I'm going to jump straight to my point. WE NEED CARMELO ANTHONY. And last night was the reason. His ability to create his own shot would've made all the difference in the game. I know we all love our chemistry, but take the blinders off and use your basketball knowledge, we are, at best, a gritty low seed, with great chemistry. And that my friends, doesn't mean shit in a 7 game series. 

Someone explain to me, using last night as a reference, how we are better without Carmelo Anthony. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep Gallo, and ship away Chandler, but it seems like no one wants Wilson (i.e. Portland), so its looking like a deal might have to include both, or Gallo and Fields. (personally I think Fields would be more valuable than Chandler, so I'd prefer the first option). I think if this offer is on the table we pull the trigger right now. There is way too much of a burden on Amare to be the leading scorer, every night, and once teams start to cave in on Amare, (like the 2nd half of last night) we don't have a dynamite scorer to make the opposing team suffer. We can wait around for Gallo to develop, and risk that he's already peaked, or we can hope that Felton will take on the role of scorer, but he hasn't proven to be that type of every night player yet (I believe he can be, and is definitely an all-star for years to come, but right now he isn't there). OR we can deal for Anthony, a proven All-Star, and clutch, big time scorer. 

If our big three consists of a quick, tough distributer, an amazing scorer, and a dominant big man, we are better than the Miami Heat. And with right role players, a championship contender.  

(and FYI depth wasn't the issue last night, and on paper we supposedly match up against the Heat (for their lack of a big man) way better than we do against the Celtics, so obviously addressing a back up PG and getting a Center is important, it still wouldn't get us far)

I know we all love Landry Fields, and what he's brought to the table. We see in him what we saw and loved in the likes of David Lee, and John Starks. BUT personally, I believe that we could still use an upgrade at SG, and have Fields come off the bench. With that said, the rumor mill is churning, and it seems like OJ Mayo and the Grizzles are on the outs. What do you guys think about trading Wilson Chandler, and Anthony Randolph for OJ Mayo and maybe a second round pick or cash? It works in the trade machine (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=397wzyd). Let me know what you think. 

NBA.com just announced their top 10 rookie plays of November, and our beloved Landry Fields cracks the list at #7 (i think he deserved top 5). I may be biased, and let me know after you see the countdown, but I think the John Wall play was just that high because he's John Wall. Unfortunately, Blake Griffin posterizes two of our Knicks, in the top 2 plays.  But still its good seeing Landry, and his amazing athleticism, gain some notoriety around the league. 

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im not too sure how long he's gonna keep this on the site, so ima copy and paste his entire letter...great shit

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight; 

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier. 

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. 

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us. 

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you. 

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you. 

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal. 

You have given so much and deserve so much more. 

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: 

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE" 

You can take it to the bank. 

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels. 

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there. 

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works. 

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become. 

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio. 

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma. 

Just watch. 

Sleep well, Cleveland. 

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day.... 

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only: 

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue.... 

 

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers 

Yeah, I Said It! Mike D'Antoni's time in New York has officially run out. I never really supported bringing him here in the first place, but no one can knock his success prior to joining the Knickerbockers. His first year as head coach, for the Suns, he joined the team midway through the season. Under D'Antoni the Suns went 21-40. The next year was a complete turnaround, with the addition of Steve Nash, the Suns(62-20) cruised all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. The following season, the Suns went to the Western Conference Finals again, this time losing to the Dallas Mavericks. Both of these seasons Steve Nash was named NBA MVP. He then coached the Suns to two more 50+ win seasons, before he left for NY.

this is his story....

Donnie Walsh was the newly appointed president of basketball operations, and promised to turn this franchise around. His first executive decision(other than banning Isiah Thomas from Madison Square Garden) is to bring in Mike D'Antoni. We are then told that there is a master plan to get under the salary cap for the summer of 2010, so the next two seasons are basically a wash.

The 2008 NBA Draft comes around, and our pick is a forward out of Italy named, Danilo Gallinari, who also happens to be the son of one of Coach D'Antoni's former teammates. With this connection between the two, one could only assume D'Antoni had the last call on drafting Gallo. Now I won't throw him under the bus, but after an injury plagued rookie year, he has hit the wall pretty hard in his 2nd year (2nd year numbers: 13.8 ppg 5.1rpg 0.8bpg). At number 6 however, players that were still on the board included slow speaking Brook Lopez (2nd year numbers: 19.1 ppg 8.5 rpg 1.9bpg/arguably better than our resident all-star david lee),  Eric Gordan (2nd year numbers: 17.4 ppg 2.8 apg 2.6rpg) and Anthony Randolph (2nd year numbers: 11.6pg 6.5rpg 1.5bpg). Not to mention the untapped potential of DJ Augstin and Jared Bayless. 

The 08-09 campaign starts. Our prized but fragile first round pick get hurt in a summer league game, spends most of the first 2/3's of the season on pine. D'Antoni announces that Chris Duhon and Stephon Marbury will compete for the starting job, he then names Chris Duhon the starter. The season opener comes around, and the Knicks are playing the Miami Heat (who have a revitalized Dwayne Wade) pretty well. The second quarter comes around and Starbury is still sitting next to Eddy Curry on the bench (if memory serves me right, I think Curry did see some time on the court before heading to the locker room, to treat an injury) Me, being the Brooklyn-ite that I am, and resident of Coney Island, begin to chant "WE WANT STEPH!" by the end of the 2nd quarter the entire garden is chanting it. Knicks eventually go on to win the game, I go streaking because the Knicks are finally over .500. The next morning every media outlet in NYC is talking about Mike D'Antoni's reaction to said chant.(it went something like, 'You've got to be f*cking kidding me!) This eludes to Mike D'Antoni's now infamous ego(after all he did coach a MVP Steve Nash led team to 4 consecutive 50+ win seasons).After starting the season 6-3(maybe things are turning around?!) Donnie Walsh trades Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph for the likes of Cuttino Mobley and Al Harrington.  Minutes after this trade is announced I see Stephen A Smith on ESPNEWS telling the world that this is the greatest trade in NBA history, and he information that both LeBron James and Chris Bosh will be New York Knicks in 2010. (YAY!! we all throw donnie walsh a parade). Through January the Knicks are 20-25, not great, but still in the race for the 8th seed. And then that infamous 3 game home stand occurs in the beginning of February. Kobe embarrasses us, LBJ embarrasses us and the Celtic Big 3 embarrass us. We go 12-25 for the remainder of the season, Duhon is obviously run to the ground, Starbury remains on the bench, eventually to be bought out, and we have the #8 overall pick in the 2009 draft. Clearly, the drumming that the Knicks took by the hands of the NBA's 3 best teams took a toll on the confidence of the team, a good coach would some how turn that into a learning experience, motivation, something, anything, but not Mike D'Antoni. Strike One For Mike D'Antoni

Draft night 2009 comes around, everyone in NY knows that Stephen Curry is on the Knicks radar, but we really want Ricky Rubio. Unfortunately the T'Wolves draft Rubio at #4 and the Warriors take Stephen Curry from right under our noses at #7. The Knicks are on the clock now, and obviously since we wanted to draft a guard, we will draft some other guard, in this guard-heavy draft class. Instead, Jordan Hill is called to the podium, and is greeted by boo's from the New York crowd(funny how that same crowd was sad to see him go). The experts tell us Jordan Hill was drafted because he can be the next Amare Stoudamire, we buy into (I mean these guys are called experts for a reason right?). His numbers go a little something like this (4.0ppg 2.5rpg) granted he didnt get much playing time. Players drafted after him you ask? Most notable, Brandon Jennings (#1 player in high school before going to Europe for a year) 16.1ppg 6.1 apg, Darren Collison 10.4ppg 4.6apg (more importantly, since CP3 has gone down with injury 20.3ppg 9.7apg), Also the likes of Rodrigue Boibois(remember him?) Ty Lawson and Jrue Holiday, whom haven't gotten time to shine but still put better numbers up thatn Jordan Hill. We also draft Toney Douglas, who is getting 6ppg in only 13mpg this season. (Why doesn't D'Antoni give Toney Douglas the opportunity to Do What Toney Douglas Do?  

There is some speculation that the decision to draft Jordan Hill came from Donnie Walsh, so I can't blame D'Antoni for that (plus I think he is a bust, why isn't he getting any playing time in Houston, which is a team that doesn't even have a center?)

Now, we are in the 2009-10 NBA season, and I'm pretty sure you all know how that has gone (it consisted of many blow outs, a loss to the NETS Duhon trying to be a leader by calling out teammates, those teammates laughing at him, nate robinson being benched, nate robinson requesting a trade, nate robinson getting traded, david lee being names a replacement allstar, Larry Hughes getting benched, Larry Hughes asking for a trade, Larry Hughes being traded, Duhon being benched, trading away everything except the rights to Madison Square Garden for Tracy McGrady's expiring contract and as of March 2nd 2010 a record of 20-39. Of those 39 losses, we have had a 50 point massacre at home (Rodrigue Boibois?) and last nights gang bang by the Cavaliers. Which brings me to D'Antoni's second strike. During the post game interview's for both of these games, after both of these games, he showed no fire, no anger, no disgust, he just laughed it up with reporters (when asked if the knicks gave full effort after the Dallas game, he replied "I sure hope not (ahuk haha ahuk)") I know the Knicks are once again the laughing stock of the league, but why are you laughing with them Mr. D'Antoni? Strike Two for Mike D'Antoni

It is clear to me that D'Antoni was brought here not to win games, but as another prop to lure players in come 2010, because he is a players coach. So not only do you get Broadway, but you get to take as many bad shots as you want. But a quote from the King following last nights game shoots this down. "I've never played for a team that didn't play defense". Strike Three for Mike D'Antoni

Donnie Walsh better get Coach K on the phone.

eddie house may be a better pure point guard, less of a knuckle head, a dantoni favorite, and a pure shooter...but you must admit nate had some real cojones for a smurf....man..breaking up is hard to do :'(

also..im not sure how many ppl checked out the special TNT ran during all star saturday about nate (and spud webb)... hes a freak of an athlete and a great person..the only thing im hoping for the remainder of the season is a TMac showing in the garden..i wouldnt mind a 50 point performance...best of luck nate