Tyronn Lue previews Cavaliers vs. Thunder (video) Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers (31-14) look to win their second consecutive game as they go up against the Oklahoma City Thunder (28-19) for the first time this season today at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavs, who are still searching for their defensive identity, will be challenged by Thunders guard Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook leads the league with 23 triples-doubles this season, averaging 31 points, 10.6 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game.

The Thunder lost Enes Kanter indefinitely this week when he broke his forearm hitting a chair on the bench.  He is averaging 14.4 point.

Head coach Tyronn Lue discusses the matchup in the video above during his pregame news conference at The Q. 

Stay tuned for postgame reaction from the locker room. 

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

We asked Cleveland Indians fans to play word association at TribeFest 2017. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians fans are fired up for the 2017 season, and those we spoke to at TribeFest on Saturday had plenty to say about the team's postseason run and their hopes for this summer.

We tracked down several fans and asked them to give us the first thing that popped into their minds when prompted with words such as "drones" or "Progressive Field" or "Terry Francona."

Watch the video above and then tell us what you think 2017 has in store for the Cleveland Indians. Leave your word association responses in the comments section below.

Kyrie Irving put on a flashy display to beat Russell Westbrook off the dribble.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving put on a flurry of offensive moves in beating Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook for an and-1 basket Sunday late in the Cleveland Cavaliers' matchup against the Thunder.

Irving put a jab step move on Westbrook and went around the Thunder's All-Star guard, drawing a foul as he put the ball in the basket with 3:20 left in the first half.

"He just put Westbrook in the blender," said ABC analyst Mark Jones of Irving's move.

Irving has 11 points and five assists in 17 first half minutes.

Watch Kyrie work.#NBAonABC #NBARapidReplay pic.twitter.com/okhNqZvilU

-- NBA (@NBA) January 29, 2017

Kevin Love (lower back spasms) will not return for the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team announced.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Love (lower back spasms) will not return for the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team announced.

Love scored one point but grabbed eight rebounds in 12 minutes. He's been having back trouble lately. He sat out the second half of a loss to Golden State on Jan. 16, and against Phoenix on Jan. 19, with lower back soreness.

The Cavs led the Thunder 58-45 at halftime.

Love, an All-Star, is the only player in the East averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, though his scoring average can't take many more of these kinds of games.

He scored three points before exiting against the Warriors.

Kyrie Irving scored 29 points, and the Cavs overcame Russell Westbrook's triple-double in a 107-91 victory. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are the storm clouds clearing for the Cavs?

They're winning again, beating a sound Oklahoma City Thunder team 107-91 Sunday at The Q for their second straight victory after having lost three in a row and six of eight.

But Kevin Love hurt his back, again. And couldn't return for the second half, again.

So, maybe check back later for a weather update.

Kyrie Irving was sensational with 29 points and 10 assists, arguably getting the better of his West All-Star counterpart Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook, who's trying to become the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double for an entire season, finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Yes, he recorded his league-leading 24th triple-double this season and first ever against the Cavs, but he shot 7-of-26 from the field with four turnovers.

Irving, who danced his way to nifty layups in a nine-point third quarter that had LeBron James dancing on the sidelines, was 12-of-22 with two giveaways.

James, yes, we almost forgot about him. He was the one who brought all the rain last week, what with his open feud with the front office over roster management and questioning the organization's commitment to winning.

More wins like this will help those clouds dissipate, too.

James only chipped in 25 points with 14 rebounds and eight assists, on 9-of-18 shooting. He wasn't that far off from his sixth triple-double this season.

James went over 20,000 points scored as a Cavalier and is the first player in franchise history to do so. He's also the fourth active player with 20,000 points for a single team, according to ESPN's stats shop.

Tristan Thompson scored a season-high 19 points to go with 12 boards for the Cavs. Iman Shumpert added 16 points and five 3-pointers.

This was the Thunder's first game without Enes Kanter, who broke his forearm Thursday slamming it on a chair in a win over Dallas. Victor Oladipo scored 17 points.

The Cavs were much better in transition defense, limiting Oklahoma City to just 11 fast-break points and six 3-pointers. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said they needed to pay extra attention to that particular facet, not only limiting layups but also 3-pointers off of the break.

Back to Love. This time the Cavs called Love's lower back issue "spasms;" when it happened Jan. 16 against the Warriors it was "soreness." Love finished with one point and eight rebounds in 12 minutes. James Jones started the second half in his place.

After the game, Lue said Love would not travel with the team to Dallas and would instead undergo testing on his ailing back. Lue said James and Irving would play.

The Cavs closed the first half on a 15-2 run over the final 2:54 to take a 58-45 into halftime. Shumpert ticked off eight points in the run. The half was nearly over when Thompson rejected a Westbrook layup attempt, to the delight of the crowd.

We say "nearly over" because, well, DeAndre Liggins goofed. He corralled the ball off Thompson's block, and took about, oh, 20,000 steps before attempting a three-quarters-court shot. The refs called Liggins for a travel -- and James and Thompson gave him a hard time for his 5-yard gain when the replay showed on the giant scoreboard above.

NEXT: Cleveland plays again Monday, in Dallas against the Mavericks at 8:30 p.m.

Kevin Love is staying behind while the Cavs head to Dallas Monday to get tests done on his aching back. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Love is staying behind while the Cavs head to Dallas Monday to get tests done on his aching back.

Love, who was held out of the second half of a game for the second time this month because of a lower back issue in Cleveland's 107-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, well undergo an MRI, according to coach Tyronn Lue.

The Cavs play the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 Monday night. Lue said LeBron James and Kyrie Irving would play in the game.

Love scored one point but grabbed eight rebounds in 12 minutes the Thunder. Lue said Love's back was bothering him before the game.

"When he got out there he felt something and he tried to give it a go again and he just couldn't go," Lue said.

On Jan. 16, Love was held out of the second half of a loss to Golden State because of lower back soreness. He missed the next game Jan. 19. Love at the time insisted he didn't have a back problem, so to speak.

Now, he can't be so sure.

"It's nothing to play with," said James, who used to suffer from back pain but solved them with stretching and strengthening his core. "It's a terrible feeling when your back is hurt. It just limits you more than anything. I know it's very frustrating for him because he puts in a lot of work. He's in the weight room all the time and he's doing his thing to keep his body in shape, then this is happening to him so it's very frustrating. Hopefully things get better for him soon."

Love was selected as an All-Star reserve last week. His spot in what would be his fourth All-Star Game -- next month in New Orleans -- could also be in jeopardy if Cavs' doctors find anything with the pictures they take Monday.

The Cavs have an open roster spot, and are already thin in the front court. Chris Andersen is out for the year with a torn right ACL, which leaves Channing Frye as Cleveland's only reserve big man.

"This has been our mantra since we all came together -- next man up," said Cavs center Tristan Thompson. "We talk about it every year. Next man up. We hope Kevin gets well, takes care of his body, because you know we're going to need him for the long haul."

General manager David Griffin was absent from his seat at The Q for most of the second half. Without Love, the Cavs have just 12 available players, because of that open spot and Andersen's injury.

Wayne Simmonds scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:58 to play, and fill-in coach Gretzky led the Metropolitan Division to a 4-3 victory over the Pacific Division on Sunday in the final match of the revamped NHL All-Star Game.

LOS ANGELES -- Wayne Simmonds scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:58 to play, and fill-in coach Wayne Gretzky led the Metropolitan Division to a 4-3 victory over the Pacific Division on Sunday in the final match of the revamped NHL All-Star Game.

Columbus' Cam Atkinson scored the tying goal for the Metropolitans in the four-team, 3-on-3 divisional tournament format introduced to the midseason classic last season. Washington goalie Braden Holtby then made several big saves to secure the win for his 11-man team, which will split a $1 million prize.

Simmonds, the Flyers' first-time All-Star, was named the game's MVP after he put the Metropolitans ahead. The goal completed a hat trick for the former Kings forward, who is still well-liked in Los Angeles after he was traded to Philadelphia in 2011.

Simmonds and Atkinson, a late addition to the team, scored three goals apiece.

But the game was secondary when the NHL's best gathered on a 72-degree day in Hollywood. A sellout crowd at Staples Center cheered the first All-Star Game for Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and a host of young talent.

It was also just the second All-Star appearance by Sidney Crosby, who hadn't been healthy for the game since 2007. Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were played together by Gretzky, who stepped in to coach the Metropolitan team when Columbus' John Tortorella couldn't attend the weekend festivities due to an ailing dog.

The Great One even played a significant role in the outcome: Gretzky challenged an apparent goal by the Pacific in the final minutes and got it successfully taken off the board when McDavid was ruled offside.

The All-Stars got an additional thrill before the game when roughly half of the 100 greatest players in NHL history stood in a line on the ice and shook hands with the current players during introductions. The greats then dropped a ceremonial first puck for each of the 44 All-Stars.

The Pacific beat the Blackhawk-dominated Central Division team 10-3 in the first 20-minute semifinal, and the Metropolitan team beat the Atlantic 10-6 in the second.

The Pacific won last year in Nashville in the first edition of the open-ice format designed to inject excitement and goal-scoring a sometimes staid exercise. The formula worked again at Staples Center, but the two finalists tightened up their defense with real money on the line in the final minutes.

Crosby and Ovechkin, the long-standing rivals with parallel careers in Pittsburgh and Washington, were teammates on the Metropolitan team for the first time in a decade since they teamed up in the 2007 All-Star Game.

McDavid scored one of the afternoon's best goals early in the third when he slipped behind the Metropolitan defense, got a pinpoint long pass from Anaheim's Ryan Kesler and beat Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky's poke check with a nimble stop and a push shot while falling to his knees.

While Crosby and Ovechkin are arguably hockey's two biggest stars, their supporting cast got the job done. The Metropolitans scored three goals in 19 seconds during their semifinal, including two goals five seconds apart by Seth Jones and Taylor Hall.

The Atlantic Division team won Saturday's Skills Competition and got to choose its opponent for Sunday, but choosing the Metropolitan didn't work so well. Even pulling goalie Tuukka Rask with 2:55 to play and a three-goal deficit only led to an empty-netter by Atkinson, the last All-Star picked after Evgeni Malkin dropped out.

Trout announced on Twitter on Sunday that he'll play for Luke Fickell at Cincinnati.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State offensive linemen Kyle Trout announced on Sunday evening his intention to transfer to Cincinnati to play for former Buckeyes assistant Luke Fickell.

Trout announced his transfer on his public Twitter account.

Today after meeting the coaching staff, I have decided to make the University of Cincinnati my home for the next two years! #CinCityPride pic.twitter.com/Haqtes5M63

-- Kyle Trout (@Trout75) January 30, 2017

His father, Kevin Trout, also said on Twitter that Kyle is set to graduate from Ohio State this spring, which would make immediately eligible to play for Fickell and the Bearcats in 2017. Trout has two years of eligibility remaining after joining the Buckeyes in the 2014 recruiting class.

So proud of my son @Trout75 for achieving his dream play for the buckeyes, got a national championship and graduates after this semester

-- Kevin Trout (@Kevin_Trout) January 30, 2017

Cleveland.com reported earlier this month that Trout was expected to transfer, with Cincinnati as a likely landing spot.

Trout was a four-star prospect in the 2014 recruiting class, ranked the No. 19 offensive tackle in the country. The Lancaster, Ohio, native was one of five offensive linemen to sign with the Buckeyes that year.

Trout is the second former Buckeye to join Fickell in Cincinnati. Former Ohio State receiver Torrance Gibson announced earlier this month that he'll transfer with the intention of playing quarterback for the Bearcats. It's possible that Gibson would be eligible in 2017 as well.

* RELATED: Updated Ohio State football scholarship chart

Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert provided the kind of versatility LeBron James is looking for in the Cavs' 107-91 win over Oklahoma City. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When LeBron James went off last week about the Cavs' roster, his words weren't really meant for the players already on it.

James wants a "playmaker," by which he means someone capable of doing multiple things at a reasonably high level so that he and Kyrie Irving don't have to create every opportunity on offense.

This unnamed, multitalented player is supposed to come via trade or free agency, thanks to general manager David Griffin's dirty work and owner Dan Gilbert's money.

But in the meantime, the contributions from Iman Shumpert and Tristan Thompson in the Cavs' 107-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday will work.

Yes, Irving led all scorers with 29 points and piled up 10 assists, and, sure, James finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists.

But Thompson and Shumpert were sensational.

Thompson scored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, running (for the second consecutive game) a high number of pick-and-rolls with Irving and finishing the play. He pulled down 12 rebounds, OK, but he also registered four blocks and four steals. No Cav had done that in a game since Darius Miles in November of 2002.

"He's the one rim protector that we have and we need him to continue to do that," said James, not so subtly continuing his drum beat for another big man. "Every aspect of his game has grown."

Shumpert scored 16 points, which tied a season high, and knocked down five 3s. Yes, those shots were largely of the catch-and-shoot variety. But Shumpert was quite busy Sunday.

For it was his primary job to lock up with Mr. Triple Double Russell Westbrook. And though Westbrook notched triple-double No. 24 this season with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, he shot just 7-of-26. Shumpert bothered him all over the court.

"That's Shump knowing his game plan and knowing what he wants to do and knowing what to do exactly to make Russell uncomfortable," Thompson said of Shumpert. "So you know you've got to give Shump a lot of credit tonight for taking the challenge and not just guarding him but making shots -- doing it on both ends."

The thing is, Shumpert and Thompson were a tandem in slowing Westbrook. Shumpert guarding Westbrook in the backcourt, but it was Thompson who picked him up off the pick-and-roll. Thompson also hung in there when Westbrook approached the rim, and twice blocked his shot -- including one swat just before halftime that drew thunderous applause at The Q.

"Tristan did an unbelievable job tonight," Shumpert countered. "It's amazing for me because there were times today where maybe I cut off Russ' first move or second move, but like I said, guys in this league are so good he goes to the third move and gets by me or little hesitation and gets by me, and then after that he has to be able to go up and finish with our big. Tristan did a great job today of changing shots, blocking shots, deflecting passes that guys were trying to make while under the basket. I mean, he did an amazing job today."

Westbrook is trying to become the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double for an entire season. Before the game, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he thought Westbrook was the best player in the NBA in the open court.

True or not, he figured to be a nightmare matchup for the Cavs (32-14), who have struggled mightily over their previous nine games (including six losses) to get back on defense.

"It's definitely something to build on," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. "When you beat a good team like this and hold them to 37 percent shooting from the field and they have a dynamic player in Westbrook. He's a 1-on-1 fastbreak and we did a good job of getting back, trying to load to him and making it tough.

Here's what fans wanted to know after the Cavs' 107-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here's what fans wanted to know after the Cavs' 107-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday:

• Might the Cavs use their one open roster spot to sign someone from the D-League to a 10-day contract?
• Is Kevin Love's durability a concern and will it affect the Cavs' thinking as the Feb. 23 trade deadline nears?
• Could Iman Shumpert remain a starter once J.R. Smith returns from right-thumb surgery?

Also see:

Storm clouds, or losses, may be lifting for Cavs.

LeBron gets two playmakers, in house

Kevin Love's back hurts.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers' hellish week that led to internal strife, a team meeting and questions about Cleveland's title chances, the Cavs have notched back-to-back wins, with the latest being a 107-91 runaway against the 28-win Thunder. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the second straight game, the music blared from LeBron James' locker.

The song choice on Sunday: New Edition's "Can you stand the rain?"

James said after the game the song choice wasn't planned. He was in that particular groove because of a three-part series about the group that has been running on BET over the last few days.

Still, he couldn't have chosen a more fitting ballad, which focuses on staying together if things ever get stormy.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers' hellish week that led to internal strife, a team meeting and questions about their title chances, the Cavs have weathered the storm and notched back-to-back wins, the latest being a 107-91 runaway against the 28-win Thunder.

Here are five observations:

Something to build on - After the game, James didn't want to get into what the victory against Oklahoma City meant. After all, it's only January. And signature wins this time of year aren't real -- unless, maybe, the Cavs' opponent is Golden State or San Antonio.

Instead, James focused on the positives within the game, including the Cavs' defensive effort.

"Early on, we couldn't make many shots, but we were still defending," James said. "If we do that, we'll give ourselves a good chance to win every game."

Earlier this week, general manager David Griffin seemed perplexed about the Cavs losing their defensive identity.

On Sunday, it returned, as Cleveland held the Thunder to their second-lowest point total in January. It's just the second opponent the Cavs have held below the 100-point mark this month.

But Lue believes the turnaround is on the horizon, using practices and extra time following shootarounds to work on defensive principles.

"It's definitely something to build on," Lue said. "When you beat a good team like this and holding them to 37 percent shooting from the field, it's just something we can look at and continue to build on defensively. Hopefully this can be a game that turns us around defensively."

It started with Iman Shumpert's defense against Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook scored just 20 points, failing to crack that benchmark for just the sixth time this season. His shooting percentage, finishing 27.9 percent from the field, is his second worst, only struggling more against Golden State in early November.

"Honestly, guarding Russell Westbrook and him being probably most fierce competitor I've ever had to go against, he's one of those guys that whether he's playing good or bad he's coming full speed," Shumpert said. "You have to be locked and loaded and ready to go."

Taking the challenge - Lue spoke before the game about needing a team effort, using multiple defenders to slow Westbrook down.

So while Shumpert was the primary defender, Tristan Thompson was just as important.

Near the end of the first half, with the Cavs in the midst of a 15-2 run, the Cavs' lone rim protector stymied a Westbrook run-out. The Oklahoma City blur had already raced past three defenders, but Thompson, the fourth, was waiting at the rim, blocking Westbrook's layup attempt, one of Thompson's four swats.

"It's about time," Kyrie Irving said of Thompson's rim protection. "It's about time and he knows it too. Really being our anchor on the backside of the defense. When he's doing that as well as rebounding and contesting shots, he's amazing. He knows what he means on this team and he needs to play at a high level, especially in that center role, to be the anchor for our defense."

Irving's right. Thompson does know it. 

The 6-foot-9 center said as much the other day at practice, proclaiming that he needed to be more forceful at the rim. He even took responsibility for the Cavs' slippage defensively.

Thompson has at least one rejection in eight straight games. 

Don't forget - Averaging 7.2 points per game, offense isn't Thompson's strong suit, but he provided an enormous boost, tallying 19 points, which is the most he has scored in a game since Jan. 25, 2016.

Thompson made a 15-foot jumper, his second made shot all season from that distance or further. He even made all five of his free throws, the first time all year he's made that many in a game.

But most of his damage came in the 1-5 pick-and-roll with Irving.

"He was just being a great decision maker, being in the right spots, coming off," Irving said. "They weren't leaving our shooters so when you allow me and Tristan to play middle pick-and-roll, then we got a good rhythm going and it can be a tough night for anyone."

Five of Irving's team-high 10 assists set up Thompson in the paint.

Irving takeover - He scored 19 points in the third quarter of Monday's loss against the Pelicans. Then he scored seven in the third against the Kings, which was followed by a 20-point outburst against Brooklyn Friday.

Irving was at it again in the third quarter against OKC, scoring nine.

"Show no mercy," Irving said. "After halftime, it's a race to the finish. I don't think anyone realizes how hard it is to come back in here and then go back out there and play at an unbelievably high level so you kind of just got to throw yourself in there."

Irving has a tendency to feel out the game early, to attempt to determine how he's being guarded and where openings will be. He takes his time and then strikes.

He also understands his rest usually comes to start the fourth quarter so he's able to be full-go in the third and play with the kind of aggressiveness Lue demands, as James will anchor the start-of-the-fourth-quarter group. 

Irving is now the eighth-leading scorer in the third quarter this season, averaging 7.2 per game.

A pretty little highlight reel of @KyrieIrving's third quarter, for your viewing pleasure:#CavsThunder || #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/g4lF0QdIJy

-- Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 29, 2017

Slowing them down - Transition defense was Lue's biggest fear heading into Sunday's game. And it looked like it would be realized with a shoddy effort early.

"We got cross-matched a lot. They started Westbrook on Kyrie, but our defensive game plan was to have Shump guard Westbrook," James explained. "So when Kyrie was taking shots, Kyrie's man (Victor) Oladipo was running out and Shump was trying to get back and guard and there was a cross match. We kind of limited that from the second quarter on 'til the fourth quarter just from communication."

The Cavs' offense also played a part by valuing possessions.

While they have become a high-turnover team lately, the Cavs only committed 10 miscues. As a result, the Thunder finished with 11 fastbreak points, five in the final three quarters, going 4-of-14 on those opportunities.

Alex Smith and Andy Dalton threw touchdown passes, and Reid reached into his bag of trick plays to entertain an announced crowd of 60,834 as the annual All-Star event made its debut in Orlando.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid led the AFC to a 20-13 victory Sunday night over the NFC in a competitive Pro Bowl.

Alex Smith and Andy Dalton threw touchdown passes, and Reid reached into his bag of trick plays to entertain an announced crowd of 60,834 as the annual All-Star event made its debut in Orlando.

AFC head coach Andy Reid digging DEEP into his bag of tricks for this one... #ProBowl https://t.co/jxe56ft7sE

-- NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 30, 2017

In an NFL all-star game that lacked spectacular play on either side, the AFC put together just enough scoring drives and then held on to preserve a win.

It marked the return to the AFC vs. NFC matchup after the NFL used a format the last three years in which teams were drafted among the Pro Bowl players by designated captains.

The NFC had a chance to tie or take the lead in the waning moments, but Kirk Cousins pass to Jimmy Graham went off the Seattle tight end's hands and was intercepted at the AFC 2-yard line by Buffalo linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, who lateralled the ball to Denver's Aqib Talib on the return that ended at the NFC 12 to end the threat.

This is the only play from the #ProBowl you need to see pic.twitter.com/eFesqzvcEo

-- NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) January 30, 2017

In a first half defined by big plays and key interceptions, the AFC was able to come up with one more play to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.

The NFC should have had 17 points in the first half, but a decision to not a kick a chip-shot field goal and an interception in the end zone denied the squad of points during the first two quarters.

Dalton's scoring strike to Kelce put the AFC ahead 14-7 with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter. The touchdown was set up by a 36-yard punt return by the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill to the NFC 38.

Brees had a 47-yard pass to Doug Baldwin earlier in the second quarter that had tied the game at 7, making up for being intercepted by Buffalo's Stephon Gilmore in the back of the end zone a possession earlier.

Smith put the AFC on the board first when he found Tennessee's Delanie Walker for a 26-yard touchdown strike early in the second quarter.

Andy Reid called a touchdown before it happened like a boss: https://t.co/A7raMWZAck

-- SB Nation NFL (@SBNationNFL) January 30, 2017

Smith will begin a three-year stint as a College Football Playoff selection committee member this year. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith will begin a three-year stint as a College Football Playoff selection committee member this year.

A former member of the selection committee for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Smith sat down with cleveland.com last week to talk about why he wanted to join to football playoff committee now.

Read the discussion below in a Q&A with Smith that covers how he'll balance his duties, and what he thinks about Ohio State having a presence in the committee room for the first time.

cleveland.com: Did you have an reservations about accepting given all of the responsibilities you have at Ohio State?

Smith: I've got a good team. I've a great group of people. I'm just so fortunate that this group is very strong. I had been on the basketball committee for five years while I was here and I managed that. There's some similarities for what I'll have to do. I feel comfortable. It's a good team of people, we're rolling and everyone understands their responsibilities. 

cleveland.com: What were your thoughts on the playoff when it was first implemented, and how have they changed now that you're on the committee?

Smith: I was apprehensive at first. I was a BCS guy. Part of it was my affinity for the bowls, how I loved the bowls. Selfishly for Ohio State, we had been very successful with the BCS model. So I had some apprehension in the beginning. I'm actually glad I'm invited on now. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have wanted to serve on the initial committee. Watching how the committee operated, what they've done, and watching how fans have responded to it, I feel good about it now. 

RELATED: Smith on why why Ohio State was comfortable hiring Kevin Wilson

cleveland.com: What about the optics of Ohio State, which figures to be a perennial playoff contender, having its athletic director on the committee? Did that give you any pause? (Note: Committee rules say members must recuse themselves when a school they're associated with is being discussed.)

Smith: I did experience that. Basketball was on a roll when I was on the (NCAA Tournament) committee. That's the diversity of thought that exists, and you have to respect that. But it's all about integrity in the room. That's the beauty of the basketball committee and what I've watched here, they're people of the highest integrity and they operate that way.

I really love that the committee kind of adopted some policies and procedures from how the basketball committee was ran. They've been able to sustain that confidentiality. I can't tell you how important that is. To create an environment where all the members in the room feel confident that they can say anything and not worrying about it being public. You have to have that environment for people to feel confident in challenging one another.

When I recuse myself and walk out of the room, I'm comfortable because I know they're doing it the right way when I leave. When I go back in, they'll update me and we'll move on. I have no added influence for Ohio State, none at all. I look at every team, Barry (Alvarez) did the same thing with Wisconsin. I did the same thing when I was on the basketball committee. When I'm looking at all of those names, Ohio State is on there. I keep my focus, stay objective and go. I couldn't vote on Ohio State (on the NCAA committee), and won't be able to do it here. 

cleveland.com: How will this new job change your football-watching habits?

Smith: I always watch college games on Thursday night and Friday night when we're not playing. Saturday, based on what time we're playing I was watching games. At our football games in my suite I have a couple extra TVs, so I always had some extra games on. I just love watching the game. It's given me so much. I played and coached, so I love it. The way I think about it now is I'll continue to do my Saturday watch, but with a different eye. I'll spend a lot of time Sunday morning watching games. That's what I did on the basketball committee, I recorded a whole bunch of games and locked myself in my basement and took notes.

cleveland.com: You played and coached football at Notre Dame, and now you're an administrator. How might that combination of experience help you bring a new viewpoint to the room?

Smith: Everyone in that room has the same level of appreciation for the game. Administratively it makes easier for me to take the brand off of a team, forget about who it is and watch the team -- which is sometimes difficult to do. For example, if you only looked at the brand, Duke would probably be the No. 1 seed (in basketball) every year.

I don't know if anything else will differentiate me. I think most of them played football, some of them coached, so I don't think that's gonna differentiate anything there.

As we take a closer look at how Meyer put this class together in this five-part series, the first part is about what may be overlooked this year: Winning Ohio. Again. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer is on the verge of signing the best recruiting class in Ohio State history, and you may get caught up with the five-star prospects from all over the country that are going to be Buckeyes.

You should. 

Revel in how much success Meyer has had after making Ohio State more national than it's ever been; Get excited about the five-star prospects coming from California, Texas, Florida and Maryland; Picture what all those kids are going to become.

That's what National Signing Day is for fans, especially at a place like Ohio State. It's fun. 

But as we take a closer look at how Meyer put this class together in this five-part series, the first part is about what may be overlooked this year: Winning Ohio. Again. 

Ohio State currently has 19 verbal commitments in its 2017 class and by Wednesday -- signing day -- the Buckeyes could have as many as 22 signees. Of that group, the Buckeyes will only have, at most, seven Ohio prospects joining the program. 

Whether that's enough Ohio in an Ohio State class is debatable. 

What isn't is the dominance Meyer showed again in his home state. Even in the midst of taking the Buckeyes national, Meyer kept his vow to keep the very best Ohio prospects at home, and that was evident again. 

The number is lower, yes, but Ohio State did not allow an Ohio prospect with a committable offer leave the state this year. Not one. Ohio State will sign four of the top five players in Ohio, five of the top seven and six of the top 11. 

The six players coming to Ohio State are really good, too. 

Here's a closer look: 

1. Five-star OL Josh Myers of Miamisburg, Ohio: Rated the No. 2 offensive guard in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Myers has been one of the most coveted prospects in the country since he earned an Alabama offer after his freshman year. Myers is enrolled early and is a physical freak who could contend for a starting spot as a true freshman, which isn't said a lot. Keeping Myers at home was a necessity and Meyer did it.  

* Why five-star OT Josh Myers' Ohio State commitment is far more valuable than just his talent

2. Four-star ATH Brendon White of Powell (Ohio) Olentangy: Of all the early-enrollees, White is the veteran of the group. Though he wasn't permitted to travel with Ohio State to the Fiesta Bowl, he had his first practice with the Buckeyes during the team's bowl prep. White is a Luke Fickell special, meaning Ohio State's former defensive coordinator fell in love with his versatility. He projects at wide receiver and linebacker, which explains why he's drawn constant comparisons to Darron Lee. 

* The next Darron Lee? Similarities uncanny with Ohio State commit Brendon White

3. Four-star CB Amir Riep of Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain: Ohio State is absolutely loaded at defensive back in this class, but cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs identified Riep as one of the Ohio prospects he had to have in the class. Yes, Riep attends the school Coombs led for more than a decade when Coombs was a high school coach, but he's an elite talent the Buckeyes couldn't afford to let go to another Big Ten school. 

* An inside look at how Ohio State assistant Kerry Coombs recruits Colerain, his old high school program

4. Four-star WR Jaylen Harris of Cleveland Heights: Rated the No. 30 wide receiver in the 2017 class, Harris is much better than his rating indicates. Want proof? The Buckeyes once had two five-star receivers in their jam-packed class, but Meyer vowed they'd make room for Harris regardless of when he opted to commit. Harris committed to Ohio State in January and the 6-foot-5 target could be a future star. 

* Why Jaylen Harris is the player Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class needed most: Doug Lesmerises

5. Four-star CB Marcus Williamson of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG: Don't be confused by Williamson's school. He's from Columbus and he attended Westerville (Ohio) South before transferring to the Florida power. Like Riep, Williamson was part of the deepest defensive back haul in modern recruiting. He may be overshadowed, but the early-enrollee by someone like five-star Jeffrey Okudah, but he was high on Ohio State's board from the beginning. 

6. Four-star DT Jerron Cage of Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods: Cage's older brother Daniel was a defensive line prospect at the same high school and Meyer never offered him. Now Daniel Cage is a starter at Meyer regrets not taking him. Meyer, however, didn't make the same mistake with Cage, who earned an Ohio State offer early in the process and committed. Keeping the Cincinnati pipeline open with Riep and Cage was an absolute must for Ohio State. 

* Urban Meyer regrets not taking Notre Dame's Daniel Cage, which is why he won't lose Jerron Cage

Ohio State is also involved with four-star offensive tackle Thayer Munford of Massillon (Ohio) Washington, the No. 14 overall player in the state. He's expected to be a Buckeye, too. 

Ohio State will always be about Ohio, regardless of how national it gets. 

And Meyer took care of business in his home state this year. 

The season of Oklahoma City's Russell Westbook compares favorably to that of the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James now and to the historic 1961-62 season of Oscar Robertson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Of all the catnip provided by basketball analytics, one with a particularly high level of respect is called Effective Shooting.

The formula is field goals made, plus one-half of 3-pointers, accounting for the added point, divided by field goal attempts.

Therefore, eight field goals made, four of them triples, in 20 tries for 20 points, in traditional shooting metrics would be 40 percent, or 8/20.

In Effective Shooting, the result would be higher, 8 + 2 = 10, or 50 percent.

I began to think - clearly a dangerous proposition, as I have demonstrated many times before - about a similar arrangement for assists and how to account for passes that result in threes.

Effective Assists

In the example above, let's assume the same player assisted on all the field goals. That's 20 points he accounted for on eight assists.

I used the Effective Shooting formula: 8 + 2 = 10 Effective Assists on the 20 points.

With Effective Assists, the point total, regardless of 3-pointers, is always twice the assists, as was the case before the 3-ball was invented.

I cried, "By Jove, I think I've got it!" Then I added, "Maybe I do, anyway if similar stats exist in a corner of analytics, it's that I didn't know where to look for them, not that I didn't want to credit them."

The stat gives a quick, broad look at how influential a player's passing is in a given game. Obviously, it has limits.

As in runs batted in in baseball, it is dependent on teammates -- getting on base in baseball and making shots in basketball. Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, for example, who is averaging a triple-double for the season, plays for the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the league.

Westbrook scuffled to a 20-point (on 26 shots), 12-rebound, 10-assist effort in the Cavaliers' 107-91 romp Sunday at The Q. It was his first triple-double ever against the Cavs.

LeBron James had 25, 14, and 8 for the Cavs.

The argument might be that a 3-point assist is often very easy, made simply by swinging the ball around the arc. It also can be a measure of lane penetration, however. Many Cavs' 3-pointers come on drive-and-kicks by James.

Two more stats to look at

Adding to Effective Assists the points the player himself scores gives the points he is responsible for. Dividing that by his team's total points shows his  percentage of the total offense.

Westbrook vs. James

Westbrook leads the NBA in scoring and is second in assists. He is on pace to become only the second player ever, after Oscar Robertson in 1961-62, to average a triple-double for the season.

James is ninth in scoring and fifth in assists.

James: 364 assists on 203 3-point assists (second-best in the NBA), for 609 points and 161 2-point assists for 322 points. Effective Assists: 465.5 His total assisted points: 931.

James has scored 1,105 points. He is responsible for 2,036 points.

In the 43 games James has played, the Cavs scored 4,788 points. He has been 42.6 percent of the offense.

As we shall see, that's almost as good as the Big O 55 years ago, but not as good as Westbrook.

Westbrook: 491 assists, 117 of them on 3-pointers for 351 points, 374 on 2-pointers for 748 points. Effective Assists: 549.5. Assisted points: 1,099.

Westbrook has played in all 48 OKC games. He has scored 1,478 points. He has been responsible for 2,577 points.

OKC has scored 4,589 points. Westbook is responsible for a staggering 56.2 percent of the offense.

The Big O

For historical comparison, when Oscar Robertson became the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season in 1961-62, the pace of play was frenetic and the missed shots were plentiful. The 3-pointer has been the incentive for greatly improved outside shooting today.

In 1961-62, Robertson had 899 assists (there was no 3-pointer) for 1,798 assisted points.

He scored 2,432 points. He was responsible for 4,230 points.

The Royals averaged an incredible 123.1 points and scored 9,845 in all. Oscar's share, playing with a great shooter for the era in Jack Twyman, was 43.0 percent of the offense.

Robertson had Ruthian totals for his era. In 1963-64, he missed a second triple-double season by one-tenth of a rebound per game and the next year by just one rebound per game. The intent is not to downplay his achievements.

Four Catholic schools make up the top six of the cleveland.com boys basketball rankings. St. Vincent-St. Mary checks in at No. 2, while St. Edward is third. Lorain remains fourth.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — District tournament seeding is just two weeks away. That means the next stretch of games are crucial for teams looking to impress coaches in their districts before they vote.

The top five teams in this week’s cleveland.com boys basketball rankings remain unchanged. However, there is plenty of shuffling elsewhere, including two new teams in Elyria Catholic and Wadsworth.

Archbishop Hoban also climbed up to No. 6 after its second victory against Benedictine.

Here are this week’s rankings:

1. St. Ignatius (10-4)

Where they stand: The loss at Hoover — a potential state-ranked squad — is the only loss on the Wildcats’ schedule in 2017. Their next four games are against some of Cleveland’s best.

Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Lutheran East, 69-58, on Jan. 26.

This week: Tuesday vs. No. 9 Benedictine, Saturday vs. No. 8 Cleveland Heights.

2. St. Vincent-St. Mary (12-4)

Where they stand: The Irish ride a six-game win streak into this week, which is light until Friday when Sidney comes to town. The Yellow Jackets just beat Trotwood-Madison, a Division II state title favorite that scored 100 on STVM.

Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Warrensville Heights, 74-52, on Jan. 24; beat Buchtel, 81-51, on Jan. 27; beat Cincinnati Walnut Ridge, 61-52, on Jan. 28.

This week: Saturday vs. Sidney.

3. St. Edward (11-4)

Where they stand: The Eagles will test themselves against Detroit power East English Village Prep. That game will start at 6 p.m. Monday with no JV game.

Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 75-41, on Jan. 28.

This week: Monday vs. East English Village Prep, Friday vs. No. 20 Lutheran East.

4. Lorain (12-2)

Where they stand: The Titans’ comeback vs. Cleveland Heights further established them as Lake Erie League favorites. They travel Friday to second-place Maple Heights, a team they beat by 21 back on Jan. 6.

Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Medina, 64-56, on Jan. 24; beat Cleveland Heights, 69-67, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday vs. Shaw, Friday at No. 15 Maple Heights, Saturday at Toledo Scott.

5. Garfield Heights (12-3)

Where they stand: Sonny Johnson’s Bulldogs survived a push from Division IV state champion Cornerstone Christian. Their next test comes from Central Catholic at The Q.

Last week: Ranked No. 5, beat Cornerstone Christian, 66-60, on Jan. 24.

This week: Wednesday vs. No. 21 Central Catholic at The Q, Saturday at No. 14 Medina.

6. Archbishop Hoban (13-1)

Where they stand: T.K. Griffith’s Knights have quietly been Northeast Ohio’s hottest team — 13 straight wins since a season-opening loss at Columbus St. Charles. They also beat Benedictine twice, giving them control of the North Coast League Blue Division.

Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 74-53, on Jan. 24; beat Benedictine, 56-51, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at Padua, Friday at Walsh Jesuit.

7. Copley (14-0)

Where they stand: Copley keeps chugging along. With a 38-game win streak in the regular season to the program’s credit, only four games this season have been within single digits.

Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat Twinsburg, 97-62, on Jan. 24; beat Barberton, 74-64, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at Revere, Friday vs. Tallmadge.

8. Cleveland Heights (10-5)

Where they stand: It’s been a tough stretch for Cleveland Heights, which has lost three of its last six. Saturday’s win against Huber Heights Wayne, one of Dayton’s top programs, ended last week on a high note.

Last week: Ranked No. 6, lost to Lorain, 69-67, on Jan. 27; beat Huber Heights Wayne, 64-56, on Jan. 28.

This week: Tuesday at Bedford, Friday vs. Shaw, Saturday at No. 1 St. Ignatius.

9. Benedictine (12-3)

Where they stand: Psychologically, the loss to Hoban — a Division I team — pushes the Bengals’ focus to the postseason and another run in Division II.

Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Walsh Jesuit, 66-37, on Jan. 24; lost to Archbishop Hoban, 56-51, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at No. 1 St. Ignatius, Friday vs. Padua, Saturday vs. Gilmour.

10. Cornerstone Christian (12-4)

Where they stand: The Patriots pushed Garfield Heights on the road, so no reason to bump them down from a setback against last year’s Division I state semifinalist.

Last week: Ranked No. 11, lost to Garfield Heights, 66-60, on Jan. 24.

This week: Saturday vs. Orange.

11. Holy Name (13-2)

Where they stand: A week of practice separates the Green Wave from their first Great Lakes Conference loss and a chance to get back on the winning track vs. Rocky River. Elyria Catholic’s win forced a tie between the schools atop the GLC.

Last week: Ranked No. 9, lost to Elyria Catholic, 68-55, on Jan. 27.

This week: Friday vs. Rocky River.

12. Elyria (12-3)

Where they stand: Pioneers steal one on a buzzer-beater, lose one on a buzzer-beater. Keith Simmons’ heroics Friday added to what has been a back-and-forth Greater Cleveland Conference.

Last week: Ranked No. 12, beat Bay, 66-53, on Jan. 24; lost to Brunswick, 43-41, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday vs. Shaker Heights, Friday at Strongsville, Saturday at No. 22 Elyria Catholic.

13. Mentor (10-3)

Where they stand: The Cardinals will try and keep pace with Medina atop the GCC standings. Elyria trails them by a half game but owns victories against both, hence their higher ranking.

Last week: Ranked No. 13, beat Euclid, 88-79, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday vs. Strongsville, Friday at No. 16 Solon, Saturday at No. 17 Villa Angela-St. Joseph.

14. Medina (13-3)

Where they stand: An emotional win Friday for Medina gave it a spark entering the second half of the GCC schedule.

Last week: Ranked No. 14, lost to Lorain, 64-56, on Jan. 24; beat Strongsville, 77-65, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at Euclid, Friday vs. No. 18 Brunswick, Saturday vs. No. 5 Garfield Heights.

15. Maple Heights (12-2)

Where they stand: A big week for Maple Heights, which is currently second to Lorain in the LEL. The Mustangs get the Titans at home Friday after a trip Tuesday to Warrensville Heights.

Last week: Ranked No. 15, beat Willoughby South, 77-60; beat Bedford, 79-53, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at Warrensville Heights, Friday vs. No. 4 Lorain.

16. Solon (12-4)

Where they stand: A turnaround week from last week’s setback at Medina concluded with Trent Williams’ heroics at Shaker Heights.

Last week: Ranked No. 18, beat Mayfield, 113-42, on Jan. 24; beat Shaker Heights, 66-63, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday vs. No. 18 Brunswick, Friday vs. No. 13 Mentor.

How's this for a shot heard round the world! Or at least from Shaker to Solon!?! pic.twitter.com/22uGvBew01

— Comet Athletics (@SolonAthletics) January 28, 2017

17. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (9-5)

Where they stand: VASJ had a five-game win streak snapped Saturday at St. Edward, but is in control of the North Coast League White Division.

Last week: Ranked No. 16, beat Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, 77-57, on Jan. 24; beat Central Catholic, 61-55, on Jan. 27; lost to St. Edward, 75-41, on Jan. 28.

This week: Tuesday at Warren JFK, Friday at Youngstown Valley Christian, Saturday vs. No. 13 Mentor.

18. Brunswick (12-5)

Where they stand: The Blue Devils have handed Elyria its only two GCC losses, and coach Joe Mackey’s squad has a five-game win streak.

Last week: Ranked No. 21, beat Elyria, 43-41.

This week: Tuesday at No. 16 Solon, Friday at No. 14 Medina.

19. Ellet (12-3)

Where they stand: The Orangemen are sustaining success without injured A.J. Gareri. Marquise Bridges lifted them with a late 3 to beat Kenmore.

Last week: Ranked No. 17, beat Akron Garfield, 81-60, on Jan. 24; beat Kenmore, 63-61, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday vs. Akron East, Friday at Firestone.

20. Lutheran East (11-6)

Where they stand: An up-and-down week began with stiff competition against No. 1 St. Ignatius and finished with Senate League regular-season champion Glenville. The Falcons’ final regular-season games include trips to St. Edward, Garfield Heights and Maple Heights. Win or lose, they should be considered favorites for the Division IV Barberton District.

Last week: Ranked No. 25, lost to St. Ignatius, 69-58, on Jan. 26; beat Glenville, 78-65, on Jan. 28.

This week: Friday at No. 3 St. Edward.

21. Central Catholic (8-6)

Where they stand: Five of the Ironmen’s six losses are to ranked teams.

Last week: Ranked No. 22, beat Youngstown Valley Christian, 72-37, on Jan. 24; lost to VASJ, 61-55, on Jan. 27.

This week: Wednesday vs. No. 5 Garfield Heights at The Q, Friday at Warren JFK.

22. Elyria Catholic (9-4)

Where they stand: The Panthers have won seven straight, including Friday’s signature win against Holy Name that has it tied atop the GLC.

Last week: Not ranked, beat Holy Name, 68-55, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at Parma, Saturday vs. No. 12 Elyria.

23. Glenville (15-3)

Where they stand: The Senate League playoffs are this week. Glenville is the top seed and will host the semifinals Tuesday against John Hay; MLK vs. East Tech is the other matchup. The championship game is set for Friday at the East Learning Center.

Last week: Ranked No. 20, beat MLK, 72-45, on Jan. 24; lost to Lutheran East, 78-65, on Jan. 28.

This week: Wednesday vs. John Hay.

24. Wadsworth (10-4)

Where they stand: A 12-point win against Stow pulled the Grizzlies within a game of Brecksville and the Bulldogs. They also face Brecksville one more time, but do not control their own destiny in the Suburban League National Division title picture. However, Wadsworth is the division’s hottest team with a five-game win streak.

Last week: Not ranked, beat Stow, 53-41, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at Cuyahoga Falls, Friday at North Royalton.

25. Stow (9-4)

Where they stand: As a handful of teams ascend and others fall because of setbacks, Stow's overall resume keeps it in the Top 25. The Suburban League and Southwestern Conference, which is led by Avon and Berea-Midpark, are similar with their parity.

Last week: Ranked No. 19, lost to Wadsworth, 53-41, on Jan. 27.

This week: Tuesday at Nordonia, Friday vs. Twinsburg.

DROPPED OUT

Beachwood (13-4, was No. 23), Brecksville (11-3, was No. 24).

IN CONTENTION

Avon (11-3), Berea-Midpark (10-4), Buckeye (11-3), Woodridge (16-0).

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.

This is final game between the two teams this season. The Cavaliers won the first contest decisively, 128-90, at home on Nov. 25, extending their winning streak to four over the Mavericks.

DALLAS -- The Cleveland Cavaliers (32-14) will not have All-Star Kevin Love when they begin a tough upcoming road stretch -- five of the next six games away from Quicken Loans Arena -- against the Dallas Mavericks (17-30) at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday night. 

Last meeting: This is final game between the two teams this season. The Cavaliers won the first contest decisively, 128-90, at home on Nov. 25, extending their winning streak to four over the Mavericks. 

Cavs fast fact(s): Cleveland is 3-2 in games without Love this season; the Cavs are coming off a win against Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon, holding the Thunder to 91 points, the first opponent the Cavs have held below the 100-point mark since Jan. 2 against New Orleans; Kyrie Irving has recorded at least 20 points in six straight games, and is averaging 30.1 points during the stretch.

Cavs injuries: Love (lower back spasms), J.R. Smith (right thumb surgery) and Chris Andersen (torn right ACL) are out.

Mavericks fast fact(s): Harrison Barnes, after signing with Dallas this off-season, is averaging a career-high 20.4 points and has already tallied five games scoring at least 30 or more, including Thursday's 109-98 loss against Oklahoma City; Yogi Ferrell, inked to a 10-day contract recently, made his first career NBA start Sunday.

Mavericks injuries: Jose Barea (left calf strain) and Deron Williams (toe sprain) are both out.

Probable starters:

Cavs

F LeBron James (25.7 ppg; 8.0 rpg; 8.5 apg)

F James Jones (2.9 ppg; 0.6 rpg; 0.2 apg)

C Tristan Thompson (7.5 ppg; 9.7 rpg; 0.8 apg)

G Iman Shumpert (8.0 ppg; 2.8 rpg; 1.6 apg)

G Kyrie Irving (24.6 ppg; 3.4 rpg; 5.7 apg)

Mavericks

F Harrison Barnes (20.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg; 1.5 apg)

F Wesley Matthews (15.0 ppg; 3.3 rpg; 2.2 apg)

C Dirk Nowitzki (13.3 ppg; 5.8 rpg; 1.5 apg)

G Seth Curry (10.8 ppg; 2.3 rpg; 2.5 apg)

G Yogi Farrell (5.4 ppg; 1.2 rpg; 1.7 apg)

Here's where to watch, listen and stream the Cleveland Cavaliers' game vs. the Dallas Mavericks today.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers play Game 47 of the 2016 NBA season Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. Here's how to watch, listen and stream the action online.

What: Cleveland Cavaliers (32-14) vs. Dallas Mavericks (17-30).
Where: American Airlines Center.
When: 8:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Ohio.
Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM La Mega; ESPN Radio.
Online: FoxSports Go.

Dallas notable: Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews has made a team-high 126 3-pointers this season (126-of-326,.387), the 10th-most in the NBA.

Cleveland notable: The Cavaliers have taken the last four meetings between the two teams after the Mavericks won the previous five.

Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney dropped that comparison for his quarterback. In Prepare for List off, Bud Shaw and Doug Lesmerises discuss whether any of that makes sense. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Michael Jordan was picked third in the 1984 NBA Draft, taken by the Chicago Bulls after the Houston Rockets selected Hakeem Olajuwon No. 1 and the Portland Trail Blazers took Sam Bowie at No. 2.

Let me tell you, if the player the Browns select at No. 1 in the 2017 NFL Draft winds up anything like Olajuwon, a 12-time All-Star, two-time champion and top 50 NBA Player, you can start the construction of his statue now.

Passing on Jordan is the fear Clemson coach Dabo Swinney instilled in the NFL world last week when it comes to Watson, the national championship quarterback of the Tigers. It's hyperbolic, it's what a coach should do for his player, but are we sure he's wrong?

In this Prepare for List Off, Bud Shaw and I debate the merits of the Jordan-Watson comparison made by Swinney - and Bud even brings up Bowie, who happens to be the most famous athlete to come out of the county where I grew up in Pennsylvania. 

That should tell you something about the athletic skills of the county where I grew up.

(Note: I mentioned Brady Quinn as a QB taken at No. 1 in the video when I meant to say David Carr in Houston. Sorry.)

The local chapter of the Society of American Baseball Research will hold its winter meeting on Saturday, Feb. 4. Cleveland Indians play-by-play announcer Matt Underwood is one of the speakers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Jack Graney chapter of the Society of American Baseball Research will hold its winter meeting Saturday, Feb. 4.

The SABR meeting, open to the public, is at the Baseball Heritage Museum visitors center at League Park, 6601 Lexington Ave., Cleveland. Cost is $5.

Itinerary

9-9:30 a.m. - Introductions.

9:30-10 a.m. - "Memorable moments from League Park," Joe Gazzo.

10-10:30 - Jeremy Feador, the Cleveland Indians curator, will speak on the Indians Hall of Fame.

10:30-11 a.m. - "Indians Missing MVPs," Lou Boyd.

11 a.m.-noon - "Reliving the 2016 season and looking forward to 2017," Matt Underwood, Indians play-by-play announcer.

Noon-12:30 p.m. - "Reflections on a baseball career," John Massarelli, Northeast Ohio native who played and managed in the minor leagues.

12:30-1 p.m. - Tribe trivia contest with Rick Bradley.

Graney was a Canadian-born outfielder who spent his entire 14-year career with Cleveland. He played on the 1920 World Series championship team and went on to a broadcasting career. Among his claims to fame is being the first batter to face a young Boston pitcher named Babe Ruth in 1914.

Since 2014, the museum has been located in what was a ticket house at League Park, the Indians' old home on the East Side.

More on the museum