Tag: Cleveland Cavaliers

Who Knew Tuesday Could Be So Exciting?!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

Who said the only thing to talk about is the Super Bowl??

As players, coaches, and fans arrive in Minneapolis for Super Bowl LII, teams around the NFL are making their own Super Bowl push….

Dominoes Are Fun

Once the first piece goes, the rest fall into place. Tuesday night, Alex Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins. Instantly, Kirk Cousins’ muddled future in Washington D.C. became a lot clearer.

Redskins Get: QB Alex Smith

Chiefs Get: CB Kendall Fuller and a 3rd round pick

This trade can’t become official until March 14th (start of the NFL year). This secures Patrick Mahomes’ future as the starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, and assures that Kirk Cousins will don a different jersey next season. The question is: Which one??

Reportedly, Alex Smith (33 years old) will sign a 4-year extension worth $94 million, including $71 million guaranteed. The $94 million part is believable. The $71 million part can’t possibly be accurate. The Redskins would be really, REALLY DUMB to give a 33-year old quarterback that much guaranteed money….

I Want To Be Part Of History

harden-james

We’re all part of history, just not equally. James Harden’s role in history is slightly different than ours. Harden, without the services of Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza, and Eric Gordon (for nearly 3 quarters), literally put the rest of his team on his back. Okay, not literally, but he scored more than half of his teams points en route to a 114-107 victory over the Orlando Magic. And broke 2 records along the way.

Harden’s 60 points broke the Houston Rockets’ record for most points in a single-game (Calvin Murphy, 57 points). That record stood for 40 years. Harden also became the 1st player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 60 points:

60 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block

Ummmm, holy crap!

The Injury Bug Is Real

kevin love

Injuries are contagious. In the past week, not 1, not 2, but 3 All-Stars have gone down with significant injuries. First, DeMarcus Cousins’ season ended with a ruptured Achilles. Then, John Wall needed a knee scope, putting him on the shelf for 6-8 weeks. And now, Kevin Love will also miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured left hand.

Today, I plead with the players of the NBA. Be extra careful when you cross the street. Don’t run down the stairs in socks. And don’t go skydiving. For you never know when the injury bug is coming for you.

The Knicks Actually Won A Game?!

It’s hard to believe, but yes, the New York Knicks won a basketball game last night. It’s a lot easier when you’re at home, against the Brooklyn Nets, but as they say, a win is a win.

I attended this game and had a great time!!

If you haven’t been to Madison Square Garden since Patrick Ewing played for the Knicks, make an effort to go. The renovations have improved the fan experience, and concession lines have greatly improved. As for television sets lining each section’s front row, I’ll never understand that. Why would you pay for tickets and then watch the game on TV from your seat?!?!

As for the game, Kristaps Porzingis was on, dropping 28 points while shooting 6 for 8 from 3-point range. Enes Kanter had the quietest 20 point/20 rebound game you’ll ever see. And the Knicks took down the Nets 111-95.

The Knicks have now won 2 games in a row.

“If they win tonight, that’s called a winning streak. It has happened before.”

 

Were you surprised the Redskins traded for Alex Smith?? Where do you think Kirk Cousins will play next season?? Tell me in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

The Knicks Continue Their Losing Ways

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

porzingis vs wizards

The Knicks suck!!

No need to sugar coat it. However, you may want to shield your child’s eyes when they’re on TV.

The Knicks spent Wednesday evening in Washington D.C. Playing in the 2nd of back-to-back games, the Knicks predictably left their talent, skill, energy, and will to win at home. The Washington Wizards dominated the Knicks, 121-103. The Knicks are now a putrid 3-13 on the road and 18-20 overall on the season.

For the 2nd consecutive game, Michael Beasley led the Knicks in scoring, off the bench. Beasley dropped 20 points to go along with his 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. While he continues to impress, it’s not a good sign for the health of the Knicks. To succeed, the Knicks will need Kristaps Porzingis to step up his game. They’ll also need to figure out how to win on the road. With 12 of their next 15 games on the road, buckle up, it’s going to get bumpy!!

I said this last night on my radio show, and I’ll say it again here:

The Knicks will not be above .500 again, at any point this season. That ship has sailed. There’s another ship sailing right alongside the .500 ship; the playoff ship. There is no chance the Knicks make the playoffs this year. And I will stick with my original prediction of 34 wins this season. You can find me right here, everyday, as I’ll be waiting for apologies from the misguided souls who thought this was a playoff team capable of winning 44 or more games.

The Knicks next test will be another road game, against the Miami Heat. You can watch the Knicks lose again on Friday @ 8:00 P.M. EST.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Lebron Vs. Kyrie Part II. Eastern Conference Finals Preview. Whatever you call it, it was a struggle for Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers, as a whole, played really poorly. They shot just 34.8% from the floor, 25% from 3-point range, and scored just 88 points. Apparently, even the “King” and company have off nights. Ironically, they were PERFECT from the free throw line (18-18).

Kevin Love thought it was a good idea to have the worst game of his career:

2 points on just 1 of 11 from the field. Nice work Kev-O!!

No panic button necessary. The Cavaliers will be just fine. I feel bad for the Magic, as the Cavaliers roll into Orlando Saturday @ 7:00 P.M. EST.

 

Will the Knicks finish .500 or better this season?? Will they make the playoffs?? Will the Cavaliers represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals again?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

The NBA Is Really Stupid Sometimes

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 4 Comments

kevin-durant-lebron

Christmas is a special day.

Family. Friends. Cookies (oh so many cookies). Santa. And a quintuple-header of NBA basketball games. Most notably the NBA Finals rematch between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. Monday’s game marked the 1st time they’ve played since last year’s NBA Finals. A highly competitive, hard fought game was overshadowed by a handful of “missed” calls.

Let’s start with the facts. The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-92. The Warriors now hold the best record in the NBA at 27-7 while the Cavaliers sit in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference at 24-10. That’s enough facts for 1 minute. Now, let’s get to my ever popular opinion….

Despite their early success, the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics don’t stand a chance. Barring major injury to 1 or more key players on the Cavaliers or Warriors, the world will be watching Cavs Vs. Warriors Part 4 in June. Hopefully there will be less complaining about fouls come June.

During the last few minutes of Monday’s game, Lebron James felt he was fouled multiple times, by Kevin Durant. The league agrees. We know the league agrees because since March of 2015, the NBA brain trust decided it would be a good idea to release a “Last Two Minute Report”. This report was implemented to publicize a play-by-play review of all relevant calls and non-calls made (or not made) by referees in the final 2 minutes (and overtime) of games contested by 5-points or less. Said reports will not retroactively change the outcome of any game. They’re solely in place to make the league “more transparent”.

Oh yeah, that should help Lebron James sleep at night. The league might as well say this:

“Hey Lebron, we just wanted to confirm your suspicion that you were fouled by Durant (twice). No no, we’re not going to change the calls or award your team a victory, we just wanted to rub salt in the wound.”

To which I’m sure Lebron would reply, “Thank you so much!!”

**What’s funny is, no one’s talking about Lebron having more turnovers (7) than assists (6) in this game. No one’s talking about Lebron going 2 for 7 from 3-point range. No one’s talking about the Cavaliers scoring just 16 points in the 2nd quarter. And no one’s talking about the Cavaliers shooting just 31.8% from the field.**

Listen, a “Last Two Minute Report” is a REALLY STUPID idea. The league, players, and fans need to accept that there’s human error involved in every sport. Calls made by referees, in a split second, are subjective. Not subjective in a ‘biased’ way. Subjective in a ‘that’s the way the referee happened to see it’ way. The same referee, on the same play, may make the exact opposite call a day later.

Dear NBA,

Unless you’re going to expand your replay system to include foul calls, please don’t give me a detailed criticism of every call made, or not made, the following day. This LITERALLY doesn’t help anyone. Thanks.

Sincerely,

DaveTalksSports

 

What do you think of the officiating in the NBA?? Don’t hold back. Tell me what you think in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

Lebron James Is A Punk!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

lebron-james-kanter-ap

There they are!!

The Knicks I’ve known and loved for so many years.

After holding a 22-point lead, at home, with 1:39 left to play in the 3rd quarter, the New York Knicks set their vehicle to cruise control. That may work against the Sacramento Kings, but not the Cleveland Cavaliers. When rookie, Frank Ntilikina, hit a driving layup to put the Knicks up 75-53, Lebron and Co. flipped a switch. The Cavs would go on an 8-1 run to close the quarter, carrying momentum into the 4th quarter.

A wise man, formerly employed by the Knicks, once told me, “You need 8, and you have to win the 4th quarter. It’s as simple as that.”

Well, 8 they had. As for the 4th quarter….not so much. The Knicks gave up 43 points in the 4th quarter. THE KNICKS GAVE UP 43 POINTS IN THE 4TH QUARTER!! My defeatist, Knicks fan attitude knew the game was lost when the Cavs cut the lead from 14 to 4 over a 2 minute and 25 second stretch. That was about the time Kyle Korver caught fire. Korver would drain five 3-pointers last night, all in the 4th quarter. Side note: Korver scored more points in the 4th quarter (19) than the Cavs scored in the 2nd quarter (13).

With 90 seconds left and counting, and the game tied at 97, Lebron James did what Lebron James does. On the grand stage at Madison Square Garden (superstars always show out at the Garden), Lebron drove a dagger through the heart of the Knicks.

Click here to see my pain in motion. Nothing like a step-back, 27-foot 3-pointer right in Porzingis’ face, right??

So, the Cavs won, 104-101, exacting revenge from the Knicks win in Cleveland just 10 days earlier. Lebron James continues to dominate the NBA 48 minutes at a time. However, Lebron James, should be ashamed of his actions over the past few days.

Lebron made some off-beat comments about the Knicks’ decision to draft Frank Ntilikina over Dennis Smith Jr.:

“The Knicks passed on a really good one, and Dallas got the diamond in the rough. He should be a Knick. That’s going to make some headlines, but he should be a Knick.”

In other words, the Knicks made the wrong decision drafting Ntilikina. It doesn’t matter who the other player (Smith Jr.) is, this is a shot at Ntilikina. Lebron can say this was one last parting shot at Phil Jackson all he wants — that’s bull****!! Hey Lebron, newsflash, Phil’s been gone for quite some time now. There’s no reason to take parting shots at a guy who already got run out of town.

And then, Lebron put his pathetic words into action, showing Ntilikina whose space, and league, he’s in. Click here to see Lebron’s punk move. Watch until the end.

LEBRON JAMES IS A PUNK!!

A 19-year old rookie, who hasn’t opened his mouth once, shouldn’t be on a list of concerns for a player like Lebron James. He should be more concerned with staying above .500 in a weak Eastern Conference.

Conversely, I have earned A LOT of respect for Enes Kanter this week. First, he responds to Lebron’s comments: “Nope!! We love what we got..Thanks!!!” Then he gets right in Lebron’s face, in defense of his teammate. AND THEN, after last night’s game, he makes a sports journalists’ dream come true:

“I don’t care who you are. What do you call yourself? King, Queen, Princess. Whatever you are. We’re going to fight. Nobody out there is going to punk us.”

Good for you Enes Kanter, good for you!!

Stay tuned. I have a feeling this story isn’t over yet….

 

What do you think of Lebron James’ actions over the past few days?? Is last night’s game a sign of things to come for the Knicks?? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

Porzingis Leads 4th Quarter Comeback At The Garden!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

porzingis

It’s a miracle!!

The New York Knicks have a winning record (5-4)!!

We can thank 1 man for that. No, not James Dolan. Not Phil Jackson. Not Jesus.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS!!

Thanks to the Latvian wonder boy, the Knicks are winners of 5 of their last 6 games. Most notably, a road, blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last Sunday (114-95). While impressive, Porzingis took his early season achievements to new heights last night. Down 12 to the Indiana Pacers entering the 4th quarter, Porzingis put on a show. He scored 17 of his 40 points in the 4th quarter, claiming a 108-101 victory. Yes, you heard that right — 40!!

Porzingis’ Stat-Line: 40 points (15-24), 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 1 assist

At the ripe old age of 22, Kristaps Porzingis is carrying the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. And this isn’t any old city. This is the Big Apple. Many have succumb to the pressure of succeeding in New York. Not Porzingis. He’s taken the reigns as the centerpiece of the Post-Melo Knicks, and he’s steering the ship in the right direction. The question is, can the Knicks surround Porzingis with enough talent to compete, and ultimately, stay in New York??

Knowing my Knicks, they’ll figure out how to screw this up. Until then, let’s enjoy Mr. Latvia.

______________________________________________________________________________________

There is little doubt who the best team in the NFL is; The Philadelphia Eagles. As for teams 2 through 12, I have no freakin’ clue. The Eagles now stand at 8-1, after a dominating 51-23 victory over the hapless Denver Broncos. Hey Denver, how did you think starting Brock Osweiler at quarterback was going to go?!

We saw something in the Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers game, we may never see again — ever. Julio Jones, one of the most talented, sure-handed wide receivers in the NFL, dropped the easiest touchdown in the history of touchdowns. If you didn’t see it, check it out here.

Dropping a wide open touchdown hurts all the time, but down 10, with 8:23 to play, on 4th & 7 adds salt to the wound. “I’m sure this won’t haunt you forever.”

Apparently yesterday was boxing day. No, not the day after Christmas in places that don’t matter. There were a lot of fights in the NFL….

AJ Green showed the world his best UFC style choke slam on Sunday. Jacksonville Jaguars’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey was his victim. Check out brawl #1 of many here. Both players were promptly ejected.

Mike Evans thought it was a good idea to blindside Marshon Lattimore. Brawl #2 ensued. Click here to watch the stupidity. Inexplicably, no one was ejected.

And last but not least, the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers got into a straight up brawl. Following a late hit to 49ers’ quarterback, C.J. Beathard, fisticuffs happened. Click here to watch the melee.

 

What did you watch on Sunday?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below. Just don’t try to fight me please.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

‘Cause You’re My Best Friend!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

LeBron-james-Dwyane-Wade-Cavs-jersey

Brother.

Definition: A man or boy in relation to other sons and daughters of his parents.

Sometimes, definitions need not apply. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade don’t have the same mother or father, but they’re certainly brothers. Don’t take my word for it. Read Lebron’s words, “It’s kind of like when you start school and you walk into the classroom and you’re not quite sure who your classmates are, but one of your best friends is in there, you’re like, oh yeah, this is going to be fun. It’s going to be a good class.”

Not that Lebron is walking into a classroom of strangers, but he’s clearly giddy to see Dwyane Wade sitting next to an empty seat.

Wednesday evening, Dwyane Wade became the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. This move became possible when the Chicago Bulls agreed to buyout Wade. Wade walked away with $15.8 of his $23.8 million salary for this upcoming season. Hey, anyone want nearly $16 million to go away?? Yes, I’ll literally pay you to not work for me anymore.

By the way, the worse the Bulls get, the better the draft pick the Knicks received from the Thunder looks (via the Bulls). 

Following the buyout, Wade cleared waivers at 5:00 P.M., making him eligible to sign with any team. Wade agreed to a 1-year, $2.3 million contract with the Cavaliers, otherwise known as the veteran’s minimum (same as new teammate Derrick Rose).

I know what you’re thinking, that sounds like a really good deal for the Cavaliers. Duh! Dwyane Wade, at 35, is still a good player. If he hit the open market in free agency, he would earn upwards of $10 million per year. Dwyane Wade is coming to Cleveland for 2 things (not crab cakes and football), a chance at 1 more ring and to hang out with his best bud.

The question is, will the Cavaliers win the championship this season?? Everyone knows the road to the championship goes through Golden State. That’s the main reason we’ve seen an INSANE offseason. Every team is scratching and clawing to compete with the Warriors. The new look Cavaliers should waltz through the Eastern Conference — again. However, barring an injury, it’s hard to picture a world where the Warriors aren’t NBA champions in 2018.

The primary reason the Cavaliers lost to the Warriors in the finals last year, wasn’t the superstars faltering, rather their lack of depth and size. While adding Wade, Jae Crowder, and Jeff Green solves the depth problem, they still lack the size to compete inside and on the boards with the Warriors. Check out the Cavaliers roster here. There are worse situations than Crowder, Green, Rose, Jr Smith, and Kyle Korver coming off your bench, but I still don’t see a 7-footer on the roster. If Tristan Thompson is your only big, ‘Houston, we have a problem’.

 

What do you think of this trade?? Will the Cavaliers win the Championship this year?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:10 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

Point Guard Swap Headlines Blockbuster Trade

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

kyrie trade

The NBA has become the gift that keeps on giving. Just when you think the NBA is going to fade into the background, BAM (yes that was an Emeril Lagasse reference) they’re right back in the news. Tuesday evening, the Twitter machine blew up, thanks to a massive trade. Two Eastern Conference juggernauts pulled off a blockbuster deal:

Cleveland Cavaliers get:

Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and a 2018 1st-round pick (via the Brooklyn Nets)

Boston Celtics get:

Kyrie Irving

 

There are so many storylines here my head is spinning, but let’s get a hold of ourselves, and make a to-do list:

  1. Kyrie Irving gets what he wants
  2. We finally get the answer to the question: When will Danny Ainge make his move??
  3. With the impending departure of Lebron James in 2018, can the Cavaliers make 1 last run at the Warriors??
  4. Last, but certainly not least, who won the trade??

 

Kyrie Irving got what he wanted. He got traded off the team run by the best player in the world, so he can be the man. Forget his little, 4-team wish list (Spurs, Timberwolves, Heat, and Knicks), Irving landed in the best situation possible!!  Not only will he be the man in Boston, but he still has a cake walk to the Eastern Conference Finals. Until then, we can talk about the potentially awkward, pre-game handshake between Lebron James and Kyrie Irving….

Danny Ainge had to make a splash eventually, right?? After accumulating multiple 1st-round draft picks and young talent, the basketball world impatiently awaited the day Danny Ainge would cash-in. Well, that day was yesterday. The question is, was this the right move?? Relax, we’ll get there!! Didn’t you read my to-do list??

The entire upcoming NBA season will be spent talking about Lebron James. Will he stay in Cleveland?? Will he leave again?? Where will he go?? This is inevitable when you sign 1-year contracts. Now the question will be, will Lebron AND Isaiah stay?? They’re both free agents after this season, so it looks like the Cavaliers are taking 1 last run at the Golden State Warriors. The Cavaliers are better than they were yesterday, but they’ll still come up short in a grudge match with the Warriors. Sorry Cavs fans.

And finally, who won the trade?? This is a mega-deal between the 2 best teams in the Eastern Conference. This trade makes sense for both teams on multiple levels, but the Cavaliers won the trade. Yes, Kyrie Irving is great. Yes, Kyrie Irving is under contract for 3 more years. Yes, I’m hungry. Oops, I mean, yes, Kyrie Irving is only 25. But, the Cavaliers still got the better end of the deal. Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving are the same player. Outstanding, score-first point guards who play VERY little defense. So, the Cavaliers obviously got the better deal in the short-term. But they also got the better deal in the long-term.

They received a 7-foot, 20-year old prospect in Ante Zizic. If you want to learn about the big fella, just click on his interesting name. They also received the Nets 1st-round pick in 2018 (which will be a very good pick). And being completely overshadowed by the little guys, is Jae Crowder. I like Jae Crowder. He’s a strong (6’6″, 235 lbs.), versatile player, who plays both ends of the floor. And the best part about Crowder is his contract; 5-years, $35 million (runs through 2020). That’s a bargain!!

I tip my cap to you Koby Altman. Altman is the newly hired, Doogie Howser General Manager (36 years old) of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and this was his 1st major move. Nice work sir!!

 

What do you think of this trade?? Who do you think got the better end of the deal?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

I’m Taking My Ball, And I’m Going….Nowhere??

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 4 Comments

kyrie irving

To trade him or not to trade him?? That is the question. Following the NBA’s primary Free Agency season, they have remained in the spotlight. Adam Silver is probably sitting in a dark room somewhere, doing his best Dr. Evil impersonation while counting stacks of money. The buzz around the league was dying down, until news broke out of Cleveland last week: Kyrie Irving requested a trade out of Cleveland. This has caused the levees to open, and the rumors to come pouring in.

Media outlets and reporters everywhere are speculating why Kyrie Irving wants to be traded away from the Eastern Conference juggernaut, and that’s all it is, speculation. No one knows exactly what’s going on in Kyrie Irving’s mind. No one knows what the dichotomy is like in the Cavaliers’ locker room. And no one knows if the Cavaliers will actually trade Irving. See, even if Irving did request a trade, the Cavaliers don’t HAVE to trade him. He is under team control, and if Dan Gilbert wants to make 1 more trip to the NBA Finals this upcoming season he’ll hold on to Kyrie Irving.

Now, let’s say the Cavaliers decide to appease Irving and send him packing, they’d reportedly be seeking a king’s ransom. As they should be. While Irving doesn’t play a lick of defense, he IS an unbelievable offensive talent. He has the best handle in the NBA, can shoot from anywhere, and is the best finisher at the rim (under 6’8″) in the NBA. Oh yeah..and he’s ONLY 25 years old. He also has 3 years remaining on his contract (the 3rd year is a player option), so his new team wouldn’t be taking on a rental.

According to reports, Irving has a short list of places he’d like to play:

  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Miami Heat
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New York Knicks

Oh no, you don’t need new glasses, you read that right. Kyrie Irving becomes the 1st player since 1864 to WANT to play for the New York Knicks.

Irving’s reason for wanting to flee Cleveland is he wants to be ‘The Man’. In other words, he wants to trade in his Robin suit for a Batmobile. I am Batman! Reports are also swirling around that he and Lebron James can no longer co-exist. I’m sorry, but this is preposterous. Lebron James may be overbearing, but Kyrie Irving is perfectly happy going to 3 consecutive NBA Finals. Kyrie Irving is perfectly happy leading the team in field goal attempts. And Kyrie Irving is perfectly happy with his contract and enormous Nike deal. Now if you told me he’s trying to preemptively jump ship because Lebron is 1 year away from leaving as well, then we can share a beer. Plus, Dan Gilbert is one of the worst owners in the NBA, so he’s not helping.

Irving is at the Cavaliers’ mercy. They can trade him to Brooklyn. They can trade him to Atlanta. Or they don’t have to trade him at all. But, allow me to dissect each of his preferred destinations, ya know, just in case Dan Gilbert wakes up on the right side of the bed this morning.

Spurs

If Irving were on the Spurs, he certainly wouldn’t be ‘The Man’. That’s Kawhi Leonard’s role. Plus, San Antonio isn’t exactly the most conducive environment for being ‘The Man’.

Miami Heat

In South Beach, Irving would be the alpha male, and he’d be joining a decent roster. This isn’t the worst situation in the world.

Minnesota Timberwolves

This is interesting. The Timberwolves, in the past few months, have become the talk of the town. It would be fun to watch Irving play, and co-exist, with Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns. The rest of the NBA should hope Irving doesn’t land in Minnesota.

New York Knicks

And last, but certainly least, MY New York Knicks. First of all, it is AMAZING that someone publicly said they WANT to play for the Knicks. Even when Irving doesn’t come to New York, this will be a win for the most poorly run organization in the NBA. Irving would definitely be the top dog here, and watching him not pass to Kristaps Porzingis would be a lot of fun.

 

Will Kyrie Irving be traded?? If so, where will he go?? Send me your predictions to the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

I’ve Got Something To Say, So Open Your Ears And Listen!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

medvedev

Why the hell are the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game held on a Monday and Tuesday night?? MLB All-Star Weekend has a much nicer ring to it. It’s no wonder baseball isn’t popular. Stupid!!

The Knicks have signed 0 players in free agency. No, Ron Baker doesn’t count. The Knicks are officially in Tank Mode!! Oh yeah, and their 1st round pick, Frank Ntilikina, has yet to play a game in the Summer League. I’m so glad he rushed back to France right after the draft just so he could get hurt….

Hey, psssttt, Daniil Medvedev — you can’t throw money at the chair referee (as pictured above). This is Wimbledon, not Jerry Springer. You lost, get over it!! My favorite part is he denied that he was implying the referee was paid off by his opponent. How stupid do you think we are Daniil?? Wait..don’t answer that.

Manny Pacquiao — I know you’re upset, but you’re not the same fighter you used to be. You’re not on the juice anymore. At this point you couldn’t knock out my grandma. It’s time to hang ’em up. Thanks for the memories.

The elephant enters the room….

Gordon Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics. I love how people think it’s appropriate to say, “hey look, another white guy in Boston.” I know people say Boston is a racist city, but not everything is about race. Imagine that.

Dan Gilbert, you are a freakin’ cheapskate!! You are worth 4.8 Billion Dollars. 4.8 BILLION DOLLARS!! Apparently that’s not enough to offer Chauncey Billups a reasonable amount to become the Cavalier’s General Manager. Allegedly Gilbert offered Billups 1.5 million dollars. Normally, a General Manager’s starting salary is a minimum of 4 million dollars. You stay classy Cleveland.

Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested on Tuesday night for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Because nothing says ‘Happy 4th of July’ like waving a rifle in a lady’s face. As Jim Carrey said in Liar Liar, “Stop breaking the law asshole!!”

The Knicks reaching out to Rajon Rondo to be Frank Ntilikina’s mentor is like reaching out to Tiger Woods to be your marriage counselor….

How in the world is Alex Wood not on the All-Star Team?!?! The guy is 10-0 with a 1.67 era. Oh..we have 6 relief pitchers on the roster instead?? Makes sense.

The Tennessee Titans almost lit their stadium on fire on Tuesday night. What is it with the NFL and fireworks?? JPP knows what I’m talking about. High Fiv……I mean, ummm, High Four????

 

Thanks for reading!! Enjoy your day everybody!!

You can always speak your mind in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends about me!!

 

Gordon Hayward Takes The Road Less Travelled

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

brad stevens

When everyone is running one way, are you willing to run the other way?? I bet you are if running the other way is smart as hell. That’s what former Utah Jazz star, Gordon Hayward did on Tuesday upon signing with the Boston Celtics. While every NBA star imaginable has been taking their talents to the Western Conference, Hayward packed his bags and headed East. This will help his legacy in a BIG way. Now, rather than having to get past the Thunder, Rockets, Timberwolves, Spurs, and Warriors to get to the NBA Finals (sounds fun), there’s only Big Bad Lebron James standing in Hayward’s way. Hayward may still come up short of reaching his first NBA Finals, but he certainly increased his chances. It’s all in the numbers.

The numbers that help Hayward sleep at night are the six 0’s at the end of his contract. $127,000,000 over 4 years (max contract). That’s what the Celtics have offered Gordon Hayward. This contract will cause a domino effect in Boston. The Celtics will need to pull the qualifying offer on that ugly guy they call Kelly Olynyk, waive Jordan Mickey and Demetrius Jackson, not re-sign free agents Gerald Green, Jonas Jerebko, and James Young, and trade either Jae Crowder or Marcus Smart. Those are the moves staring Danny Ainge in the face in order to clear the necessary salary cap space for Hayward’s contract. It sounds worse than it is, and it’s worth it.

Hayward is a very solid small forward. At 6’8″, he scores, rebounds, and plays defense. He is an outstanding addition to the Celtics’ roster. Check out his stats here. This signing does a few things. First, it reunites coach and player. Hayward played under Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens at Butler University. Stevens was the coach at Butler from 2007-2013, until he made the leap to the NBA. Second, it brings the number of teams that can actually compete in the NBA to 7:

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are still the team to beat. Kevin Durant just took a $9 million pay-cut to keep their team intact, so I like their chances.

*Key Players – Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green

Spurs

The Spurs roster doesn’t look as formidable as it once did, but my days of doubting Gregg Popovich are over.

*Key Players – Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge

Minnesota Timberwolves

This is a very young but very interesting team. Don’t be surprised if in 2 years the Timberwolves are representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.

*Key Players – Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Jeff Teague

Oklahoma City Thunder

A walking triple-double and one of the best two-way players in the NBA sounds like a good combination to me.

*Key Players – Russell Westbrook and Paul George

Houston Rockets

How many point guards does it take to screw in a lightbulb?? Apparently 2.

*Key Players – James Harden and Chris Paul

Cleveland Cavaliers

Will this be the year Lebron’s NBA Finals streak comes to an end?? I wouldn’t bet on it, but the Celtics just made the road a little more bumpy.

*Key Players – Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love

Boston Celtics

And last, but for the NBA’s sake, hopefully not least, the Celtics. Does the addition of Gordon Hayward make them the best team in the Eastern Conference??

*Key Players – Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford

I still believe the Warriors will complete the 3-peat next season, but the NBA’s super teams are multiplying, setting up a more watchable NBA season. So, we’ve got that going for us….

Do you think the addition of Gordon Hayward makes the Celtics a legitimate contender?? Tell me what you think in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends about me!!