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Walleye biting on a cold, windy day - Saturday Fishing Report

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The blustery weather made the weekend fishing difficult, but lake Erie walleye anglers are still catching trophy fish.

MARBLEHEAD, Ohio - Bill Miller of Medina and Grafton's Paul Holzheimer stood up to a nor'easter on Western Lake Erie on Saturday, trolling Smithwick Perfect 10 Rogues and Rapala Deep Husky Jerks to win the Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament at Lakevue Marina.

The anglers only caught five walleye while fishing north of Kelleys Island, but they weighed 38.05 pounds. Tournament walleye fishermen found also success around Kelleys Island Shoal and around the reef complex north of Camp Perry.

Jason Plant and Rod Weaver (37.99 pounds) were second, with Randy Eyre and Corey Miller (36.64 pounds) third.

The 4- to 6-foot waves made the walleye fishing difficult. Few other fishermen were on the water over the weekend, both on the big waters of Lake Erie or inland lakes.

Steelhead trout fishermen reported success on the Rocky, Chagrin and Grand rivers and Conneaut Creek. Crappie are biting around Sandusky Bay, and on many inland waters.

Area anglers can help make the fishing report an up to the minute guide to where the fish are biting - or where anglers are getting skunked - by posting a comment.

For outdoorsmen looking for fun and adventure, the spring turkey season is open through May 17. Here is a listing of this week's events on the Outdoor Calendar:

April 26: Walleye Madness Tournament, Mosquito Reservoir. Two-angler teams, $150 entry. Visit walleyemadness.net to enter, or call WMT Director Greg Bentz, 440-390-8054.

April 29: Fly Tying Sessions with the Firelands Fly Fishers, 6-9 p.m., Gus's Village Grill, 4343 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village. Open to the public. For information visit firelandsflyfishers.org.

April 30: Monthly meeting of the Chagrin River Salmon Association, 7 p.m., Erie Rd., Eastlake. New members welcome. Call Bruce Fraley, 440-946-1605.

May 2: 15th annual Trumbull County Sportsmen's Gun Raffle featuring more than 60 firearms. Yankee Lake Ballroom, Yankee Lake, Ohio. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets $20. Lunch available from noon-3 p.m. For tickets call Joe (330-782-0958) or Jerry (330-847-6259).

May 1-3: Lake and Trails Youth Fishing Camp hosted by the Lake and Trails Organization, FFA Camp Muskingum, Carrollton. For kids 9-17 years old and accompanied by an adult. Fee for weekend, room and board is $75 per youth, $85 for adults. Registrations open Feb. 15. Visit lakeandtrails.org or contact President Karen Metzker, Karen @lakeandtrails.org.

May 2-3: Mosquito Madness X Bass Tournament, Mosquito Reservoir. Field of 100 teams is full. Waiting list available. Visit Franks Bass fishing Promotions at dobass.com.

May 3: Lake Erie Fish Crazy Walleye Derby, Lake Erie. Derby runs through June 27. Entry $50, $55 online. Derby registration deadline for full derby is April 11. All competing anglers on a boat must be registered for the derby. One-day registration is $25. For rules information visit lakeeriewalleyederby.com. Weekly, monthly and overall winners.

May 3: AIM Weekend Walleye Series/Great Lakes Division, Lake Erie at Port Clinton. Launch and weigh-in at West Harbor Launch. For information visit aimfishing.com.

May 3: Ohio Walleye Federation/Inland Lake Circuit, two-angler teams, Pymatuning Reservoir. For information visit fishowf.com.

May 3: Veterans Memorial 3-D Archery Shoot, Lone Eagle Bowmen, 2276 Seeman St. SW (off Battlesburg Rd.) Canton. All veterans shoot free. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit LoneEagleBowmen.com or call Matt Williams (330-575-0744) or Gary Williams (330-484-6535).


Watch highlights of 2016 Ohio State basketball commit Micah Potter in AAU action: Buckeyes recruiting

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Northeast Ohio Media Group traveled to Indianapolis to see Ohio State basketball commit Micah Potter in AAU action. See the video highlights and photos here. Watch video

FISHERS, Ind. -- Compared to some of the other crowds that surrounded the various courts inside Best Choice Fieldhouse, the one around the floor Micah Potter played on Saturday afternoon was relatively sparse.

That's exactly how Potter wanted it.

It was the second game Potter has played for his AAU team, Ohio Basketball Club, since he committed to Ohio State this week. So the coaches who would've been there to watch Potter play if he was still uncommitted backed off.

"It's a lot of pressure I don't have anymore," Potter told Northeast Ohio Media Group after OBC beat Northwest Panthers out of Seattle during bracket play at the Adidas Uprising Gauntlet Series just outside of Indianapolis.

"I used to be playing for 20 coaches per game. Now just knowing that I got my spot on the team, I can play my game and just relax."

There was a small collection of coaches sitting courtside. Potter, a junior at Mentor High, only cared about three of them. Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta and assistants Dave Dickerson and Greg Paulus came to see Potter.

They watched him score 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting and grab 11 rebounds. That's the best game he's put up in four Gauntlet Series games. See highlights of that game in the video above.

He had 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks Saturday morning against D1 Minnesota.

Potter said he didn't envision committing to Ohio State at the time he did, but his visit to Columbus last weekend for the football team's spring game helped sway him. This was supposed to be another weekend for Potter to showcase his skills for programs around the country.

Instead Matta got a look at how Potter plays when he's not focused on trying to impress everyone.

"I had a lot of other options, some other big time coaches saying they're interested and coming to watch me play in Indy," Potter said. "I don't know. I compared all the rest of the schools and none of them outweighed Ohio State."

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Trevor Bauer's illness leads to another off-schedule cameo for Cleveland Indians southpaw TJ House

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"I think you've got to ride with it," House said, "roll with the punches and try to do your best in any situation you get thrown at you."

DETROIT -- Whatever Trevor Bauer ate Friday night made two people sick.

Manager Terry Francona said Bauer displayed the symptoms of food poisoning on Saturday, but the right-hander initially thought he could still compete against the Tigers' vaunted lineup. He arrived at Comerica Park early on Saturday morning, consumed some extra fluids, completed his long-toss routine and then concluded that he couldn't escape the queasiness, let alone fire a fastball toward Miguel Cabrera.

"We told him, 'Hey man, not pitching is probably better than going on and realizing you can't,'" Francona said.

So about 40 minutes before first pitch, TJ House learned that he would be the starting pitcher. Three innings, four runs and a loss later, House was feeling a bit uneasy about how everything unfolded on Saturday.

"That's what was handed to me," House said, "so I did the best I could when I got out there."

Sure, he wished he could have fared better, despite such short notice. But House's season has consisted of a cluster of ill-timed outings, interspersed with long periods of rest that have softened his edge.

"Obviously, this was a last-minute thing," House said. "I wish I could've done a little bit better and gone a little longer and threw [fewer] pitches, and kind of help everybody out with the whole situation we're in. I can't be too disappointed. Today, I came in and didn't think I was going to be out there at all."

House (0-3, 12.60 ERA) was slated to start Tuesday against Kansas City. Bauer will occupy that spot. House would have had nine days between starts, after having seven days between his first two outings of the season. His first start came on April 12, 13 days after his final spring training appearance. It has been a helter-skelter stretch for the southpaw.

"Baseball is a crazy game," House said. "You've always got to prepare for whatever."

House tossed about 40 pitches in a bullpen session on Friday in anticipation for his start on Tuesday. So, after three innings and 69 pitches on Saturday, he departed. He allowed three runs on four hits and four walks, as he labored against the top four hitters in Detroit's batting order.

"I still think he's trying to find his rhythm," Francona said. "When he's going good, he works ahead, he stays down and as he gets into the flow of the game you start to see him get under some bats. He's working from behind and he's having a tough time climbing back into counts because he's just not quite throwing it where he wants to yet. It just seems like he's fighting so hard to find the rhythm and it's just not quite there yet."

Well, one would think the undesirable schedule would contribute to -- though not completely explain away, of course -- such struggles. House surrendered six runs over 1 1/3 innings against the Tigers on April 12. He yielded five runs on seven hits against Minnesota last Sunday. House refused to place all of the blame on the uneven routine. After all, it's not as though he pitched on Saturday with an upset stomach.

"I think you've got to ride with it," House said, "roll with the punches and try to do your best in any situation you get thrown at you."

Is it time for Cleveland Indians fans to abandon ship? Hey, Hoynsie

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Distressed Indians fan thinks the season is lost.

DETROIT -- Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here.

Hey, Hoynsie: It's official from all realists. From people who pretend and sugarcoat things, it may not be clear, but here's the truth ... the Indians are terrible. There is no way they will win 60 games this year.

The front office, ownership and media cannot will this team to win. Prepare for the most dismal season in recent history. - Mark Lashley, Cambridge.

Hey, Mark: In another life you were the cruise director for the Titanic, right?

Hey, Hoynsie: How much of the bullpen's early season difficulties can be traced to the loss of Kevin Cash? Also, aside from his playing days, what coaching experience does new bullpen coach Jason Bere bring to the table? - Rick Firestone, Columbiana.

Hey, Rick: Cash was a valuable member of the coaching staff with a lot more duties than the traditional bullpen coach. There was some concern over what his loss would mean not only to the relievers, but the pitching staff as a whole.

Be that as it may, it's too early to start drawing detailed conclusions on the impact of a departed coach.

After Bere retired as a pitcher, he spent nine years in the Indians' front office coaching and evaluating pitchers.

Hey, Hoynsie: I think Jason Giambi was a great leader to have in the clubhouse and dugout. Why isn't he on the coaching staff? The players and coaching staff seemed to love him. I have to think he would have been a good bench coach. - Aaron Howell, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Hey, Aaron: When Giambi retired this past off-season, he made it clear that he wanted to spend time with his family. I don't think he'll be away from the game long. When he does return, I think he'll have a variety of opportunities to work with teams.

Hey, Hoynsie: How can Corey Kluber possibly not be frustrated after his first four starts? -- Tom Goodsite, Gulfport, Miss.

Hey, Tom: I'm sure Kluber is frustrated. He's human and he knows he's pitched better than his record indicates. But I think the thing that really frustrates him is the fact that the Indians are winless in his four starts.

Hey, Hoynsie: I went to the Clippers-Mud Hens (Toledo) game to get a first-hand look at Francisco Lindor and some of the prospects. It doesn't looks like his bat is quite ready. One more thing, I am not sure about his defense yet, but I have to admit that might be because he is so smooth. I just don't remember him making any spectacular plays. - Paul Welling, Rossford.

Hey, Paul: You didn't mention how long you watched Lindor. Was it one game, one series?

I've seen Lindor play at the last two springs and I believe he's ready for the big leagues. On a lot of Indians teams I've covered, he'd be the starting shortstop right now. A half-season at Class AAA Columbus isn't going to hurt him, but he could certainly be playing in the big leagues today.

Hey, Hoynsie: How in the name of Babe Ruth does Indians hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo still have job? I know they brought an assistant (Matt Quatraro) in last year, but there is still no improvement. Is it me? - Rick James, Cleveland.

Hey, Rick: Did you ever hear the saying, "It's the singer not the song." Think about it.

Michael Brantley's back might still be barking, but it isn't slowing the Cleveland Indians outfielder

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One thing is certain: The back injury hasn't hindered his swing this weekend. Brantley has collected seven hits in eight at-bats against the Tigers.

DETROIT -- Michael Brantley has a few favorite cliches that he enjoys reciting.

He likes to give it his all "each and every day." He wants to "continue to work hard." He prides himself on "being a good teammate."

So when asked about his lingering back injury on Saturday, Brantley, in his typical fashion, resorted to his laundry list of timeless adages, rather than delve into specifics about the strain that has ailed him since at least the start of spring training. One thing is certain: The back injury hasn't hindered his swing this weekend. Brantley has seven hits in eight at-bats against the Tigers.

"He's a good hitter and he's starting to feel good which is great for us," said manager Terry Francona. "I think his back's probably not perfect but I don't think it's getting in the way right now."

Brantley arrived in Goodyear, Arizona in mid-February with a balky lower back. He missed a handful of games during spring training and two of the first three games of the regular season before he underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with a strain. He missed four more games after that.

"There are things that you have to work through," Brantley said.

Brantley said he hopes the injury won't linger through the rest of the season, but he knows he must cede control of his status to the training staff.

"We have a great medical staff with a great game plan," he said. "The only thing I care about is to be out there with my teammates."

Brantley delivered the Indians' only run on Saturday with one of his four hits. Two other times, he was stranded in scoring position. He doesn't appear to be running the bases or moving around in the outfield with the same grace and athleticism.

"Sometimes you make a move and it grabs at you a little bit," Francona said. "It doesn't seem to be affecting his swing."

That's the bright spot at this juncture. Since Brantley returned to the lineup on April 17, he has tallied 13 hits in 31 at-bats (.419). He's been hitting well each and every day.

"No one is always 100 percent healthy all the time," Brantley said. "You have to grind it out and be tough mentally."

Is Marcus Mariota, whom Jon Gruden and others believe can be great, worth the Browns 12 and 19 -- and more?

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Is Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota worth the Browns No. 12 and No. 19 picks -- and more -- if that's what it takes? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns are open to trading up for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota Thursday night in the first round of the draft, but is the Heisman Trophy winner worth surrendering the No. 12 and No. 19 overall picks -- and more -- if that's what it takes?

The Browns' interest in Mariota is very real, several NFL sources have told Northeast Ohio Media Group, but only at the right price. Mariota could go as high as No. 2 overall to the Titans or to a team trading into that pick providing the Bucs draft top-rated quarterback Jameis Winston as expected.

The fact the Browns have drafted quarterbacks in the first round -- No. 22 overall -- in two of the past three seasons in Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel won't preclude them drafting Mariota if they think he can take them to the next level.

Of course, much will depend on where Mariota falls and what it would take to get him. If they have to move all the way up to No. 2, it might be cost-prohibitive. Just ask the Redskins, who surrendered three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the Rams for Robert Griffin III, who struggled last year and may or not be their starting quarterback in 2015.

But if the premier dual-threat quarterback slides a little -- which seems unlikely at this point -- he could be worth the asking price.

Whatever the case, plenty of quarterback experts who have worked closely with Mariota or have studied him extensively feel he's got what it takes to succeed in the NFL.

 "If any of these teams are picking, I would be surprised if they did not take Marcus Mariota,'' ESPN's Jon Gruden, who featured Mariota on his QB Camp series, said on a conference call last week. "I think he's a rare prospect. I think he has some can't-miss qualities, if you can bring him along and have just a little bit of patience to give him the correct direction. I think this kid, Mariota, could be one of the really great quarterbacks of the future of the NFL.''

He said he's known a lot about Mariota, who contemplated coming out last year, for awhile.

"He's quiet. He's very quiet,'' said Gruden. "That was an exclamation point that I came away from. He is very much not interested in himself. He could care less about his individual achievement, could care less about where he goes in this draft. He's eager to learn, compete, and prove to people he can play.  He is very sharp, passionate about the game.

"Has a photographic memory. He can remember everything you put on a chalkboard over several hours and he can go out and execute it quickly. I'm impressed with his mental quickness, his arm quickness, and his physical body quickness. This kid can really move. He's got a great future. I enjoyed being with him for every second.''

Gruden scoffs at the notion that Mariota, who went 36-5 at Oregon, is merely a product of the uptempo spread he ran for the Ducks.

"Look, I could be Marcus's agent,'' said Gruden. "I think this stereotype of Marcus Mariota as a spread quarterback that runs read options every play is ridiculous. He's very poised. I've seen him go through progressions. They run some common NFL route combinations. He's put a lot of points on the board. He's been asked to do a lot with pass protections.

"He learned the Oregon offense inside and out. And he'll learn your offense. It's just a matter of you teaching him and surrounding him with a support system, good players, good contingency game planning, and an opportunity to be great.''

Gruden is confident that Mariota can master any type of offense he's asked to run.

"If you do choose Marcus Mariota, he's going to bring a unique skill set to you, running, quarterback-driven, running-type option plays can be part of it,'' said Gruden. "His scramble ability is another thing. His second-reaction plays are really unscripted. It's exciting. It's up to the staff of the entire organization, if they go with a young quarterback, to make sure they give him the proper training and put him out there when they see fit.

"But I'm confident Mariota will be a fit in any offense. I think he can be an outstanding drop-back passer if that's all you want him to do.''

Of course, the Browns have unique insight into Mariota from quarterbacks Kevin O'Connell, who worked with him for months leading up to the NFL combine and ran his pro day at Oregon. O'Connell, a former running quarterback himself, hasn't been available to the media since he's been hired, but his former business partner, George Whitfield Jr., the quarterback guru from Massillon, Ohio, believes the Browns' interest is genuine.

"It's a very real situation, and it's always going to be a business and bottom-line situation,'' Whitfield told Northeast Ohio Media Group at the NFL combine. "And here they are with two first-round picks, and there are some talented young guys in this draft again that can play quarterback, and if they make that decision to bring him in, that's big for him to get a chance to go in and compete with Johnny.''

In fact, Whitfield thinks it would be great for Manziel to be pressed by his fellow Heisman winner.

"That's going to be a definite wakeup call for Johnny to get up and go back and work hard to be who you believe you are, so that's a real scenario,'' said Whitfield, who's worked with Manziel for the past three years. "It's going to be interesting to see how that plays out.''

The Browns know so much about Mariota from O'Connell that they didn't feel the need to conduct a private workout with him or bring him in for a visit. In fact, O'Connell shared with Pettine the same thing Gruden observed: that Mariota is off the charts in football acumen and would assimilate a pro scheme quickly.

"(He's told me) the mental part, that he's very advanced,'' Pettine said at the NFL annual meeting last month. "This was a guy that understood coming in that he was playing in (a system) that's not similar to potentially a lot of systems that he would be playing in, in the league.

"So he understood that and addressed it and that's one of the reasons that he worked with Kevin, because Kevin understands more of the offensive structure that he's going to have to play in. He attacked a weakness. Everybody that's had him on the board said he's just blown them away because of how he's essentially turned that weakness into a strength."

Mariota is a projection like all spread quarterbacks, but the Browns feel confident he can make the transition. What's more, their new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has already coached a running quarterback in Terrelle Pryor when they were with the Raiders, and Pryor was productive under his guidance.

"Sometimes people look at that as a gamble, especially in the first round, to project a guy to be something that he hasn't been,'' said Pettine, who will be more involved with the offense this year. "(But) we probably have a little bit better information about him than some others do.''

Of course, the Browns could have plenty of competition if they decide to move up for Mariota. The Jets at No. 6 could be interested in landing him and even the Bears at No. 7 have been noncommittal on Jay Cutler.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who has the No. 20 overall pick, has identified Mariota as the best quarterback in the draft, but has said he won't mortgage his future to draft him. However, rumors and reports persist that the Browns might try again on draft day to trade for Sam Bradford, which could open the door for Kelly to deal for Mariota, whom he coached at Oregon.

At the NFL annual meeting, Kelly dismissed the notion that Mariota is a projection.

"I think everybody gets over-analyzed,'' he said. "There's just so much time (before the draft). He's an outstanding leader. Look at his won-loss record. You judge quarterbacks on what their won-loss record is. You judge quarterbacks on touchdown-to-interception ratio (105-14 in three seasons). You judge him on all those things and he's off the charts. And he's off the charts off the field.''

Cardinals coach and quarterback Bruce Arians, who wasn't big on Johnny Manziel before the draft last year largely because of his size, is keen on both Winston and Mariota this year.

"Very different players,'' he said at the NFL annual meeting. "One's a more classic drop-back player in an offense that's produced some guys. The other is an unbelievable kid and an unbelievable athlete who has a great arm. If they're put in the right systems they'll both be extremely successful as rookies.''

Arians stressed that the key is make let the young quarterback do things they're used to doing well.

"When it's a drastic change, they're not comfortable for a couple years,'' said Arians. "Getting him comfortable, he'll be super successful right away. Same thing with Jameis.''

Super successful? One of the really great quarterbacks of the future?

Sounds like a risk worth taking for the Browns, even if it takes a first round pick or two.

Cleveland Indians, sans Trevor Bauer, lose to Victor Martinez's Detroit Tigers: DMan's Report, Game 16

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The Indians have lost eight of their last nine games against Detroit, dating to last season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Victor Martinez went 2-for-4 with three RBI and right-hander Alfredo Simon allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings as the Tigers defeated the Indians, 4-1, Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park in Detroit. Here is a capsule look at the game after a dvr review of the Fox Sports 1 telecast:

Back to Earth: The Indians (6-10) were unable to build on a 13-1 victory in the series opener Friday night.

Tiger tales: Detroit (12-6) snapped a four-game skid. It has won eight of nine against Cleveland, dating to last September.

Sick bay: Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer was scratched because of illness. Lefty T.J. House replaced him.

Unfavorable matchup: House allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in three innings.

In his previous start against Detroit, April 12 in Cleveland, House allowed six runs on six hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings of an 8-5 loss.

As a finesse lefty, House's margin for error is razor-thin against a potent lineup full of righties. And even when he made decent-to-good pitches in certain spots Saturday, the Tigers fought them off.

In the first inning, leadoff batter Rajai Davis reached for an 0-2 off-speed pitch down and off the corner and chopped it over the mound. Tribe shortstop Jose Ramirez fielded behind the bag, but the speedy Davis beat the throw. A tough break for House.

Ian Kinsler walked after being down in the count, 1-2.

Miguel Cabrera drew a six-pitch walk to load the bases (Miggy finished 0-for-1 with four walks, three of which were intentional).

Former Indian Martinez shot a 1-1 fastball (90) over leaping first baseman Carlos Santana for a two-run single. The pitch wasn't bad; it ran to the inside corner at the knees. More credit goes to Martinez for pulling in the hands and getting the barrel to the ball than blame on House for a "mistake.''

The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the third. Davis walked after a 2-2 count. After Kinsler struck out, Davis stole second with Cabrera at the plate. Cabrera was intentionally walked.

Martinez, in a 1-1 count, blooped a slider into center for a single to drive in Davis. This pitch wasn't bad, either; it veered to the inside corner at the knees. Once again, though, the talent of Martinez was on display. He figured out how to get enough of the barrel onto the ball to muscle it into center.

The other hit allowed by House was a chopper to third by Yoenis Cespedes with two outs in the third. Lonnie Chisenhall gloved but did not make a throw. House escaped further damage by getting Alex Avila to ground to second.

So, viewed through one prism, House deserved better because he hardly got rocked. And he was put in a difficult spot having to sub for Bauer. Viewed through another prism, House was ineffective because he allowed eight runners and threw 69 pitches in three innings.

Fox Sports 1 analyst Eric Karros said: "The reality of today's ball game is: T.J. House has been around the plate and hasn't given up anything that's been hard-hit. His trouble has been because of the walks.''

And the walks were not the result of House getting squeezed or being effectively wild. They happened because House was being careful against dangerous right-handed hitters, which speaks to the razor-thin margin for error.

Zach McAllister relieved to begin the fourth. He allowed one run in two innings. Anthony Swarzak, Nick Hagadone and Bryan Shaw each worked one scoreless.

Not this time: On Friday, the Indians roughed up righty Shane Greene, who had been 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in his first three starts of the season. On Saturday, they fizzled against Simon, who had been 3-0 with a 1.74 in three starts.

Simon gave up six hits, five of which were singles. He walked two.

Michael Brantley went 3-for-3 against Simon, including an RBI single in the third. Brantley finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and a steal. He is 7-for-8 in the series.

Simon primarily relied on a low-90s fastball and splitter. At 6-6, he is able to  generate significant tilt and run with both pitches, making them difficult to square. Most Indians other than Brantley struggled to make solid contact.

From the top: As much as the game was about Simon outperforming House, it was about Davis outperforming the Tribe's leadoff batter, Michael Bourn.

Davis went 2-for-4 with one walk, three steals and three runs. In addition to his work in the first and third innings, Davis singled off McAllister with two outs in the fourth. Davis stole second and scored on Kinsler's double.

While Davis was igniting and disrupting, his counterpart was stuck in neutral. Bourn grounded a 2-1 fastball to second in the first; grounded a 1-0 fastball to short leading off the third; struck out swinging at a 2-2 fastball in the fifth; and struck out swinging at a 3-2 curveball in the seventh.

The strikeout in the fifth came with a runner on first and one out. The strikeout in the seventh, against lefty Tom Gorzelanny, came with a runner on first and two outs.

Bourn is amiable and a pro's pro. He works hard. He cares. The attributes, though, have not prevented a slump that is hurting his team.

In 15 games this season, Bourn is batting .180 (11-for-61) with a .467 OPS. He has one RBI, six runs and one steal in three attempts. He has six walks and 16 strikeouts.

It's no secret: The Indians desperately need Bourn to figure it out in order to ignite their offense. And they don't even need him to be $13.5-million spectacular.

As difficult as it would have been to fathom just two years ago, the Indians would take a reasonable facsimile of Davis. He doesn't play every day and doesn't bat exclusively leadoff, but he has managed a .297 average (11-for-37) and .814 OPS with four RBI, eight runs and six steals in seven attempts. He has seven walks and six strikeouts.

Less than one month does not a season make, for sure, but Bourn batted .257 with a .674 OPS and 10 steals in 106 games last season. Davis, in the first of a two-year, $10 million contract with Detroit, batted .282 with a .721 OPS and 36 steals in 134 games.

Back to earth, Part II: Brandon Moss went 3-for-5 with two homers and seven RBI on Friday. He was 0-for-4, including 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and a GIDP, Saturday. 

Once an Ohio State target, four-star RB Robert Washington has bizarre commitment to Syracuse: Buckeyes recruiting

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The Buckeyes, however, don't have any more room for running backs in this year's class, as it has commitments from three of the top-five running backs in the country – five-star Kareem Walker of Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic, four-star George Hill of Hubbard, Ohio, and four-star Demario McCall of North Ridgeville, Ohio. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four-star running back Robert Washington of Huntersville (N.C.) Southlake Christian Academy filmed a video with Bleacher Report on Thursday announcing his commitment to Florida. 

Only minutes after the video was published, Washington publicly announced his decision to pledge to Syracuse. 

Strange, but Washington told Syracuse.com, a sister site to Cleveland.com, that he changed his mind shortly after recording the Bleacher Report video. Either way, he's now pledged to the Orangemen. 

Nothing changed between Florida and Syracuse, but he was driving back to North Carolina from Connecticut, where he was visiting his mother, when he had the change of heart. 

"I was just thinking about it on the way down," Washington said. "I was praying and praying and thinking and I let God reach me."

Rated in the 247Sports composite the No. 12 running back in the 2016 recruiting class, Washington was once a top target for Ohio State. He even visited the Buckeyes last summer during the summer camp circuit. 

The Buckeyes, however, don't have any more room for running backs in this year's class, as it has commitments from three of the top-five running backs in the country - five-star Kareem Walker of Wayne (N.J.) De Paul Catholic, four-star George Hill of Hubbard, Ohio, and four-star Demario McCall of North Ridgeville, Ohio. 

Washington had more than 40 scholarship offers, but he narrowed down his decision between Florida, TCU, Alabama, North Carolina, Michigan and Syracuse. 

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound prospect rushed for 2,233 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior. Washington had a similar season as a sophomore, a season in which he racked up 2,512 yards and 28 touchdowns. 

His consistent play led to such an impressive scholarship list, which also included Notre Dame, Louisville, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi State, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee and others. 


Cleveland Indians don't let Miguel Cabrera swing, but still lose

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After taking the bat out of Miguel Cabrera's hands by walking him four times Saturday, manager Terry Francona needed one of his players to use their bas to beat the Tigers. It didn't happen.

DETROIT - On a day when manager Terry Francona finally took the bat out of Miguel Cabrera's hands, he couldn't find anyone to swing one for the Indians. At least not when it mattered.

Michael Brantley tried.

He singled in his first two at-bats, driving in the Indians' only run in the third inning. He doubled in his next two at-bats, both balls disappearing into Comerica Park's endless gap in right center. A healthy Brantley would have turned at least one of them into a triple, but he's nursing a strained lower back that has been a problem since the start of spring training.

But even with Brantley setting the table, the Indians could not score again.

On Friday night, Brandon Moss played hero. He had three hits, including two homers, and drove in a career high seven runs in a 13-1 victory.

Saturday afternoon reality came knocking like a landlord looking for late rent. Moss was in position for another big game, but went 0-for-4 and stranded five runners.

"I don't think it's written anywhere that just because you had a great night the night before they're going to give you anything the next day," said Francona. "That's just the way the game is.

"The guy that's on the mound for them, dictates a lot of momentum for your team."

Right-hander Alfredo Simon (4-0, 1.65) beat the Indians for the second time this season in a 4-1 victory. He did so, in large part, by neutralizing Moss.

In the first, Brantley singled and stole second with two out. Simone retired Moss on a grounder. In the sixth, Brantley hit a leadoff double. Carlos Santana moved him to third with a groundout. Simone threw Moss a diving splitter and struck him out. David Murphy ended the inning on a fly ball to center.

In the eighth, the Indians generated one more opportunity. Brantley doubled with one out and Santana blooped a single to center with Brantley stopping at third. Once again Moss was at the plate and this time he hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

In the first series between the Indians and Tigers, Cabrera went 11-for-14 in a three-game sweep at Progressive Field. Francona intentionally walked him once. He said he would have done it more, but the situations weren't right.

On Saturday, Francona ordered Cabrera passed three times. Counting Cabrera's unintentional walk in the first by emergency starter TJ House, it was the first time the former Triple Crown winner has been walked four times in a game and the second time he's been intentionally walked three times in a game.

"It depends on the situation, the outs, who's pitching," said Francona, explaining Saturday's strategy. "There are all kind of things that go into it."

Francona was asked if he ever intentionally walked a player three times in a game. He said he couldn't remember, but added, "I have trouble remembering what happened last week."

Still, it was not something managers do every game. It might even be called unusual.

"He's an unusual player," said Francona.

There is always a price for such strategy and Detroit cleanup hitter Victor Martinez extracted it. After House walked Cabrera to load the bases in the first, Martinez singled to right for a 2-0 lead. In the third, after Cabrera was intentionally walked for the first time, Martinez followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.

The Indians handled Martinez after the next two intentional walks and it was the reason they were still in the game when Moss came to the plate with two on and one out in the eighth with chance to tie the game.

But it didn't happen ... again.

Detroit Tigers leave Cleveland Indians feeling queasy after they defeat Tribe, 4-1

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T.J. House had to rush into action and the Tigers pounced on him immediately. Detroit scored twice before House could record an out en route to a 4-1 victory against the Indians (6-10) at Comerica Park.

DETROIT -- Any momentum the Indians had sparked after Friday night's 12-run triumph vanished the moment Trevor Bauer felt queasy on Saturday afternoon.

T.J. House had to rush into action and the Tigers pounced on him immediately. Detroit scored twice before House could record an out en route to a 4-1 victory against the Indians (6-10) at Comerica Park.

Bauer, slated to start opposite Detroit's Alfredo Simon, felt ill after he completed his long toss routine prior to Saturday's first pitch. House, who last toed the rubber on Sunday, was scheduled to start on Tuesday. Instead, he quickly warmed up and entered the fray on short notice.

House failed to retire any of the first four batters. Victor Martinez plated a pair of runs with a single to right field. In the fourth, he drove in another run with another single. Ian Kinsler tacked on Detroit's fourth run with an RBI double in the fourth. Through four innings, the Tigers' first four hitters in the lineup were 5-for-7 with five walks.

Zach McAllister replaced House after three frames, as manager Terry Francona pieced together the rest of the game with his bullpen.

After scoring a season-high 13 runs on Friday evening, the Indians scratched across only a meager third-inning run on Saturday. It came on an RBI single by Michael Brantley, who tallied four hits in all. Brantley opened the sixth inning with a double, but he was stranded. Two innings later, he roped a one-out double to center. He never advanced past third before the final out of the frame.

What it means

Sunday's rubber match will determine whether the Indians drop all three of their series on this road trip. The Tribe went 1-2 in Minnesota and 1-2 in Chicago.

Walk this way

Miguel Cabrera saw 23 pitches on Saturday. He didn't lift the bat off his shoulders until the 23rd offering. He socked that pitch to center field, where Michael Bourn camped under it for a routine fly out. In his previous four at-bats, however, Cabrera walked. In the third, fourth and sixth innings, the Indians intentionally walked him with first base open. Cabrera entered Saturday's matinee with 12 hits in 18 at-bats against the Indians this season (.667 average).

House call

House actually lowered his ERA to 12.60 after he allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in three innings. The Tigers had tagged him for six runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings on April 12.

Smooth operator

Brantley went 3-for-4 in Friday's contest and tallied four hits -- including a pair of doubles -- on Saturday. Since returning to the lineup following a back injury, the left fielder has collected 13 hits in 31 at-bats (.419 average) over eight games.

What's next

The Indians and Tigers will reconvene at Comerica Park on Sunday for the final tilt in the three-game set. Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 2.38 ERA) will oppose Detroit southpaw Kyle Lobstein (1-1, 3.27 ERA). Lobstein earned the victory against the Tribe on April 12 after he allowed three runs on eight hits across five innings. On Monday, the Indians will begin a seven-game homestand against the Royals and Blue Jays.

Cleveland Cavaliers postgame podcast: Breaking down the Game 4 win

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Listen to our postgame podcast as we break down the Cavaliers' Game 4 win over Boston to complete a sweep.

Cavaliers postgame: April 26, 2015

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers won a physical, intense battle with the Celtics on Sunday to complete a sweep of Boston. They will play either Chicago or Milwaukee in the second round.

After the game, Dennis Manoloff and I broke everything down. We talked about the win, the physical play and looked ahead to the second round. Other topics included:

  • Thoughts on Boston's physical play.
  • J.R. Smith's getting tossed and facing a possible suspension.
  • Kevin Love's injury.
  • Three stars of the game.

You can listen to our live postgame show immediately following every game this postseason.

Listen to the podcast in the player above or download it by clicking here.

It's the same, old story when the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers clash

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Since the start of the 2009 season, the Indians have amassed a 42-74 record against the Tigers. Since 2011, the Indians have totaled a 331-334 record, but their mark against the Tigers is just 29-51.

DETROIT -- Well, the Indians did outscore the Tigers this weekend by seven runs.

Friday's 13-run eruption was no symbol for a reversal of fortunes, however. It served as merely a momentary reprieve from the Indians' early-season monotony.

No, it was the same, old story at Comerica Park this weekend. Two weeks after the Tigers clobbered the Tribe in a three-game sweep, they claimed two of three from the Indians following what now looks like a Friday night aberration. Cleveland's offense returned to form on Sunday afternoon, but the Tigers' lineup proved more potent in an 8-6 victory.

That has been the script for much of the last seven years. Since the start of the 2009 season, the Indians have amassed a 42-74 record against the Tigers. Since 2011, the Indians have totaled a 331-334 record, but their mark against the Tigers is just 29-51.

The way the major league schedule sets up, the teams play each other 18 or 19 times each year. If it is not paramount that the Indians hold their own against the Tigers, it certainly wouldn't hurt. In 2013, when Cleveland mounted a 4-15 mark against Detroit, the Tribe bullied the White Sox and Twins. Terry Francona's bunch went 17-2 against Chicago and 13-6 against Minnesota. There are no punching bags in the American League Central this season.

"They obviously seem to play well against us," outfielder David Murphy said about the Tigers.

It appears as though the rivalry has taken on a big brother-little brother feel. Are the Indians playing scared against their division foe? Is there any faith on Cleveland's side that they can topple the Tigers? Is there any inkling as to how to retire Miguel Cabrera, who is 15-for-23 (.652 average) with a 1.078 OPS against the Tribe this season?

"If they were intimidating, I don't think you would see the result that we saw on Friday night," Murphy said. "It's just more of, I think they do a good job of getting an early lead. It seems like every time we've played them this year, they hit seven guys in the first inning and they always get one or two runs, at least. I think that's the name of the game regardless of who you're playing.

"When you get an early lead, especially multiple runs, and then add on, it's always going to make it a tough game. I think that's a good approach. If we can hold them down early on, score in the first few innings, that kind of helps our offense to get rolling for the rest of the game."

The problem for the Indians is that hasn't happened often enough when the two teams collide. The Tigers shook off Friday night's onslaught and the world returned to its normal state on Saturday and Sunday.

What coach Brad Stevens said following Boston Celtics' 101-93 loss vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in Eastern Conference playoffs: Game 4

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Read what Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after his team was eliminated from the playoffs by the Cavaliers.

BOSTON - Here is what Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after his team's 101-93 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff series Sunday. The Cavaliers swept the series, 4-0.

I know it's hard to fast forward at a time like this but what will these four games will mean a year, two years from now?

Stevens: "I think above the four games maybe the last few months, having to play from behind the last few months and accomplishing something and then measuring yourself against the best in the East in a lot of people's eyes. We have a lot of information, and that's really good. We know where we can get better. We know individually where we need to improve. We know collectively where we need to improve. The best thing that I take from this year is there's growth, there's building, there's progress. Now we have to build on it. That's the challenge. That's the hard part is now continuing it. We've got a good environment that's a real positive."

Along those likes do you think this has helped your guys?

Stevens: "Yeah the biggest thing is they stretch you so much, the Cavs, so that you have to prepare for a lot of different things. I've heard this term thrown around basketball circles some but certainly other industries as well: It's a great opportunity to build and extend our corporate knowledge. What we're talking about, being able to reflect back on times where we guarded and acted a certain way because we were forced to do so. Being able to do that on the fly maybe next time. Being able to adjust to how somebody is guarding us better because we can reflect back on it. Again, I think the biggest thing is we got some experience but we didn't just get it against a run of the mill team. We got it against a team a lot of people think will come out of the East and with some of the best players in the world. And that stretches you, and that's a good thing."

Do you think this will make the Celtics a more interesting place for people down the line perhaps?

Stevens: "I'm not a big salesman, never have been. The only thing I can ever say is you want to be part of a great environment and it's a good environment. That makes the whole experience better. And for me that's our task to continue to grow and build within that environment because we've got good foundation and culture going forward."

As a coach what do you take from your perspective from this series that you can build on going forward?

Stevens: "As much as the players, tons. You're learning every minute of every day. I've always said you learn from every coach you coach against. I thought the Cavs did a lot of great things. I thought their individual talent stretched our defense. And I thought our guys responded a lot of times well but not quite well enough to get three 8-point losses in a row. You're always tying to grow and get better but that's going to be the same if we're fortunate enough to cut down the nets someday. I don't think that would change how you'd approach the next day anyways."

How can you look back on this season? How proud of you are the fight these guys showed the last couple months to get to where you were this playoff series?

Stevens: "The best way to phrase it is I like our progress but I like to win. I'm disappointed right now but it's not at anybody or at myself it's that you're disappointed to lose. We have to get better in every which way and that's the challenge ahead because winning is a lot more fun."

You're obviously somebody very calm, cool and collected on the sidelines but you had two very emotional incidents in that game regarding Jae. The first one involving Kendrick Perkins, the second one obviously he leaves the game. What do you think of Jae Crowder and the leadership he showed in the series and how your team responded emotionally, was it enough after those two incidents?

Stevens: "I thought after the first one we actually lost our cool a little bit and it hurt us, at least initially towards the end of the half. And then I thought after the second one we handled that much better. There's a lot of intensity. There's competitive, high achieving athletes on both sides of the floor. Tensions are going to flare. I'm more pleased with how we responded the second time than the first. I hope Jae's OK."

Looking back do you feel you got everything you could out of this basketball team?

Stevens: "I don't think I've ever felt that about any team I've ever been around. That's the problem with coaching. You haven't played a perfect game yet. We were 40-42 and lost four straight in the playoffs so no, I don't. But I didn't feel that way both times we went to the Final Four either. I think that's just the way I'm wired I guess.

Obviously a disappointing fourth quarter. Can you talk about going through your first experience from the crowd's perspective obviously them chanting late in the game and when the game's over for you guys"

Stevens: "I thought both games the crowd gave us a chance. We were giving ourselves some chances too but the crowd was really, it was fantastic. It was something you want to be a part of but like I told the guys in there, I'm really pleased with a lot of things. I think we showed a lot of growth and can get a lot better. But none of us signed up to play for the Boston Celtics for a quick exit and that's something that's important to keep in mind going forward because that crowd, as good as it gets and the longer that you play I can't imagine what it would be like."

How frustrating was it watching Isaiah Thomas struggle to shoot the ball again today?

Stevens: "I thought his purpose and his play was good. I told him to shoot one of them. I tried to think that maybe if I said something it would make him even more likely to make it. He struggled a little but shooting it but he made some late. And he'll make a lot of shots in his career. And we're glad he's going to be with us."

How has this changed if at all what you think it takes to win in this league at a championship level?

Stevens: "I think this is why I'm glad we played the Cavs. Because you're going to be chasing that level of player to figure out how to stop them or how to make it more difficult on them. We've shown that we've been in games even though we haven't controlled everything we can control. Do they take it up a different level if the game's tied near the end? That's the one thing we don't know because we never saw that."

If you saw the Kelly Olynyk play on Kevin Love I'd like you to characterize what you saw and I'd like you to talk about what that does to the Cavs when Love's not out there.

Stevens: "I did not see what (happened). I watched it on film after the fact because I was told it was two guys and I guess Kelly had his arm. I did not see it live. I thought it was two guys locking each other. I thought the foul call was correct on Kelly. I can't imagine there was any negative intent on Kelly. That's not the type of person he is. And I hope Kevin's OK to play whenever they play next because you want everyone out there to finish the game, you want the best players on the court for both teams all the time. Again, like Jae with us you just hope both guys are OK."

Did you feel as though the Cavs pushing that ensued was in response to the Olynyk play?

Stevens: "I didn't really think so. I just think it's a competitive game. I can't imagine it was but maybe they would say differently, I don't know. Again, that's not really in Kelly's personality. I hope that wasn't the case but I didn't think that was part of their response."

What LeBron James said following Cleveland Cavaliers' 101-93 win against Boston Celtics in Eastern Conference playoffs: Game 4

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See what LeBron James said in a postgame news conference Sunday after the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Boston Celtics.

BOSTON - Here is what LeBron James said after his Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics, 101-93, in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff series Sunday. The Cavaliers swept the series, 4-0.

Kevin Love said after the game he though it was a bush-league play. What did you see on the play he suffered a dislocated shoulder on?

James: "I saw the replay and it didn't look like a basketball play. I've seen a lot of tie-ups in my day and that tie-up was a little different. You want to play basketball the right way. You want to be physical. But you never want the game to get out of hand where you have injuries and we had two of them tonight."

Did this game actually get out of hand and how upset were you guys as a team when you went in at halftime and saw the play?

James: "Very upset that it happened. Hopefully everything works out for us as a unit. And hopefully everything works out for Kevin. That's the most important thing."

You speak a lot about keeping your focus. Is that difficult to do knowing there's some things up in the air heading into the next series in terms of Kevin's injury status as well as J.R. Smith?

James: "You just control what you can control. That's all we can do. We have a small period of time to get better, then it's next man up. We're a team, they're two big pieces obviously, but next man up. No excuses. Just get ready to go out and play."

Did Isaiah Thomas hit your arm? Have you ever had that happen before where you're out of bounds and get a pass disrupted from behind?

James: "No. I don't think it's ever happened before in my career. It's an automatic technical. You're not allowed to cross the line when they're taking the ball out of bounds. We turned the ball over and now we commit a foul. It went from a possible 10-point lead to a 6-point lead, especially in a game like this when you're trying to close somebody out you don't want anything to affect the way you close a game out."

Incidents aside today, what did you learn about Jae Crowder as a player spending so many minutes against him this series?

James: "He's a guy who tries to work hard and put his body on me and try to help the team."

Does it feel like you just swept a series or does it feel like the team is in a spot right now with Kevin hurt and you don't know what's going to happen with J.R.?

James: "We feel like we advanced but it's going to get tougher and tougher. If we're fortunate enough to continue to play basketball this time of year it's going to get tougher and tougher so as we wait for our second round opponent we mentally decompress for a day or two maybe and then you lock back in on your next opponent."

What's the game plan for you knowing there's a chance Love and J.R. might not be available?

James: "We only can control what we can control. If Love is out and if J.R. is, it's the next man up, next man up. We have guys that have been able to step up. We know it's going to be a tough void with two of our bigger guys in our lineup and in our season so far but we've got to have guys step up and we'll see what happens."

In your experience, was this probably the hardest fought  four game sweep you've been involved in?

James: "I highly respect their coaching staff, especially their head coach. Very well coached team. He put them in position to try to win the game. I think Brad Stevens is a very good young coach in our league. I've been in 10 first round opponents and I've been able to sweep a few of them. I'm not sure if this is the most physical. I'm OK with physical play so it doesn't bother me."

Did you at any point say to your teammates after the Kevin Love incident let's be smart about this?

James: "I harp at them throughout the whole game, no matter what the situation is. I always tell my guys let's just play basketball no matter what's going on. A team makes a run, we have a few turnovers, an incident may happen on the floor. I always try to refocus our mindset and what we're here for. We're here to win a basketball game and let's just do that."

Without getting too far ahead of yourself, talk about trying to bring a championship to Cleveland.

James: "Our long term goal is absolutely to win a championship and right now we have short term goals to prepare ourselves for the next round and get ready for the challenge that will present itself. It was a great first round challenge for a young team. We have some vets but we're a young team together and the Celtics gave us the test that we needed and some things we haven't seen in the regular season."

Cleveland Cavaliers sweep Boston Celtics but lose Kevin Love to injury: DMan's Report, NBA Playoffs Game 4

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LeBron James' teams have won 13 straight first-round games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James had 27 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals as the Cavaliers defeated the Celtics, 101-93, Sunday afternoon at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Cavs forward Kevin Love suffered a left-shoulder injury in the first quarter.

Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the ABC telecast:

Broom service: The Cavs swept the Celtics, 4-0.

Repeat: The Cavs swept the Celtics, 4-0.

The reason it needed to be repeated is that viewers of the telecast never would have known, given all of the praise lavished on the underdogs.

Ridiculous: In order to dispose of the Celtics in the series, the Cavs needed to play basketball and rugby. Actually, to compare what transpired to rugby does a disservice to rugby.

Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland featured the type of physical play expected in the playoffs. Once the series shifted to Boston, however, the physicality got out of control.

The Celtics knew that the only way they could compensate for their talent shortfall was to foul as much as possible and hope the referees missed or ignored the majority of it. For stretches of both games, the plan worked. But in the end, the Cavs prevailed because they were more skilled and played better basketball.

(Yes, both teams got away with activity that the NBA rule book states is illegal. It's just that the Celtics' ratio was at least 5:1. Their specialty: Putting a hand on the back of a Cav and pushing him hard enough to alter the shot.)

King's ownership: LeBron's teams improved to 10-0 in first-round series. They have won 13 straight first-round games and 28 of the past 31.

Victory costly: The Cavs lost Love to a dislocated left shoulder in the first quarter. His status for future series is uncertain.

Inexcusable: Love's injury never should have happened.

With 5:22 left in the quarter, Boston forward Jae Crowder shot a 3-pointer from the right wing. As the ball neared the hoop, Love established textbook box-out position. Boston center Kelly Olynyk came from the weak side and, in clear view of a referee, plowed Love from behind enough to knock him off his base.

No whistle.

As the ball bounced off the rim to the left, Olynyk and Love became entangled -- largely because of Olynyk. Love reached for the ball with his right hand but was unable to secure it because Olynyk encased his left arm. For a second-plus, Olynyk held on tight to the extended left arm and took a step in the other direction, as if he were a running back carrying the football over the goal line.

A second-plus was all it took to wreak havoc on Love's shoulder. Love grabbed it and essentially sprinted to the locker room.

Olynyk was, in fact, called for a loose-ball foul -- but the call occurred several seconds too late.

Love told reporters in Boston that he thought Olynyk's play was "bush-league'' and that he had "no doubt'' it was intentional. Based on replays alone, it is easy to understand why Love thinks so. Bottom line: Olynyk had an opportunity to release an arm extended in a compromising position and declined to do so. UFC President Dana White would have approved of the arm bar.

Celtics personnel, as expected, defended Olynyk, claiming he is not that type of player. Maybe not -- but it doesn't mean the play can't be (sewer) dirty.

One of the "defenses'' of Olynyk was laughable on its face. Celtics guard Evan Turner, in a quote relayed by Boston Globe NBA writer Gary Washburn on Twitter, said of Olynyk: "He's a horrible box-out guy in practice. Can't box out to save his life.''

As if that makes it acceptable in any way. Perhaps Brad Stevens, the great Brad Stevens, marvelous coach of the lovable underdogs (who were swept), should teach his players how to box out correctly.

Thriving shorthanded: At the time of Love's injury, the Cavs led, 18-10. The advantage grew to 29-19 by the end of the quarter.

The Cavs, playing angry but under control, dominated the second quarter. They led, 57-36, by intermission.

The Cavs shot just 44 percent from the field and missed seven free throws in the first half. But they took care of the ball and excelled defensively, especially in transition and on the perimeter. The Celtics shot 38 percent from the field, including 0-of-8 from 3-point range, and committed 10 turnovers.

ABC reporter Heather Cox told viewers that Love would not return, which came as no surprise. Cox also said point guard Kyrie Irving had "re-agitated'' an injury (presumably, the hip) but would continue to play.

Getting to the finish line: The Cavs began leaking oil in the third quarter, and the Celtics capitalized. They played better, fair and square, and pulled within 70-61 by the end of the quarter.

LeBron and Irving and reserves Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert made sure the Celtics never got too close in the fourth. The final 91 seconds did get interesting for TV viewers in this respect, though: ABC play-by-play voice Mike Tirico and analyst Hubie Brown, both normally very good, became cheerleaders for the Celtics. When Tirico and Brown weren't praising the organization and its fans, they were hoping against hope that the home team somehow would pull off a remarkable comeback.

Clueless: Just when it didn't seem possible that the referee trio of Leroy Richardson, Tony Brothers and John Goble could butcher anything else, a sequence occurred with 37 seconds remaining that boggled the mind.

After guard Isaiah Thomas made a layup to cut Boston's deficit to 99-91, James attempted to inbound the ball to Irving. Thomas put both hands on James from behind and forced an errant pass that was "intercepted'' by Avery Bradley.

No whistle.

Irving fouled Bradley in the act of shooting, and Bradley made both free throws to make it a six-point game with 37 seconds remaining.

Somehow, some way, Thomas had gotten away with technical-fouling an inbounder from behind. LeBron pleaded his case to the nearest referee on the scene, Brothers, to no avail.

Thankfully for Brothers and his crew, Luigi Datome missed a 3-point attempt. Irving grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Irving made two free throws with 29 seconds left to account for the final margin.

No place for it: Olynyk wasn't the only one dishing out punishment that injured. Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith knocked out Crowder with an ugly play.

With 10:23 remaining in the third quarter, Bradley missed a 3-pointer. As Smith and Crowder pursued the rebound, Smith threw a blind right arm and caught Crowder in the face. As Crowder absorbed it, his left knee buckled. Crowder needed to be helped to the locker room and was diagnosed with a sprain.

Smith was assessed flagrant-2 and ejected.

Smith no doubt felt Crowder's arms pushing him from behind multiple times in the paint. Replays showed that Crowder made enough contact with Smith that a foul seemingly could have been called (except in this series). Regardless, Smith's response can't be tolerated under any circumstances. He lost his cool and ended up injuring another player.

The Celtics had every right to be upset.

Quality work: Shumpert scored 15 points in 38 minutes to cap a highly productive series. His defense, particularly against Thomas, was as advertised.

Really, Isaiah? Thomas, a reserve, shot 18-of-54 (33 percent) from the field and committed 14 turnovers in the series. He is part of the reason the fabulous Celtics were swept. Yet Thomas decided to take it upon himself to be an authority on playoff basketball.

Thomas said of the physical play in the series: "We are all men here. We don't need to cry. It's playoff basketball. You need to move forward.''

Memo to Thomas: 1. No one is crying. 2. Playoff basketball does not involve grabbing the inbounder. 3. Playoff basketball does not involve shoving a player into the seats, as you did to Thompson in the third quarter after Thompson grabbed an offensive rebound. (Brothers watched and didn't make a call. Thompson threw the ball away as he fell into the fans, and Brothers gave possession to Boston.) 4. The Cavs are, in fact, moving forward. 5. Who are you, again?


Kevin Love calls Kelly Olynyk's play 'bush-league' and wants league to address it

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Kevin Love called out Kelly Olynyk for his "bush-league" play that dislocated the arm of Love.

BOSTON - When it happened, Kevin Love knew he was done for the day.

Boston forward Kelly Olynyk is the individual responsible for dislocating Love's left arm in the first quarter of the Cavaliers' Game 4 win over the Celtics on Sunday at The TD Garden.

The two were fighting for a loose ball and from the naked eye, it appeared as if they just got tangled up and Love's arm simply slipped out of socket.

But after reviewing the replay, an argument can be made that Olynyk deliberately intended to harm Love as he tugged and slightly twisted his arm. Following the sweep that advanced the Cavaliers to the second round, Love made it known that it was "very disheartening" and he agreed with that interpretation and felt it was a malicious act.

"I thought it was a bush-league play," Love said. "I was out there and Olynyk was in a compromising position and had no chance to get the ball. It's just too bad that he would go to those lengths to take somebody out of a game and do that to someone. I had no doubt in my mind that he did that on purpose."

Love retreated to the locker room in excruciating pain as soon as the incident occurred. His arm had to be popped back into place. He was wearing a sling when he addressed the media and he will go through a more extensive evaluation on Monday in Cleveland.

Surprisingly Olynyk only received a common foul. He slipped out and did not speak with reporters after the game. However, his rapid departure didn't exempt him from being a postgame topic of discussion.

"That's just not a basketball play," Love said of Olynyk. "You look at the replay. I saw a picture of his arm underneath. It's just not a basketball play. Yeah. I expected it to be physical, but when it has to go to that length, it's just not the way it's supposed to be. That's not how you play basketball."

And Love also had a message for the league: Do not hesitate to issue a suspension and a fine.

"Oh, the league will take a look at it and it and it better be swift and just," he said.

The Cavaliers ended the series in four, but it was far from easy. Boston played as physical and as ruthless as any opponent this year. They embraced their role as a no-nonsense ball club, but at times they took it too far.

"I've seen the replay and it didn't look like a basketball play," LeBron James said. "I've seen a lot of tie-ups in my day and that tie-up was a little different. We want to be physical, but you never want the game to get out of hand where you have injuries."

Depending on the severity, this could end up being a major setback for the Cavaliers. The rugged Chicago Bulls are one win away from being the next opponent as early as Saturday.

Going in shorthanded and coming out successful against Chicago will not be an easy feat. With J.R. Smith's availability also up in the air, it could get ugly. But Love says he's optimistic that he'll be a go for Game 1 of the second round.

"I hope so," Love told Northeast Ohio Media Group. "It's tough to say right now. I feel good right now, so at least my spirits are up. That's good."

Most of the Cavaliers believed the Love play was intentional. We won't truly found out unless Olynyk admits to it and that's not likely to happen.

But if you had asked a player in the opposing team's locker room, they might have had a different view of the incident.

"We could say the same thing," the Celtics' Isaiah Thomas said. "We're all men here. We don't need to cry and tell you guys. It is what it is. It's playoff basketball. We don't want to hurt anybody. Things happen and we've got to move forward."

Tough and fresh as it may be, it's time for the Cavaliers to move on. Love understands that. His disdain for Olynyk's isn't fogging his mindset. His team needs 12 more wins to secure the ultimate goal.

That's what it's all about.

"I'm obviously not happy about it, but I'm going to try to make the best of the situation," Love said.

Cleveland Cavaliers lose Kevin Love to injury, possibly J.R. Smith to suspension, but sweep Boston Celtics: Bill Livingston (photos)

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The Cavaliers sweep Boston, but injury and eligibility concerns for Kevin Love and J.R. Smith make it a costly triumph.

BOSTON - Jim Chones was here Sunday.

How could he not be?

Chones is now the radio analyst for Cavaliers games. Once upon a time, he was wounded at precisely the wrong time, as Kevin Love was Sunday. For Chones, it was a broken foot, suffered in practice before a Cavs-Celtics series even began with an NBA Finals berth at stake in 1976.

For Love, it was a dislocated shoulder, suffered on what Love called a "bush league play" by the Celtics' Kelly Olynyk, as the first-round series against the Celtics ended in a joyless four-game sweep after a 101-93 victory.

Depending on Love's prognosis after he undergoes an MRI in Cleveland on Monday, the Cavs' path will be much tougher over the long haul, the short one, or maybe both. 

The short haul looks like trucking a heavy load over a bad road.

J.R. Smith was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul early in the second half for an elbow to the face of Boston's Jae Crowder, who fell awkwardly and sustained a possibly serious knee injury. Smith's foul is subject to league review and possible suspension for the first game of the next series, probably against Chicago, starting next weekend in Cleveland.  

Love wants justice from the NBA for what Olynyk did, too. The 7-footer put an armlock on Love in a rebounding melee. It actually appeared to be a legal move, known as the kimura lock.

Legal, that is, in Mixed Martial Arts in a fight inside a cage. Not in basketball.

Its effect on Love's left shoulder, as Olynyk yanked hard, was, as far as increasing the chances of future Cavs' opponents, close to that of getting the longer fork of a wishbone.

A common foul was called. Not a Flagrant 1, not a Flagrant 2.

"I saw the replay. It didn't look like a basketball play," said LeBron James.

Whatever punishments are handed down to Smith and Olynyk, some sanctions should go to the referees, too.

The reason the game deteriorated into a violent travesty was that the referees -- Tony Brothers, Leroy Richardson and John Goble -- kept popping up into nursery rhymes, like three Jack-in-the-boxes.

"Rain, Rain, Go Away" maybe, given the way a black cloud seems to follow Cleveland teams around. Or even better "Humpty Dumpty," with its LeBronian evocation of the attempts by all the King's horses and all the King's men to put the fragile dream together again.

But most appropriate of all would be "Three Blind Mice."

In the last 37.5 seconds, TD Garden was where amazing happened, just not the way the old NBA commercials intended.

Isaiah Thomas scored on an uncontested layup to cut the lead to 99-91. After his momentum carried him off the court, he stood behind James, out of bounds, as the Cavs' superstar tried to inbound quickly before Boston could set its defense.

Thomas, like little Jack Horner in quest of a plum in the Christmas pie, then simply stuck out his hand and deflected the ball from behind as James passed. To Brandon Bass it wobbled.

Result: another easy layup. Now it was 99-93.

No one saw it. No one made Thomas stand in the corner.

"That's supposed to be a technical foul. You can't cross the (base)line," said James, meaning playing defense off the court.

Nonsense. The line of what was legal was crossed all game.

James' next inbound pass ricocheted off a defender, then off Kyrie Irving's fingers and out of bounds. Irving was late coming to the ball because replays showed his jersey was being grabbed from behind by Thomas, so its tail looked like a small flag in a strong wind. Only 0.4 elapsed on the two plays.

The Celtics' Gigi Datome, who turned into a near 50 percent shooter on a small sample (36 tries this season), bounded off the bench, got a good look at a three, but missed. Otherwise, it would have been only a three-point lead.

"Next man up," said James, when asked how the Cavs would cope, almost certainly for a time without Love and possibly for the next series opener without Smith too.

Frankly, this appears to be a Pyrrhic victory. It means a hollow one, coming after losses that are difficult to sustain. The term refers not to James, but to another king, Pyrrhus, who won some battles at great cost, but lost the war in the togas and sandals era of Rome.

Bad luck is not ancient history in Cleveland, though. Perversely, remembering the past is no protection there against repeating it.

David Blatt said referees partially responsible for Kevin Love, Jae Crowder injuries and Kendrick Perkins is Jim Loscutoff

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Cavaliers coach David Blatt said lax officiating earlier in the series cultivated the environment in which Kevin Love and Jae Crowder suffered injuries Sunday. He also said Kendrick Perkins' play was retaliatory.

BOSTON - Cavaliers coach David Blatt said the leeway referees gave the Boston Celtics to play a more physical style of basketball earlier in the playoffs was responsible for the environment in Game 4 Sunday in which key players on both teams suffered potentially serious injuries.

The Cavs' Kevin Love had his left arm yanked out of its socket by Boston's Kelly Olynyk in the first quarter of Cleveland's series-clinching 101-93 victory. Cleveland's J.R. Smith decked Jae Crowder in the face during the third quarter. Crowder crumpled to the court and suffered a knee injury.

"Of course it does," Blatt told the Northeast Ohio Media Group, when asked if officiating in the earlier games of the series led to what transpired Sunday. Blatt also suggested a third instance Sunday -- when Kendrick Perkins crushed Crowder in the second quarter -- was retaliatory.

"If you don't police it all the way through, sooner or later, it's going to happen," Blatt said.

Love accused Olynyk of injuring him intentionally. LeBron James said the team was "very upset" about the play. Boston coach Brad Stevens denied that Olynyk grabbed Love on purpose, and said the two were "locking each other."

Crowder shoved James in Game 3 after Kyrie Irving was whacked by Jonas Jerebko, and said afterwards playing that way was the "best way" to defend James.

Also in Game 3 on Thursday, The Cs' Evan Turner was called for a Flagrant One when he neck-tackled James, and Irving was hammered a number of times on the way to the hoop. Several didn't draw whistles.

Crowder paid double on Sunday. In the second quarter, long before Smith walloped him, Perkins was put into the game and leveled Crowder on a pick, knocking him down. When Crowder got up to discuss the matter with Perkins, the Cavs' enforcer poked him in the face as things grew heated.

Perkins was assessed a Flagrant One foul for crushing Crowder and both were given technicals for the following fracas. Blatt said Perkins' play was a response to the Cs' physicality - he called it a "Jim Loscutoff play" after the former Celtics hatchet man who played for the Cs teams Blatt rooted for as a child.

It wasn't clear if Blatt put him into the game with the order for Perkins to crush Crowder, or if Perkins' shot was in direct retaliation for Olynyk, though that was precisely how Boston legend Red Auerbach used Loscutoff in the 1950s.

"I went to set a screen, hard pick, it was an offensive foul," Perkins said, denying the play was intentional. "You know, things happen. Guys get tangled up."

As for Smith's fist crashing into Crowder's face on Sunday, he was assessed a Flagrant Two (drawing an automatic ejection) and will likely be suspended. Blatt told the Northeast Ohio Media Group that Smith's swing at Crowder was not in retaliation for the Olynyk-Love incident, but a response to Crowder twice shoving Smith in the back right before Smith flung his fist.

"I haven't seen the play. From what I hear, you know, he reacted to something," Blatt said. "It wasn't like he intended to hurt the guy, just reacted. I don't know how the league sees that. I hope, fairly."

Celtics coach Brad Stevens didn't said he didn't think any of the Cavs' infractions were on purpose.

"I just thought it was a competitive game," Stevens said. "I can't imagine it was, but maybe they would say differently. Again, that's not really in Kelly's personality and, so, I hope that wasn't the case. I didn't think that was part of their response, personally. I just don't. There's physical, there's contact, things get heated. That's sometimes how people respond."

Cleveland Cavaliers show impressive grit, especially Kyrie Irving, Iman Shumpert and LeBron James -- Terry Pluto (photos)

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Cleveland Cavaliers show playoff grit in sweeping Boston Celtics.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I hate this type of basketball game where elbows fly, bodies slam and players are needlessly injured.

But I do like how the Cavs prevailed on the road to beat Boston 101-93 and sweep the four games in the first round of the playoffs.

I watched the game like many of you -- on television. I usually appreciate Hubie Brown's analysis, but he spent so much time trying to coach the Celtics back into the game -- that it became a bit annoying.

I wanted to scream, "Hubie, Boston isn't the only team showing some grit! Do you realize that Kyrie Irving has 11 rebounds!"

That's right, 11 rebounds ... not 11 assists ... not 11 points.

The guard had 11 rebounds because he knew the Cavs needed help on the boards with Kevin Love injured in the first quarter.

HOW ABOUT SHUMPERT!

There were several impressive performances for the Cavaliers, who had to overcome Love's injury, a loud crowd, dubious officiating (for both teams) and a sense of desperation from the Celtics that caused some of the physical altercations on the court.

Irving played tough basketball, scoring when it mattered the most -- eight of his 27 points in the fourth quarter.

How about Iman Shumpert, who also scored eight in the final period. And Shumpert had 10 rebounds! He also played excellent defense on Isaiah Thomas, who scored 21 but was 4-of-17 from the field. Irving also covered the speedy 5-foot-9 guard at times.

Shumpert attempted only four shots from the field, yet finished with 15 points. That's because he was 8-of-8 at the foul line, along with his 3-of-4 from the field.

He was a major factor in this game for the Cavs.

IT WAS MESSY!

Boston wanted to make the game messy, and that's how it was played. Neither team shot 40 percent. J.R. Smith was ejected, and could face a suspension for throwing what amounted to a fist that struck Jae Crowder in the face.

I actually thought the Kendrick Perkins' forearm smash on a screen that leveled Crowder was more of a cheap shot than what Smith did.

Smith was trying to get Crowder off his back as the two battled for a rebound. Smith should have been ejected, but I don't think it was a premeditated action. Perkins entered the game looking to nail Crowder, who has dragged LeBron James to the court more than few times in this series.

Love believes that Boston's Kelly Olynyk intentionally grabbed his shoulder with the intent to injure. I honestly don't know, but he certainly seemed to jerk Love's arm at a strange angle, and the result was a dislocated shoulder. It will be fascinating to see how the league office sorts it out.

PLAYING WITH PURPOSE!

But this much is certain: The Cavs played determined defense. They controlled the boards. Center Timofey Mozgov had 12 points and 11 rebounds. When he was on the court, the Cavs outscored the Celtics by 14 points.

James was brilliant in the final period, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. His poise in these late-game situations is one of the major changes from his first tour of duty with the Cavs (2003-10).

You can see the confidence that he gained playing the last four years for a Miami team that went four times to the NBA Finals.

While James and Irving dominated the final period, it wasn't like Game 2 of the series where they scored all the points. Shumpert was a big part of the action with his eight points. Tristan Thompson made three free throws.

The Cavs won this game with one starter injured (Love), another ejected (Smith) and in the type of basketball chaos that can knock the better team off its game on the road.

But that didn't happen, as the Cavs stayed strong.

And that's impressive.

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving take over late, but there's little reason for celebration after Kevin Love injury: Fedor's five observations

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Game 4 ended with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning their first playoff series since 2010, an impressive sweep against the Boston Celtics that was capped during a 101-93 win.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Game 4 ended with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning their first playoff series since 2010, an impressive sweep against the Boston Celtics that was capped during a 101-93 win.

But it was far from the celebration Cleveland was hoping for.

Kevin Love got tangled up with Kelly Olynyk in the first quarter, starting a string of physical play that carried over from previous games in the hard-fought series. As the two players were fighting for a loose ball, Love's left shoulder was wrenched and he left the TD Garden in a sling. The playoff newbie has been diagnosed with a dislocated left shoulder and his status will be determined following more testing.  

J.R. Smith's fate will be in the hands of the NBA after connecting on a violent swipe of Boston's Jae Crowder. Battling for rebounding positions, Smith was shoved in the back and retaliated, resulting in Crowder suffering a knee injury. Smith was assessed a Flagrant-2 and ejected. Kendrick Perkins could also be getting a call from the league before Round Two begins. The Cavs' enforcer was hit with both a flagrant foul and technical following a skirmish with Crowder earlier in the game.

The playoffs are more physical. That should be expected. But there's a fine line between tough, hard-nosed ball and dirty play. Unfortunately, both teams crossed that line during Game 4 as the referees' poor officiating contributed to the result.

The Cavs have disposed of the Celtics, but an uncertain future lies ahead. 

Here are five observations:  

Closing time -- LeBron James got off to a sluggish start, 3-of-11 from the field. But as he has done so many times during his career, James finished with a flurry.

The four-time MVP made seven of his final 13 shots, ending the game with 27 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and one block.

He got a helping hand from his new running mate and postgame podium buddy, Kyrie Irving, who bounced back after an off night on Thursday when he was stymied by Boston's defensive intensity. Irving scored 10 of his 24 points in the final period, finishing 8-of-19 from the floor. Irving, in an effort to replace Love on the glass, grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, had one steal, one block and three assists, showing the all-around effort lacking earlier in his career.

Game 4 followed the same script as the previous games, with the scrappy Celtics trying to make a late surge before Irving and James turned them away late.

The Cavaliers made 29 baskets in the fourth quarter during the series. James and Irving either scored or assisted on 27. The only two baskets that weren't influenced by the duo came from Iman Shumpert on Sunday and Matthew Dellavedova, who made an unassisted layup in Game 1.

Three-point struggles -- Since midseason, the Cavs have transformed into one of the most lethal three-point shooting teams in the league, making 11.7 per game and hitting 38 percent during the torrid stretch. The four-game series with Boston was much different. The Cavs made 9.8 per game and shot 32 percent.

Irving was the most efficient (12-of-25 for 48 percent) while Love was close behind, going 9-of-19 (47 percent).

The rest of the team combined to hit 18-of-78 (23 percent).

That normally reliable shooting will need to improve in Round Two, with the Bulls being the most likely opponent. In four games this postseason, Chicago has been the third-best team from beyond the arc (12.0 per game; 41.4 percent).

Iman Shumpert's value -- Few players were better than Shumpert, who put his long arms all over the outcome of Sunday's game.

He scored 15 points to go with 10 rebounds, two steals and three blocks. More importantly, he was a pest on defense and played 38 quality minutes when Love went to the locker room.

Because of Shumpert's length and athleticism and the Celtics wanting to play small, Cavs coach David Blatt was able to use him on the wing, moving the burly James to power forward.

Shumpert's versatility -- the skill set to guard and play multiple positions -- made him a prime target at the trade deadline and he will be an X Factor as the postseason continues, especially if he continues to play well on offense.

Kendrick Perkins earns his check -- The Cavs were one of a handful of teams to show interest in Perkins after he was bought out of his contract following a deadline trade to Utah.

He contemplated rejoining his old coach Doc Rivers in Los Angeles before picking the Cavs because of James and an opportunity to win a title. During his early days in Boston, Perkins became an enforcer, the same role that followed him to Oklahoma City.

That was part of the allure for the Cavs as well. With championship experience and an unmatched toughness, Perkins' locker was placed in between Tristan Thompson and Love, two playoff rookies. When he's not imparting wisdom or sitting on the bench, serving as an extra voice, Perkins is bringing a physical element to the court.

The tough and rugged center sets aggressive hard-hitting screens (some illegal) and isn't afraid to send messages when opposing players enter the paint. He sent another to the Celtics and any other team that believes the Cavs are weak and/or overhyped.

He entered the game, knocked Crowder down on a violent screen that was called a Flagrant 1 and then received a technical foul for taking a swing at him.

Perkins wasn't ejected like Smith, but the NBA will likely review the play and he could face a suspension.

No matter the outcome, what Perkins did was necessary. The Cavs were pushed around at times during the series and needed to show they're willing to stand up for themselves, fight back, especially with the defensive-minded, physical Bulls on the horizon. 

Loss of Love -- There's no official timetable on Love's dislocated left shoulder. He told reporters in the locker room that he felt better and is hoping to play Game 1. The injury is his non-shooting shoulder, which is good news, but Love's own prognosis seems incredibly optimistic given how it looked.

Love was emotional after the game and it's easy to understand. The third member of the Big Three told reporters in Boston that he thought Olynyk's play was "bush-league'' and had "no doubt'' it was intentional. 

It wasn't a basketball play, but rather something often seen in a wrestling ring or cage fight. Ronda Rousey would call it a kimura lock.

Boston's soft center, who needs a GPS service to locate the weight room, was called for a loose-ball foul, but that's not enough. The grappling that took place wasn't the issue. He had ample time to let go of Love's left arm and didn't. Olynyk should be fined and even though the Celtics' season is now over, an opening night suspension for next year should follow.

There's a break before the Eastern Conference semifinals, but the timing is horrible. Love, who wanted out of Minnesota to realize his dream of competing for a championship, was starting to look comfortable on the big stage. It's the opportunity he had worked so hard for and sacrificed so much to grasp and now, because of a non-basketball play, his status is up in the air. 

Love had averaged 18.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in the three games against Boston before Sunday. He hit two pivotal three-pointers in the fourth quarter during Thursday's win and started the scoring with an elbow jumper Sunday.

He's an important piece to Cleveland's title run and even though his numbers have declined this season, he continues to make an impact. Here are Cleveland's numbers from the first three games with him on and off the court, according to ESPN stats and info:

With him

Offensive efficiency: 119 points per 100 possessions, 48 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and +27 point differential.

Without

Offensive efficiency: 95 points per 100 possessions, 37 percent from the field, 26 percent from three-point range and a +2 point differential.

No matter how good Irving and James have been, how versatile and talented the roster is or how much Thompson has dominated on the glass, Love can't be replaced. 

The Cavs will be crossing their fingers for good news as he undergoes further testing in the next 24 hours. 

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