A preview of the Cavs' third preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks.

ATLANTA -- The Cavs (2-0) hit the road for the first time this preseason with a game in Atlanta against the Hawks (1-1). Cleveland swept Atlanta out of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

What's up with the Cavs: No rotation players, or almost none, anyway, aregoing to play for Cleveland tonight. Coach Tyronn Lue said LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, Chris Andersen, Richard Jefferson, Mike Dunleavy, and Channing Frye all would sit. Jordan McRae (team high 20 points in each of the first two games) probably starts tonight, but perhaps he's played so well he gets the night off too?

Cavs injuries: Tristan Thompson (stiff left foot) is out; John Holland (back) is questionable.

What's up with the Hawks: This is Atlanta's preseason home opener and is being billed the Unity Game. Both Hawks and Cavs players filmed videos to be aired throughout the game explaining what unity, inclusion, and civil rights means to them. Atlanta rested many of its top players Saturday in a road loss to San Antonio. Also, previous Hawks mainstays Al Horford (Celtics) and Jeff Teague (Pacers) are no longer with the team.

Hawks injuries: Jarrett Jack (right knee); Paul Millsap (right knee); Tiago Splitter (right hamstring strain); and Mike Scott (left knee soreness) are all listed on the Hawks' injury report.

Projected starting lineups (preseason stats)
Cavs
F Jordan McRae (20.0 ppg; 6.0 rpg; 4.5 apg)
F James Jones (7.0 ppg; 0.0 rpg; 0.0 apg)
C Cory Jefferson (7.0 ppg; 8.0 rpg;0.0 apg)
G Dahntay Jones (4.0 ppg; 1.0 rpg; 2.0 apg)
G Kay Felder (9.0 ppg; 2.5 rpg; 2.5 apg)

Hawks
F Kent Bazemore (7.0 ppg; 2.0 rpg, 3.0 apg)
F Mike Muscala (7.0 ppg; 5.0 rpg; 3.5 apg)
C Dwight Howard (6.0 ppg; 7.0 rpg; 0.o apg)
G Kyle Korver (7.0 ppg; 1.0 rpg; 2.0 apg)
G Dennis Schroder (9.0 ppg; 3.0 rpg; 3.0 apg)

Here's how I see the top 25 teams in college football through six weeks of games.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- I have no idea who the No. 1 team in the country is. I feel like it's important to say that before you look at my top three.

Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson. You think one of those teams is No. 1? I agree. I think they could all be No. 1, and each have a compelling argument for the spot.

Michigan has more of an argument than it had a week ago with perhaps the most dominating performance of the season in a 78-0 win over Rutgers. I still think Louisville is a top 5 team despite its loss to Clemson.

So my top three is different than it was a week ago, even though all three teams won. Some thoughts before my ballot:

* Clemson has the best win in beating Louisville. I don't think that's a question. I had questions about a close game with Troy earlier this season, but something I think is also important in trying to figure all of this out is the apparent trajectory of a team.

Clemson, after beating Louisville, backed it up by putting 56 points on Boston College -- a team that still has a top 10 defense after that game. Clemson has also played a stronger schedule than Alabama and Ohio State, according to the Sagarin computer ratings.

* Alabama won at Arkansas this week, and holds other wins against Ole Miss and USC. I think Alabama's wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas (both on the road) are slightly better than Ohio State's best pair of wins against Oklahoma and Indiana.

* The thing I've liked about Ohio State all along is how dominant it's been. The Buckeyes schedule has not been nearly as good as Clemson's or Alabama's, but they helped nullify that by blowing everyone out.

I leave this past weekend with questions about Ohio State's offense. I have questions about Alabama's offense as well, and it's possible I'm critiquing Ohio State harder because that's the team I know the best.

So I have Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State in that order this week with very little separation between the three. But I can't rank three teams No. 1, so this is where I stand.

Here's my ballot for this week. The AP poll will be released at 12:30 p.m.:

1. Clemson

2. Alabama

3. Ohio State

4. Michigan

5. Louisville

6. Washington

7. Texas A&M

8. Tennessee

9. Wisconsin

10. Baylor

11. Houston

12. Nebraska

13. Florida State

14. Miami (Fla.)

15. Ole Miss

16. Virginia Tech

17. Florida

18. Boise State

19. Western Michigan

20. Auburn

21. West Virginia

22. Utah

23. South Florida

24. San Diego State

25. Colorado

Beverly is a three-star guard from Hargrave Military Academy. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Just when it looked like Ohio State basketball was running out of options in its 2017 recruiting class, the Buckeyes picked up a commitment.

Braxton Beverly, a three-star point guard from Hargrave Military Academy, committed to the Buckeyes on Monday, according to multiple reports. Beverly is the No. 62 point guard in the 2017 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Braxton Beverly has committed to Ohio State per @HargravePGHoops

-- Brian Snow (@BSnowScout) October 10, 2016

He comes from the same Hargrave program in Virginia where current freshman Derek Funderburk played for one year. Beverly is originally from Kentucky.

Beverly officially visited Ohio State over the weekend. He's the second commit in Ohio State's 2017 class, joining center Kaleb Wesson.

Braxton Beverly @BBeverly10 taking in the @OhioStateFB game on his official @OhioStateHoops visit! pic.twitter.com/SKH7Pw6SgF

-- Shaun Neace (@ShaunNeace) October 8, 2016

The Indians will have home-field advantage for every series they play in the 2016 postseason.

BOSTON -- The Indians will have home-field advantage for every series they play in the 2016 postseason. 

They have the Blue Jays to thank for that. Toronto dismissed top-seeded Texas from the playoffs with a three-game sweep, capped by a walk-off -- really, a mad-dash-to-home-plate-off -- in Game 3 at Rogers Centre on Sunday night.

The Blue Jays, a wild card team, will appear in the American League Championship Series for the second consecutive season. They'll open on the road at either Boston or Cleveland.

Toronto's back-to-back wins at Fenway Park to close out the regular season helped the Indians secure home-field advantage for the AL Division Series. If the Tribe can finish off the Red Sox -- they have three chances to notch one victory -- they'll host the Blue Jays at Progressive Field for Game 1 of the ALCS on Friday.

The AL representative in the World Series will have home-field advantage because of the league's triumph in the All-Star Game in July. (What a world.) 

So, should the Indians advance, they'll benefit from the comfort of their home ballpark more than their opponents will. That's a plus for a Cleveland team that amassed a 53-28 record at home. The Indians, as a team, posted a .288/.359/.469 slash line at home and a .236/.300/.391 clip on the road during the regular season. 

Home-field advantage holds true for Tribe

The Tribe topped Boston in the first two games of their series, by scores of 5-4 and 6-0 at Progressive Field. The series shifts to Fenway Park on Monday evening. The clubs were rained out on Sunday, as steady precipitation fell from morning through the night. Monday's forecast appears pleasant.

Should the Red Sox survive Game 3, the teams would reconvene at Yawkey Way for either a 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. first pitch of Game 4 on Tuesday afternoon. The exact start time depends on the outcome of the National League affairs.

A Game 5 in Cleveland on Wednesday night would start at 8 p.m.

Does new ALDS schedule help or hurt Tribe?

Three top 10 teams — Stow, Cincinnati St. Xavier and Upper Arlington — drop from their high spots, while Canton McKinley moves up in the statewide football rankings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Three top teams dropped and Canton McKinley moved up in the aftermath of last weekend's high school football games.

One of the biggest, Hudson's 25-24 upset of Stow sent the Bulldogs out of the top 10. Cincinnati St. Xavier and Columbus' Upper Arlington also tumbled from the top tier in cleveland.com's Ohio Super 25 rankings entering Week 8.

The top three remained unchanged, while two teams exited the Super 25. In their place, Chardon and Hilliard Bradley broke through.

Canton McKinley, meanwhile, jumped to No. 12 after a 19-14 home win against Massillon Jackson. Both teams entered that game ranked and as the top rated teams in Division I, Region 1.

Here is how this week's Super 25 shapes up: 

1. Cincinnati Colerain (7-0)

Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Middletown, 47-8.

This week: Friday vs. Fairfield.

2. Huber Heights Wayne (6-0-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Beavercreek, 59-7.

This week: Friday vs. Kettering Fairmont.

3. St. Edward (5-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 3, on bye.

This week: Saturday vs. Canada Prep.

4. Cincinnati La Salle (5-2)

Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat Cincinnati St. Xavier, 17-14

This week: Friday at Columbus St. Charles.

5. Archbishop Hoban (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Padua, 30-10

This week: Friday at Walsh Jesuit.

6. Toledo Central Catholic (7-0)

Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Toledo St. Francis DeSales, 50-0.

This week: Friday at Findlay.

7. Olentangy Liberty (7-0)

Last week: Ranked No. 9, beat Westerville South, 29-0.

This week: Friday vs. Lewis Center Olentangy.

8. Pickerington Central (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 11, beat Lancaster, 27-7.

This week: Friday vs. Pickerington North.

9. St. Ignatius (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 12, beat Canton GlenOak, 34-17.

This week: Friday vs. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller at Otterbein.

James Andrews runs over a defender for a 7 yd TD to out St. Ignatius up 34-17 with 5:11 to play. #NEOVarsity #fridayhuddle pic.twitter.com/j64NM6Nnjx

— Ryan (@Isley23) October 8, 2016

10. Dublin Coffman (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 13, beat Central Crossing, 42-0.

This week: Friday vs. Hilliard Davidson.

11. Avon (7-0)

Last week: Ranked No. 14, beat North Ridgeville, 49-20.

This week: Friday at Amherst.

12. Canton McKinley (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 21, beat Massillon Jackson, 19-14.

This week: Friday at GlenOak.

Josh Chandler from 1 yard for Canton McKinley. Failed 2 pt conversion makes it 19-14 McKinley. 6:54 to play in 3Q. #NEOVarsity pic.twitter.com/oie83Lald0

— Ryan (@Isley23) October 9, 2016

13. Stow (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 4, lost to Hudson, 25-24.

This week: Friday vs. Cuyahoga Falls.

14. Trotwood-Madison (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 15, beat Fairborn, 49-6.

This week: Friday at Stebbins.

15. Solon (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 17, beat Strongsville, 30-0.

This week: Friday vs. Elyria.

16. Cincinnati St. Xavier (4-3)

Last week: Ranked No. 5, lost to Cincinnati La Salle, 17-14.

This week: Friday vs. Warren Central (Ind.).

17. Cincinnati Elder (5-2)

Last week: Ranked No. 19, beat Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 30-28.

This week: Friday vs. Cincinnati Winton Woods.

18. Columbus St. Francis DeSales (7-0)

Last week: Ranked No. 20, beat Edgewood, 48-21.

This week: Friday at Logan.

19. Warren G. Harding (7-0)

Last week: Ranked No. 22, beat Youngstown Boardman, 46-15.

This week: Friday vs. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney.

20. Hudson (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 23, beat Stow, 25-24.

This week: Friday vs. Twinsburg.

21. Hilliard Bradley (6-1)

Last week: Not ranked, beat Columbus Bishop Watterson, 23-6.

This week: Friday at Dublin Jerome.

22. Upper Arlington (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 10, lost to Hilliard Davidson, 24-7.

This week: Friday at Marysville.

23. Massillon Jackson (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 18, lost to Canton McKinley, 19-14.

This week: Friday vs. Canton Central Catholic.

24. Lebanon (6-1)

Last week: Ranked No. 25, beat Centerville, 28-14.

This week: Friday vs. Miamisburg.

25. Chardon (7-0)

Last week: Not ranked, beat Mayfield, 44-29.

This week: Friday at Riverside.

DROPPED OUT

Fairfield (5-2, was No. 16), Lewis Center Olentangy (5-2, was No. 24)

KEEP AN EYE ON

Copley (6-1), Dublin Jerome (7-0), Mason (5-2), Springfield (5-2), Toledo Whitmer (5-2).

It takes quite an effort to silence such a rowdy group. Tomlin, in his first career postseason start, delivered a five-inning gem against baseball's most productive offense. Watch video

BOSTON -- Josh Tomlin started to play T-ball when he was three-and-a-half years old.

He and his dad would play catch in their backyard in Whitehouse, Texas, and Tomlin would utter those magical words.

Full count. Bases loaded.

"That whole thing every kid does when they're a baseball player," Tomlin said.

It's every kid's dream. For so many, it never materializes. For a select few, it does. And when that moment arrives, it's important to take notice.

So, Tomlin paced around the back of the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning on Monday night, as the Boston faithful at Fenway Park, longing for some reassurance that the Red Sox bats had not slipped into early hibernation for the winter, started to chant his name.

TOMMMMM-LINNNNN. TOMMMMM-LINNNNN. TOMMMMM-LINNNNN.

"I was surprised there were that many people that knew my name, to be honest with you," Tomlin said.

Tomlin eventually regrouped and struck out Boston catcher Sandy Leon, which temporarily hushed the sellout crowd of 39,530. It takes quite an effort to silence such a rowdy group. Tomlin, in his first career postseason start, delivered a five-inning gem against baseball's most productive offense.

When he retreated to the Indians' clubhouse in the sixth inning, he bumped into Chris Antonetti, the team's president of baseball operation. Antonetti asked Tomlin what it was like to have the opposing crowd taunting him by chanting his surname.

"That was the coolest moment of my life," Tomlin told him. "I just wanted to take a minute to enjoy it and then I knew I needed to make sure I get the guy out, or it was just going to get louder."

Tomlin said the venue was so loud that he couldn't hear anything for the first few innings. Then, the chants commenced and "it became real," he said.

The scene reminded Cody Allen of when Pirates fans razzed former Reds hurler Johnny Cueto at PNC Park in 2013. Second baseman Jason Kipnis walked over to Mike Napoli and said: "Thank God they're not saying my name."

"That's the Boston crowd," Kipnis said. "They're outstanding. That was a fun game to be a part of. [Tomlin] is so locked in right now in what he's trying to do that he's tough to get off his horse."

Behind the scenes of Tribe's celebration

Who could have imagined Tomlin, of all starting pitchers, leading the charge to dispatch the mighty Red Sox in a series sweep in the ALDS? After all, amid a rotation once stocked with healthy, fierce talent, Tomlin -- always prone to serve up a home run -- logged an 11.48 ERA in August.

After a brief reprieve, however, Tomlin returned to form in September, when he posted a 1.69 ERA. On Monday, he kept the ball inside the park and he kept the Red Sox from living to see another day.

"This is a whirlwind of emotions," Tomlin said afterward, his teammates dousing him in beer and spraying him with champagne. "In a place like this, in an atmosphere like this, it's tough. We knew it was going to be tough. We knew what we were getting ourselves into coming in. But, we put ourselves in a good position going forward. We put good at-bats together. We made pitches when we had to. And we get to celebrate right now, so it's a great feeling. It's an unbelievable feeling."

And it's a feeling few expected Tomlin to experience. The Red Sox were bound to bounce back from a pair of shortcomings in Cleveland, right? They were sure to regain comfort at the plate in their home ballpark, no? Tomlin figured to fire a pitch or two in David Ortiz's wheelhouse, right?

Leave it to Tomlin to surprise.

"He's always had to prove himself from A-ball on," said pitching coach Mickey Callaway. "He's kind of always been the underdog. He performs best that way. I figured he'd go out there and throw a pretty good game."

Somehow, Indians keep on winning

Tomlin's teammates often refer to him as gritty or gutsy or competitive. They maintained faith in him, even after his wretched August. They believed in his chances on Monday night, in the center of the chaos at Fenway.

In the end, he lived out that dream he first visualized nearly 30 years ago in that backyard in Texas.

"I love this game," Tomlin said. "I love everything about it. I've played it my entire life. I love everybody in this clubhouse, and I respect everybody in this clubhouse. This is what I've done my entire life, so to be able to do it for a living, and make a living doing it, and to be able to win while you're doing it, it's pretty special. I'm a small-town kid from Whitehouse, Texas, so to be able to be doing this right now is a dream come true for me.

"This is what I love doing. This is what I've done my entire life. I don't know anything other than this, so to be able to do this on a stage like this is pretty special to me."

"Very rarely will they have better skill than we have," Urban Meyer said. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Of the four Ohio State losses in the 59-game Urban Meyer era, the most shocking, at least in one way, was the Orange Bowl loss to Clemson after the 2013 season.

It wasn't surprising because Ohio State was the better team and lost.

It was surprising because Ohio State wasn't the better team and lost.

Probably in every other Buckeye game since 2012, the edge in dynamic, game-breaking, game-changing skill players has gone their way.

Even against Alabama in the 2014 College Football Playoff semifinal, the greatest test came from the Tide's offensive and defensive lines. Alabama had Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon and Heisman winner Derrick Henry, but the Buckeyes answered with Ezekiel Elliott and Michael Thomas and Devin Smith and Jalin Marshall.

Even in the national title game against Oregon, the issue was shutting down Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota. Even in the two losses to Michigan State in the last four years, the threat came from the Spartans' defense and discipline.

But in Miami on Jan. 4, 2014, Ohio State couldn't stop Sammy Watkins. The leader of a Clemson receiving corp that included another future NFL receiver in Martavis Bryant, Watkins lit up the Orange Bowl with a 16-catch, 227-yard night.

The Buckeyes had Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde and Philly Brown, but Watkins scared a defense more than all of them.

Saturday, when No. 2 Ohio State visits No. 8 Wisconsin, the edge will be back. The teams are pretty fairly matched in some ways, Ohio State giving up 10.8 points per game and Wisconsin surrendering 12.2. That's two defenses ranked among the top five in the country.

So how do you beat those defenses? Grind it out? Or run past them, based not on scheme, but on skill?

"A lot of times you can stop the run. (Wisconsin) is built to stop the run. Indiana was built to stop the run," Meyer said. "We have to get into second level via run or pass, and we work extremely hard in the meeting rooms doing that because we have such confidence once you get those guys around you."

Those guys are available.

Maybe not quite as much as some years in Columbus. But more than Wisconsin.

According to cfbstats.com, Ohio State has broken 12 plays this season of 30 yards or longer. Wisconsin has just five plays like that, which is tied for the fewest in major college football.

Plays of 20 yards or more? Ohio State has 28, which is tied for 49th in the nation. Wisconsin has 19 such plays, which is tied for 112th.

For Ohio State, Curtis Samuel averages 10.3 yards per touch, Dontre Wilson averages 10.1 and Mike Weber averages 6.6. 

For Wisconsin, among players with enough touches to qualify for the Big Ten rankings, tailback Corey Clement averages 3.9 yards, while Dare Ogunbowale averages 4.4.

Sure, each team has some big-play receivers who can go long. Leading pass catchcer Robert Wheelwright averages 15.2 yards per reception for Wisconsin, while Noah Brown averages 13.8 yards for Ohio State.

But who's going to take a swing pass in the flat and turn an 8-yard gain into a 50-yard gain? Who's going to wiggle past one tackler and run away from another? 

More likely, a Buckeye. Wisconsin won't make anything easy. But it might take just a play here or a play there. Both teams will try to grind it out on the ground. The game could swing on who pops a big play in the midst of the grind.

Meyer called Samuel "a big play waiting to happen," and vowed to get him more involved in the offense earlier this week.

"Curtis touching the ball 10 times, there's a chance two or three of those are going to be plus-20, plus-30 yards because he'll make someone miss and he's got elite speed," Meyer said. "That's absolutely a big part of what we do."

It's a big part of what Meyer and the Buckeyes have always done, and always will.

"I won't say majority, but there's been a good bunch of games where I feel like we have elite skill," Meyer said.

They'll gameplan and opponents will gameplan. But the play you can't anticipate is what Ohio State will count on.

"That's the way we recruit, we have to get the ball to the second level, because very rarely will they have better skill than we have," Meyer said. "That's why we work so hard at recruiting those kind of skilled athletes and getting them to the second level."

The Browns have four picks in the first two rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft is the Browns' to lose. They are the only winless team left after five weeks of the 2016 season.

Because the Browns have four picks in the first two rounds, we'll be tracking the order of 2017 NFL Draft throughout this season.

Each year, the previous season's records determine the draft order, and ties are broken by strength of schedule. The NFL determines slots 21-32 by playoff finish, but we used record and strength of schedule for the order of 21-32 below.

Here's how the draft order for the first two rounds looks after Week 5 (strength of schedule played in parentheses):

FIRST ROUND

1. Browns 0-5 (.583)

2. Panthers 1-4 (.640)

3. Jets 1-4 (.609)

4. Bears 1-4 (.583)

5. 49ers 1-4 (.542)

6. Dolphins 1-4 (.458)

7. Chargers 1-4 (.455)

8. Saints 1-3 (.550)

9. Jaguars 1-3 (.474)

10. Giants 2-3 (.696)

11. Titans 2-3 (.600)

T12. Bengals 2-3 (.560)

T12. Buccaneers 2-3 (.560)

14. Cardinals 2-3 (.520)

15. Lions 2-3 (.478)

16. Colts 2-3 (.375)

17. Chiefs 2-2 (.450)

18. Texans 3-2 (.583)

T19. Bills 3-2 (.520)

T19. Redskins 3-2 (.520)

21. Titans via trade with Rams 3-2 (.600)

22. Ravens 3-2 (.458)

23. Packers 3-1 (.526)

24. Browns via trade with Eagles 3-1 (.350)

25. Seahawks 3-1 (.300)

26. Falcons 4-1 (.500)

27. Steelers 4-1 (.478)

28. Raiders 4-1 (.458)

29. Broncos 4-1 (.440)

T30. Patriots 4-1 (.360)

T30. Cowboys 4-1 (.360)

32. Eagles via trade with Vikings 5-0 (.458)

NFL Draft 2017: What picks do Browns have?

SECOND ROUND

33. Browns

34. Panthers

35. Jets

36. Bears

37. 49ers

38. Dolphins

39. Chargers

40. Saints

41. Jaguars

42. Giants

43. Browns via trade with Titans

T44. Bengals

T44. Buccaneers

46. Cardinals

47. Lions

48. Colts

49. Chiefs

50. Texans

T51. Bills

T51. Redskins

53. Titans via trade with Rams

54. Ravens

55. Packers

56. Eagles

57. Seahawks

58. Falcons

59. Steelers

60. Raiders

61. Broncos

T62. Patriots

T62. Cowboys

64. Eagles via trade with Vikings

NOTE: Ties between teams from opposite conferences are determined by coin flip.

How our College Football Playoff mock committee sees the top six teams after six weeks of games.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- If the real College Football Playoff selection committee were putting together rankings this week, how would it deal with at least four teams who have a legitimate case for No. 1?

Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson and Michigan -- who should get the top spot?

Ultimately being No. 1 doesn't matter all that much as long as you're in, but we're in a situation with six undefeated teams who are real contenders, and a couple of of one-loss teams on the cusp.

It's a lot to sort through.

But last week each member of our three-man mock committee had a different No. 1 team. That ended with Alabama being ranked No. 1. Here's the selection process we go by, it's the same one the real committee uses.

This week two of our members agreed on the top team. It wasn't Alabama. So we have a new No. 1 -- some shuffling among Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson -- and a new fourth team in the mix.

You can see our full rankings below, and listen to the audio players embedded for our discussions of why we have these teams where they are. Here's where we stand after Week 6 of the college football season:

No. 1: Clemson (6-0)

This is the third different team we've had in the top spot this season. Listen to the audio player below the hear why we think Clemson deserves to be the No. 1 team this week.

No. 2: Alabama (6-0)

No. 3: Michigan (6-0)

Michigan is a team we've talked about all season, but never had in the top four. Last week the Wolverines were No. 5. Listen to the audio player below to hear why Michigan jumped up two spots this week:

No. 4: Ohio State (5-0)

So here's how our playoff semifinals would look:

Peach Bowl: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan

So Ohio State dropped one spot from No. 3 last to week to now being in the final playoff spot after a 38-17 win over Indiana.

What went into putting Michigan ahead of the Buckeyes? And is Ohio State safely in that No. 4 spot, or can it be challenged by the teams we have in the two spots just outside the playoff?

No. 5: Washington (6-0)

No. 6: Texas A&M (6-0)

Listen to the audio player below to hear our discussion on how the Buckeyes fit into this whole thing:

Previous playoff matchups from our committee

Sept. 6: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Wisconsin; No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Florida State

Sept. 13: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Wisconsin; No. 2 Florida State vs. No. 2 Houston

Sept. 20: No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 4 Houston; No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Ohio State

Sept. 27: No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 4 Wisconsin; No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Ohio State

Oct. 4: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Washington; No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Ohio State

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The Cleveland Indians have advanced to the American League Championship Series, where much will be written about Toronto's tough lineup. Selling this team short is done at your own risk.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Not that this Indians team has captured the imagination or anything but next up: Nike Napoli scoring from second base on a passed ball to win the ALCS.

While pointing to Kenny Lofton in the press box.

And trading high fives with new cleanup hitter, Coco Crisp.

What's next? Toronto is next. That much we know.

The rest? Even by the improbable standards of a sport that surprises at most every turn in the postseason, the Indians have surpassed the norm.

They've given us Crisp slaying the Green Monster for just his second postseason home run.

They've unleashed Andrew Miller as a celebrity middle reliever.

In the category of fleet feet, we've seen extra bases taken by Napoli on a steal of second and catcher Roberto Perez tagging from first on a fly ball to the warning track in left field.

This was only the first playoff series, just three games long thanks to the pitching of Josh Tomlin Monday night, and four RBI shared by Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez.

Check that, it was Crisp and Tyler Naquin.

It seems safe to break a few habits here as the Indians await the Blue Jays and the start of the ALCS Friday at Progressive Field.

Maybe stop waiting for Jose Ramirez and Naquin to realize this is the postseason. They seem to be not only aware of that, but pretty OK with it, too.

We can certainly stop thinking of the Indians' chances of winning the World Series as possible because, you know, the Cavs were down 3-1 and came back against Golden State.

That's sketchy logic, a feel-good narrative that artificially soothes anxious souls when better, tangible reasons exist.

The Indians have provided other good reasons to believe, starting two months before the NBA Finals.

The timing of their 14-game win streak as the Cavs won a championship suggested a karmic bump of all things Cleveland. But that and what's come after have been a testament to the most resilient and resourceful Indians team in two decades.

Baseball seasons are long enough to raise title hopes, then dash them and repeat the process three or four times before it's all over. After playing .500 baseball for a long stretch following their team record winning streak, the Tribe found itself again in the final turn.

Boston, meanwhile, finished the regular season losing five of six. That became eight of nine before you could say "Where's Carlos Carrasco again?"

Manager Terry Francona deserves credit for aggressive maneuvering in his bullpen, primarily in using Andrew Miller in a non-traditional role.

It's a bet on Miller's ability to pitch anytime anywhere and keep opponents off the scoreboard (though that wasn't quite the case in Game 3). It's also a bet on his team doing the detail work important in protecting leads or extending them.

When the Indians lost Carrasco on top of losing Danny Salazar, Francona said he thought they had "enough" to not only survive but to prosper. That seemed a reach then. No longer.

"It becomes more challenging, but that doesn't mean that you can't get it done," Francona told reporters.

The Indians have a long way to go, which would be daunting if they hadn't already come an even longer way.

Barrett completed 9 of 21 passes in a win over Indiana on Saturday. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.T. Barrett didn't think about it. He answered quickly, and assertively.

Two years ago Tom Herman called him "one of the most accurate" quarterbacks he's ever been around. Is that guy still playing quarterback for Ohio State?

"Absolutely," Barrett said.

Barrett faced questions on Saturday, and again on Monday, about how this team is throwing the ball right now. After finishing 9 of 21 for 93 yards against Indiana, there are at least some concerns about the passing game heading into this Saturday night's game against Wisconsin.

The last time the Buckeyes were in a big game like this, Urban Meyer said they couldn't afford to be one dimensional against Oklahoma. The ball wasn't flying against the Sooners, but Barrett threw four touchdown passes and the run game did the rest.

That's the formula, one Ohio State didn't master against Indiana, but won the game anyway.

Does Ohio State have to be a great passing team?

What stuck out against Indiana, though, is that Barrett was off the mark a lot.

He missed this deep throw to Curtis Samuel, never getting his feet set against the blitz and throwing a short ball off of his back foot.

And he misfired on this throw to Marcus Baugh, making Baugh go full extension for a pass he couldn't reel in and was eventually intercepted. If you want to make the argument that Baugh should have caught it anyway, that's fair, but it also wasn't an accurate throw to an open receiver.

Concerns over throwing are nothing knew for Barrett. Whether or not he had the arm strength to stretch the field has been a question since he arrived in Columbus, and something he's improved on over his career.

Barrett said he's still the same accurate passer he was when Herman was lavishing him with praise in 2014, but he was working to fine-tune some things during Ohio State's bye week after the Oklahoma game.

He said he wanted to get better at ball placement, getting passes to receivers in spots that allowed them to continue the play and get yards after the catch. No quarterback can be perfect on every throw, and Barrett realized that was part of his game that needed improvement.

Barrett is completing 64.2 percent of his passes right now, which is basically where he finished in 2014. So not much has changed there.

Clearly Ohio State needs to make some adjustments in the passing game to be better than it was against Indiana. But Barrett thinks he's as accurate as he's ever been.

"I do like the way the ball is coming out of my hand," Barrett said. "I feel confident in throwing the ball downfield. There were just some shots, and some mishits, and that happens. I'm gonna do a better job of preventing that from happening."

Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst has surprising ties to Northeast Ohio and is faithful to Wisconsin's power football past.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Because Paul Chryst spent eight years over two separate terms as an assistant coach at Wisconsin, he is considered the wheel that didn't roll that far away from the Badgers' big cheese. 

Former coach and current athletic director Barry Alvarez is the symbol of Wisconsin football now and possibly forevermore.

Joe Thomas-sized offensive linemen block for such ball carriers as John Clay, Montee Ball and James White, all of whom were close to 1,000-yard rushers in the 2010 season. Ball missed by 4 yards. Chryst was the offensive coordinator.

Nobody called them the Three Horsemen, but it would have fit.

Ohio State must cope with an offense on Saturday night in Madison, Wisconsin that is so Old School, as it grinds between the tackles, that it is almost revolutionary in today's world of spread offenses.

Rounding up the "horses"

Chryst, a Wisconsin native and former head coach at Pitt, has a well-traveled coach's far-flung connections.

He takes much of his coaching philosophy from his late father, a coach at Wisconsin-Platteville, but he also has ties to the Browns, to Northeast Ohio high school football, and to a Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

In 2011, Chryst's last season as the Badgers' offensive coordinator, he meshed transfer quarterback Russell Wilson so seamlessly into the offense that Wilson set an FBS passing efficiency record.

Chryst's current Wisconsin offense can look like a stampede across the plains, a simile that reflects the 50-year-old Chryst's background in the sport.

Apart from college football, Chryst was an assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers and both the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Rough Riders (two words) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (one word).

Cleveland connections

In 1991, when Paul Chryst was 25, unemployed, and shoveling the sidewalks and driveway at the family home, Mike Riley, the current Nebraska coach, hired him with the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American football.

The team's quarterback was Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett of University School in Hunting Valley.

The vacancy on the Riders' coaching staff came about because tight ends coach Phil Savage, a future Browns general manager, left to join the Baltimore Ravens' front office.

Savage filled that position with the Browns in 2007, when they posted a 10-6 record behind the streaky passing of Derek Anderson, narrowly missing the playoffs.

Anderson was groomed at Oregon State by offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chryst, who was again working for Riley.

The Beavers in 2003 were the first FBS team to have a 4,000-yard passer (Anderson), a 1,500-yard rusher (NFL veteran Steven Jackson) and two 1,000-yard receivers.

Another of Chryst's Cleveland ties is his brother, former Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst, a baseball player at Notre Dame.

A second brother, Geep Chryst, was a top assistant for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh in this decade when the San Francisco 49ers went to one Super Bowl and three straight NFL championship games.

Madness in Mad Town

Savage's later actions with the Browns -- a feud with tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and a late night "F-bomb" email to a heckler -- probably led some Cleveland fans to drink. That option was not available in San Antonio.

The lack of a license to sell beer at Alamo Stadium, a WPA project, meant the Riders hit the dusty trail and moved the next season a few miles north to San Marcos, Texas.

Adult beverages usually flow freely on the streets Camp Randall Stadium, however, especially after a night game. 

Badgers students have also been known to pelt opposing teams with marshmallows with pennies embedded in them.

Usually a tough game

Wisconsin is usually a tough out for the Buckeyes. The 59-0 Ohio State rout in the last meeting of the teams on a neutral field n the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game was an aberration.

More typical was a 21-14 Ohio State victory in overtime in Madison in 2012.

Wisconsin under scowling, petulant coach Bret Bielema gave Ohio State its only loss on the field in Madison in 2010 in Jim Tressel's last season as coach.

Chryst is true to Alvarez's powerball principles. Nationally second-ranked Ohio State is on the high horse, but it will probably be a rough ride.

 

Remember when J.T. Barrett, Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller were available for Ohio State? Hudson coach Jeff Gough likens that situation to his at Hudson.

HUDSON, Ohio – If a national championship college football team isn't immune to trying three quarterbacks, neither is Hudson's high school team.

First-year Hudson coach Jeff Gough entered this season with a dilemma similar to the one last year at Ohio State, when the Buckeyes had their pick of Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller. The Explorers have three options, are sticking with all three and are 6-1.

“It’s not a bad model to go after,” Gough said Friday after a 25-24 win against Suburban League-rival Stow.

Each quarterback, separated by a year, gives Hudson a different look.

Jackson Parker can be Gough’s version of Jones. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder is Hudson’s biggest option and ran the offense for last year's postseason run to the Division II state semifinals.

Parker is a senior but entered last year rotating with Colt Pallay, now a junior. Both vied to replace 2014 All-Ohio Offensive Player of the Year Mitch Guadagni. And both suffered injuries that allowed the other more repetitions at one point or another. Parker emerged as the run threat with an arm to keep defenses honest, while Pallay liked to stay in the pocket and sling the football to his receivers.

Gough took over as head coach in May for Ron Wright, who is on sabbatical, and knew he had both back for this fall. A third quarterback, sophomore William Wallace, quickly entered the discussion.

“We look at every position on the field and we say we want to play the best athlete at that position,” said Gough, who last year coached the defense. “That’s the most dynamic position on the field, and for different packages, different kids can do different things well. We do that for every other position, so we’re going to continue to do that with quarterback.”

Pallay and Parker take most of the snaps. Pallay has thrown for 584 yards and three touchdowns through seven games. Parker has 482 yards and three TDs. Combined, the trio has 1,179 yards passing. Parker’s running out from the read option adds another layer.

But Gough and offensive coordinator Shawn Surdy still call on the sophomore when drives reach critical points. They turned to him Friday in the second half for stretches of an 18-point run.

“William is just a game manager that gets the tough yards when you need it,” Gough said of the 5-9, 155-pounder. “He’s a very heady football player.”

The trio also can complicate matters for an opponent during a week of preparation.

“You have to really filter out each one and go through what each one likes to do,” Stow coach Mark Nori said. “It costs you some extra planning for that.”

As for the receivers, Hudson junior Greg Mailey is used to it.

He caught two touchdown passes in the final four minutes Friday from Pallay. All three targeted him, leading to a nine-reception, 120-yard night. It concluded with a touchdown in the final 2:16 that cut Hudson's deficit to one.

Just as Mailey built momentum with Pallay, Gough and Suray called for a two-point conversion try and a switch. They sent in Parker, who hit Mailey one more time on an arcing pass.

Here's Mailey's 23-yard TD grab from Mailey to set up the two-point conversion. #NEOvarsity #FridayHuddle pic.twitter.com/5fN2ZmjDzS

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) October 8, 2016

“It’s not too big of a deal,” Mailey said. “As long as the ball’s coming in straight, it’s all right.”

Pallay doubles as Grant Gonya’s holder on kicks. He looked to the sideline following the touchdown and knew what to do. The two-point conversion package required Parker to be out there.

The three quarterbacks rotated in and out amid drives all night, so the biggest call of the game was routine for them.

2:16 left, Hudson takes 25-24 lead on another Mailey TD. Here's the two-point conversion. #NEOvarsity #FridayHuddle pic.twitter.com/7RlkX5F22J

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) October 8, 2016

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Here's what the stats have to say about Browns quarterback protection.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns have had four quarterbacks active for games this season. All four have suffered injuries. Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown have missed games. Cody Kessler and Charlie Whitehurst were banged up in Sunday's loss to the Patriots.

Hue Jackson must wait until Wednesday's practice to see who is healthy enough to play in Week 6 against the Titans. With all these injured quarterbacks, Cleveland might seem like the worst place for a quarterback seeking protection. But is it a protection problem or something else?

QB Sacks

The Browns are tied for 23rd in the NFL in average sacks allowed per game (2.60). They've giving up 13 total through five games, and only five teams have given up more. The difference between the Browns and most of the teams near them in those sack statistics is that those other teams have quarterbacks who get back up.

Ten teams average 2.60 or more sacks per game. The Browns are one of four to have quarterbacks miss starts to injury, and the only one to have more than one quarterback injured.

Cody Kessler has 'good chance' to start

QB hits

Browns quarterbacks have been hit 36 times this season, fifth most in the NFL. The top four are the Buccaneers (43), Colts (40), Dolphins (39) and Texans (37). None of those teams have had quarterbacks miss games to injury.

The rest of the top 10 looks like this: Ravens (33), Bears (32), Panthers (30) and three teams - Seahawks, Redskins, Cardinals - tied for 10th with 29. Three of those teams have had quarterback miss starts due to injury, and the health of the Seahawks' Russell Wilson remains cloudy.

Again, of the group mentioned above, the Browns are the only team to lose multiple quarterbacks. In fact, Browns quarterbacks are injured and/or leaving the field once every nine hits this season.

QB injuries

While the Browns face the possibility of starting their fourth different quarterback this season, other teams with quarterback injuries avoided adding names to the injury report.

Teams with quarterback starts missed to injury since Week 1 include:

Broncos (Trevor Siemian, shoulder)

Cardinals (Carson Palmer, concussion)

Bears (Jay Cutler, thumb)

Panthers (Cam Newton, concussion)

Patriots (Jimmy Garappolo, shoulder)

How Browns used 3 QBs in 4 straight seasons

QB changes

If the Browns use their fourth starting quarterback this season, they won't be setting any records. The Ravens, Texans and Cowboys each used four starting quarterbacks last season. The Packers used four in 2013.

Still, nobody is close to the Browns' current four-season run of three quarterbacks per year. It spans three coaching staffs and brings the franchise's total of seasons with at least three starting quarterbacks to eight since 1999.

Perhaps most frustrating of all to fans and the front office alike, is that, of the 16 quarterback changes since 2013, 11 have been due to injury.

He's with her, so what do Bud Shaw and Doug Lesmerises think of him? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James endorsing Hillary Clinton was a big enough deal for our editorial board to use it as an entry point for its presidential endorsement.

But that's just what the editorial board thinks about it. What about two guys who shout at each other about sports? 

What do they think about arguably Northeast Ohio's most influential voice making a choice for president?

Bud Shaw and I discussed that in our latest Prepare for List Off, taking a break from incorrect predictions about the Indians to weigh in on what a basketball player thinks about the leader of the free world.

Next up - is popcorn or peanuts a better ballpark snack?

For now, here's what Bud and I think about James telling us what he thinks about the election.

Less than 50 votes separate the two schools in the semifinal round with less than 24 hours to go until voting closes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The best high school marching band semifinal between Berea-Midpark and Shaker Heights is still neck-and-neck with less than 24 hours until voting ends.

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, Berea-Midpark has 50.04 percent of the votes and Shaker Heights has 49.96 percent in the semifinals of cleveland.com's contest to crown the best high school marching band in Northeast Ohio.

Voting is open until Wednesday at 7 a.m. To add suspense, we're hiding the voting results for the final day. 

We encourage you to vote hourly for the band you want to win. Votes must come from the United States. When casting your vote, be sure to complete the captcha step that appears after you click "vote."

The other semifinal features Riverside against Cuyahoga Falls.

Related: See how voting is going in the other semifinal

Cleveland.com began with more than 70 bands nominated before paring it down to 32 contenders.

We'll announce the winners who will battle it out in the final round live on Facebook on Wednesday at 10 a.m., followed by a post on cleveland.com shortly after.

Cleveland.com's "Best of" team will announce the ultimate winner during that school's football game Oct. 20-22.

The Cleveland Indians have sold all of their remaining ALCS home tickets for the series that begins Friday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians announced the team has sold all of its it's remaining tickets for the American League Championship Series home games.

A limited number of tickets went on sale to the public via the team's website beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. They were quickly snatched up by enthusiastic fans.

Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS are set for Friday and Saturday at Progressive Field. Potential games 6 and 7 would take place Oct. 21 and 22.

All ALCS tickets are officially SOLD OUT!

This weekend's going to be fun. #RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/jgzlgbHYZg

-- Cleveland Indians (@Indians) October 11, 2016

First pitch for Friday's Game 1 is set for 8:08 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TBS and can be heard on the Cleveland Indians radio network.

Saturday's start time has not yet been announced, but it will be a late-afternoon first pitch, preceding the National League Championship Series Game 1.

For more information, visit indians.com/postseason.

ALCS ticket prices
 

With just 20 hours left in cleveland.com's semifinal round in the search for the best high school marching band, Cuyahoga Falls holds a slight edge over Riverside.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - With about 20 hours left to vote in cleveland.com's semifinal round in the search for Greater Cleveland's best high school marching band, Cuyahoga Falls holds a slight edge over Riverside.

Poll Daddy 

As of Tuesday at 10 a.m., Cuyahoga Falls has gained 52 percent of the total votes.

The two bands have remained neck and neck since the round began Thursday.

Voting is open until Wednesday at 7 a.m. To add suspense, we're hiding the voting results for the final day. 

We encourage you to vote hourly for the band you want to win. Votes must come from the United States. When casting your vote, be sure to complete the captcha step that appears after you click "vote."

The other semifinal features Berea-Midpark against Shaker Heights.

Related: See how voting is going in the other semifinal

Cleveland.com began with more than 70 bands nominated before paring it down to 32 contenders. Riverside emerged from that round of voting as the No. 1 seed, while Cuyahoga Falls was seeded fourth for the quarterfinal round, before emerging victorious to be pitted against one another in the semifinals. 

We'll announce the winners who will battle it out in the final round live on Facebook on Wednesday at 10 a.m., followed by a post on cleveland.com shortly after.

Cleveland.com's "Best of" team will announce the ultimate winner during that school's football game Oct. 20-22.

Josh McCown is gearing up to start against the 2-3 Titans if Cody Kessler can't go. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -  Four weeks is quick turnaround from a broken collarbone, but Josh McCown is preparing to start Sunday in Tennessee in the event that rookie Cody Kessler can't go.

Kessler injured his right ribs and chest area late in the first quarter of Sunday's 33-13 loss to the Patriots, and didn't return. He appeared to be in pain on Monday, and didn't meet with the media. He had the area wrapped with ice, and spent part of the locker room period getting treatment.

Ideally, McCown, who broke the collarbone in the home-opening 25-20 loss to the Ravens Sept. 18, would let it heal another week or two. But if the doctors give him the OK to to play this week, he's raring to go.

"That's the plan,'' he said. "I'm going to work throughout the week in practice and see how it goes. I'm looking forward to practicing, though, and taking the next step."

Complicating matters is the fact that backup Charlie Whitehurst suffered what's believed to a sprained knee late in the game, and is day-to-day. He had the knee wrapped on Monday and favored it.

"He's day-to-day,'' said coach Hue Jackson.

Jackson hasn't decided who will start if both Kessler and McCown are healthy.

"I don't think we need to go there just yet,'' he said.

McCown is fine with whatever Jackson decides.

"I expect to go back and play whereever they want me to play and when they want me to play,'' he said.

McCown had FirstEnergy Stadium rocking in the home opener despite suffering the broken collarbone in the first quarter. He had the Browns up 20-0 in the first quarter and 20-12 at the half before things unraveled in the second half. Still, he had the Browns in position to win on the final drive until a bogus taunting call against Terrelle Pryor hampered the threat.

"Just to be out there on the practice field and to get back moving around like that is going to be exciting for me,'' he said. "I'm looking forward to helping any way I can and getting back out there with the guys.''

McCown got the green light to practice after undergoing X-rays on Monday, but must still be cleared to play depending on how the week goes. In anticipation, he's been throwing on the side with trainers.

McCown, 37, acknowledged that his return could be hastened some by Kessler's injury.

Kessler's X-rays were negative, but his range of motion could be limited. Kessler "heard something weird'' when Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower drove him into the turf, right shoulder first, and he feared it was his shoulder. The Browns will monitor him throughout the week, but he's likely to be limited.

As for McCown, the fact that it's his left collarbone helps a lot. Last season, he missed the final five games of the season with a broken right collarbone.

"It just takes time but I do think it helps that it's not on the throwing side for sure,'' he said.

Do Browns QB get hurt more than other teams' QBs?

McCown feels especially bad for Jackson that all four of his quarterbacks have gotten hurt, with Robert Griffin III and McCown going down in weeks 1 and 2 for an extended period. Griffin's is a 10-12-week injury at best.

"Yeah, it's unfortunate,'' said McCown. "When you're starting something up, in order to have the early success you have to have a lot of breaks go your way. As you mature as a team you can weather those.''

Still, the players believe they could've done more in this 0-5 stretch.

"We all walk around in this locker room and look at the plays that we should've and could've made that would have made a difference,'' he said. "It certainly can make a difference in our record. That's the standard Coach Jackson is holding us to.''

McCown can't predict if Kessler will be the Browns quarterback of the future, "but just the way he's wired, he's fighting for that.''

And all three of the Browns quarterbacks are fighting to be available this week.

LeBron James seemed to confirm a Vertical report from Thursday that the NBA and the players' association could reach a new labor agreement within the next several weeks.

ATLANTA -- LeBron James seemed to confirm a Vertical report from Thursday that the NBA and the players' association could reach a new labor agreement within the next several weeks.

"I think the best thing about it, we started the conversation a long time ago," James said Monday. "We're very optimistic on both sides, from the players' association to the owners, to (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver that we can get something done, and I think we can get something done.

"And I think it all started because we started the conversations early, ways we could better our league."

James did not play in the Cavs' 99-93 preseason loss in Atlanta and will not play again until the Cavs' exhibition finale on Oct. 18 in Columbus.

Cavs lose with no regular starters

James is an executive vice president for the union. Either the union or the league could opt out of the current labor agreement by Dec. 15. According to The Vertical's report, both sides were optimistic a new deal would be reached before then, eliminating the possibility of a work stoppage in 2017.

It was widely believed the players would seek to opt out of the current, 10-year agreement reached in 2011 after a lockout that essentially canceled the first two months of the season. The reason: an attempt to get a bigger piece of the nine-year, $24 billion pie that is the league's new TV contract.

The Vertical reported that major changes to a new labor deal would include a "significantly higher rookie contract scale and two-way contracts between the NBA and NBA Development League that will add playing jobs for the union."

James declined to confirm those details or offer specifics.

"'I'm not here to talk about specifics, what the owners have asked for, what we've asked for," James said. "The most important thing is that our game is as big as it's ever been. And we want to continue that, and a stoppage of play will not continue that.

"We want to continue to build the brand and make the game as big as it can, where if there's certain people that can't watch it we want them to have an opportunity to watch it in different countries. So, that's what's most important."

James addition to the union's leadership council in February, 2015 was seen as an early power play in which the players' were bringing perhaps their most influential star to the bargaining table.

Months before, James warned the players would not be in the mood for the concessions they took in the 2011 deal.

"We gave a lot," James at the time. "The whole thing that went on with the last negotiation process was the owners are losing money. There's no way they can sit in front of us and tell us that right now.

"As we continue to see teams selling for billions of dollars, being purchased for $200 million, selling for $550 million, $750 million, and now $2 billion ... so that will not fly with us this time."

Silver, Shanghai for the Rockets-Pelicans game Monday, said he was optimistic a deal would get done soon.