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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons NBA Playoffs 2016 Game Four: Tipoff time, TV channel and radio information

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The Cleveland Cavaliers will have a chance to close their first-round series against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on TNT and Fox Sports Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will have a chance to close their first-round series against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on TNT and Fox Sports Ohio. On radio, it will be simulcast on WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS and 87.7 FM (ESP).

The Cavaliers took a 3-0 series lead on Friday, beating the Pistons, 101-91. In the win, Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 26 points while LeBron James and Kevin Love each added 20. 

Detroit, the No. 8 seed in the conference, had all five starters reach double figures in scoring for the second straight game, led by Reggie Jackson's 18 points. 

Our Joe Vardon has the latest from Auburn Hills, as James and the Cavs reacted to Andre Drummond not being punished for his high elbow to James during Game 3. Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs


Michael Brantley will join Cleveland Indians in Minneapolis; could be activated

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Left fielder Michael Brantley, after playing consecutive games over the weekend for Class AAA Columbus, will join the Indians in Minneapolis for an assessment on his surgically-repaired right shoulder.

DETROIT - Michael Brantley will join the Indians on Sunday night in Minneapolis before they open a three-game series against the Twins on Monday night at Target Field. Unless he trips getting off his flight or stubs his toe in his hotel room, look for him to be activated.

The Indians won't say that. The last thing they want to do is activate Brantley, have him suffer a setback with his surgically repaired shoulder and lose him for 15 days on the disabled list or play a man short for a few days to give Brantley a chance to bounce back.

"When we get to the ballpark on Monday, we'll sit and talk with him and assess what the next step should be and what we should do," said manager Terry Francona.

Brantley, who underwent surgery in November, played consecutive games Friday and Saturday at Class AAA Columbus for the first time in his rehab assignment. He did not play Sunday.

"By all accounts he's doing very well," said Francona.

Head trainer James Quinlan, Francona and the front office felt it was best to meet with Brantley in person to see where he's at in his recovery before making a decision on what will be his next step.

Brantley could be activated to face Twins

Francona, as he has said before, re-emphasized that Brantley doesn't have to be ready to play every day to be activated. The Indians, ranked eighth in the AL in runs through 15 games, will gladly play Brantley three to four days a week until he's ready to return to the lineup fulltime.

When Brantley is activated, the Indians will have a tough decision to make in how to create a roster spot for him. Rookie Tyler Naquin could be sent down, but that would leave the Indians thin in the center field spot. Rajai Davis can handle the starting duties, but his backups - Lonnie Chisenhall and Jose Ramirez - would be inexperienced. Brantley, of course, could always slide over to play center if Davis needed time off.

The Indians could also option starter Cody Anderson to Class AAA Columbus and move Trevor Bauer back into the rotation from the bullpen. But it seems as if Anderson would be given a longer leash than three starts after impressing so many people in spring training.

The Indians are carrying eight relievers so they could create a roster space there as well.

Five red flags for Tribe to heed

"We've talked about it (the move) a bunch and we'll continue to," said Francona. "It's not an easy one, to say the least."

Brantley went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly for Columbus on Saturday. He's 5-for-21 in his rehab at Columbus and Class AA Akron.

"He's done a fantastic job on trying to be ready to play," said Francona. "Besides really wanting him back because he's a good player, I really don't stress about it too much because I know he's doing everything in his power to be ready to play. I'm proud of him. ... Just how he plays left field and hits third, that's how he's done in his rehab."

Fallout: When Brantley does return, Ramirez's playing time could suffer. In Brantley's absence, Ramirez has made eight of his 11 starts in left field, including Sunday.

Ramirez went into Sunday's game hitting .250 (11-for-44) with one homer and five RBI.

The growing value of Jose Ramirez

"On paper, that will be the biggest challenge," said Francona. "But I've found out over the years that things have a way of working out. As you get into the grind (of the season), Kipnis isn't going to play 162 games. Frankie (Lindor) isn't going to play 162. There will be at-bats for him because he can move around."

Ramirez played some center field in spring training, but as for playing there in the regular season Francona said, "It may happen. We'll see. He's been fine in left field. It's like when Mike Aviles first went out there. I don't think it's his first position, but the fact that he can go out and make the plays is important."

Finally: The Indians' 10-run victory over the Tigers on Saturday marked the eighth time they've scored 10 or more runs at Comerica Park since the ballpark opened in 2000. Friday's 2-1 victory over the Tigers marked just the second time in Comerica Park history that the Indians have beaten the Tigers with two or fewer runs.

Cleveland Indians' RHP Carlos Carrasco injured Sunday covering first base

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Indians started Carlos Carrasco left Sunday's game after suffering an injury to his left hamstring while covering first base in the third inning.

DETROIT -- Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco was helped off the field Sunday afternoon after injuring his left hamstring while covering first base in the third inning against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

Carrasco came off the mound to cover first on a grounder by Andrew Romine with one out in the inning. He got his feet tangled at the bag and fell awkwardly after catching Carlos Santana's throw and retiring Romine.

Replays of the play showed Carrasco screaming as he hit the ground. He was assisted off the field by trainers James Quinlan and Michael Salazar and initially examined in the dugout as he appeared to try and straighten his left leg. He was then helped into the clubhouse by Quinlan, the team's head athletic trainer, and pitching coach Mickey Callaway.

Trevor Bauer relieved Carrasco and struck out Anthony Gose to end the inning. Carrasco threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings with one hit and one strikeout.

Detroit starter Shane Greene left the game after walking Francisco Lindor to start the fourth inning. It was announced that Greene left the game with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand.

Drew VerHagen relieved Greene.

Cleveland Indians' 3-game sweep of Detroit Tigers muted by Carlos Carrasco hamstring injury

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The Indians completed their first sweep of three or more games in Detroit since 2008 with Sunday's win at Comerica Park.

DETROIT - The Indians completed a three-game sweep of the rival Detroit Tigers on Sunday, but the celebration was muted because of an injury to right-hander Carlos Carrasco, one of their top starting pitchers.

Carrasco left the game after injuring his left hamstring in the third inning while covering first base on a ground ball by Andrew Romine. Carrasco took Carlos Santana's throw at the bag, but got his feet twisted and fell to the ground in pain.

Trevor Bauer relieved and pitched 3 1/3 innings to earn the decision in the Tribe's 6-3 win at Comerica Park. Bauer, depending on the severity of Carrasco's injury, is expected to move into the rotation and take Carrasco's spot.

Tiger starter Shane Greene left the game with an injury as well. After walking Francisco Lindor to start the fourth, Greene left with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. Drew VerHagen relieved and the Indians quickly took a 3-0 lead against him.

Jose Ramirez doubled home Lindor. Marlon Byrd delivered Ramirez with a single and Tyler Naquin tripled home Byrd.

Detroit came back with two runs in the fourth to make it 3-2. Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez singled off Bauer to put runners on first and second. Nick Castellanos sent a soft single to left. Ramirez dove for the ball, but came up empty as Kinsler and Martinez scored.

The Indians kept applying the pressure with three more runs in the fifth for a 6-2 lead. Ramirez, Byrd and Juan Uribe had three straight RBI singles. The first two came against VerHagen. Uribe's single to center was off lefty Matt Boyd.

The Tribe finished with 11 hits, including three by Lindor.

Bauer (1-0) picked up his first win of the season. He struck out four and walked one.

Cody Allen retired the Tigers in order in the ninth for his sixth save in as many chances.

Sweep city

The Tribe's sweep of the Tigers was its first at Comerica Park since taking three straight Aug. 25-27, 2008. In the history of the ballpark, this was the Indians' seventh sweep of three or more games since Tiger Stadium closed in 1999.

The Indians, from 2013-15, went 11-16 in Detroit.

In this three-game sweep, the Indians outscored the Tigers, 18-5. They out-hit them, 32-7.

Tribe starters Josh Tomlin, Corey Kluber and Carrasco combined to go 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA (two runs in 17 1/3 innings) against Detroit. Allen recorded two saves in the series.

Ring-a-ding-ding

After Victor Martinez hit a long run-scoring double to center field in the eighth inning off Bryan Shaw to cut the Tribe's lead to 6-3, manager Brad Ausmus asked crew chief Gary Cederstrom to check Shaw's left hand. Shaw was wearing what appeared to be a white ring on the ring finger of his non-pitching hand.

Ausmus indicated Shaw was doing something to the ball when he rubbed it up betwee pitches.

Cederstrom looked at the ring, with manager Terry Francona looking on, and let Shaw wear it. When Ausmus came out of the dugout to protest, Shaw took it off and put it in his back pocket.

The delay caused Shaw to lose the strike zone. After he struck out J.D. Martinez, Shaw walked Castellanos and Jarrod Saltalamacchia to load the bases. In came Jeff Manship to face pinch-hitter Miguel Cabrera. Manship ended the threat by getting Cabrera to foul out to first on a 3-2 pitch.

Day off for Miggy

The Indians know they're hot when Cabrera doesn't start against them. Cabrera, who owns the Tribe's body and soul, started Sunday on the bench with his .210 (13-for-62) batting average and 0-for-12 skid.

Cabrera is a lifetime .350 (201-for-575) hitter against the Indians with 40 homers and 129 RBI. He went 0-for-7 with a walk in the series.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Tigers drew 31,947 to Comerica Park on Sunday. The three-game series drew 88,196.

What's next?

The Indians open a three-game series against the Twins on Monday night at Target Field. They'll send right-hander Danny Salazar (2-1, 1.47) to the mound against lefty Tommy Milone (0-1, 5.87) at 8:10 p.m. SportsTime Ohio and WTAM/1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game.

Cody Anderson and Josh Tomlin are scheduled to start Tuesday and Wednesday for the Tribe. The Twins will counter with Ricky Nolasco and Kyle Gibson.

Cardale Jones, Willie Henry helping Glenville chase Joey Bosa's high school in NFL talent

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Jones, the Ohio State quarterback, and Henry, the Michigan defensive tackle, should add to the NFL tally of Tarblooders. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Next week, Cardale Jones and Willie Henry are going to add to Glenville High School's NFL presence. 

But Joey Bosa is going to add to the high school that the Tarblooders are chasing.

At the start of each NFL season, information is released about which high schools produced the most players on NFL rosters.

One team has pulled away from the pack - St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, a football factory that had 15 players on NFL rosters at the start of last season. That's the school Ohio State has hit hard in recruiting, pulling Joey Bosa out of there and now his brother Nick Bosa. And they're chasing others.

So Joey Bosa is just the latest Aquinas player headed to the pros. But two college rivals who were high school teammates could keep Glenville in second place.

A year ago, Glenville was tied for second with six NFL players on rosters to start the season. Now, Jones, the Ohio State quarterback and Henry, the Michigan defensive tackle, will add to that number.

Willie HenryExpect Willie Henry, out of Glenville and Michigan, to be drafted in the fourth or fifth round in the 2016 NFL Draft. 

Jones could go anywhere after the second round. Henry is looked at as a mid-round pick, a fourth-rounder in the latest NFL.com seven-round mock draft, and a fifth-rounder for CBSSports.com.

Who's the better pro prospect, Jones or Henry?

"I am, of course," Henry told cleveland.com with a smile at the NFL Combine. 

He played up his ability to play anywhere on the defensive line (see video), then noted that he actually helped protect Jones at Glenville as an offensive lineman.

"He's a great player and he was a great player in high school," Henry said. "I used to take pride in protecting my quarterback."

A two-year starter at Michigan, Henry turned pro as a redshirt junior after getting one year of the Jim Harbaugh experience. 

"I didn't know his enthusiasm would be as high as it was," Henry said, remarking on Harbaugh's habit of wearing cleats around the football building.

While Michigan had just two draft prospects at the NFL Combine, Henry and center Graham Glasgow, the Glenville NFL legacy remains strong.

Ohio State could beat Michigan 14-2 in 2016 NFL Draft

"A lot of great Glenville guys came through these same doors," Henry said. "I want to make sure I represent them right, along with the University of Michigan and the name on the back of my jersey."

Henry hopes to be a diamond in the rough, he said. Staying at Michigan another year may have raised his draft stock a bit. But he's a 6-foot-2 1/2, 303-pounder who can get after the quarterback from the interior of the line. NFL teams like that.

So he and Jones will join the Glenville legacy.

The six Glenville players on NFL rosters to start last season were DE Frank Clark in Seattle; WR Ted Ginn, Jr., in Carolina; LB Jayrone Elliott in Green Bay; LB Jonathan Newsome in Indianapolis; DE Davon Coleman in Dallas; and S Donte Whitner with the Browns. Though he wasn't counted because he wasn't on a first-week active roster, safety Christian Bryant played nine games with the Rams last season.

Newsome and Whitner are now looking for new teams, while Coleman is with Tampa Bay. And Jones and Henry are coming.

Bosa and Aquinas have a big lead. But Glenville will keep chasing.

UEFA Champions League 2016: Semifinal previews, predictions, TV listings and streaming info (poll)

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See previews of the 2016 UEFA Champions League semifinals.

From one sure-handed Cleveland Indians shortstop to another: Omar Vizquel appreciates Francisco Lindor's defense

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"Ever since last year, when I first got the chance to see him," Vizquel said, "it's like, 'Wow. This kid has a lot going on.'" Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Omar Vizquel pressed his black bat against his right thigh and he stretched his leg. He twisted his hips from one side to the other. He held the bat over his head and leaned to each side.

Vizquel turned 49 on Sunday, but he's still agile. Maybe he can no longer make the diving stop in the hole on the left side of the infield, but there are plenty of young shortstops in today's game who can.

Vizquel, the Tigers' first-base coach, has watched many of them. He mentioned Detroit's Jose Iglesias and Houston's Carlos Correa. He has also seen plenty of Cleveland's Francisco Lindor.

"Ever since last year, when I first got the chance to see him," Vizquel said, "it's like, 'Wow. This kid has a lot going on.'"

Lindor collected three hits in Sunday's victory against the Tigers. He leads the Tribe with 20 base knocks, 12 runs scored and a .323 batting average. Yet, his defense tends to be what stands out most.

In the fifth frame of Saturday's matinee at Comerica Park, Lindor dove to his left to make a stop up the middle as his chest splashed in the infield dirt. He bounced to his feet and threw out Detroit's Andrew Romine.

Two innings later, Miguel Cabrera's shot to short knocked Lindor to the ground. He nearly completed a reverse somersault -- he said he looked up and saw only the white tips of his cleats -- before he gathered himself and heaved a timely throw to first.

On both plays, Vizquel stood a few feet behind Tribe first baseman Mike Napoli and watched the defensive wizardry unfold. The former Indians shortstop, who captured 11 Gold Glove Awards during his career (including nine with the Tribe) had a perfect view.

The life and times of Omar Vizquel

"That ball that [Cabrera] hit, how he fell backward and recovered himself," Vizquel said, "those things make you open your eyes and say, 'Wow, this kid has some tremendous ability out there."

Lindor appreciates the praise.

"It's awesome. It's huge," Lindor said. "It means a lot. He obviously played for a long time and a lot of people kind of try to be like him. They try to get a few things from him -- even me. I've tried to get a few things from him and make it my own. For a guy to talk like that, it's huge. It's an honor and I thank him."

Lindor often cites Roberto Alomar -- Vizquel's double play partner for three years in Cleveland -- as his childhood inspiration. Lindor wears Alomar's No. 12, but the 22-year-old plays shortstop, not second base. Lindor said he watched videos of Vizquel's defense while playing in the fall instructional league during his early professional years.

After Lindor recorded the out in the seventh inning on Saturday, he remained on his knees in the outfield grass, his face buried in his glove as he laughed about his tumble. His teammates shared smiles with the kid whose teeth always seem to be showing.

"I was one of those guys who liked to laugh around the field whenever I made a play. You see that on him too," Vizquel said. "That means he's just enjoying the game. I think he surprised himself with the way he caught that ball, because he really got caught in between and didn't know what to do. The ball got in his glove, he fell on his [backside] and he was able to recover and make a good throw to first base.

"It's a way to say, 'Wow, I can't believe I made that play.' It was a really exciting thing to see."

Vizquel recalled a pair of plays from his career similar to the one that knocked Lindor to the ground. On one, Alex Rodriguez scorched a ball his way and he got caught in between. He recovered to flip the ball to Alomar, who relayed it to first for a double play. On the other, Bo Jackson smacked a ball that sent Vizquel stumbling backward.

That doesn't mean, however, that Lindor reminds Vizquel of himself, even though there's another shortstop in an Indians uniform turning heads with his defense.

"Everybody has their own style and their own little ways of playing the game," Vizquel said, "but he has been exciting to watch."

Cedar Point building youth-sports complex, hopes to become major player in sports travel game

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Officials broke ground on the first phase of the $23.5 million Cedar Point Sports Center this month, which includes a complex capable of hosting major amateur competitive events in several sports, including softball, baseball, lacrosse and soccer. It is scheduled to open in spring 2017.

SANDUSKY, Ohio - The youth-sports travel industry in the United States is worth an estimated $7 billion a year, fueled by millions of young soccer and softball players and their parents, who travel to tournaments near and far.

Next year, they'll have a new place to play: The Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, a new venture between Cedar Point, Erie County and Georgia-based Sports Force Parks.

Officials broke ground on the first phase of the $23.5 million project this month, which includes a sports center capable of hosting major amateur competitive events in several sports, including softball, baseball, lacrosse and soccer. It is scheduled to open in spring 2017.

Jim Arnold, director of business development for the Sports Force & Fields, said his staff is already working to put together a schedule of tournaments and events that will draw tens of thousands of new visitors to Ohio's north coast. The first contests should be announced in June.

"Sandusky is the perfect market for this type of facility," said Arnold, citing the variety of attractions available here to young players and their families, including Cedar Point, the water parks, the Lake Erie shore and more.

"Everybody has been waiting for it to happen," he said.

The facility will feature nine multi-purpose, synthetic turf fields; four NCAA-regulation baseball fields; eight NCAA-regulation soccer and lacrosse fields; plus a championship baseball/softball stadium, training areas and an ADA-accessible field.

It will be located on 57 acres on Cleveland Avenue (Ohio 6) just east of downtown, with Sandusky Bay to the north and views of Cedar Point to the west. It's the site of the former Griffing-Sandusky Airport, which closed in 2013.

"The development of that land is critical to us," said Jason McClure, Cedar Point's general manager. "Folks from Cleveland drive by there when they come to the park. We didn't want it to remain vacant."

The park bought the land last year, and then finalized the deal with Sports Force and Erie County.

Also last year: The Erie County commissioners voted to increase the county's bed tax -- from 5 percent to 7 percent -- which will pay for a majority of construction costs. Cedar Point and Sports Force also are pitching in.

An economic impact study conducted by Sports Force estimates that the complex, after it's been operating for a couple of years, will bring 110,000 new visitors to the area, generate 80,000 additional overnights, add hundreds of new jobs and millions in new spending.

Said Bryan Edwards, marketing director for Lake Erie Shores & Islands, the region's tourism bureau, "With tournaments being held in the spring, summer and fall, as well as week-long tournaments that begin on Sunday and end on Friday, this will help attract tens of thousands of new visitors to the area each year, increasing demand for rooms, dining, entertainment and more during the 'shoulder seasons' and generating a significant amount of incremental revenue for local businesses."

In addition to the fields, the park will include a large area designed to entertain young athletes and their families when they're not playing in a game.

The "great lawn" area will include an 18-hole miniature golf course, trampoline park, ropes course, food vendors, inflatable screen for movies, playgrounds and more.

The goal, said Arnold, is to keep whole families entertained for days.

Don Schumacher, the executive director of the National Association of Sports Commissions, said the youth-sports travel industry has exploded during the past 20 years. According to one study, nearly 35 million people traveled in 2014 to participate in or watch an amateur sporting event.

In many cases, families gear their entire summers around their kids' sports schedules - often taking vacations to destinations where tournaments are held.

"The younger the player, the more people come with them," said Schumacher.

And unlike many other forms of travel, these kinds of trip are largely recession-proof, said Schumacher. "Our research shows that if your daughter qualifies for a team, you're going to go watch her play," he said. "You'll sacrifice other things."

If done right, he said, the complex in Sandusky will attract young athletes from neighboring states and compete with other well-known sports parks including popular venues in Myrtle Beach, Indianapolis and Cooperstown, New York.

The key to making such a destination successful, he said, is offering plenty of opportunities for non-sports forms of fun.

To that end, participating athletes will receive a free pass to Cedar Point for the duration of their stay, said McClure, and visiting families will receive discounts.

McClure said the Cedar Point Sports Center is a response to would-be guests who say they can't fit in a trip to the amusement park because their summers are too busy with youth sports.

"We feel really strongly that they're going to love to play their tournaments here," he said.

A second phase of the project includes space more publicly accessible -- a new Erie MetroParks park on the waterfront acreage, with bird-watching boardwalks, boats for rent and more. The park should be ready in 2018, according to Erie County Commissioner Thomas Ferrell.

In addition, he said, if all goes well with the sports park, Ferrell anticipates a possible expansion that could include an indoor facility for sports including basketball and volleyball.

"And maybe an ice rink," he said. "There's enough land there for expansion."


Learning to Love the bank shot: Bill Livingston (photos)

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Although it is a dying art, the bank shot has helped the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love become the versatile player he is.

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan -- In the Cleveland Cavaliers' Big Three, Kevin Love is the third wheel.

In his case, it would also be a third wheel for a car they don't make anymore. A Packard maybe, or, because of the salary involved, a Duesenberg.

In the second game of the Cavs' four-game sweep of Detroit, Andre Drummond, the inept foul shooter who plays center for the Pistons, skipped a free throw off the backboard and into the basket. After such pure, dumb luck, someone always says, "The bank is always open."

It's called irony, because that bank is almost always closed.

A dying art

Love at 6-10 has one of the best, and last, bank shots you will see north of San Antonio. The Spurs' Tim Duncan revived the shot, but even he doesn't use it as much anymore.

Why is it a dying art?

"Look at the rules," said Cavs' 3-point specialist James Jones. "Back in the day you had the illegal defense rule (which cost a technical foul shot). Guys posted in the Karl Malone area (on the low block), and you had the ability to work that space all by yourself."

Zone defenses are legal now, though.

"Largely as a result of rules, you have more stretch bigs spacing the floor, and more shots come from corner, not here," Jones said, pointing to a 45-degree angle from the arc to the basket. "So that tilts the game away from the bank shot."

Learning the banking business

Kevin's father Stan, who had a four-year career as an NBA and ABA journeyman in the early 1970s, showed his son films of all the old bank shot experts.

They ranged from George Gervin and John Havlicek, who shot it straight on from the lane, to Sam Jones of the Boston Celtics, who knew the backboard's angles the way "Fast Eddie" Felson in the classic movie "The Hustler" knew the angles on a pool table.

"We're only shooting glass shots today," Stan would tell young Kevin before they began to practice in the backyard.

The theory is that the glass is more forgiving than the iron of the rim. It takes some of the pace off a shot that then deflects off the rim, making it more likely to fall in.

While LeBron James and Kyrie Irving regularly use the glass around the rim, so does almost everyone else. The banked jumper, however, is fading away like a one-legged Dirk Nowitzski backward-hopping jumper.

Love is currently shooting 41 percent from the field and less than 36 percent from the 3-point arc, but he has made 53 percent of his bank shots, according to NBA.com.

These guys could play a little

Elvin Hayes built a Hall of Fame career on a mechanical, but deadly, turnaround jumper off the glass.

Julius Erving shot bank shots from the elbow of the foul lane and advised the young Magic Johnson to shoot it too.

Larry Bird used a banked 17-foot jumper in the final seconds to win the seventh game of the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals over Philadelphia.

"It's not necessarily the sexiest thing in the world, " Love said.

Those who saw them play beg to disagree. No one was sexier than Dr. J. Or a bigger winner than Magic.

You can take that to the bank.

Cleveland Cavaliers Sweeping Scribbles about Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Tyronn Lue and growth of team -- Terry Pluto (photos)

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The Cleveland Cavaliers used a team effort in their sweep of the Detroit Pistons, and they also are maturing as a team in the process.

CLEVELAND, Ohio  -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Cavaliers notebook the day after their sweep of the Detroit Pistons:

1. Most NBA fans saw Stephen Curry sprain his ankle early in Golden State's series with Houston. He missed two games. Then he suffered a knee injury in Game 4. It's much like what the Cavs went through with Kyrie Irving last year in the playoffs. They just couldn't keep him healthy. He missed some games, was very limited in others. Then he fractured his kneecap in Game 1 of the Finals against Curry and the Warriors.

2. This is not about wishing a fractured kneecap on Curry. This is to underline the point of how a championship can be determined by a key player sustaining an injury. He rests for a while, comes back and plays -- and hurts something else. The Finals don't even open until June 2. Think about that. It's still five weeks before they start.

3. That's why sweeping Detroit is so important. The fewer games a team plays in the postseason, the better. It cuts down the risk of injury.

4. After the Cavs swept Boston in the first round last year, Kevin Love was already finished for the postseason. He had suffered a separated shoulder and needed surgery. J.R. Smith was heading for a two-game suspension. Irving was starting to suffer some of the leg injuries that later would cut short his postseason. This time, the team is relatively healthy and no suspensions are looming.

5. Thinking back to last season after the first round, LeBron James said: "It was not a good feeling even though we advanced. It's the total opposite today."

6. The NBA postseason is so long. Consider the Cavs played 20 postseason games in 2015. The regular season is 82 games. So a team that reaches the Finals will probably play at least 100 games. The Cavs winning the first round without James having to carry the entire scoring burden was a very big deal. It took some physical pressure off his body.

7. Irving averaged 27.5 points against the Pistons, James 22.8. This is only the second time in his career that James didn't lead his team in scoring during a playoff series. Dwyane Wade did it once in the 2011 Finals when he was with James in Miami.

8. Irving scored 20 points in the second half of Game 4, Love and James combined for only 11. But Irving did have help in the fourth quarter. The Pistons actually outscored the Cavs, 20-19 in the final period. Here was the fourth-quarter scoring for the Cavs: Irving (7), Matthew Dellavedova (5), James (4), J.R. Smith (3).

9. Lost in all the talk of the Cavs' Big Three was the performance of Smith, who was 5-of-7 for 15 points in Game 4. For the series, Smith shot .515 from 3-point range (17-of-33) and averaged 13.5 points. He is a very important part of what the Cavs do because teams are forced to leave him open to stop Irving, James and Co. And Smith has been making them pay.

10. Irving shot exactly .471 from the field and .471 on 3-pointers. In the regular season, Irving shot a career-low .321 on 3-pointers. Detroit's strategy was to take away the drive from Irving, giving him some open outside shots. He delivered. Irving was 16-of-34 on 3-pointers. So he took the open long range shots and made them.

11. Coach Tyronn Lue told Irving to "stay in attack mode for the whole series ... take advantage of the moment."

12. According to ESPN, James has a 44-7 record in first-round playoff games. He is 11-of-11 in winning first-round series, and his teams have won 17 consecutive first-round games.

13. Love averaged 18.8 points and 12.0 rebounds in the series, showing fans what he can do in big games. As Smith told the media after the game: "Kev is our guy. When he's aggressive, it means so much." Love had a miserable shooting night (3-of-15) in Game 4, but led the team with 13 rebounds.

14. The defense is not as dominating as it was in the 2015 postseason, but there are signs it can move in that direction. For example, the Pistons averaged only 41 points in the second half of the four-game series. It was 54 points in the first half for Detroit.

15. Shutting down the Pistons in the second half means Lue and his coaching staff made some adjustments. Lue has taken over his old role as defensive coordinator, a job he had last season when he was the assistant to former head coach David Blatt. After being promoted to head coach at midseason, Lue divided that defensive coordinator job among his assistants as he concentrated on his new role.

16. In the playoffs, there is plenty of time for coaches to prepare for games because there are so many days off. That allows Lue to direct the basic defensive strategies with his key assistants filling in all the details. So far, that approach is working.

17. This comment from Lue: "We can get hit and move forward ... we don't have that bad body language ... we're not giving in when things get tough ... that's our biggest growth as a team."

Who will the Cleveland Browns pick at No. 8 on Thursday?

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The Browns will be on the clock soon. Who should they pick? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It has been a long and eventful four months since the Browns season ended. Thursday night, we'll finally start to get some clarity on what the Browns will look like in 2016 and beyond.

Speaking of Thursday night, what should the Browns do with the No. 8 pick? I asked that question to Michael Reghi and Bud Shaw as part of our weekly series of sports videos and they made their predictions. Who do you think it will be? Should they stay at No. 8 or trade down? Check out the video and tell us in the comments.

Tom Brady's 'Deflategate' suspension upheld by federal appeals court

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The split decision by a three-judge panel may end the legal debate over the scandal that led to months of football fans arguing over air pressure and the reputation of one of the league's top teams.

NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal appeals court has ruled that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must serve a four-game "Deflategate" suspension imposed by the NFL, overturning a lower judge and siding with the league in a battle with the players union.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday in New York. The split decision by a three-judge panel may end the legal debate over the scandal that led to months of football fans arguing over air pressure and the reputation of one of the league's top teams.

It is also likely to fuel a fresh round of debate over what role, if any, the top NFL star played in using underinflated footballs at the AFC championship game in January 2015. The Patriots won the contest over the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7, and then won the Super Bowl.

The appeals ruling follows a September decision by Manhattan Judge Richard Berman that went against the league, letting Brady skip the suspension.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell insisted the suspension was deserved.

The three judge panel sided 2-1 with the NFL, saying the league's discipline was properly grounded in the collective bargaining agreement and Brady was treated fairly. Chief Judge Robert Katzmann dissented.

"I am troubled by the Commissioner's decision to uphold the unprecedented four-game suspension," Katzmann said. "The Commissioner failed to even consider a highly relevant alternative penalty."

The appeals court settled the issue well before the start of the 2016 season, avoiding the tension built last year when Brady didn't learn until a week before the season that he would be allowed to start in the Patriots' opener.

At oral arguments in March, appeals judges seemed skeptical of arguments on Brady's behalf by the NFL Players Association.

Circuit Judge Denny Chin said evidence of ball tampering was "compelling, if not overwhelming" and there was evidence that Brady "knew about it, consented to it, encouraged it."

The league argued that it was fair for Goodell to severely penalize Brady after he concluded the prize quarterback tarnished the game by impeding the NFL's investigation by destroying a cellphone containing nearly 10,000 messages.

Judge Barrington D. Parker said the cellphone destruction raised the stakes "from air in a football to compromising the integrity of a proceeding that the commissioner had convened."

"So why couldn't the commissioner suspend Mr. Brady for that conduct alone?" he asked. Parker added: "With all due respect, Mr. Brady's explanation of that made no sense whatsoever."

Parker also was critical of the NFL at the arguments, saying Brady's lengthy suspension seemed at "first blush a draconian penalty."

Do Browns fans have high hopes for the 2016 draft? -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

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Cleveland sports fans wonder about the Browns' draft prospects, the chance of a double playoff payoff and what's changed in Berea since Ray Farmer's departure -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

Peter King has Browns taking QB late in first round (and why teams should avoid QBs late in first round): NFL Draft links

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King has the Browns trading into the first round to take Paxton Lynch while NFL.com has a post up with data showing that's a bad idea.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jared Goff's not walking through that door. Neither is Carson Wentz. The Browns traded away the opportunity to draft one of those two quarterbacks when they sent the No. 2 pick to the Eagles for the No. 8 pick and a whole lot more between now and 2018.

Browns head coach Hue Jackson wasn't shy about praising the trade down or deflecting that there could still be value at the position later in the draft.

"Everybody keeps talking about two of the best quarterbacks in the draft," he said last week. "No one knows that, right? No one really knows that. We will see how it all unfolds here in two or three years and see if we were right or wrong, but I feel very good about where we are and what we are doing."

Which brings us, of course, to which quarterback not named Goff or Wentz could interest the Browns. Enter MMQB's Peter King and his first-round mock draft:

"26. Cleveland: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis. If Seattle stays, I'd forecast Alabama center Ryan Kelly or Texas A&M tackle Germain Ifedi. But trading up assures the Browns of getting the quarterback who fascinates coach Hue Jackson. Lynch will need at least a year of seasoning, which is fine with Cleveland because they want to get it right and will wait if need be. The Browns may consider a bigger trade somewhere in the round if they think Lynch is garnering significant interest and may be picked sooner."

Yes. King has the Browns trading up from No. 32 to snag Lynch towards the back of the first round. (If you're scoring at home, he has the Browns taking offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley out of Notre Dame at No. 8.) There's also this nugget from the post:

"The other X factor: Paxton Lynch, and the lesser quarterbacks. Cleveland could take Lynch as high as eight. I'm not in the Christian Hackenberg-in-the-first-round club, but some people are. We'll see."

Check out King's full mock draft here.

Speaking of first-round quarterbacks, there's this from NFL.com:

"The notion that a franchise passer can be had at a slight discount is an attractive one. Who wouldn't like to land an elite talent at a less-than-elite price (that is, with the 12th overall pick or later)? But analysis of data over the past 25 years suggests late first-round picks are better spent on positions other than QB."

Doh!

Nasir Bhanpuri, who is way smarter than me, breaks down the analytics (There's that word!) of taking a quarterback late in the first round of the draft and how it hasn't often been as valuable as some might expect. It's inadvertently a direct response to to King's mock (especially since it was written days before King's mock came out):

"Teams that select a second-tier quarterback -- someone like, say, Lynch or Connor Cook -- late in the first round do so at their own peril. That is to say, according to the data, the Broncos should not spend the 31st overall pick on Lynch, nor should another team trade back up into the bottom half of the first round to snag someone like Cook."

Read the full case here as well as data about which positions have worked out best late in the first round.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, owner Dan Gilbert don't want to see 'Hack-a-Shaq' rule change

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Tyronn Lue was recapping his first playoff series win as head coach on Sunday night when he was asked a big-picture question, one that has been at the center of the NBA discussion recently.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tyronn Lue was recapping his first playoff series win as head coach on Sunday night when he was asked a big-picture question, one that has been at the center of the NBA discussion recently.

"If you had to vote in the off-season, would you vote for the (hacking) rule to be changed or keep it the way it is?" Lue was asked.

The Cavs head coach chuckled. Then he looked down at the box score in front of him. Then he paused, trying to collect his thoughts on a complex issue that benefited the Cleveland Cavaliers' immensely during their four-game sweep against Detroit.

"I would probably keep it the way it is," Lue said. "Basketball is strategy. Coaches have to use whatever they can to their advantage to try to win a basketball game. If guys can't make free throws then you have to use it.

"I mean, if guys can't make three-point shots they don't say anything about guys sitting in the paint and not closing out to guys. It's the same effect. It's a way the coaches try to use a situation and teams try to use the situation to win basketball games."

A few days ago, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reinforced the possibility of making a change this summer to the Hack-a-Shaq rule -- given the moniker because the tactic was often applied to Shaquille O'Neal.

There are a handful of poor free-throw shooters nowadays and it's led to players committing intentional fouls on guys who are not even close to the play. It's easy to understand why Lue, and others around the NBA, would be in favor of keeping the rule the way it is. Outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recently said it would be "dead wrong" to abolish it because some can't make free throws.

Following Cleveland's four-game sweep against Detroit, a series win that was aided by the polarizing tactic, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert broke his silence on the matter. 

"I agree with @mcuban and @KingJames (LeBron James)," owner Dan Gilbert tweeted Monday. "It would be a mistake to change the free throw rules. Solution: Get better at free throws. Heard Rick Barry willing to help."

When the Cavs got ahead against the Pistons, Lue targeted Andre Drummond -- the Pistons' cornerstone player and the league's worst free-throw shooter -- a strategy backed up by analytics.

Drummond's poor free-throw shooting (11-of-34 in the series) disrupted the Pistons' rhythm. It even eliminated the All-Star center for stretches, as head coach Stan Van Gundy was forced to put the career 38 percent free-throw shooter on the bench so he wouldn't have to watch Drummond misfire at the line repeatedly.

"You can't do anything with him," Van Gundy said following Game 3 when he was played Drummond for 90 seconds during the fourth quarter. "He can't run to set a screen, he can't do anything. You just have opportunities to foul him. Would they have? I don't know. I gave him one possession. We're behind. We can't go down and play for zero points. We can't do that."

Because of the rule and Lue's use of it, Drummond couldn't play much in the fourth quarter, averaging 4.9 minutes in the series.

That's money time, the decisive quarter in what was a tightly-contested matchup. The Pistons needed his rebounding, defense and the threat of him rolling to the basket on their go-to set. But they couldn't afford empty possessions. So one of the league's most promising young players watched helplessly from the bench while the Cavs showed their championship mettle. 

"It's tough," Jackson said. "We understand we have one of our cornerstones just on the bench in tough stretches. Because they're going to the Hack-a-Shaq or whatever you want to call it, sending him to the line. It's been tough on him. He's trying to remain confident, of course, always putting in work and trying to find a way to affect the game in other ways. It's a call that Coach is making to try and give ourselves a chance."

The Pistons never found a way. Not having Drummond in crunch time was too much to overcome, especially against the top-seeded and star-studded Cavaliers. 

For now, the rule remains unchanged. Lue and the Cavs plan to use it when needed.

"I don't really see a problem with it," James said in February. "At the end of the day, it's a strategy of the game and whatever it takes to win. If that's a part of the game, and you have a guy that is a bad free-throw shooter and you put him on the line, that's a part of strategy."

It's a plan that helped move them into the Eastern Conference semifinals where they will face either Boston or Atlanta. That's when Lue could deploy the hacking strategy again. After all, Boston's Amir Johnson is a prime target -- shooting 57 percent during the regular season -- and the rule might not be around much longer. 

"I think very few people like the idea of this, it's non-basketball play, it sort of goes against the spirit of the rule book," said Kiki VanDeWeghe recently, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations. "Free throws are to compensate and deter fouls, not to encourage them. And so I think we're at the point where everyone agrees on that."

Not everyone. Not the Cavaliers. 


What kind of statement did the Cleveland Indians make in Detroit this weekend?

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The Indians swept the Tigers. What kind of statement was it by the Tribe? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians went to Detroit this weekend and took the brooms with them, sweeping the division-rival Tigers in a three-game set. The Indians are 9-7 now and have already won more games this April than all of last April.

What does the sweep mean even though it's still early? Michael Reghi, Bud Shaw and I -- all admittedly lukewarm on the Tribe -- answered that question as part of our weekly series of sports videos. Watch the video above.

How do you beat the Chicago Cubs? 30 teams in 90 seconds: MLB power rankings

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As far as concrete conclusions go, we can say with certainty that the Atlanta Braves aren't going to go undefeated, the Chicago Cubs aren't the worst team in the league and there is plenty of time remaining for teams to rebound from a slow start or to crash down to Earth after flying high. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Most major league teams have completed a little more than 10 percent of their regular-season schedules. 

As far as concrete conclusions go, we can say with certainty that the Atlanta Braves aren't going to go undefeated, the Chicago Cubs aren't the worst team in the league and there is plenty of time remaining for teams to rebound from a slow start or to crash down to Earth after flying high. 

Still, why not take a look around the league and see how things stand? Here are power rankings through nearly three weeks of action, with a 90-second snapshot in a video above (this week's video lasted 98 seconds; we'll work on it) and brief explanations below. We'll do this every couple of weeks throughout the season.

30. Atlanta Braves (4-14)

The Braves have hit a grand total of three home runs in 18 games.

29. San Diego Padres (7-12)

28. Minnesota Twins (5-14)

27. Miami Marlins (6-11)

26. Milwaukee Brewers (8-11)

25. Houston Astros (6-13)

24. Philadelphia Phillies (9-10)

23. Los Angeles Angels (8-11)

Mike Trout needs help. Or he needs a new home.

22. New York Yankees (7-10)

21. Cincinnati Reds (9-10)

20. Colorado Rockies (9-9)

19. Tampa Bay Rays (8-10)

18. Detroit Tigers (8-9)

Miguel Cabrera has a .597 OPS, an only slightly higher mark than his career slugging percentage.

17. Seattle Mariners (9-9)

16. Oakland Athletics (10-9)

15. San Francisco Giants (9-11)

14. Boston Red Sox (9-9)

13. Cleveland Indians (9-7)

The Indians already have two more wins than they racked up in all of April 2015.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks (9-8)

The Diamondbacks' start has been a bit less unsightly than their strange, new uniforms.

11. Toronto Blue Jays (8-9)

10. Texas Rangers (10-9)

9. Baltimore Orioles (11-6)

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (10-9)

7. St. Louis Cardinals (10-8)

6. Chicago White Sox (13-6)

Chris Sale through four starts: 4-0, 1.80 ERA, only 17 hits allowed in 30 innings.

5. New York Mets (10-7)

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (12-7)

3. Kansas City Royals (12-6)

The Royals again scoff at your preseason projection systems.

2. Washington Nationals (14-4)

Bryce Harper (.323/.405/.855 slash line, nine home runs, 23 RBI already) is the best player on the planet. The Nationals are off to a fast start, though their schedule has been softer than Charmin.

1. Chicago Cubs (14-5)

A 16-0 bludgeoning of a division foe last week, complete with a no-hitter from the reigning Cy Young Award winner. The Cubs are a handful.

NFL Draft 2016: TV channels, streaming, round schedule, date, time

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When and where to watch NFL Draft 2016 on TV and online.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - NFL Draft 2016 will return to Chicago Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's the second straight year the event has been held at Auditorium Theatre.

ESPN and NFL Network will broadcast all three days of the event and will stream it on NFL.com and ESPN3.

Here's the schedule:

Thursday: Round 1, 8 p.m. ET.

Friday: Rounds 2-3, 7 p.m. ET.

Saturday: Rounds 4-7: noon, ET.

NFL Draft Guide 2016: Learn about the players

ESPN will broadcast the draft for the 37th consecutive year. Thursday's first round will be hosted by Chris Berman, along analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Jon Gruden and Louis Riddick. Trey Wingo will replace Berman for rounds 2-7, which will also include analyst Todd McShay.

NFL Network's broadcast will be hosted by Rich Eisen, along with analysts Mike Mayock and Steve Mariucci and Stanford coach David Shaw. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer will join the main set for Friday only. 

NFL Draft 2016 order

Golden State Warriors PG Stephen Curry out at least 2 weeks with sprained knee

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Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry will be re-evaluated in two weeks after suffering a Grade 1 sprain of his MCL.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Stephen Curry will miss at least two weeks for Golden State with a sprained ligament in his right knee, dealing a blow to the Warriors' hopes of following a record-breaking season with a second straight championship.

The Warriors said an MRI on Curry's knee Monday determined he had a Grade 1 sprain of the MCL and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. That timetable would lead to Curry missing the rest of the first round of the playoffs and likely at least the first four games in round two if the Warriors are able to advance.

Golden State leads Houston 3-1 in its first-round series. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Oakland.

Curry was injured on the final play of the first half of Sunday's 121-94 win in Houston when he slid awkwardly on a wet spot on the court and fell. He immediately grabbed his knee and jogged with a limp to the locker room.

He came out with the team after halftime, but sat on the bench for most of the warmup time. After talking with coaches, he returned to the locker room with his second injury of the series. Curry had missed the previous two games with a sprained right ankle.

The Warriors thrived without Curry on Sunday, hitting eight 3-pointers in the third quarter alone to turn a tie game into a 21-point lead on the way to the easy win.

But doing that without the reigning MVP for a longer period of time figures to be more problematic. The Warriors have gone 3-2 this season without Curry playing, including wins against the Rockets on New Year's Eve and at home in Game 2. Golden State also lost Game 3 in Houston by one point while Curry sat with the ankle injury.

Replacing everything Curry does is almost impossible because no one has ever had the collection of skills he has with the ability to spread the defense with long-range shooting, the ballhandling to create his own shot and the playmaking that leads to easy baskets for his teammates.

Curry led the NBA this season by averaging 30.1 points per game, while averaging 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and a league-leading 2.1 steals as well. Curry made a record 402 3-pointers, eclipsing his own previous mark by 116.

While backup point guard Shaun Livingston and do-everything power forward Draymond Green can shoulder much of the playmaking load and Klay Thompson is the second-best 3-point shooter in the league, the Warriors go from a historically great team that won a record 73 games in the regular season with Curry in the lineup to a vulnerable one if he misses significant time.

With a 3-1 series lead and two potential games at home against the eighth-seeded Rockets, Golden State is still primed to advance to the second round without Curry. But a second-round series against either the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland would be much more problematic.

The second round of the playoffs won't start until this weekend at the earliest. No matter when the second round starts, Game 4 would likely be either May 8 or 9, which will be in two weeks.

That would make Curry's earliest possible return in Game 5 but Golden State could be forced to go the entire round without him, which could open a path for teams like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, the Clippers or Cleveland to win the title.

The Warriors benefited from injuries to opponents last season on the way to the NBA title with Memphis point guard Mike Conley missing time in the second round and Cleveland missing point guard Kyrie Irving for the last five games and power forward Kevin Love for the entire NBA Finals.

This would not be the first time a playoff injury potentially derailed a historic run. In 1972-73, the Celtics won 68 games in the regular season but star forward John Havlicek injured his right shoulder in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. Havlicek missed one game and played hurt in the final three as New York won the series in seven games.

The Los Angeles Lakers rolled through the 1989 playoffs with 11 straight wins to get to the Finals as they sought a third straight title. Byron Scott pulled his hamstring before Game 1 and missed the entire series against Detroit and Magic Johnson then injured his hamstring with the Lakers leading in the second half of Game 2. The Pistons came back to win that game and sweep the series against the short-handed Lakers.

Just four years ago, the Chicago Bulls tied for the best record in the NBA in the lockout-shortened regular season only to lose point guard Derrick Rose to a torn ACL in Game 1 of the playoffs against Philadelphia. The Bulls lost the series in six games.

Cleveland Indians activate Michael Brantley; Carlos Carrasco out 4-6 weeks with hamstring injury

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Michael Brantley was activated on Monday from the disabled list, but Carlos Carrasco was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians welcomed one of their best players back to the fold Monday, but put another on the disabled list.

Left fielder Michael Brantley, who underwent surgery on his right shoulder in November, was activated. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, however, was placed on the 15-day disabled list after straining his left hamstring on a play at first base Sunday at Comerica Park.

Carrasco (2-0, 2.45 ERA) is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks with what the Indians described as a moderate strain of the hamstring. He received an MRI on Monday in Cleveland.

Brantley injured his right shoulder diving for a ball in left center on Sept. 22 at Target Field. He's been trying to get back in the lineup ever since. Brantley just finished a rehab assignment at Class AAA Columbus and Class AA Akron.

Carrasco was injured covering first base in the third inning Sunday. He recorded the out, but fell to the ground in pain and had to be helped off the field.

The four to six week timetable for Carrasco means he could be pitching rehab games by mid-June. So it could be longer than that until he's ready to rejoin the rotation.

This clears the way for Trevor Bauer to come out of the bullpen and assume a spot in the rotation. It also probably buys Cody Anderson some time to get straightened out in the rotation. Anderson has had a tough start to the season and there was a chance the Indians could send him down and replace him with Bauer.

Bauer relieved Carrasco on Sunday and earned the win in a 6-3 victory.

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