 years old.

Irving’s supreme crunch time play is just more proof supporting the almost consensus belief that Cleveland has a real franchise player on their hands here, even though they’re just two years removed from the whole LeBron debacle.  Of course, whether he’ll live up to that billing has much to do with how Dan Gilbert and the rest of the front office improve the roster around him.  But, if they do and the Cavaliers find themselves in a meaningful late Spring game in coming seasons, they’ll be led by a player that established himself his rookie season as an even greater force to be reckoned with in the clutch.

Personally, I like to think of it as ‘Slash leaving the wedding in the November Rain video to dominate the guitar solo in the middle of the desert’ good, but that’s probably just because I’m a nerd.

I was sent this post, which basically introduces a new stat specifically calculated to measure exactly how effective Dirk’s game was last night (Hint: it was insanely effective).

Here are some additional bits to chew on:

• Josh Hill with Pippen Ain’t Easy takes a look at last night’s Bulls loss to Miami.
• Sam McPhee from King James Gospel reviews the game from Miami’s lens.
• James Grayson from Swarm and Sting has news about Hornets Assistant Mike Malone and the Golden State Warriors.
• Charles Barkley speaks out about Rick Welts.
• Kyrie Irving elects to skip the NBA Draft Combine. His agent is reporting that he’s working out on his own, suggesting that the Cavs are already set to draft him #1 overall.

Want more NBA discussion? Be sure to follow the crew on Twitter: Blake Lovell (@theblakelovell), Steve Rivers (@TheKidSkoob), Steven Gelis (@thatsthedagger), Marco Romo (@SerenityNowDDL), Andrew Lynch (@snghoops), Dan Jepperson (@Kobesmokey).

We now have the official draft order for the upcoming NBA Draft:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Utah Jazz

(more…)

Maybe you tried to make yourself believe that “F/OT” meant something other than “Final/Overtime.” That’s understandable. After all, the Cavs had lost 26 straight heading into the game.

But now that streak has been put to rest. And we no longer have to worry about a Streak vs. Streak showdown when the Cavs host the Wizards tomorrow afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena. Instead, it’ll just be Streak vs. Please, Don’t Let This Be The Start Of A New Streak. Or something like that. (more…)

Cleveland’s record now: 8-45.

I’ll be the first to admit. I guaranteed victory for the Cavs over the Pistons. Guaranteed! I simply had no doubt in my mind that they would win.

But of course, when the Cavs got down 52-36 at the half, reality set in. Did I really just guarantee victory for a team that had lost 25 straight games? (more…)

There were a few of those games last night. You had the Pacers and Sixers with a tight game in the final two minutes or so, with the Pacers stopping their road losing streak and getting a nice win. You had the Kings and Wizards putting up 130+, which ultimately ended with the Kings missing a three to tie with two seconds left (which was taken by DeMarcus Cousins…..). (more…)

Yes, it’s true. Anderson Varejao, one of Cleveland’s most valuable players (both on the floor and from a trade value standpoint), will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his ankle. (more…)

Source: Yardbarker.com

In his first public appearance since announcing his intention to play with the Miami Heat, LeBron James rode at a bike-a-thon in his hometown of Akron — and thanked his fans in Cleveland for their seven years of support.

“To the city of Cleveland, my fans in Cleveland, my fans in northeast Ohio,” James said. “I want to say thank you for the last seven years and the years that continue to go in the future.

“So I want to thank the city of Cleveland, also northeast Ohio, for all the great years that I’ve had,” he continued.

A lot has been made of the nature of James’ relationship with the city of Cleveland, and the conflict was only exacerbated last week when LeBron took out an advertisement in an Akron newspaper that thanked fans of his hometown but made no mention of Cleveland.

While it is said that something that comes late is better than something that never comes at all, the belated status of James’ gratitude seems to show that it’s something he was reluctant to proclaim — and that others encouraged him to do it.

Now that his thanks are on the table, though, the fans of Cleveland aren’t necessarily satisfied. In fact, most of them were more likely expecting something in the apologetic range from their former King, but it seems very unlikely that will ever happen.

I’ve made no secret of my support for James’ right to make the decision he did and that he owes nothing to a city that he was really only contractually committed to.

However, when fans start burning your jerseys and pronouncing death threats, maybe it is just best for you to swallow your pride and throw the dogs a bone. Maybe James could just say he’s remorseful (even if he’s not) and make a hefty donation to the city in some way.

That way, the only storyline when the Heat come to the Quicken Loans Arena will be the beatdown that they put on the Cavaliers and not that James is being rushed to the hospital after being hit with a bullet.

Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21, Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals): D-

Any team that loses LeBron James has had a bad offseason. Any team that loses LeBron James and doesn’t make a move to account for it has had a terrible offseason. The only reason to hold out hope? They’ve hired Byron Scott, and he has a plan to implement an up-tempo system and make the requisite changes to make it work.

Milwaukee Bucks (46-36, Lost First Round): B

It was upsetting to see rising star Andrew Bogut crash to the floor at the end of the regular season and his arm splinter all over the floor as a result. It was even more upsetting to see the virtually zombified Atlanta Hawks top the Bucks in the first round before bowing out disgracefully to the Orlando Magic. Next year, though, figures to be kind to the Bucks. They managed to retain John Salmons, who was a key cog in their offensive scheme, and they signed journeyman Drew Gooden. Although his contract was a little steep, he’s a plus rebounder and a decent inside scorer that will provide valuable minutes for the Deer. Factor in Brandon Jennings in his second season and Bogut’s return, and they’re a team I’d like to watch.

Chicago Bulls (41-41, Lost First Round): A

The Bulls might not have snagged LeBron, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh, but they did just about everything else right. First of all, they secured Tom Thibodeau to be their head coach, a defensive mastermind who should do wonders for the development of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and others. Then they signed the next best thing on the market (except maybe Amar’e Stoudemire) in Carlos Boozer to anchor their post play and provide a solid companion for Rose on the pick and roll. The icing on the cake was adding Kyle Korver, possibly the best shooter in the NBA, and the defensive stopper Ronnie Brewer, who can keep most 2-guards in check. J.J. Redick would have been a nice nab, but as it stands, they did basically the best they could.

Indiana Pacers (32-50, Missed Playoffs): D+

The Pacers’ main priority this summer was to sign a serviceable point guard, and they’ve yet to do that. While selecting Paul George should be a solid player, they already have Danny Granger entrenched at the position. It probably would have been best for them to trade down in the draft and take Eric Bledsoe as the second-best 1 in the draft. Jim O’Brien’s going to have a tough time winning with this team next season.

Detroit Pistons (27-55, Missed Playoffs): C

The current roster for the Pistons probably isn’t destined for greatness, but they succeeded in re-signing Ben Wallace for two more years, and he’s still a force to be reckoned with on defense in the post. They also got Greg Monroe, who can provide quality offense in the post right off the bat. They’re not going to make the playoffs next year, but they’ll probably win more than 27 games.

Source: Yardbarker.com

The reactions to LeBron James’ decision to join the Miami Heat have, well, varied. Sure, there are all those lounging on the beach in Florida enthralled with the choice, hopeful for the onslaught that James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are likely to provide, but for each one of those, there’s a fan in Cleveland contemplating his or her suicide. And for those who fall into the second category, you’ve got to lay off the guy.

The man who is seen as representative of the city’s collective disgust is Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who hasn’t exactly kept quite about his feelings for the “self-proclaimed former king.” In what has been a most childish display of a misguided sense of superiority, Gilbert has exposed himself with a lengthy letter to fans that chided LeBron’s choice and foolishly declared that his team would win an NBA title before LeBron — a note that screamed immaturity in every way, down to the Comic Sans typeface that he chose to use.

But Gilbert didn’t stop there. In a move he must’ve thought was incredibly clever on his part (or, more likely, one of his brown-nosing assistants suggested it to him), the owner of the Fathead company reduced the price of the remaining LeBron cutouts from $99.99 to $17.41, symbolic of the birth year of Benedict Arnold — the most notable traitor in the history of this country. That’ll show LeBron, right?

But this massive about-face with regard to LeBron’s standing in the city is entirely unwarranted and a tad bit nauseating. The collective opinion is that LeBron, by “defecting” to Miami, stabbed a stake through the heart of “his” city, crippling the basketball team for years to come — and that he was wrong to do that. I ask you, however, why is that wrong?

The whole nature of free agency — the reason we have it — is to benefit the players. There’s a reason the Player’s Association grapples tooth and nail with the league and its owners every few years to squeeze everything possible out of a new collective bargaining agreement under the threat of lockout. The players need to have their freedoms. There was a time when players were unconditionally bound to their teams for their entire careers (barring trade) with no power at all. Is that what you’d rather have? Puppets playing with no true free will? I really doubt it. And I’m sure Cleveland fans will agree that not having LeBron is better than not having any basketball at all — which is what would happen if the league and owners stood pat on abolishing or limiting free agency next year.

So the following holds true: LeBron’s decision was completely legitimate. He exercised his freedom to change teams to try and win a championship.

Cleveland fans will argue the details, though. For one, “Gilbert and the team did everything they could to put together a championship-caliber team to help LeBron.” As much as everyone would like that to be true, Mo Williams is not a difference-maker. 38-year-old Shaquille O’Neal is not a difference-maker. And Antawn Jamison is not a difference-maker. Cleveland could have done many more things (including using Wally Szczerbiak’s massive expiring contract for talent) to try for the Larry O’Brien trophy in lieu of signing washed-up big men.

Next, Cleveland will argue: “Ohio is his home. He’s destined to win his championship here. We drafted him, so he should repay us.” The most obvious quibble with this argument is that players hardly win for their home teams. Was Kobe Bryant destined to win titles for the 76ers? Was Larry Bird destined to win titles for the Pacers? Was Magic Johnson destined to win titles for the Pistons? The answer is no. As for his being drafted to the Cavaliers, the only reason this is so is because the team sucked enough to get good lottery odds the year before and got lucky with four ping-pong balls. It’s not like they knew some secret about the kid that would have made any other team pass on him. He was one of the biggest players to ever enter the league. He doesn’t owe the city anything. The fans may very well have supported him, but support isn’t everything. Brian Scalabrine might be overwhelmingly supported in Boston, but it doesn’t mean he’s getting everything he wants out of his career.

The one argument that has any worth with regard to LeBron’s decision was the suggestion that his choice to announce the team on live television was a massive slap to the face. While this holds some degree of merit, the fact remains that the proceeds of the telecast went to charity and gave the Boys and Girls Clubs of America a heck of a lot of publicity as the host for the announcement. Is it so wrong that he thought of a way to leverage his incredible fame into a charitable cause? I think not. As for the analogies that this was like having your girlfriend dump you in front of the whole school, it’s not really the same thing. This moment was hyped for literally two years before it actually came to fruition. It’s not like no one would have known about it if he hadn’t announced it on TV. It would have stung just as much to read the news in print in the local newspaper or on ESPN’s BottomLine or to hear it coming out of Stan Verrett or Scott Van Pelt’s mouth. In fact, at least the guy had the guts to confront the audience himself.

In the end, LeBron took less money to go have fun, play with his friends, and situate himself to win a championship. He wasn’t consciously thinking, “How can I screw over the city that got me started in this league?,” he was making a basketball, business, and life decision. And the fact that you loathe him for it now, Cleveland, makes it much more obvious that  his talent was being wasted on a city that can’t appreciate the impending success of one of its own.