Entries tagged as ‘Cleveland Cavaliers’
No doubt you’ve heard about what is sure to be (irritatingly) dubbed Dunkgate.
If you haven’t, a quick catch-up: LeBron James was dunked on by a 19-year old college baller during a scrimmage. Some dude filmed it. LeBron had Nike representatives seize the tape, presumably to destroy it.
Understandably, most basketball fans want to see this now-famous jam. Not necessarily for the content; if you’re protecting the rim, occasionally you’re going to get dunked on, and such an occurrence is hardly earth-shattering. No, the punters want to see it because they’re not allowed to.
Except for the fans in Ohio. They’re a little too sissy to cop footage of their sensitive superstar having a ball stuffed in his face:
From ESPN:
Dear Ohio: you're a pack of babies.
Let us hope the tape never sees the light of day, lest the delicate sensibilities of Ohio natives everywhere be offended.
Posted By: Anton
Join the #defollowbosh movement on Twitter.
Categories: Off The Court
Tagged: Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, Nike
El Floppino earns his cash.
ESPN.com is reporting that Anderson Varejao, the most irritating-to-watch player in the game, is about to be rewarded by Cleveland with a base contract of $42.5M over 6 years, with incentives likely to push it to $50M.
This is the worst signing ever done by a team. Bar none. This makes Rashard Lewis’ contract look like the bargain buy of the century. Hell, it makes Isiah look good. Here’s the facts:
- You have a remarkably unlikable guy on your books for six years, even if LeBron leaves, because no one else will want him.
- You’re paying a guy $50M when he has barely managed to average 8 and 7 in a season.
- His idea of playing defence is to fall as theatrically as possible.
- You’re paying Anderson fucking Varejao $50M.
I’m going outside to kick a cat.
Posted by: Alex
See Further: Our dot-comrades over at NBAMate have a great wrap-up of Varejao’s repugnant idiocy, which is also where I found the above image.
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Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers, Isiah Thomas, LeBron James, Rashard Lewis
Being an NBA GM is tough. Unlike the rest of us, who have studied at university or (at least) high school to achieve the requisite qualifications for our job, NBA GMs inevitably come from backgrounds as former sharp-shooters, low-post threats or dotcom billionaires. It must be tough to be so ill-qualified to run a basketball team/business — which is why the Count has provided the Cliff notes for the 2009-2010 off-season:
Sometimes flowcharts speak louder than words (click to enlarge).
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Categories: Sport Count Guide
Tagged: Allen Iverson, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Lakers, LeBron James, Mark Cuban, Orlando Magic, Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest, Shaquille O'Neal, Vince Carter
Perhaps Daryl Morey has been spending too much time at Marcin Gortat’s house.
With Morey looking for tall men to man the middle with Yao Ming potentially facing a career-ending injury, the signing of Ron Artest appears to have been neglected. Artest looks to be leaving Houston for greener pastures, and a shot at a championship.
In an apparent farewell message, Ron thanks the city of Houston.
His brother, Daniel Artest, also seems sure Ron won’t be re-signing with the Rockets, urging him to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Regardless of how much sway Daniel has with Ron, it appears the short-lived Artest era is over in Houston.
Most pundits expected Artest to re-sign with Houston, citing the weak economy and the perception of Artest as a locker room liability as the key factors weakening interest in the defensively talented forward.
Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers have their full mid-level exceptions on offer. Other teams with more cap space on offer, like the Grizzlies or Thunder, are not expected to make offers to Artest.
Posted By: Anton
Update: Ron has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Categories: Signings & Firings
Tagged: Cleveland Cavaliers, Daniel Artest, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma Thunder, Ron Artest
Because of the superstar (right) the rarely-used veteran (left) gets stacks of cash (middle)
Last season, Cleveland Cavaliers back-up centre Lorenzen Wright was paid $1,262,275. It’s fair to say he didn’t earn that money.
He played in just seventeen games, at a pay rate of $74,251.47 per appearance. Only once did he play more than 25 minutes: in the last game of the season, a loss to Philadelphia in which coach Mike Brown gave the Cleveland starters a pre-playoff rest.
Lorenzen Wright is a classic bench warmer, a semi-serviceable veteran with a pulse, and the ability to play a few minutes if a) the Cavaliers are up by 30 with three minutes to go or b) the four big men ahead of him die just before the game.
So, when Wright contributes so little — beyond a beating heart — why is he paid so well? Why is such an easily replaceable player compensated so handsomely?
(more…)
Categories: Desperate Pleas · Sport Count Feature · Uncategorized
Tagged: Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Lorenzen Wright, Yao Ming
