The Cavs are going down tonight. Guaranteed.

[cordobes]

Wizards Win. Yesss.  With a healthy KG we win the east this year.  I'm sorry but Lebron and mo williams, not enough.

That's what 3 Superstars does for you. Consistent effort every game.  Plus Rondo. Going down Lebrons. Going down.

If that's what the Cavs get for losing one likely meaningless regular season game to Washington (they haven't mathematically clinched the top seed yet, but it's going to take an incredible collapse), I wonder what an appropriate response would be to the Celtics getting blown out in Indiana, getting run out in the fourth quarter in New York or losing in Charlotte, all of which occurred with a healthy KG.

I'm a fan and certainly feel optimistic about our chances with a healthy core.  But your assessment is a complete non-sequitur.  

-sw

Great post. TP.

[cordobes]

Hey, and I'm the Granger specialist here! I'm not conceding this until anyone answer this trivia: which NBA record will Granger beat by the end of this season?

If you think that ESPN piece is good, read this one:
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:7xE18-mSsBwJ:www.indystar.com/article/20090118/SPORTS15/901180371/+A+father%27s+guiding+hand&cd=2&hl=pt-PT&ct=clnk&gl=pt&client=firefox-a

Absolutely superb.

The thing I like more about Granger is how he's always been developing his game from one season to another. That's his biggest asset by far. He still has some serious weaknesses though, who does a very good job pointing them out.

[Atzar]

Hey, and I'm the Granger specialist here! I'm not conceding this until anyone answer this trivia: which NBA record will Granger beat by the end of this season?

Isn't he the first player to increase his ppg average by 5 three years in a row?  Is that what you're talking about?

Edit:  Just got through the story.  Great read.

[hpantazo]

I just started watching, but has Arenas looked this sluggish all game?

Yep.  The Wizards look a lot better with him and Haywood back, though.

I really hope by the grace of god Lebron James does not get into the conference finals against the C's....at this point he just puts his head down and runs into people...ugh. I do not wanna watch this for 7 games

It's gonna get him injured at some point.  As physical as he plays, he's been extraordinarily lucky thus far in his career.

Yeah, Arenas clearly isn't himself, but he's geting it done in other ways tonight.  I'm not fond of Arenas, but credit where credit's due:  this was a gutsy game from him.

Varejao fouls more than anybody in the league.

Mikki Moore says hi.

Well played.  TP, jpd.

Atzar, I'd probably agree that AV does his share of acting, but would you agree with me in taking a player like him on your team any day?  I love the energy he gives them off the bench, especially at the defensive end and on the offensive glass.  And if he can pull a few fast ones on the officials from time to time, more power to him.

-sw

I agree, except how many of those fast ones do you think he would get away with if lebron was not on his team?

[The Walker Wiggle]

First off, TP to the OP. He called it.

Secondly, what is going on in Washington? Am I the only one that finds the Wizards' late season push confounding? Jamison and Butler are frequently playing 40+ mpg; Haywood is back on the court; Arenas is playing in home games. A win against Cleveland is great for moral, and silences a lot of doubters, but the same rotation, sans Arenas, also lost to the Grizzlies.

Leaving lottery odds out of it, wouldn't it make more sense to save the vets' legs - Jamison in particular - and develop prospects? Possibly even take the opportunity to give one or another D-League star an extended try out? (Try to find the next Ramon Sessions.) Minutes are going to be much scarcer next season for Blatche, Young, McGee, and Pecherov. And the one thing all four seem to have in common is a need for more game exposure.

[Hova]

Any of you guys think that with the cavs loss yesterday, they might lose tonight and then to the Spurs and then to the Celts and then there last game against Philly because of rest in the last game of the season?  And then the Celts take first place in the conference?

[Tai]

Any of you guys think that with the cavs loss yesterday, they might lose tonight and then to the Spurs and then to the Celts and then there last game against Philly because of rest in the last game of the season?  And then the Celts take first place in the conference?

To me, it's unlikely. But hey, never say never, right?

[Edgar]

Any of you guys think that with the cavs loss yesterday, they might lose tonight and then to the Spurs and then to the Celts and then there last game against Philly because of rest in the last game of the season?  And then the Celts take first place in the conference?

if for some reason they lose tonight, they will play last game of the season like if its a playoff one and keep the homecourt
no way.

[RAcker]

Any of you guys think that with the cavs loss yesterday, they might lose tonight and then to the Spurs and then to the Celts and then there last game against Philly because of rest in the last game of the season?  And then the Celts take first place in the conference?

if for some reason they lose tonight, they will play last game of the season like if its a playoff one and keep the homecourt
no way.

Agreed.  That would be a monumental collapse and total choke. 

Do you actually think that David Stern will let that happen?   

[cordobes]

Hey, and I'm the Granger specialist here! I'm not conceding this until anyone answer this trivia: which NBA record will Granger beat by the end of this season?

Isn't he the first player to increase his ppg average by 5 three years in a row?  Is that what you're talking about?

That's correct. Even more impressive if you consider he did it while keeping a 57% TS% and increasins his AST% from 7 to 14. I nominate you co-Grangerologist.

Edit:  Just got through the story.  Great read.

It is, isn't it? It's funny that I started to admire Granger very early in his rookie season as a draft steal (so, purely as a player) but then he grew on me essentially because I found him a very personnable guy - in the interviews, reading about his philantropic work, his behaviour on the court, etc. But I had no idea about his upbringings till reading that piece. I intended to link it here when it was published but I forgot till now.