Cavaliers news, features and notes
- Cavs prepare for visit with UNLV’s Anthony Bennett
- NBA Draft: Cleveland Cavaliers could make Ben McLemore first shooting guard to go No. 1 in nearly 40 years
- Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, Tyler Zeller invited to minicamp for national team
- Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller chosen for Team USA minicamp
- Offensive-minded Igor Kokoskov to join Mike Brown’s staff with Cavaliers
- Cavs to hire offensive-minded Igor Kokoskov for Mike Brown's coaching staff
- Jason Lloyd: Lottery victory brings Cavs plenty of options through trades and draft
- Cleveland Cavaliers win draft lottery, will pick No. 1 again
- Cavs win draft lottery, will pick No. 1 in NBA Draft
- NBA Draft lottery: Cavs’ third-best odds have history of turning into top selection
Power Rankings From Around the Internet - Cavs Tumble?
Forgive me for not posting this last week, but I was on vacation and when a crappy Internet connection Puerto Rico wouldn't allow me to update the blog regularly, I took it as a sign that I should perhaps actually vacation. Oh dopey me.
Don't worry about me. Love the 85 degree weather, the ocean, the mojitos, daiquiris, pina coladas and the tour of the Bacaardi rum distillery. Based on those attributes alone, I will begin a campaign to make that island territory a state.
As you might guess, the Cavs tumbled in power rankings in the past week. A major trade and three consecutive losses will wreak havoc with you like that.
John Hollinger - math guru extraordinaire and all-around formula genius - has the Cavs ranked fourth based on his headache inducing formula. This shouldn't be a shock to anyone who is reasonable.
And if you're not, try this dose of reality from Hollinger's compatriot at ESPN, Marc Stein:
Rest assured that the Cavs will eventually get Big Z back without much league interference. I'm pretty sure their mojo will be back soon, too, because a no-brainer trade and Mo Williams' return have to be positives. Agreed?Stein has the Cavs ranked numero dos in his rankings.
Ditto Chris Mannix over at SI.com. And Mannix asks a salient question regarding the move the Cavs made last week:
The Cavaliers, who were riding a 13-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break, didn't fit the profile of a team needing a shakeup at the NBA trade deadline. But with LeBron James' impending free agency and the sting of last year's loss in the Eastern Conference finals ratcheting up the sense of urgency, the Cavs made the biggest splash, acquiring former All-Star Antawn Jamison from Washington.
Mike Brown again has to figure out how best to use a new frontcourt, which now has just one center and just one decent defender. The defense (116.5 rating) has been the problem as the Cavs have lost three straight for the first time since March of 2008.