LeBron James and Tyronn Lue waive off Charles Barkley's charge that James doesn't want to compete. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan Gilbert and David Griffin weren't the only ones upset with LeBron James' public criticisms of the Cavs roster and demands for another playmaker.

Charles Barkley ripped James for it on TNT Thursday night, suggesting even that James doesn't "want to compete."

James and coach Tyronn Lue waived Barkley off before, during, and after the Cavs' 124-116 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

"He has to do that," James said. "I mean, it's good for the ratings."

James led all scorers with 31 points and dished out a game-high 11 assists against Brooklyn. He also took more shots in the game (18) than anyone and made 13.

During this tumultuous week in which the Cavs lost three straight and six of eight spanning further back, and, oh yes, James challenged the front office's commitment to winning, his on-court production has been there.

James posted triple-doubles in his previous two games, albeit both losses. He's of course a three-time champion and four-time MVP, and there was the little matter of him leading the Cavs back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Warriors in the Finals.

Golden State, in turn, added Kevin Durant and role players like Zaza Pachulia.

To which Barkley replied: "That's none of his business."

"They have the highest payroll in NBA history," Barkley said. "He wanted J.R. Smith last summer, they paid him. He wanted (Iman) Shumpert last summer. They brought in Kyle Korver. "He's the best player in the world. Does he want all of the good players? He don't wanna compete?"

James said he hadn't seen or heard Barkley's comments. In the middle of his response, James stopped to shout across the Cavs' locker room to 9-year-old son Bryce, to ask which family game they were playing at the James household instead of watching the TNT NBA pregame show.

"With the thing in ... Yeah, 'Speak Out,'" James said, speaking of a board game that literally bills itself as the "ridiculous mouthpiece challenge game."

What better way to describe all the goings on with the Cavs this week?

"That makes no sense in the world," James said, getting back to Barkley. "Ever since I picked up a basketball at age 9, I've competed every single time so, you can never question that about me. But that's Charles. He's the guy who has to sit on a panel and says stuff like that, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. That means absolutely nothing."

The Cavs would like nothing more than to move past this controversy, in which nerves were struck and tensions flared.

For the briefest of recaps, the Cavs' front office was furious that James could somehow assert the organization wasn't fully invested in trying to repeat as champs, given the $130 million payroll, among other expenses occurs and players acquired (see Kyle Korver).

James correctly pointed out that decisions were made to go with cheaper, younger players at the end of the roster, and that "dead" roster spots were not cleared because of the tax implications.

(Quick side note: As you may recall, James' quotes from Monday night, when he unleashed his frustration, were laced with profanity. James said he "got a call from the NBA" about it.)

Those players helped prove James' point Friday night. After James left the game for good, with 4:49 to go, the Nets scored an additional 20 points to make what should've been a blowout a much closer game.

Winning will help the air to clear, though the Cavs will have to do a lot more than beat the Nets -- the NBA's worst team. A Sunday home game against Oklahoma City and Russell Westbrook would be nice.

Griffin huddled with James in the locker room after the game Friday night. What they were discussing -- a possible trade, a great bottle of wine -- neither would say.

The air will clear even more if an when Griffin makes those trades or signs those free agents to bring in the backup point guard and big man James desires.

In the meantime, James said "it's great" for the Cavs to go through controversy now.

"Listen, at the end of the day, the road to a championship or the road to success shouldn't be a bed of roses," James said. "That's not, that's never been my road. I don't think I should expect anything different."

Lue called James the "ultimate competitor."

"He wants to win and when you want to win you want to get more guys in and make the team better along with myself, David Griffin and Dan Gilbert," Lue said. "Everyone wants to make the team better and you're always looking for ways to do that.  I said it before, Golden State won 73 games last year and they go and add Kevin Durant. You always want to get better if you can.

Yes, this is where the champs are -- dancing and celebrating during a 124-116 win against lottery-bound Brooklyn. But the Cavaliers needed a night like Friday. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue directed Kyrie Irving to slow up as the clock started to tick towards the end of the third quarter.

Guarded by 36-year-old power forward Luis Scola, Irving retreated to the Quicken Loans Arena emblem on the right side of the court, about 30 feet away from the hoop.

The basketball like a yoyo, the All-Star went between his legs four or five times before blowing past Scola and tossing the ball high off the glass with the perfect amount of spin before it dropped, capping a personal 20-point third quarter.

Cleveland's lead up to 21, Kay Felder, LeBron James and DeAndre Liggins all jumped off the bench while play continued the other way. James even flipped his seat cushion onto the court.

Yes, this is where the champs are -- dancing and celebrating during a 124-116 win against lottery-bound Brooklyn. But the Cavaliers needed a night like Friday.

Because at that moment, they were having fun again. Things finally appeared normal after a drama-filled week, dotted by James' critique of the team's mismanagement, a three-game losing streak and numerous questions about defense and effort.

Here are five observations:

Perspective - Friday provided the perfect opportunity for the Cavs, the get-right game they greatly needed. The Nets were playing without leading scorer Brook Lopez and promising youngster Caris LeVert.

Everything that happened should be graded on the Brooklyn-doesn't-have-many-good-players curve.

Still, the Cavs will take it.

"Hell yeah I feel better," Lue said. "It feels good to get a win any way you can get it. That's one win. We've just got to continue to keep building on this one."

It doesn't mean all the problems are solved. But for one night, as they snapped their losing skid and won for just the sixth time in January, the Cavs played their style, dishing out 26 assists on 49 made shots while connecting on 53 percent from the field.

"Got to go out there and have fun," Kevin Love said after scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. "This is a group that knew before tonight we were 2-6 in our last eight, but we enjoy each other, playing with each other and if we're going to right the ship we've got to put in the work and have fun coming in everyday and doing that. Knowing that you have to respect the process and love the process."

New lineup - After back-to-back brutal performances against San Antonio and New Orleans, Lue altered his start-of-the-second-quarter group, replacing struggling Liggins with Felder.

Lue stuck with the new five-man lineup on Friday against Brooklyn and the recent early second quarter struggles vanished.

With James leading the way alongside Felder, Richard Jefferson, Kyle Korver and Channing Frye, the Cavaliers opened the period on a much-needed 9-0 spurt.

"Just wanted to give him a look and get him a chance to play," Lue said of the decision to go with Felder. "Instead of playing in the fourth quarters or blowouts, give him a chance to play some meaningful minutes. Just give him different looks and see what he can do out there."

Felder made little impact during his first five minutes, but started attacking the basket early in the fourth quarter. He finished with nine points -- all coming in the final period -- on 4-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc.

More importantly, on the heels of James' cries for a roster addition, Felder gave Cleveland a secondary ball handler, another playmaking threat, which Lue admitted went into his decision.

"Not having LeBron to make every play and then also to change the pace of the game," he said. "(Kay) is going to make some mistakes, we know that. He's young. But we've got to let him grow."

Creating separation - A tight game through two quarters, the Cavs started to pull away in the third, with Irving at the center of the surge.

He scored 20 points on 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. It's the third time in his career he's scored at least 20 points or more in a single period.

In the final two minutes, with James on the bench, Irving ripped off eight straight.

"When LeBron went out, he just got aggressive and decided to put the team on his shoulders," Lue said.

In the third quarter alone, the Cavs outscored the Nets, 39-26, taking a 21-point lead into the fourth.

With that kind of cushion, Irving never had to return and James didn't have to overextend himself once again.

Minutes have become a talking point for the Cavaliers. Because of Irving's third quarter flurry, he only played 31 minutes. Meanwhile, James notched 34, his lowest total since Jan. 11 during a blowout loss in Portland. Love only played 28.

That's one way to keep the workload down. Step on a lesser opponent early. 

Defense - Sometimes final numbers can be deceiving. Such is the case with Brooklyn's offensive totals.

While the Cavs had some defensive issues, giving up too many points in the point (46) and forcing Tristan Thompson into some tough spots because of slippage in one-on-one situations on the perimeter, there was noticeable improvement.  

Again, it's the wounded Nets so it's hard to say things are dandy again. It's going to take time for the Cavs to regain their defensive identity.

But through three quarters, while the game was still being decided, the Cavs held the Nets to 73 points and 43 percent shooting.

"Make the shots tough," James said. "Make every possession tough for the team. We was right where we needed to be. We was in our defensive principles, they came out and hit a couple 3s. So, we did what we were supposed to do. And sometimes they make shots. It just happens. We can live with that."

The Nets scored 43 points in the fourth quarter, but that was simply window dressing. Twenty of the 43 came in the final five minutes after James left the game. 

Getting help - It hasn't happened often enough. But the Cavs' bench provided a nice lift Friday.

Led by Korver, who poured in 14 points and 11 in the fourth quarter, the Cavs' second unit tallied 36 on 14-of-31 (45.1 percent) from the field. 

Lue talked prior to the game about the challenge of implementing Korver. That became apparent during the morning shootaround as the team went through extra defensive drills, something out of the ordinary. 

"We have to keep bringing Kyle along," Lue said. "His defensive rules in Atlanta and here are different, so every chance we get to walk through some things defensively to help him out, it's good for us."

What fans wanted to know from beat writer Joe Vardon following the Cavs' 124-116 win over the Brooklyn Nets Friday... Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What fans wanted to know from beat writer Joe Vardon following the Cavs' 124-116 win over the Brooklyn Nets Friday:

• Is it safe to say the Cavs will address their roster issues through free agents and not trades?
• Will they "ever" get a backup center, given the amount of points in the paint they allow? For what it's worth, the Nets outscored the Cavs 46-44 in the paint on Friday.
• Are talks between the Cavs and Knicks for a Carmelo Anthony trade completely dead?

Also see:

LeBron, Lue say, show that Barkley critiques don't make sense.

Lue reminds the Cavs that they are, in fact, champs.

The Buckeyes are back on the road on Saturday against Iowa. Watch video

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Ohio State basketball is back on the road on Saturday for a game at Iowa. Here's everything you need to know before tip-off:

GAME INFORMATION

Who: Ohio State Buckeyes (13-8, 3-5 Big Ten) at Iowa Hawkeyes (11-10, 3-5).

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: Carver Hawkeye Arena (15,500).

TV: ESPN2, with Dave Flemming and Dan Dakich on the call.

Latest line: Iowa -1.5.

Series record: The all-time series between Ohio State and Iowa is tied 78-78. The last six meetings have been decided by 10 points or less. The Buckeyes' last win in Iowa City came on Feb. 4, 2014.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Ohio State: G JaQuan Lyle (6-5, Soph., 12.3 ppg); G Kam Williams (6-2, Jr., 10.1 ppg); F Marc Loving (6-8, Sr., 11.5 ppg); F Jae'Sean Tate (6-4, Jr., 13.9 ppg); C Trevor Thompson (7-0, Jr., 11.0 ppg).

Iowa: G Jordan Bohannon (6-0, Fr., 8.7 ppg); G Isaiah Moss (6-5, Fr., 6.8 ppg); G Peter Jok (6-6, Sr., 21.0 ppg); F Tyler Cook (6-9, Fr., 11.9 ppg); F Cordell Pemsl (6-8, Fr., 9.1 ppg).

* RELATED: Now in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, here's the path Ohio State must avoid if it wants to make the NCAA Tournament

GAME NOTES

* Ohio State and Iowa are two of six Big Ten teams currently with a 3-5 record in league play. There are three others with a 4-4 record. That's nine teams within striking distance of the No. 5 spot in the Big Ten.

"I know this, tomorrow's game turns the halfway point and I think there's still so much that has to be done," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. "There's a logjam or whatever, and we'll see how it plays out."

* If you're looking for an edge for Ohio State, it might be as simple as experience. Iowa starts four freshmen, and its consistent starting lineup is the youngest in program history. The Hawkeyes overall are are in the bottom 10 in the country (No. 343 overall) in experience.

Perhaps that's what's led to Iowa's 0-5 record on the road this year. But this is a better team at home. Iowa's coming in on a three-game losing streak, but is 3-1 at home in Big Ten play, including a win over No. 20 Purdue.

* Iowa guard Peter Jok is the Big Ten's leading scorer at 21.0 points per game, but in the last five games he's seen that mark drop to 15.0 per game.

"He's been a big time scorer as long as I've been in college," Buckeyes forward Jae'Sean Tate said. "We're not gonna change anything we do, but we're gonna try to make him uncomfortable."

* The Buckeyes have lost the rebounding battle in five of their eight Big Ten games, and have lost some close games because of the amount of second-chance points they've allowed. Matta's solution to that is wanting to see the guards get more involved in rebounding.

"Our guards like to leak out, and they've gotta go in there and rebound the ball," Matta said. "We need those guys to lead us in rebounding maybe a game. That's one of the bigger challenges we've had. Our rotations haven't been great, and a lot of times it's the guards not sinking down."

* RELATED: Ohio State's win vs. Minnesota was its best in terms of quality of opponent. Here are 5 good things to build on from that game

PREDICTION

Bill's pick: Ohio State 71, Iowa 69. The Buckeyes haven't been a great defensive team for much of Big Ten play, and it will be interesting to see what happens if Iowa gets the game played at its pace. The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in KenPom tempo during conference play, and have played 16 games that have had 70 or more possessions. The Buckeyes would like that number to stay in the 60s. Jok is a stud, but he's battling back troubles. So it's possible Ohio State's lack of a true defensive stopper won't come into play.

Michael Brantley has spent the winter in Cleveland rehabbing his right shoulder. He says he's ahead of schedule compared to last season, but still has work to do. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Michael Brantley has been there, done that. Now he's doing it again, but not by choice.

Brantley is hitting a ball off a tee every day. At the moment, he's swinging the bat twice a day, each session consisting of three sets of 40 to 50 swings. So far his right shoulder is cooperating.

The process will continue for the next couple of weeks before moving to Goodyear, Ariz., for spring training. Indians pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12. Position players follow on Feb. 16.

Brantley said he feels better than he did at this time last year. Then he was almost three months removed from having surgery on the labrum in his right shoulder. Another surgery followed in August, ending Brantley's season. After playing an average of 148 games in the previous four seasons, he played 11 last year.

"I feel better than I did a year ago," Brantley said at a press gathering Thursday at the Wild Eagle Saloon just down the street from Progressive Field. "I'm happy where I'm at. I still understand that there are hurdles in the process and I look forward to tackling them."

Last offseason Brantley said his goal was to be ready for opening day. He was close. The Indians activated him on April 25, but after a game on May 9 in Houston he did not play again because his shoulder kept restricting his swing.

There will be no predictions this year.

"I'm not saying anything," said Brantley. "All I know is that I'm healthy right now and I have a progression to go through. Once I get through that I'll be ready to rock and roll."

Ideally, sometime early in spring training, Brantley will be able to get out of the trainer's room and do everything his teammates are doing. But after so many stops and starts last year, no one is sure if and when that time will come.

"I want to play everyday," said Brantley. "That's my whole goal. I love playing defense and I love being out there with my teammates. I want to hit the ground running.

"That's the whole reason I stayed in Cleveland this offseason and trained with the great trainers that we have. So when that time comes, there will be no problems."

The Indians shocked many in baseball in December by signing Edwin Encarnacion, the top power hitter on the free agent market, to a three-year $60 million deal. The idea of pairing a healthy Brantley with Encarnacion in the middle of the lineup is tantalizing.

"You're talking about a pretty special hitter," said manager Terry Francona, referring to Encarnacion. "We had to replace Nap (free agent Mike Napoli) and for a number of reasons that wasn't easy.

"Then all of a sudden you're talking about the most productive hitter in the game. You can sit him in that No.4 hole, most likely, and let him go. He gives you an anchor in the middle of the lineup and then if Brantley is OK - that's two really good hitters."

Brantley said he received six or seven text messages from teammates when news broke of the Encarnacion signing.

"I was excited, just like all the players," said Brantley. "My teammates were calling Chris (Antonetti) and Chernie (GM Mike Chernoff) to make sure it was real. The lineup we're projected to have is great. I just want to be a part of it and contribute."

Brantley, in his mind, has gone through last season several times. Could he have done something different in his rehab? Did he try to come back too soon?

"I've thought about it, but absolutely not," said Brantley. "I did everything in my power to get back - strength wise, medical wise. It just didn't work out.

"It's something I learned from and I'll only get better from. It only made me hungrier to get back out there. I can't wait to do it."

The Indians, with Brantley watching, won the AL Central, the pennant and reached Game 7 of the World Series before losing to the Cubs. He wants to do more than watch this year, but like the state of his shoulder the coming season offers only unanswered questions.

"The only thing we earned from last year is the target on our backs," said Brantley. "We are the defending champions. When we come into town, everybody knows they're going to have to play a great game to beat us. It just raises everyone's expectation level and ours as well."

Is Deshaun Watson sending the Cleveland Browns a message by skipping the Senior Bowl?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I would be shocked if the Cleveland Browns took a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

And I'm starting to think they won't take a quarterback with the No. 12 pick.

I'd also bet the Browns will do some trading in the first round.

Which brings me to Deshaun Watson.

Profootball Talk published an article wondering if Deshaun Watson skipped the Senior Bowl to avoid being picked by the Browns.

It was speculation, not based on any hard facts.

But who knows?

It's a reasonable assumption Watson will be grabbed by someone in the first round. But maybe he drops to No. 32, like Teddy Bridgewater did in 2014. David Carr fell into the second round (No. 36) of that draft.

Picked ahead of them were Blake Bortles (No. 3) and Johnny Manziel (No. 22).

North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky, Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer and Watson are considered the top three quarterbacks in this draft.

None are like Jameis Winston (2015), Andrew Luck (2012) and Cam Newton (2011) -- top picks in their respective drafts who have become good NFL quarterbacks.

The L.A. Rams forced the issue last season, taking an unprepared Jared Goff with the first pick. Perhaps Goff will mature into a good quarterback, but he had a nightmare rookie season.

It's just a guess, but I imagine the Browns shopping for a young veteran quarterback.

I believe Tyrod Taylor is a real possibility if he is released by the Buffalo Bills. The 27-year-old has a complicated contract that is worth $31 million in 2017 ... you read that right, $31 million in 2017.

Taylor has a 14-14 record in two years as Buffalo's starter. He doesn't turn the ball over -- 37 TDs vs. 14 interceptions in the last two seasons.

There has been so much speculation about the Browns trading for New England Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo.

I wonder if the idea is right, the Browns bring in a quarterback from another team. But it's the wrong name. Rather than trade some of their draft picks for Garoppolo, they sign Taylor if he becomes a free agent.

The Browns have lots of salary cap room, and then they don't lose any picks in the first or second round by signing Taylor.

It's early and the Bills have until March 11 to decide if they want to pick up Taylor's option -- it includes a $15 million bonus and about $16 million in salary. Right now, Buffalo's backup is Ohio State product Cardale Jones, who is not believed to be NFL-ready.

Another Bills quarterback, E.J. Manuel, already is headed to free agency. I doubt the Browns will be interested in him.

ABOUT THE SENIOR BOWL

Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman fell in football love with Carson Wentz at last year's Senior Bowl. That's what he told Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

Roseman explained how seeing Wentz "throw live beyond field level ... see the ball come out of his hands ... see his size and leadership ability ... see his foot work and have a chance to meet with him..."

That convinced Roseman to work hard to trade up for the North Dakota State quarterback. He did just that, securing the No. 2 pick from the Browns.

This is not about a replay of the Wentz trade.

But it is to suggest Deshaun Watson missed an opportunity by skipping the Senior Bowl.

Not just with the Browns, but with other quarterback-hungry teams at the top of the draft. The first three selections belong to Cleveland, San Francisco and Chicago -- they all need quarterbacks.

Furthermore, there is no consensus about who is the best of the draft's top three quarterbacks: Trubisky, Kizer and Watson. All are projected to be picked in the first round. None are considered elite quarterback prospects by most draft experts.

Watson could have stood out because Trubisky and Kizer are not eligible for the Senior Bowl.

Watson played in a college zone-read system, rarely taking a snap under center. His Clemson coaches say he can do that, but he could have put it on display in the Senior Bowl.

Wentz ran a pro offense at North Dakota State, and he sparkled in workouts at the Senior Bowl.

The MVP of the 2016 Senior Bowl was Dak Prescott. He showed he could take some snaps under center after seldom doing so at Mississippi State. Most teams still discounted Prescott. He was a fourth-round pick by Dallas (the No. 8 quarterback selected).

And he was the top rookie quarterback in the NFL.

This is not about saying Watson was fearful of messing up his draft status following his strong performance in the national title game against Alabama. It's just to say he had a chance to impress pro scouts, and skipped it.

Watson can show in his Pro Day and the NFL Combine that he can handle snaps under center. But he wouldn't be doing it under game conditions with live tackling, as you'll see in the actual Senior Bowl game.

Yes, there is always a risk of injury. Perhaps that was behind Watson's decision. But playing in the game helped Wentz, and it should have helped Prescott if the scouts had been paying better attention.

ABOUT WATSON AND JORDAN

I understand why Clemson coach Dabo Swinney would spend a day at the Senior Bowl talking up Watson, even though Watson wasn't there.

Swinney won a national title with Watson, who had a 32-3 career record as a starter for the Tigers.

"If they pass Deshaun Watson, they're passing on Michael Jordan," Swinney told the media in Mobile when discussing what the Browns should do with the NFL's No. 1 pick.

Swinney called himself "an old funky college coach," but added: "He's 28-2 in the last two years. He put up 75 points against Alabama in two games. He played 15 games this year ... if they can't evaluate that, a week at the Senior Bowl is not going to change that."

Watson is 6-foot-2, 215 pounds and appears to have a slight build. He threw 41 TD passes, but had 17 interceptions. He had four games where he threw at least two interceptions.

He is a natural leader, no off-field problems. He has proven to be a clutch player. But will he be an impact NFL player? Is he worthy of the No. 1 pick in the draft? Is he the Michael Jordan of football?

I'm not ready to go that far, although I can't blame Swinney for the forceful sales job. He owes his quarterback that much and a lot more.

As for Swinney urging the Browns to take Watson, I wonder if that means Watson does want to be the No. 1 pick.

Of course, real questions linger about taking him No. 1, and I confess to having doubts that he is the best move for the Browns at the top of the draft.

ABOUT GREGG WILLIAMS

I know, you hear stuff like this every off-season when the Browns bring in a new coordinator.

This is the guy who is supposed to get the most out of some current players. And most of the time, players perform about as they have in the past. But I do think it will be different in some cases, at least with Williams running the defense.

In 2014, the Rams made Aaron Donald their first-round pick and the defensive tackle has become a star in the 4-3 base defense used by Williams.

Danny Shelton showed significant improvement in 2016 after struggling as a rookie in 2015. It's easy to picture the defensive tackle approaching Pro Bowl caliber playing for  Williams. He has a history of developing lineman.

Donald was ranked as the NFL's top interior defensive linemen by Profootball Focus this season. Shelton was No. 17 out of the 127 they ranked.

I also believe he was shooting straight when he told 92.3 The Fan this about Jamie Collins: "He may be one of the best players I've had a chance to coach for a long time. I can't wait for a chance to coach him."

And Williams told Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot: "(Collins) has some rare gifts athletically ... and concept-wise maybe I can help him be even better. Not just me, but we."

Williams also made an interesting comment about being good friends with Bus Cook, the agent for Collins. Williams plans to push the 27-year-old Collins to become a leader, something not natural to the Mississippi native. Collins was known as being very quiet, both with New England and the Browns.

But he can show leadership skills with his preparation and hustle on the field. Williams calls himself "the motor coach," and he plans to rev up the engine for Collins.

Last week, I documented how Williams improved most of the defenses that he took over -- usually within two years. I really do expect that to happen again, only this time with the Browns.

ABOUT THE BROWNS LINE

Profootballfocus has a much different view of the Browns offensive line, at least compared to the critics.

The analytics website rated the Browns No. 16 -- middle of the NFL pack -- in terms of offensive lines.

PFF wrote: "The Browns, who had rolled through six different passers in seven weeks to begin the season -- none of whom demonstrated the kind of playing style that actually makes things easier on his linemen. Despite that, Joe Thomas had another excellent season at LT, and the guard pairing of Joel Bitonio and John Greco also played well.

"The issue on this line was Cameron Erving. The former first-round pick, playing center in his second season ... surrendering 30 total QB pressures and being routinely abused as a run blocker. It's difficult to see much of a future for Erving at this point, and his position is one in need of an upgrade."

A few thoughts:

1. The Browns do like Austin Reiter as a center candidate next season. He played one game, then suffered a major knee injury and had ACL surgery.

2. I've heard some talk about playing John Greco at center. He did a decent job at the position. But Greco had major foot surgery. How well and how fast will he recover? That's a major issue.

3. The Browns believe Greco will bounce back from the foot surgery to be ready for the regular season. They do like Reiter. They thought Anthony Fabiano played reasonably well in the final game, his only start of the season.

4. Fabiano is an undrafted free agent from Harvard. He was on the practice squad for most of the season. I've also heard Gabe Ikard mentioned as a possibility. He has bounced around the NFL since 2014, being mostly on practice squads with Tennessee, Buffalo, Detroit and the Browns.

5. They have five picks in the first 65 of the 2017 draft, and I'd like to see them grab a center. There don't seem to be very many attractive free agent centers. Tampa Bay's Joe Hawley is a free agent, but he seems pretty average at best.

6. Rookie Shon Coleman played quite a bit in the final game at right tackle, and he showed some promise. Rookie Spencer Drango had some acceptable performances at guard, where he started nine games.

7. The Browns idea is to put together several young players -- Drango, Coleman, Reiter, Fabiabo and Ikard -- and see who emerges. Not all of them obviously will start, but odds are 1-or-2 will develop.

8. An example is Greco, who started only four games in his first four NFL season. But since 2012, he has been a starter (mostly at guard) with the Browns.

Cleveland Cavaliers have all kinds of issues from point guards to trades to payroll.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to life after a title.

That's what I've been thinking lately when it comes to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They remain a team with the best record in the Eastern Conference, yet they are a team with problems.

They don't have huge problems, but there are problems.

At the heart of it was a comment by LeBron James about the organization being complacent after winning the 2016 NBA title.

"I just hope we're not satisfied as an organization," James told the media Monday. "I just hope we're not satisfied."

As I wrote earlier, many of the Cavs problems are self-inflicted and they need to shut up and play ball.

Let's look at some of the other issues:

ABOUT THE ROSTER

James is correct when he says the Cavs have not replaced backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova, who signed with Milwaukee.

I think Kay Felder has a chance to be an effective NBA player. But the Cavs are not about to be patient with a 5-foot-9 rookie drafted late in the second round. Not when they are trying to repeat.

In my book, THE COMEBACK, I had an entire chapter about how Cavs owner Dan Gilbert promised to make the financial commitment to deliver a title. It was a major reason James returned -- he knew Gilbert would spend.

Gilbert has spent. A title was delivered.

But James is right when he said, "We're not better than last year from a personnel standpoint."

Free agents Timofey Mozgov and Dellavedova were replaced by Chris Anderson (done for the season with knee surgery) and Kyle Korver.

They have young players in Jordan McRae, DeAndre Liggins and Felder who James obviously doesn't believe are ready for prime time.

At this point last season, the Cavs had a lot of depth at point guard. Mo Williams was still healthy. Kyrie Irving had recovered from surgery to repair a fractured kneecap. They also had Dellavedova.

Williams suffered a knee injury late last season and his career appears to be over. Dellavedova starts for the Milwaukee Bucks.

ABOUT THE PAYROLL

The Cavs payroll of $127 million is the highest in NBA history. They paid another $54 million in luxury tax in 2016.

Kevin Love, James and Irving are signed to maximum contracts. They have signed Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith to huge deals.

From their perspective, they have spent a lot of money just trying to keep the team together.

This is not a repeat of the Miami Heat, who won the 2013 title with James then cut their $82 million payroll to $80 million the following season.

Mozgov and Dellavedova signed four-year contracts worth a combined $104 million.

The Cavs worked out a $47 million extension to keep J.R. Smith. As for the open roster spot, the Cavs don't want to sign someone else unless they believe the new player can actually see court time.

ABOUT THE PRESSURE

Gilbert and James are not extremely close. They had issues with each other when James left in 2010. They put those aside when James returned in 2014.

At that point, the two men needed each other. James wanted to return home to Northeast Ohio and win. Gilbert had the money to make that happen, and he needed James.

James signed short-term contracts to not only maximize his earnings, but also giving him the option of leaving if Gilbert failed to deliver on his promises.

I sense the public comments by James are designed to pressure Gilbert and Griffin to upgrade the roster. James is one of the few NBA players with the clout to influence ownership.

He signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year -- so he can't (nor does he want to) leave this summer.

James and his business associates have made lots of high-stakes, mega-million dollar deals in the area of business and entertainment. They understand leverage and are not afraid to use it.

Turning the temperature higher is Golden State's addition of Kevin Durant to its roster. The Cavs beat the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, but Golden State is the clear favorite this season.

But it's not as if James is delivering new news to the Cavs. Griffin has been searching for a point guard since the summer. Gilbert has never been an owner who is content to sit back and not make moves.

ABOUT POSSIBLE TRADES

The NBA trading deadline is February 23.

Griffin makes bold mid-season deals, and I expect him to do it again.

He doesn't have much left to trade. He has the rights to Turkish prospect Cedi Osman. The forward is well-regarded, and several teams have already tried to deal for Osmon.

He has a first-round pick in 2021.

So Griffin has to make sure his next move is the right move -- because he doesn't have many moves left.

1. Veterans Jarrett Jack (coming off knee surgery) and Mario Chalmers (Achilles surgery) are available, but are they healthy? The Cavs aren't the only team looking for a backup point guard. No one has signed them. Atlanta cut Jack in October.

2. Norris Cole is back from playing in China and available. But what is going on with him? He couldn't get a decent NBA offer. Went to China. Either was cut or came back. He had a hamstring injury.

3. As for the D-League, Felder has played two games and averaged 30 points. He dominated. He probably is the best point guard in the D-League. It's doubtful anyone in the D-League is ready for what the Cavs have in mind.

Rarely do you find a solid, experienced, healthy backup point guard unemployed in January.

The probable answer is someone on another roster.

1. I've always liked Jameer Nelson, who is averaging 8.7 points and 4.5 assists for Denver. He is on a two-year deal, paying him $4.5 million this season and $4.7 million in 2017-18. And he'll be 35 on February 9. Working a trade for him won't be easy. But he's the kind of player the Cavs need.

2. Deron Williams is on a one-year, $10 million deal with Dallas. Big money. Sounds hard to figure out a deal.

3. Another player I've liked is Jose Calderon, who is making $7.7 million and playing very little with the Lakers. He's 35 and playing only 12 minutes a night.

4. Rajon Rondo can't shoot at all, it's hard to see him as a fit with the Cavs. The same with Ricky Rubio. They also have major contracts.

5. The Cavs have trade exceptions of $4.8 million, $4.4 million and $2.2 million to use to acquire players.

ABOUT CARMELO ANTHONY

I'll never say never when it comes to Anthony being traded to the Cavs -- but it's very doubtful right now.

Kevin Love is a much better fit at power forward. James and Anthony both have played power forward, and neither likes the position.

Anthony can still score, averaging 22.7 points and shooting 44 percent.

But he's not a good rebounder (6.0), at least if you want him as a power forward. Nor is he a decent defender.

He's 32. He had major knee surgery in 2015.

His contract:

• $24.6 million in 2016-17.
• $26.2 million in 2017-18.
• $28 million in 2018-19, and he can opt out.
• He has a no-trade clause.

The only way a deal would work would be for Love, who just made the All-Star team. I have a hard time with this deal. It's why the Cavs rejected it. The Knicks are desperate to trade Anthony somewhere.

The Cleveland Indians are 'on a roll' as Tribe qwner Paul Dolan said. They have signed a big free agent, have a star in Francisco Lindor, and the All-Star game is coming to town in 2019.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It snuck up on us.

I'm talking about the Cleveland Indians.

I was thinking about that this weekend, when it was announced the 2019 MLB All-Star Game was coming to Progressive Field.

It also was Tribefest, with many of the team's top players in town this weekend.

And the Indians are the 2016 American League champions.

"We're on a bit of a roll here," said Tribe owner Paul Dolan.

It sort of came out of nowhere, only it didn't.

It seems the Tribe has been building toward this ever since Terry Francona was hired as manager before the 2013 season.

In 2012, the Indians were 68-94. It was the third time in the previous four years the Indians had lost at least 90 games.

Baseball was a sad story on the corner of Carnegie and Huron.

Four years later...

It's hard to believe, but in the last four years, the Indians have won more games than any team in the American League.

Francona has twice been the American League Manager of the Year. Corey Kluber won the 2014 Cy Young Award.

The Indians have been to the playoffs twice and to the World Series in 2016.

The ballpark has been renovated and looks great.

Dolan just made the biggest free agent acquisition in team history -- $60 million with slugger Edwin Encarnacion.

The only significant player to leave the Tribe after the World Series is Rajai Davis, who signed with Oakland.

Francona mentioned how the Indians will miss Davis on the bases, where he led the American League in steals. But when the team had a chance to sign Encarnacion, free agents Mike Napoli and Davis were part of the price to be paid.

So the Indians have added a cleanup hitter who has averaged 39 homers and 110 RBI over the previous five seasons. In 2016 with the Blue Jays, Encarnacion batted .263 (.886 OPS) with 42 HR and 127 RBI. He turned 34 on January 3.

Dolan told the media Friday "There was no better time than now" to spend for Encarnacion.

And for Tribe fans, there is no better time than now to fully engage in the team.

ABOUT FRANCISCO LINDOR

The Tribe's real star is Francisco Lindor.

The 23-year-old All-Star shortstop batted .310 in his first postseason. He won a Gold Glove at shortstop.

They now give a "Platinum Glove" to the American League's best "overall fielder." He won that, too.

His smile could light up the night at Progressive Field even when it's gloomy and rainy. He plays with such joy.

I asked him what he learned in his first postseason.

"I get anxious when I can't control the game," he said.

Lindor explained his nerves were quiet "when I was in the field or batting ... but when I was sitting in the dugout and pulling so hard for my teammates, I'd get anxious."

He added he "kept falling asleep for a week" after the World Series. He was emotionally drained.

He also had this story about Enarnacion.

Lindor was a rookie in 2015. The Tribe was playing the Blue Jays. Encarnacion came over and to say hello.

"You Lindor?" he asked.

Lindor said he was.

"You Lindor's son?" Encarnacion asked.

"I am," he said.

"I played for your father," said Encarnacion.

That was Miguel Lindor, who also was Francisco's first coach.

"It's great that he remembered playing for my dad when he was little," said Lindor.

ABOUT AUSTIN JACKSON

Once upon a time, Austin Jackson was a good center fielder for Detroit.

From 2010-14, he was a .277 hitter (.755 OPS) who averaged 9 HR, 48 RBI and 16 stolen bases while doing a good job on defense.

He was traded to Seattle and then played last season with the White Sox.

Jackson had knee surgery last June. He was batting .254 (.661 OPS) with 0 HR and 18 RBI in 203 plate appearances. He had stolen only two bases. His knee was bothering him for much of the season before he had surgery.

Is he fully recovered? The Indians hope so. Obviously, there are a lot of doubts about Jackson. He signed a $1.5 million contract with the Tribe, and it's a minor league deal. That means it's not guaranteed.

He can opt out at the end of spring training if he sees a better opportunity with another team.

Jackson is a right-handed hitter, and the Indians hope he can replace Rajai Davis. Oakland signed Davis, who played mostly against left-handed pitching.

In the last three years, Jackson was a .275 hitter (.714 OPS) vs. lefties compared to .253 (.654 OPS) vs. righties.

The Indians are piling up the outfielders.

Guaranteed roster spots if healthy are Brandon Guyer, Lonnie Chisenhall, Abraham Almonte, Tyler Naquin and Michael Brantley.

Almonte and Naquin both have minor league options available. Outfield prospects Yandy Diaz and Brad Zimmer will also be in camp.

ABOUT THE TRIBE

1. I listened to Michael Brantley talk about the progress he is making from his shoulder problems. It sounds good. He is ahead of where he was at this point last season. But no one is sure how he'll do this year. As of now, he's healthy and hitting the ball off a tee.

2. Brantley works very hard. From 2012-15, he played in an average of 149 games per season. So he was not a guy to miss games because he was sick or had sore muscles. Brantley plays unless he's really hurt.

3. Ken Rosenthal (Fox Sports) reported the Indians were one of several teams to send scouts to a showcase for lefty Craig Breslow. He's 36 and pitched only 14 innings last season.

4. The Indians would like another lefty in the bullpen. The only one they have is Andrew Miller. But as Francona explained, it has to be a lefty who can actually get left-handed hitters out.

5. The Indians also have been looking at Joe Blanton, the former so-so starter who has found new life as a reliever. Blanton was 7-2 with a 2.48 ERA with the Dodgers last year. I doubt the Indians will snare him because he'll probably command a nice one-year deal.

Follow along as we cover the 2016 American League Champions at Tribe Fest.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We're just weeks away from the start of a new Indians season, which can only mean one thing... 

Tribe Fest is back.

We'll be at the InterContinental Hotel in Cleveland from noon until the festivities end at 7 p.m., documenting all of the Indians action on various social media platforms. 

In addition to posting on our Twitter and Instagram accounts throughout the event, we'll be live on our Facebook page and adding to our Snap story (add us on Snap via username: clevelanddotcom).

Watch a tour of the Tribe Fest at the beginning of the event in this Facebook Live:

Watch a Facebook Live interview with Encarnacion here:

RELATED: Video as Terry Francona sits down to chat at The City Club 

The $60 million (at minimum) investment created a stir among Tribe players, who called or texted Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff to verify the reports. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Dan Otero stepped off of the cruise ship, his phone service returned.

Along with it came waves of reaction from teammates about the Indians' addition of slugger Edwin Encarnacion.

"I was like, 'All right! I don't have to face him anymore!'" Otero said.

Cody Allen called his bullpen mate.

"The first thing he said is, 'Dude. We have Edwin,'" Otero said.

The $60 million (at minimum) investment created a buzz among Tribe players, who called or texted Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff to verify the reports.

Michael Brantley said he had "six or seven" texts from teammates before he saw the news on TV.

Francisco Lindor's father, Miguel, coached Encarnacion when the power hitter was a kid. During Lindor's rookie season, he was walking away from batting practice at Rogers Centre while Encarnacion, then with Toronto, was stretching.

Encarnacion shouted: "Hey, come here! Are you Lindor? Are you Lindor's son?"

Lindor confirmed his identity and relation to his father.

"Your dad coached me," Encarnacion told him, which resonated with Lindor.

"That, to me, means a lot," Lindor said. "A guy who remembers who coached him when he was little, that says a lot. I'm looking forward to spending the next couple of years with him. It's going to be a long, fun ride."

Lindor and Encarnacion have chatted a few times during the off-season.

"He's going to change us a lot," Lindor said. "He impacts the game just by being in the lineup, not even by being at home plate."

The Indians are familiar with Encarnacion's power potential. They stymied him during the American League Championship Series, but that hasn't happened too often. Encarnacion clubbed three home runs in his four playoff games in 2016 prior to clashing with the Tribe.

He belted a career-high 42 homers, tallied a league-high 127 RBI and posted an .886 OPS last season. His 193 homers over the last five seasons are more than any player in baseball except Chris Davis.

"Facing him is not fun," Otero said. "I think he's more than just a power hitter, also. He shoots the ball the other way. He works counts. He doesn't strike out."

Yan Gomes briefly played with Encarnacion while with the Blue Jays. He told his fellow Indians that Encarnacion is one of his favorite past teammates. The two agreed upon an exchange -- no compensation has changed hands yet -- so that Encarnacion could wear Gomes' No. 10. Gomes has switched to No. 7.

The addition of Encarnacion signaled the end to Mike Napoli's tenure with the Tribe. Napoli set career bests with 34 homers and 101 RBI in 2016 and quickly established himself as a primary leader in the clubhouse. When manager Terry Francona received confirmation that Encarnacion was Cleveland-bound, the skipper sent his first text to Napoli.

"It was kind of bittersweet," Francona said. "Sometimes you have to make decisions that tug at your heart a little bit."

But as owner Paul Dolan admitted on Friday, there was no better time to strike on the free-agent market.

"It's exciting to see the front office putting forth that effort and the ownership stepping up," Otero said. "Being able to take on that contract shows they have belief in us that we can make another run at it."

Grant-application deadline is coming up for the Larry Doby Youth Fund, which Indians manager Terry Francona says is his proudest moment with the team. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Groups have until Feb. 14 to apply for money through the Larry Doby Youth Fund, which was created by the Cleveland Indians fewer than four months ago and which quickly topped $1 million in donations.

Ask manager Terry Francona what he's most proud of during his career, and you might be surprised what you won't hear: It's not making the World Series last year or leading Boston to its first World Series title in 86 years, in 2004. It's not the four winning campaigns the Tribe has posted since he's been manager.

It's how fast the entire Indians organization rallied around the fund in October. He brought the idea to the players and contacted Indians Chairman and CEO Paul Dolan, and as fast as Corey Kluber can strike out a side, the organization was all in. Within "three or four days," said the team's communications director, Curtis Danburg, the coffers filled. Every player donated, all because of Francona's passion for the fund.

The Cleveland Foundation administers the fund, which supports resources for non-profit community groups to target youth-violence prevention programs.

"I was thinking about this for a while," Francona said during the team's annual Tribe Fest at the InterContinental Hotel in Cleveland on Saturday. "Talking to some policemen and watching some of the things happen in our country, and it was starting to bother me. I started talking to some of our players, and it kind of snowballed in a hurry. One of the reasons it did was the team we have. I don't think we could have ever accomplished this with any other team. Never in my wildest dreams did I envision every person from players to trainers to clubhouse guys to front office to ownership, 100 percent involved."

Francona remains proud of the fund's mission.

"It was probably one of my - if not my proudest - moment in my major-league life. You take a cross-section of guys from all over the world and come together to do something for other people, in this case, Cleveland youth.

"It's not fair sometimes," he said. "How can you expect a young person to grow up and be a law-abiding, valuable citizen when they don't have a chance as a youth? This isn't the end-all, be-all, but it's a start. And maybe we can help some kids."

Not every manager in baseball is as vested in his community as Francona, whom Dolan credits for the effort.

"He drove it," he said. "It was his idea. He made it happen."

Foundation officials will start reviewing applications after the deadline, and the Indians will announce the recipients early in the season.

Seventy years ago, Doby became the first African-American player in the American League, almost three months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the Majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Francona credits Dolan for coming up with the name.

"It seemed so perfect," Francona said about the homage to Doby. "To put his name on it is really fitting."

The Indians unveiled a statue of Doby outside Progressive Field's center field gates in July 2015.

More info

Go to clevelandfoundation.org/larrydobyyouthfund. Nonprofit groups interested in applying should contact Cleveland Foundation Program Officer Stephen Caviness at scaviness@clevefdn.org.

James Robinson was arrested for marijuana possession during his Ohio State official visit.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four-star wide receiver James Robinson of Lakeland, Fla., officially visited Ohio State last weekend, but quickly vanished from the Buckeyes recruiting board. 

Now it's clear why. 

According to court records, Robinson was cited for marijuana possession during his official visit in Columbus. The report indicated Robinson was found with marijuana at an off-campus apartment. 

Rated the No. 14 wide receiver in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Robinson became an Ohio State target after the Buckeyes lost a commitment from five-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman. 

Robinson is expected to make his college decision on Wednesday -- National Signing Day -- and is choosing between Clemson, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oregon. The Buckeyes won't be the pick. 

Ohio State is still looking for another receiver to go along with four-stars Trevon Grimes and Jaylen Harris. Urban Meyer is actively recruiting three-stars Elijah Gardiner of Kemp, Texas and Oliver Martin of Iowa City (Iowa) West Senior. 

January has been anything but "full speed ahead" for the Cavs in LeBron James' second tour in Cleveland. That should help fans keep his recent complaints about the roster in perspective. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - By January standards, LeBron James pressing for an organizational correction to set new coordinates for chasing another title is nothing seismic.

It's almost habit.

David Blatt got fired in January. (I know, LeBron had nothing to do with it, right?)

Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith came to town in January, passing Dion Waiters on their way.

Two NBA Finals, one NBA championship, followed those moves.

If January is the cruelest month in Cavs basketball, things could be a lot worse. Cruelty in April or May can be lethal.

James has come to embrace - some would say even "create" on occasion -- bumps in the road as he calls it. You can't argue with his results since he returned home. As is often the case with the Drama King, he's not wrong in his assessments (he did win in Miami, remember). He just picks peculiar ways to make his point.

What you can't say about him is what Charles Barkley said.

"They have the highest payroll in NBA history," Barkley told his "Inside The NBA" audience. "He wanted J.R. Smith last summer, they paid him. He wanted (Iman) Shumpert last summer.

"They brought in Kyle Korver. "He's the best player in the world. Does he want all of the good players? He don't wanna compete?"

Calling James public comments "inappropriate?" Fine. True enough.

Questioning whether James wants to compete was a NBA talking point following the move to Miami. That was a long time ago. After he became the No. 1 reason why the Heat won twice, that angle was rendered ridiculous.

Or should've been. A couple of things have happened since then. You might remember James' performance in the 2015 NBA Finals, followed by the Cavs' rally from 3-1 to win a title last season?

Charles once claimed he was misquoted in his own biography. It would be even harder to make a similar claim on James wanting "all the good players" since he was on camera, but maybe he should try.

There's time for the Cavs to improve the roster. James, who unnecessarily tweaked his owner and GM, can bring a better brand of leadership over the season's final few months.

The organization has always felt pressure to make the most of James second tour of duty in Cleveland. How could it not? One year it was two major deals. The next they fired a coach who was 30-11 at the time.

James saying the Cavs can't be satisfied? It's true. It's also part of a January tradition.

It was a fun, sold-out Tribe Fest event at the InterContinental Hotel and you can check out all of the action in our Snap story video. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was a fun-filled day at Tribe Fest 2017, which only makes us yearn for the start of spring even more. 

If you weren't able to attend Saturday's event at the InterContinental Hotel, you can catch up on everything you missed in the video above.

We caught up with new Indians slugger Edwin Encarnacion, caught a Tribe alumni roundtable and visited the various autograph sessions featuring current players. 

To follow our Snap account, add username clevelanddotcom. 

RELATED: Follow along with Tribe Fest 2017 

Indians owner Paul Dolan said the season ticket base for 2017 has increase from 8,500 to an estimated 11,000. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio --- Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or Tweet him at @hoynsie.

Hey, Hoynsie: Has the front office indicated if 2017 will be the year for a big attendance boom at Progressive Field? - Nick Walsh, Cleveland.

Hey, Nick: I think that will depend on the fans rather than the front office. I'm sure the Indians organization is working toward that goal after winning the pennant and reaching Game 7 of the World Series, but here's the catch -- they sell the tickets and the fans buy them.

Owner Paul Dolan said Friday after MLB awarded the Indians the 2019 All-Star Game that season ticket sales have increased from about 8,500 last year to an estimated 11,000 this year. So that's a start.

Hey, Hoynsie: I'm happy to see that the Indians are honoring Frank Robinson this season with a statue. For many years I was puzzled by the fact that the franchise did not acknowledge Robinson or its role in hiring the first black manager in the big leagues. The Indians should be proud of this distinction as they rightfully are about signing Larry Doby, the first black player to appear in the American League. Do you know if Robinson plans to attend the unveiling? - Ken Krizner, Wickliffe.

Hey, Ken: I never got the impression that the Indians downplayed the importance of hiring Robinson as the game's first black manager. They named him to their Hall of Fame last year and I think he's always been respected by the organization. The Indians are expecting Robinson to attend the unveiling on May 27.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you believe the Indians will move if the attendance problems continue, particularly with the lease ending in 2023 and Progressive Field being 30 years old by then? I noticed from looking at old records that even when they were contenders in the mid-1950s attendance was low. Only in the late 1940s, early 1950s and 1990s was attendance good. - Richard Lyman, Caldwell, Idaho.

Hey, Richard: Attendance is always going to be a concern. But with the Indians reaching Game 7 of the World Series last year, owner Paul Dolan taking on a limited partner in John Sherman, Progressive Field in its third year of renovations and MLB awarding the Indians the 2019 All-Star Game, it's hard to imagine the team being on a more solid footing in Cleveland.

Hey, Hoynsie: What are Edwin Encarnacion's stats at Progressive Field? - Barry Elliot.

Hey, Barry: Encarnacion is a .275 (25-for-91) career hitter with two homers and 11 RBI in 22 games.

Hey, Hoynsie: I refuse to accept the results of the World Series. When spring training starts, I'll be protesting, picketing and forming support groups. Contact me at #notmyworldseries. - AZCardman, Gilbert, Ariz.

Hey, AZCarman: In the name of Keith Olbermann, "resist."

Hey, Hoynsie: Assuming Cleveland's goal is a world championship, having half of its power at DH (Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana) seems to a significant disadvantage. I really think they need Mike Napoli back so they can play Santana in left field. It would also give them protection if Michael Brantley isn't at 100 percent. - Gordon Weller, Evansville, Ind.

Hey, Gordon: Having half their power at DH and first base (Mike Napoli and Santana) didn't seem to hurt the Indians last year. As for Santana in left field, no disrespect intended, I'd rather see him at first base.

Hey, Hoynsie: Does Abraham Almonte have a minor league option left? Just thinking what if Michael Brantley is healthy and Austin Jackson outplays Almonte and ends up platooning in center field with Tyler Naquin? - Jack Bacevice.

Hey, Jack: In the Indians' postseason guide for 2016, Almonte is listed as having one minor-league option left.

The nation's leading scorer, Marcus Keene, scored 11 of his 41 points in overtime as Central Michigan topped Kent State on the road, 105-98.

KENT, Ohio -- The nation's leading scorer, Marcus Keene, scored 41 points as Central Michigan defeated Kent State, 105-98, in overtime Saturday afternoon in the M.A.C. Center.

Keene was right at his average at the end of regulation with 30 points, and the score tied at 83-83. But he scored 11 of the Chippewas' first 14 points in OT to build their biggest lead of the game, 94-84, as CMU held on for the win.

Kent's demise was playing the Chippewas' game, hoisting 3-pointers. CMU finished making 14-of-36, and 4-of-4 in overtime, while Kent was 8-of-36, even while making 3-of-7 in overtime.

Keene finished 13-of-26 shooting, including 4-of-11 on 3-pointers, three of which  came in overtime.

Keene's backcourt mate, Braylon Rayson, had 26 for CMU, with guard Josh Kozinski adding 18. Jimmy Hall had 28 points for Kent with 12 rebounds, with Deon Edwin adding 23. Freshman Mitch Peterson had a career high 19 points.

The first half: Kent State had its issues with the Chippewas early on, taking too many 3-pointers and making too few. But midway through the half, the Flashes put together a 12-2 run to take a 30-25 lead. That would hold up at halftime with Kent on top, 41-36.

To that point, the Flashes had held the Chippewas' dynamic backcourt somewhat in check with a combined 25 points. CMU was 4-for-19 on 3-pointers in the first half (21.1 percent) while Kent State was 3-for-13 (23.1 percent).

Game stats

By the numbers: Kent State continues to be one of the better rebounding teams in the league, averaging 37.0 per game and 4.4 better than the opposition. However, early in the season Kent was really dominant on the offensive glass. In league play, the Flashes are fifth in the league.

Central Michigan's numbers speak to their reputation as a 3-point shooting team. The Chippewas entered the KSU game with 235 attempts (38 per game) which is nearly 60 more attempts than No. 2 Akron. But CMU is fourth in the league in 3-point shooting (37.4) percentage behind No. 3 Akron (39.3 percent). No. 1 in the league, with the second fewest attempts (114), is Western Michigan at 42.1 percent.

Central Michigan has the top two scorers in league play in the backcourt of Marcus Keene (28.0 ppg) and Braylon Rayson (23.9 ppg). Both are also among the top assist leaders in MAC play. Keene is tied for third, averaging 5.0 assists per game, while Rayson is ninth, averaging 3.7 assists per game.

Every Cleveland Indians TribeFest includes a colorful cast of characters in the crowd.

The Ohio State football program will sign offensive guard Wyatt Davis on Feb. 1 as part of its recruiting class for National Singing Day 2017.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State football program will sign offensive guard Wyatt Davis on Feb. 1 as part of its recruiting class for National Singing Day 2017. Here is an in-depth look at this member of the Buckeyes' recruiting class. 

Wyatt Davis

School: Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco

Position: Offensive guard 

Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 310 pounds

247Sports Rating: Davis is rated the No. 1 offensive guard and the No. 24 overall player in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings.

Other schools: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Oregon, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, UCLA, Washington and others. Basically everyone. 

What's his deal? For Ohio State to land a five-star prospect from California, Urban Meyer usually has to go all-in early in the kid's career and stay study for a few years. That's not what happened with Davis. The Buckeyes didn't get heavily involved until May, and, at the time, it seemed as if Alabama was in the driver's seat to land the offensive lineman. That's not a good combo. 

But Ohio State leaned on Davis' friendship with defensive tackle commit Haskell Garrett of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman, got Davis to visit and soon after he was committed. 

There were rumors that Davis was considering flipping out of Ohio State's class late in the process after Ed Warinner moved on to be the line coach at Minnesota, but Davis denied those rumors this week. 

How he fits into Ohio State's plans: Michael Jordan did it, so why not Davis? OK -- let's calm down for a second. Every season we look at the highest-rated players in the class and trick ourselves into believing they could be a freshman starter. Yes, Jordan did it this past season, but that was because something was wrong. That's not Meyer's plan. 

But there are some spots open on the line and Davis and five-star Josh Myers are both 2017 commits that are as advanced as any linemen the Buckeyes have brought in. Both will be in the mix for the line of the future. 

Projections for 2017: You'll never see us project an offensive lineman to start as a freshman. If it happens, it happens. But what we will project is that Davis will at least play as a freshman, kind of the way Isaiah Prince did two years ago. No redshirt for him.

Player comparison: That 6-foot-6 frame is reminiscent of Andrew Norwell, a former four-star offensive tackle from Cincinnati who signed with the Buckeyes as part of their 2010 recruiting class. Norwell came in as a tackle, but now he's a guard in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. Davis is big and athletic enough to play on all spots on the line, but his size and speed at guard screams future NFLer. 

Highlights: 

What we've written about Wyatt Davis: 

* Wyatt Davis, a five-star OG and Ohio State commit, addresses flip rumors: 'I'm 100 percent Buckeye'

Incorporating Kyle Korver into the flow of things on the Cavs has been more difficult than either the player or team anticipated, but it's coming along. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Most NBA teams run a play called "floppy," a basic but effective action designed to run shooters around multiple screens and create confusion for the defense.

It's especially effective for players who can catch and shoot on the run; players like Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton are perhaps two of the three most successful players running floppy over the past 15 years.

Until about three weeks ago, the Cavs didn't run it. Now they do, because now they have one of the best in league history at running floppy. His name is Kyle Korver.

And that's where the discussion starts, where one should begin when trying to explain why Korver -- one of the all-time great 3-point shooters -- hasn't quite clicked yet with two of the NBA's great creators in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

"I thought it would be an adjustment," Korver said Friday night, after scoring 14 points in the Cavs' 124-116 win over Brooklyn. Korver, 35, in his 14th season, went over 10,000 career points in the game.

"It depends on what of role I guess you want me to play," he said. "I think part of the reason they wanted me to come was to try to create some energy and some movement, help create some offense, take some of the pressure off of LeBron and Kyrie to make all the plays. But that kind of changes everybody's game a little bit.

"If you just want to stick me in the corner, that's an easy way to adjust. But if you want to try to incorporate a little bit more movement -- I think it's a little different than what they've run here than kind of in the past."

The Cavs host Oklahoma City Sunday (3:30 p.m., ABC) in what will be Korver's 10th game with Cleveland. In the first nine, he's averaging 8.8 points on 43.3 percent shooting overall, with an average 2.2 made 3s per game on 43.3 percent shooting from deep.

When Cleveland traded Mike Dunleavy, Mo Williams, a 2019 first-round pick and some cash to the Hawks to acquire Korver on Jan. 7, the Cavs were slapping fives over how many open 3s the 8th-best 3-point shooter in league history was going to take, and how difficult it would be to guard a team that already had James, Irving, and Kevin Love (three All-Stars), with Channing Frye coming off the bench as a sharpshooter and J.R. Smith eventually getting healthy.

Those open 3s have come, but they haven't fallen with quite the regularity the Cavs had hoped. Moreover, the team is 3-6 with Korver, and in the first three losses they failed to score more than 92 points.

"Everyone wants instant oatmeal," James said. "You got to cook it, got to let it simmer and then figure it out from there."

The offense has improved over the last five games. The Cavs have scored at least 112 points in each contest, and their 2-3 record speaks in part to problems on defense that we'll get to shortly.

Korver's production has fluctuated. After two duds in his first two games with the Cavs, he scored 18 points against Sacramento back on Jan. 13. And then in his sixth and seventh games with Cleveland -- losses to the Spurs and the Pelicans -- he attempted three and four shots, respectively.

Korver has taken what the NBA considers to be 24 "wide open" shots out of 67 total. He's made 11 for a .458 shooting percentage. He's taking a higher percentage of those kinds of shots (a defender is at least six feet away) and missing more than his average.

"I have gotten more kickouts, I would say, like, corner 3s, then I've gotten in a really long time," Korver said. "I've had, probably a couple every game, like a corner 3, where it's a catch-and-shoot corner 3. I haven't had those in a really long time. It's kind of an adjustment for me to get ready to shoot that shot again."

So the adjustment is not just on the Cavs. Korver needs to acclimate himself not only to an offense where, by its nature, he's going to be standing in the corner catching a pass from James or Irving because the entire defense has collapsed on them trying to stop a drive. (That is, essentially, why the Cavs never ran floppy before Korver's arrival).

Korver is also trying to learn a new defense, as Cleveland guards the pick-and-roll differently and uses a new terminology from what he had grown accustomed to with the Hawks.

Before Friday's game against the Nets, at morning shootaround, coach Tyronn Lue assembled a number of players on a far court for a defensive walk through. The primary purpose was to take Korver through defensive rotations and get him used to how the Cavs guard certain actions.

Korver calls the defense his "biggest adjustment," while Lue admits it's been trickier than he thought to incorporate Korver into his schemes.

"But it's my job to work on it and figure it out, so that's what I've been doing," Lue said. "The coaching staff been working on it also, so, we'll figure it out."

Lue said he would like to play Korver 27 minutes per game (right now, he's at 24.9). Lue needs to consider defensive schemes, how to balance using Korver with Iman Shumpert, who's been starting at shooting guard and performing admirably, and to make sure Korver is on the court with not only James but Tristan Thompson, so opponents can't use a smaller lineup to neutralize Korver on the perimeter.

In the meantime, the Cavs are going to continue to run (and, when they aren't playing, practice) the floppy and other offensive sets with movement, because that's what Korver does best. He sprints around screens, darts to a spot and shoots almost as soon as he catches it. The Cavs haven't played that way for nearly 21/2 seasons. Now they have a player who forces them to.

"You acquire someone that specializes in certain things, it makes no sense not to continue to run it for him," James said. "You can't just have him sit in the corner."

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2016 American League Championship celebration continued for the Cleveland Indians and their fans as the Tribe held their fifth annual Tribe Fest at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Cleveland Clinic Campus. Fans interacted and received autographs with current players and team alumni. The sold-out event was highlighted with the first appearance with fans of newly...

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2016 American League Championship celebration continued for the Cleveland Indians and their fans as the Tribe held their fifth annual Tribe Fest at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Cleveland Clinic Campus.

Fans interacted and received autographs with current players and team alumni.

The sold-out event was highlighted with the first appearance with fans of newly acquired free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion and the ever-popular Francisco Lindor.

Other players who appeared included: Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Santana, Josh Tomlin, Andrew Miller, Jose Ramirez, Trevor Bauer, Cody Allen.

Watch the above video to see highlights from the event with the champions.  

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