Fear The Sword

Kyrie Irving Highlight Mix Videos

2012-05-17T18:19:23Z

Okay, so now that Kyrie Irving had one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory and was awarded with the Rookie of the Year trophy, let's look back a little bit. Here are some of the best highlight mixes on Youtube. What was your favorite Kyrie Irving moment this season? Enjoy.

Kyrie Irving Wins Rookie of the Year

2012-05-15T16:34:03Z

In yet another comedic vote of the NBA media, Kyrie Irving has won the Rookie of the Year award by garnering just 117 of a possible 120 first place votes. Irving's rookie season was head and shoulders above the rest of his peers and it is puzzling how he didn't receive all 120 votes.

Irving, the leader in this race from Christmas on, carried the Cavaliers all term long and looks to be a future multiple time All-NBA player.

The three other players who shockingly got first place votes were Kenneth Faried of the Nuggets, Iman Shumpert of the Knicks and Kawhi Leonard of the Spurs.

The award was won by Irving with a total of 592 points and as you will see below he destroyed the field overall (first place votes in parentheses):

1. Irving - 592 points (117)
2. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota - 170 points
3. Faried - 129 points (1)
4. Leonard - 47 points (1)
5. Shumpert - 33 points (1)

There certainly are millions of things more important in sports than Kyrie Irving not winning this award unanimously but it reflects poorly again on the group of people who comprise the voters for this award.

With almost no case to be made for any other candidate, it was specifically worrisome to see one person actually place Irving third on his or her ballot.

Someday these votes must be made public although it's not like that will change anything.

In related news, the Cavaliers are definitely doing this with Anthony Davis at this time in 2013!

Kyrie Irving To Be Named Rookie of the Year at Tuesday Press Conference

2012-05-15T13:34:02Z

The Cleveland Cavaliers made a statement Monday saying there was a major announcement coming at a Tuesday press conference at the Cleveland Clinic Courts at 10 am EST.

In this day and age of instant media access and the fact that it is no secret that Kyrie Irving was the best rookie in the league this year there's little doubt what the media session will be about.

Irving has a chance to join Blake Griffin, David Robinson and Ralph Sampson as the only rookies to win the award unanimously.

The dazzling season by Irving was sensational to watch with his fourth quarter scoring outbursts earning him many fans in Ohio and around the league.

The Cavaliers will look to add another superstar to pair with this dynamic 20 year-old in next month's draft.

Congratulations to Irving on being named (unanimous?!) Rookie of the Year!

NBA News: Kyrie Irving To Be Named Rookie Of The Year Tuesday

2012-05-13T20:40:37Z

Update: Kyrie Irving will receive the award on Tuesday instead of Monday, as originally reported. The press conference will occur at 10 AM in Independence, Ohio (where the Cavaliers practice). There will be a live feed of the press conference on NBA.com.

In a stunning, shocking turn of events, Kyrie Irving will be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, according to ESPN. I know you guys are as stunned as I am. Kyrie Irving was a total beast all season and emerged as the Cavaliers' best player pretty early in the season.

Irving, who didn't even turn 20 until March 23, also shot the ball better as a rookie than many scouts projected, registering shooting percentages of .469 from the field and .399 from 3-point range. Irving's performance quickly established him as Cleveland's new franchise player in the Cavaliers' second season without LeBron James.

I'll have much more on Kyrie's remarkable season once I finish with my final exams and he is actually presented with the award. For now -- congratulations Kyrie!

John's Talkin': Week 1

2012-05-13T12:34:02Z

With less stuff going on during the summer I'm going to take a page out of the great Terry Pluto's book and give you some points on the Cavaliers or NBA related stuff each Sunday throughout the off season and maybe even during next season.

Pluto's column each Sunday talking about the Indians, Browns and Cavaliers has long been a highlight of my dad, brothers and myself.

Take a look after the jump to see some of my latest thoughts.

1. The Cavaliers were actually a little bit worse than their 21-45 record showed. Based on how much they were outscored by, the expected win total they had was just 17. When digging through some data on 82games.com, I found quite a few things which backed up that lower number.

2. Cavaliers shooting guards and small forwards had PER's of just 11.1 and 11.9 last season. During various points of the season the team really didn't even have a shooting guard they trusted and then with no above average small forward on the roster these positions were very deprived for Coach Byron Scott. The eFG% of these positions were just .451 and .473 while they allowed eFG%'s of .514 and .492 to opposing wing players. Whether it is the lottery or 24th pick, Chris Grant will be taking one or two wing players in the first round of the upcoming draft.

3. While Tristan Thompson has a nice future ahead of him and Anderson Varejao is a stalwart on defense, the Cavs were absolutely hammered by opposing big men. The difference in net PER at the PF position was -4.1 and at center it was -4.4. I blame plenty of this to having Varejao out for much of the year, thrusting either Thompson or the worthless Ryan Hollins or Semih Erden into too many minutes in the middle.

4. Basically, however you put it, the Cavaliers need serious help on the wings and in the middle. Getting a big such as Andre Drummond and then a wing at 24 or Bradley Beal or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the lottery and a big at 24 is something I'm looking for Grant to do.

5. Only two Cavaliers played over 50% of the minutes on the season. The much maligned Antawn Jamison played 67% of the minutes this season and Alonzo Gee played 57%. Jamison definitely doesn't get his due for the work he did here. Without him the team would have won closer to 12-14 games (and that actually would have been a good thing.)

6. Games missed by key Cavs this season:

Irving: 14

Varejao: 41

Parker: 14

Gibson: 31

Not a single player played in all 66 games. More health and more talent are going to be a huge key in the rise for the Cavaliers next year.

7. For all the praise he has gotten, and will get, during his Rookie of the Year season Kyrie Irving had an even better season than just about everybody realizes.

In just over 30 minutes per game he shot .469/.399/.872 while playing much of the year at 19. He was very efficiently offensively, fantastic under pressure and in general carried the weight of the team on his rookie shoulders without complaint. He's a true superstar and I think he'll be an MVP candidate pretty soon.

Taking the next step defensively is something he needs to do during the next 2-3 seasons while also continuing to be the natural leader he is all year round.

NBA Playoffs: Second Round Looms

2012-05-13T02:42:47Z

As the first round winds down with Nuggets-Lakers momentarily and Clippers-Grizzlies tomorrow it's time to start getting serious about who can make it through their conference's bracket to meet for the big prize in late June.

The first round has featured plenty of story lines and intrigue so far and I'll give you some power rankings I have of the teams left and tell you which potential match ups really excite me after the jump.

1. San Antonio Spurs - I picked the Heat to beat them in the Finals and I'm sticking with that. I still think the Spurs are better but in the randomness of sports the best team does not win every single time. The Spurs are still by far the least talked about dynasty in the history of sports. I can't even think of a time where I've seen a Spurs jersey or shirt and they're so good. We live in a weird world where nobody appreciates you unless you're flashy.

2. Miami Heat - The Heat have a pretty easy ride to the Finals. While Indiana and Boston should both give them six games, it would be a thunderous upset if either was able to get through to the Finals. Does anyone really think the Heat won't make it through to the Finals?

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - James Harden's beard is the coolest thing going in the playoffs right now. But honestly this Thunder squad is the last elite team who I could see winning without something crazy happening. I really like this group as well and wish they could face the Spurs in the Finals. The Spurs, Heat and Thunder are fairly interchangeable in these rankings and I change my tune on them all the time.

4. Los Angeles Lakers - Yes, the Lakers aren't even through to the second round yet but I don't see them losing tonight. The Western Conference is brutal and I think they'll lose to Oklahoma City in seven games but with Kobe, Pau and Andrew they have a fighting chance to make the Finals and play Miami.

5. Boston Celtics - In their fifth go at a ring together the Celtics have changed plenty since their ring winning 2008 season. Avery Bradley has now emerged as a legit player and Boston has a mild chance to make it past Miami if they get hot. The biggest downfalls with them is they can't score and they play six players.

6. Memphis Grizzlies - Memphis also hasn't even made it through to face San Antonio yet but I'm not concerned about them getting past the Clippers yet. They probably should have won every game in this series but due to Chris Paul being very good they're only tied 3-3.

7. Indiana Pacers - They have a better starting unit than most realize but this group has pretty much maximized where they can go. If they don't get a better player than anyone they currently have, they're the new Atlanta Hawks.

8. Los Angeles Clippers - I'll go down arguing with anyone than Blake Griffin is overrated but I do know that Paul is stunning. He simply gets the job done and with his confidence carries the entire franchise with him every step of the way.

9. Denver Nuggets - They've got a legit chance to dethrone Los Angeles tonight if they can get rolling. I thought earlier in the season that they'd perform better than they did but honestly I think it's a great season for them by getting to a minimum of a seven game series with Los Angeles. Who needs 'Melo?

10. Philadelphia 76ers - Conrgrats to them for making it past Chicago. They're a tough defensive squad who isn't going to play into the 90's too often. They could become the best friend of the Heat though if they can take Boston to seven.

The teams who I want to see play each other the most are:

1) Thunder vs. Spurs

2) Lakers vs. Thunder

3) Philly/Indiana/Boston vs. Any Western Conference Champ

Anthony Parker Left Off MVP Ballot For 6th Straight Season

2012-05-12T19:39:38Z

For the sixth consecutive time since winning in 2006, Anthony Parker was left off completely off the MVP ballot. Back in 2004-2006, Parker won the MVP in back-to-back seasons (in the Euroleague). Since coming to the NBA, however, Parker hasn't had great luck when it comes to the regular season MVP race.

Once again, Parker received zero votes as LeBron James took home his 3rd MVP award.

Parker shouldn't hang his head, however, there's always next year. I mean, unless he retires.

After James, Kevin Durant finished second, Chris Paul finished third, Kobe Bryant finished 4th, and Tony Parker finished 5th.

I think we can all agree that AP was robbed.

"PG in hand, Cavaliers have many needs." [Insider article]

2012-05-12T08:31:00Z

"PG in hand, Cavaliers have many needs." [Insider article]

David Thorpe of ESPN wrote an Insider article about who the Cavs should be looking at in the upcoming draft in regards to who we should pick and who we would be looking at in the second round.

I know the draft will be well-documented here on FTS, but it's a nice read for anyone who's got Insider.