As Browns fans, we’ve had more than our share of epic losses that linger for decades. Isn’t it nice to see the Steelers suffer a dramatic loss that will likely be discussed for decades to come. Oh, and it cam one year after they lost the Super Bowl.
Nice . . .
This should be fun. Ricky Rubio is generating a ton of buzz around the league with his play, and Kyrie Irving is getting his own share of attention.
Kyrie Irving is playing like a No. 1 overall pick. Derrick Williams is looking like the second-best rookie on his team.
The statement is neither an indictment on Williams’ potential nor a reflection on how the Timberwolves view the power forward they selected No. 2 overall behind Irving in the NBA Draft. But as Irving and the Cavaliers face the Timberwolves Friday night in Minneapolis, any talk of rookie-of-the-year showdowns must include Ricky Rubio, who’s part point guard and part pop star to a fan base that has been eager for a reason to get excited since Kevin Garnett left town in 2007.
Rubio, 21, and Irving, 19, are the only rookies among the 120 players on the NBA All-Star Game ballot.
The Cavs have been fun to watch with their energy and team play, and this matchup gives them a chance to pick up a road win.
I also want to watch Williams play. Many in Cleveland wanted him over Irving, especially since Tristan Thompson wasn’t a very popular pick at #4. Now Thompson is winning over Cleveland fans and Irving is showing flashes of brilliance, so it will be interesting to see them match up against Williams as well tomorrow night.
There will be one less quarterback in the draft for the Browns to consider, as Landry Jones has decided to stay at Oklahoma. Coupled with the decision of Matt Barkley to stay at USC, a once crowded quarterback class headed by Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III is now less impressive.
Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert had a news conference today to discuss the disappointing season and the plan going forward for the Browns.
I’m not going to get into all the details now, but everyone seems to have an opinion about the Holmgren regime.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course, but I’m really not interested in listening to radio hosts who scream that they are impatient. I don’t care to hear about the emotional pain they’ve suffered watching losing teams in Cleveland. Demanding a winner right away won’t bring one. Acting like a spoiled child doesn’t lead to helpful or interesting analysis.
I’m also tired of the snark. It’s easy to be a critic when things aren’t going well, but criticizing everything is silly.
I’ll take patience over stupidity and emotional overreaction any day.
Look at the consistent winners in the NFL like the Steelers, Packers, Patriots and Ravens. They build for the long term and focus on the draft.
Heckert has done a good job with his first two drafts, and now the Browns have an extra first-rounder for the 2012 draft thanks to the Julio Jones trade. They are also well under the salary cap. They need playmakers, but they are poised to get them this offseason. Holmgren and Heckert have a plan and Holmgren said they aren’t going to panic because they had a tough year. The plan requires some patience, but I’m fine with that.
If you haven’t been watching the Cavs and you just started last night, give them another chance. This team has excellent young talent in Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, but more importantly the entire team plays hard and plays well together.
Some writers around the country are starting to notice. Here’s Ethan Sherwood Strauss from Hoopspeak.com as he ranks the Cavs #1 in hist list of teams that could be the next Oklahoma Thunder:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Cumulonimbus)
There was much garments-rending over how LeBron left Cleveland in rancid shambles, but few noted the bizarre NBA paradox: Rancid shambles = where you want to be in this league. Rank failure is rewarded, and handsomely so. The upstart Cavs now sport the first and fourth picks from 2011. With Baron Davis amnestied, and Antawn Jamison expiring, Cleveland will have ample financial room going forward.Despite widespread assertions to the contrary, I believe that Kyrie Irving has superstar potential. Tristan Thompson looks like he could become a valuable defensive force at the 4 spot, no small thing in this league. Promising draft, promising team.
Ointment flies: Owner Dan Gilbert seems quite impulse oriented, and he might jump at the chance to trade for the next Jamison. Coach Byron Scott has been meager with minutes for Irving and Thompson–which should buy Scott a swift conviction in the Court of League Pass.
Let’s see if the Cavs can play well on this tough road trip and generate some more attention.
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