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Pat Shurmur's in over his head - Browns Comment of the Day

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"Bad coaching yields unprepared players. Period. Did Shurmur even remind the team that there were no timeouts and that they had to be in hurry up mode no matter what the play was? Sure looks he didn't, because the offense was just taking its time and then Wallace 'supposedly' called the play. Shurmur comes across as over-matched, in over his head and incompetent. It will be a long next couple of years with this guy." - tikisarasota

pat-shurmur4.jpgView full sizeIt's been a long season for Pat Shurmur and the Browns
In response to the story Cleveland Browns' Seneca Wallace doesn't try to pass blame for botching clock management, cleveland.com reader tikisarasota is not a fan of Pat Shurmur's. This reader writes,

"Bad coaching yields unprepared players. Period. Did Shurmur even remind the team that there were no timeouts and that they had to be in hurry up mode no matter what the play was? Sure looks he didn't, because the offense was just taking its time and then Wallace 'supposedly' called the play. Shurmur comes across as over-matched, in over his head and incompetent. It will be a long next couple of years with this guy."

To respond to tikisarasota's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Cavaliers fans: Let's review this site's commenting rules

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Check out the most common reasons we blow the whistle on remarks made here.

Cavaliers fans, we know you'll be coming here a lot this season, ready to talk about your team. As the tipoff looms, let's go over some of the community rules on this site, so that you'll know where the boundaries are.

We won't go over everything; you can read the rules for yourself. But we'd like to spotlight some areas that come up most often and lead to comments being removed or users having their accounts temporarily or permanently frozen:

Personal attacks and insults. Don't attack another user. Don't call other commenters stupid, don't question their manhood, don't accuse them of living in their moms' basements. Don't order them off the site because they don't cheer the Cavs enough to please you. If another commenter attacks you, don't lash back; we'll penalize both sides. Even some remarks that aren't technically personal may be removed because they tend to lead to no good, like telling another user, "you've just won the award for the most idiotic comment of the day."

When users complain that their comments were removed even though they didn't do anything wrong, this is usually the problem. Unlike some sites, the rules here don't just bar obscenities.

Obscenity and vulgar language. Ah, but the rules do, definitely, bar obscenity. If you use bad language – even if you misspell it, try to disguise it or abbreviate it – it will be removed.

Off-topic remarks. Cleveland.com maintains forums where users get to name their topics and can take the conversations wherever they want. For comments on stories, though, we ask that you stick to the topic of the story. This becomes a particular problem when someone tries to rake up old controversies – particularly ones that involve the initials LJ – or inject politics into the conversation.

Among the comments that are always off-topic: Complaints about our comment moderation. It's spelled out very clearly in the community rules.

Trolling. This covers a lot of behaviors, but one that we know upsets a lot of good users is when someone continually tries to rile up everyone else, usually by repeating the same criticism of a player or coach (or even the city itself) over and over again. This is not a site just for Cavs fans, and criticizing the team or the coach is a part of any sports discussion. But those who come here not to have a real discussion, who just want to yell "Cavs suck" or some longer variation again and again – we think the rest of you deserve to not have to wade through their comments.

(One other thing: This site's automated spam filter was attacked recently, and as a result it's blocking more comments than it should. It will take some time for us to train it back to normal. In the meantime, if you get a message that your comment has been successful but it's being held for approval, that means you've been filtered. Please don't keep trying the same post over and over again; all you'll do is train the filter to believe you're a spammer. We will monitor the filter several times per day.)

This site gets a lot of comments across all its blogs, so we can't promise we'll catch every violation quickly. But we do pay extra attention to popular blogs like the Cavs, and we do go back to check comments we missed and clean them up. If you see someone who's violating the rules and seems to be getting away with it, rest assured that we'll track that user down eventually. (And remember you can use the link on each comment to report it as inappropriate, which alerts a group of moderators who track complaints over all the Advance Digital sites.)

As we said, the tools we use to keep things in order include disabling accounts. Anyone who's been around here a while knows that isn't 100 percent effective; people create new accounts and go back to their old misbehavior. We know that, and we have other ways of dealing with them.

In the end, these comments are as good as you make them. Thanks for participating in the site, and for adding value to it by your contributions.

Cavaliers vs. Raptors - Twitter updates

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Get updates and analysis from press row as the Cavaliers take on the Raptors.

Kyrie Irving and Cavs work out at Cleveland Clinic Courts FridayView full sizeKyrie Irving will make his NBA debut tonight for the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers open the regular season tonight at 7:00 p.m. at The Q against the Raptors. The game will mark the NBA debuts of first round draft picks Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.

Get updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer on Twitter @PDCavsInsider in the box below. You can also check the full NBA scoreboard here.






Absence of national spotlight not an issue for Kyrie Irving: Cavaliers Insider

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The 19-year-old rookie doesn't have the bankroll or hype of the last teenager to go No. 1 overall to the Cavaliers, but Irving seems quite content with his bounty.

irving-thompson-preseason-vert-jg.jpgView full sizeKyrie Irving (left, with fellow Cavaliers rookie Tristan Thompson) shrugs off the knowledge that there doesn't figure to be much national attention given to him or the Cavaliers. "At the end of the day I'm not worried about what's going on outside. It's all about the Cleveland Cavaliers and the organization."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving celebrated Christmas in the Cleveland-area home he recently purchased with his own money.

The 19-year-old rookie doesn't have the bankroll or hype of the last teenager to go No. 1 overall to the Cavaliers, but Irving seems quite content with his bounty.

"Honestly, it really doesn't matter to me," Irving said. "Coming into training camp I was just happy to be an NBA player, finally."

Nobody enters the league with a $100 million Nike deal like LeBron James. But Irving's national exposure might be lower than any top NBA pick in the past decade save for Andrew Bogut and Andrea Bargnani. The Cavs aren't scheduled to play on ESPN, ABC or TNT this season.

"There's probably not a more anonymous No.1 [selection] who played college basketball at a high-profile program since the LeBron draft," said Darren Rovell, CNBC sports business reporter and host of Sports Biz: Game On.

The lockout, the city's market size, Irving's brief college career and corporate America's "show me first" trend are all factors. Nevertheless, Irving's national endorsement portfolio includes Nike, Panini Trading Cards and Panini Authentic, with more believed to be in theworks. Terms of those contracts are not known.

In recent seasons, the only top NBA pick to earn a big payday coming out of the draft was Chicago's Derrick Rose, Rovell said. Adidas' acquisition of Reebok in 2005 has taken one of the major bidders off the shoe-and-apparel market.

Rovell said corporations are now approaching NBA deals the way they do NFL endorsements. "They are saying to players, 'Prove you can be a winner and then we'll payyou,'" Rovell said. He added the labor impasse hurt Irving's marketability because the leaguevirtually shut down after the draft.

Of course, a strong rookie season might allow his representatives to establish a market value rather than just take what was offered coming out of Duke.

Irving is focused on playing basketball.

"It wasn't about national exposure," he said. "In high school, I never got that national exposure. It's all about team with me. At the end of the day I'm not worried about what's going on outside. It's all about the Cleveland Cavaliers and the organization."

Veteran presence: Cavaliers coach Byron Scott named Irving his starting point guard for Monday's season opener. The coach said Ramon Sessions will see ample time and there will be occasions when he and Irving play together.

Scott likes the experience Sessions, entering his fifth season, brings to the second unit. After Daniel Gibson, the other three primary reserves -- Samardo Samuels, Tristan Thompson, Alonzo Gee -- have a combined three years of experience.

Oh Canada: It was a big night for Canadian basketball at The Q on Monday. Thompson, the highest-drafted Canadian at No. 4, made his NBA debut against the Raptors. Meanwhile, center Jamaal Magloire became the first Canadian to play a regular-season game for the Raptors.

Thompson was asked if he would have welcomed a chance to play for Toronto, who picked fifth, right after the Cavs.

"It's a dream come true if the Raptors do draft you," said Thompson, who grew up in the Greater Toronto area. "But I have to do what is best for myself and I'm glad the Cavs drafted me because I have extended family here, too, so I got acclimated real quick."

His parents and three brothers attended the opener.

Dribbles: Center Semih Erden (broken thumb) could return to practice next week and beavailable to play in two weeks. Erden believes he could play next week, but Scott said he learned his lesson last season when he rushed the Turk back too soon from shoulder and groin injuries. ... Erden and Mychel Thompson were inactive for the opener.

Cleveland Browns' Pat Shurmur won't rule out Colt McCoy vs. Steelers on Sunday

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The Browns are off on Tuesday and begin full preparation for the Steelers on Wednesday.

colt mccoy.JPGView full sizeColt McCoy is doing more physical work, but his status for the Steelers won't be determined until at least Wednesday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Colt McCoy is making progress from his concussion and still has a chance to start Sunday. But will the Browns start their second-year QB against James Harrison and the Steelers' No. 1-ranked defense?

McCoy, who sat out games in Arizona and Baltimore, hasn't yet been cleared to practice, but coach Pat Shurmur said Monday that if he's able to practice on Wednesday "there's a chance he can play." But Shurmur was still unwilling to commit to McCoy, even if he gets the green light from the medical staff.

"I can't cross that bridge yet," said Shurmur. "We'll know more Wednesday when we start practicing for the Steelers and then we'll talk about it then. And I'm not trying to be vague. That's the case."

McCoy felt better last week, but not enough to make the trip to Baltimore. He did some physical activity, including using the elliptical machine, but apparently still had symptoms that prevented him from team practices.

Shurmur said McCoy has increased his activity this week, but wasn't specific. The Browns are off on Tuesday and begin full preparation for the Steelers on Wednesday.

"Colt worked out [Monday] and was in all of the meetings," said Shurmur. "He's making improvement."

If McCoy is cleared to start, will the Browns throw him back in there? Here are a number of things to consider:

1. He'd be going up against Harrison, whose helmet-to-helmet blow on Dec. 8 gave him the concussion.

2. Harrison was suspended a game for the hit, which cost him about $73,000. He spoke out last week, saying the Browns should've been fined for putting McCoy back in the game with a concussion. He's probably not going to be in the holiday spirit this game.

3. Should the Browns risk McCoy so soon after the concussion -- especially with the NFLPA still trying to decide whether or not to file a grievance against the Browns? A source said the union should make its decision the first week of January.

4. With nothing at stake for the Browns, should they just let McCoy rest and also avoid the second-guessing it will invite if he plays?

5. The Browns have said they've seen enough of McCoy to make a decision on whether or not he can be their quarterback of the future. If that's the case, why play him?

6. Will one more game with Seneca Wallace help the Browns determine if the offensive woes this season can be attributed to a lack of playmakers and not so much the quarterback?

7. Has Wallace moved the offense well enough the past two games to earn him another start? He's 0-2 in his two starts with an average of 12 points a game.

Wallace reiterated Monday what he said after the 20-17 overtime loss in Arizona on Dec. 18: the job should be McCoy's if he's healthy.

"Like I said before, I would've loved to have been able to try to help this team out longer ... but coaches made the decision at the beginning of the season to have Colt as the starter," said Wallace. "If he's healthy enough, I feel like he should come back and finish the season like he did.

"If I was the leader of this team at the beginning of the season and got knocked out and had a chance to come back and play, I'd want to finish the season out."

How much would Wallace like to bounce back from the Ravens loss?

"I'm excited regardless," he said. "I don't care who it is, if it's Pittsburgh or the St. Louis Rams. You're playing football. We can go out and compete another time. That's the opportunity we love to go out and play football."

Wallace is coming off a 20-14 loss to the Ravens in which the offense scored just seven points. He completed 19 of 33 attempts for 147 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He made two crucial mistakes: an interception on the opening drive and letting the first-half clock run out deep in Ravens territory without getting at least a field-goal attempt.

As for the interception, Shurmur said, "there was a little bit of heat inside. Seneca flushed to his right. We have to make sure we're smart with the football. I have to do a better job of getting protection where he doesn't get heat up the middle. I'll take responsibility for that. But we can't turn the ball over there."

Shurmur said he needs to do a better job of communicating to Wallace to get the ball spiked at the end of the half. But Wallace took responsibility.

"It's not all [Shurmur's] fault," he said. "If you're a man, you've got to take responsibility for what you do on the field. ... He's going to try to back us because he's the head coach. But at the end of the day, we get on the field and we're playing between those lines, we've got to take responsibility for what we do out there.

"So yeah, it was a communication error, but at the same time, it's not 100 percent his fault."

What injury? Browns linebacker Kaluka Maiava suffered a broken left hand on the opening kickoff of the second half in Baltimore. But he'll play with a cast Sunday. He said he broke a little piece of his index finger and that it won't require surgery.

It won't be the first time he's dealt with this kind of injury.

"I told the doctor I think I've been playing with a cast on my hand since my junior year in high school," he said. "Every year I had something on my hand."

Extra points: Shurmur said he'll ask the NFL for clarification on why Evan Moore wasn't ruled out of bounds on the second-to-last play of the first half. Moore was told he needed to take a step forward out of bounds. Shurmur seems to think he was out. ... Pro Bowl teams will be announced Tuesday, and Shurmur said several Browns are deserving. He declined to say who. ... Remember, the Steelers game has been moved from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Sunday as a result of flex scheduling.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Cleveland Cavaliers fall in season opener to Toronto, 104-96

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Cavaliers' Irving (and some veterans) struggle at both ends of the floor in setback. Watch video

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Kyrie Irving era got off to an inauspicious start Monday at The Q.

But to pin the Cavaliers' 104-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors on a 19-year-old rookie point guard is roundly unfair, not to mention misleading. Especially on a night the club's collective effort was bad enough to give it a running start on the No. 1 pick next season.

The Cavaliers defended poorly, shot worse and needed a strong effort from their second unit just to keep them in the game against one of the NBA's bottom feeders.

Irving, the top selection in the June draft, managed just six points on 2-of-12 shooting and never found his rhythm before a sellout crowd of 20,562 fans. He spent a good portion of the second half on the bench as backup Ramon Sessions helped the Cavaliers stay close with a team-high 18 points and six assists.

"It's disappointing," said Irving, who played 26 minutes. "You want to play really well when the whole world is watching. It's a learning process."

The point is an unforgiving position for first-year players. Not only did Irving struggle at the offensive end, but he had difficulty keeping the Raptors' Jose Calderon (15 points, 11 assists) in front of him.

How have other recent high-profile point guards fared in their NBA debuts? According to Stats LLC, Washington's John Wall had 14 points, Chicago's Derrick Rose scored 11 points and New Orleans' Chris Paul collected 13 points.

"He looked OK for what was like his fifth game in a year," said coach Byron Scott, who named Irving his starter on Monday morning. "He had seven assists and one turnover. The only thing he didn't do was shoot the ball well."

While the team won't admit it, this rebuilding season is about developing youngsters like Irving and Tristan Thompson, who had an impressive debut with 12 points and five rebounds.




Scott subbed Irving for Sessions with 5:28 remaining and the Cavs trailing by eight points. The coach considered sticking with the more-effective player, but gave the kid a chance to play with the game on the line.

"I thought it would be good for the rookie to be out there at that time," Scott said. "I've got to learn about him just like I got to learn about other guys on the team. I know what Sess can do. He did a great job."

That's not a sentence that fit many Cavaliers, particularly the starters. Small forward Omri Casspi was 0-of-4 with two points and one rebound in 20-plus minutes. Power forward Antawn Jamison scored 15 points, while shooting 6-of-20 from the field.

The Cavs were 41.2 percent from the floor.

Other than Sessions, Anderson Varejao (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Alonzo Gee (15 points) were the home team's best players. They can't be the offensive leaders if the franchise plans to make a run at respectability.

The biggest problem, however, was a familiar one. The Cavaliers were shredded on defense, allowing the Raptors to shoot 53.2 percent, including 9-of-21 from behind the 3-point arc. Scott spent an entire season bemoaning the Cavs' lack or trust and communication on defense. They were the culprits again on opening night.

"That is the biggest thing to me," said Scott, who made defending a priority in training camp. "We have to get better on the defensive end. That's the bottom line."

The Raptors placed seven players in double figures, led by 15 from Calderon and DeMar DeRozan. Toronto used a 15-2 run early in the second quarter to build a nine-point lead. The Cavs cut the deficit to two points early in the fourth quarter, but that's as close as they would come.

The team's best defense of the night might have come after the game in the locker room as they rallied around their rookie point guard.

"I told Young Fella, you've just got to be patient," Sessions said. "You've got 65 more [games]. At the end of the game I showed him his assist-to-turnover ratio. The shot is gonna come. But that's the stat you want when you run the team. He ran the team. Seven assists and one turnover? You'd take that any day of the week."

Former North Ridgeville star Jordan White overcomes setbacks for All-American finish at Western Michigan

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But if an award ever were given for perseverance and overcoming a mountain of personal obstacles, White would deserve it.

wmu-white-leap-umich-horiz-gsphoto.jpgView full sizeWestern Michigan's Jordan White, a North Ridgeville grad in his sixth collegiate season, had one of the year's best receiving seasons and completes his college career Tuesday in the Little Caesars Bowl against Purdue.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Justin Blackmon will make some NFL team very happy next year, maybe even the Browns. The Oklahoma State junior, voted the best wide receiver in college football, caught 113 passes this season. That was second-most in the country.

Some kid named Jordan White was first with 127.

Jordan who?

After starring very quietly at North Ridgeville High School, White will complete a record-setting career at Western Michigan in Tuesday's Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Purdue in relative obscurity.

White was also first in the nation with 1,646 receiving yards, and second in touchdown receptions with 16. With 110 more receiving yards, he'll become the Mid-American Conference's all-time career leader. He already holds all but three of his school's receiving records -- this at a place that produced Greg Jennings, the top target of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his rollicking Super Bowl offense.

"If he was anywhere else [in major college football], he would have been in the discussion for the Heisman," said Josh Gattis, White's position coach at WMU.

Coaches are prone to hyperbole, but he's probably right.

Although White caught 12 passes each against Michigan and Connecticut, and 14 at Illinois this season, MAC player don't win Heismans or even Biletnikoff awards, given to the game's most gifted receiver. (White was a semifinalist.) But if an award ever were given for perseverance and overcoming a mountain of personal obstacles, White would deserve it.

At 23, White is a sixth-year senior who hears his share of old-man jokes from teammates. The NCAA approved an extra year of eligibility, but not for academics. (He's already earned a degree in advertising and promotions and is working on a master's in business administration.)

He's the senior citizen of the Broncos' locker room because he lost two seasons -- one for each knee.

From flag football in fifth grade through high school, White never got seriously hurt. Never even dinged enough to sit out a play or two. Then, in 2006, with White penciled in to start as a true college freshman, his right knee popped on the fourth day of practice. He tore an anterior cruciate ligament, one of joint's four major connectors.

"When that happened to him, it hit him pretty hard," said his mother, Sharon Gall. "But I think being a first born [of three], he's very determined and hard-headed."

wmu-white-mug-zc.jpgView full size"I wouldn't go back and change anything," says former North Ridgeville star Jordan White, "because I believe it's made me a better player and a better person."

After that redshirt season, in which schools can extend a player's eligibility because of an injury or other reasons, White returned in 2007 to catch 19 passes and his first college touchdown. He was back, or so it seemed. Then he ripped the ACL in his other knee. The 2008 season was wiped out, too.

Some doctors advised him to hang it up. "But I couldn't do that," White said.

In fact, the second recovery was much easier, he said, because he already understood what it took to get back on the field.

"It's more mental than physical," he said.

Mental, indeed. That same year, his father James White, who played football at LSU and made the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1985, suffered a brain aneurysm while driving west on I-480 in Garfield Heights. His car crossed the median and struck a pick-up truck head-on, killing the driver. White was flown to Metro Hospital, slipped into a coma and has been in that condition ever since. He's in Louisiana being cared for by his mother and two sisters.

Until the accident, White was an active Browns alumni member -- even though he only dressed for the last game of the '85 season.

Through it all, Jordan White somehow persevered.

"Just wake up every day and try to do the best I can," he said. "I wouldn't go back and change anything, because I believe it's made me a better player and a better person."

His best has been outstanding as his game took off this season -- partly because of the NFL lockout.

Green Bay's Jennings, who lives near the Western Michigan campus in Kalamazoo, spent some of his summer working with White on speed, pass routes and other nuances of the position. White, at 6-0, 215 pounds, also studies videos of such NFL standouts as Carolina's Steve Smith, Houston's Andre Johnson and New England's Chad Ochocinco.

"Jordan White is great," said WMU head coach Bill Cubit, "because he wants to be great."

That may be, but he was largely overlooked coming out of high school, where he was honorable-mention -- not first- or second-team -- All-Ohio in Division II in 2005.

Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell, who coached receivers at Ohio State at the time, said he wasn't even aware of him. Louisville showed interest but didn't offer a scholarship. White chose WMU over Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green.

Six years later, postseason rewards are rushing in. White was a Walter Camp Football Foundation second-team All-American, joining Blackmon, Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles and USC's Robert Woods. The American Football Coaches Association selected him and Blackmon as its two All-American receivers.

His 2011 highlight? Easy. He scorched Toledo for 16 catches, 238 yards and three touchdowns in a 66-63 loss.

"As fine a football player as we played against this year," said Paul Nichols, Toledo's co-defensive coordinator. "He's tough, he's strong, he can run every route. He's a complete receiver."

White's game against Toledo was marred by two fumbles, one of which was returned for a Rockets touchdown. Those errors shouldn't leave a mark with NFL scouts, but competing in the MAC and his knee injuries leave some questions he'll have to resolve in college all-star games and at the NFL Combine.

Cleveland sports agent Andy Simms projects White as a fourth- to seventh- round pick, based on feedback from scouts.

From, "Jordan who?" to possibly Jordan White, NFL receiver. Sometimes, in private moments, he and his mother make sure it's all real.

"Jordan's like, 'Mom, can you believe this?'" said Gall, a Continental Airlines maintenance employee. "You almost want someone to pinch you. These were dreams, you know?"

A frustrating debut for Kyrie Irving is no surprise as Cleveland Cavaliers open with a loss: Terry Pluto

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For the Cavs, the season opens with a struggling point guard and a loss at home. Watch video

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So how did Kyrie Irving look to the fans at Quicken Loans Arena?

How about like a 19-year-old point guard in his first NBA game. A sentence like that means is was a long night for the No. 1 pick in the Cavaliers' 104-96 loss to Toronto. While some fans will focus on Irving's miserable 2-of-12 shooting night, the other eye-opener and heart-stopper for the kid from Duke was Jose Calderon.

Young Mr. Irving probably knew very little about Calderon until this night. The former star in the Spanish pro league who has spent the last six seasons in the NBA torched Irving not only for 14 points, but 11 assists. Irving was destroyed on the pick-and-roll, and the Cavs' lack of team speed -- especially when Antawn Jamison and Omri Casspi were together at forward -- meant many of Calderon's passes led to dunks and layups.

After the game, Byron Scott discussed Irving having "opening-night jitters."

"He looked OK for playing in what was probably his fifth game [actually fourth] this year [2011]," Scott said. "He had seven assists and one turnover. The only thing he didn't do was shoot the ball well."

Because of a turf toe injury, Irving played only 11 games at Duke -- and only three after January of 2011.

Scott understands the attention, especially since he felt the same spotlight once upon a time when he was rookie guard with the Lakers. He came to L.A. in an unpopular trade that sent Norm Nixon to the Clippers. So you can be sure Scott will try to deflect as much public pressure as possible, assuming Irving's work ethic and attitude remain strong.

The rookie NBA point guard is much like the rookie NFL quarterback. The game seems quicker, and it is as Irving must adjust from a 35-second clock in college to 24 seconds in the NBA. The players are stronger, tougher and older. Calderon is 6-3, 211 pounds and 30 years old. He has played pro ball for 11 years on two continents. He's a middle of the pack NBA point guard who averaged 8.9 assists last season and seems to rarely make a poor pass while having 50 ways to dribble past a young defender.

Defense will be among Irving's biggest challenges. So will clock management, as he too often heaved long jumpers (his shot looks flat right now) too soon. There was a reason the offense flowed better with Ramon Sessions (15 points, seven assists), and the reason was experience.

Sessions is in his fifth pro season, and has learned what it takes to survive and sometimes thrive in the league after fighting to make a team as a second-round pick in 2007 and assigned to start his rookie season in the D-League.

Irving had six points, and the only time that he went to the foul line was to shoot a technical.

Veteran fans may remember how Kevin Johnson struggled in his rookie season, until he was traded to a more up-tempo style in Phoenix. Part of the reason the Cavs drafted Johnson was that Mark Price had a rocky rookie year.

Meanwhile, rookie forward Tristan Thompson had a "wonderful" first game, said Scott. Give the power forward from Texas a nice boxscore of 12 points and five rebounds. The 50 percent college free-throw shooter was 4-of-6. He is a relentless runner, jumper and tenacious on defense. He probably should have played more than 17 minutes.

That's especially true as power forward Jamison got his 20 (shots), but just 15 ugly points as he shot 30 percent from the field, 50 percent at the foul line.

It won't be long before Thompson sees more action. Irving will continue to play in crunch time, even when Sessions is clearly having the better night.

As Scott said, "It's good for the rookie to be out there. ... I've got to learn what this young man can do."

In time, it probably will be quite a lot. But patience will be the theme of the season when it comes to Irving.


In defeat, Ramon Sessions rises beyond the arc to give Cleveland Cavaliers a surprising lift

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The veteran contributed 18 points and six assists off the bench, showing a new-found shooting touch.

sessions-drive-raptors-vert-gc.jpgView full sizeRamon Sessions displayed his ability to drive in Monday's season opener, but it was his improved long-range shooting that surprised in the Cavaliers' loss to the Raptors.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As a seasoned veteran of four NBA seasons and with the wisdom of 25 years of life, Ramon Sessions has earned the honor of being labeled a mentor and the right to call just about anyone on this Cavaliers team a "Young Fella."

He reserves that moniker most often for Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 draft pick who debuted Monday night in the Cavaliers' 104-96 loss to Toronto, named the starter over Sessions at point guard earlier in the day.

As in, it's OK if the Young Fella took the starter's role from Sessions.

Really.

And it's fine if the Young Fella falters in the season-opener while Sessions' come-to-the-rescue 18 points and six assists off the bench pushed the Cavaliers to challenge the Raptors in the end.

He knows for a fact that the Young Fella will get better, and when that happens the two point guards -- with Sessions' improved outside shooting -- will provide a steady and solid backcourt.

"Young Fella can play," Sessions said. "He's not just the No. 1 pick and he doesn't have a clue what's going on. He picks up things real good. He asks me a few things, and I try to give him as much advice as I could. We're a team. We're here to win games."

Sessions did his best against Toronto. He embraced his new role by leading the second unit to provide the bulk of the scoring (51 points) in a second-half comeback after trailing by 15 points. As a starter for only about one-third of his NBA career, Sessions is accustomed to knowing the role of a backup.

"We know the second unit has to come out there and bring energy," Sessions said. "We're not out there for extended time like the starters, so we can bring a little more energy."

But new to Sessions' arsenal is a reliable outside shot. In his career, Sessions has never hit two 3-pointers in a game. Last season, he made three 3-pointers, total. In his career, he has hit 13 shots behind the arc, averaging just 17 such attempts per season.

So in the extended off-season, he spent hours launching 3-pointers in the gym with his cousin until he felt as if he developing some consistency. Against Toronto, he hit two of his four long-range attempts, bolstering his 6-for-12 night from the field.

"Getting to the basket is still my game," Sessions said. "[But] it's something I went into the summer trying to work on, and I built up enough confidence to shoot them in games."

Sessions might be a veteran on a team that ranks fourth-youngest in the league with 3.3 years of experience, but he's still working on his game. With Sessions' improved shot off the bench, and Irving's improvement as the starter, there is hope for the backcourt.

"I've been through the wringer with what we went through last year," Sessions said. "It wasn't the best season we wanted to have, but I can teach the guys some of the stuff. I know Coach [Byron] Scott's system very well, and I can teach the guys some stuff. I'm just trying to learn and not repeat what happened last year."

For starters, Cleveland Cavaliers have a dubious season debut -- Days of Wine-n-Gold blog

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Cavs starters converted just 17-of-51 attempts on a night they were outplayed by their reserves Watch video

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Raptors, 104-96View full sizeCleveland Cavaliers forward Alonzo Gee survived a scary fall on a night he was one of the team's more effective players in a 104-96 loss
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At least nobody got hurt. That's maybe the best thing you say about the Cavaliers' 104-96 opening-night loss to the Toronto Raptors at The Q.

And even that wasn't a given early in the second quarter. Alonzo Gee's fall after a dunk was so frightening and violent it's amazing he sprung to his feet after landing on his neck and shoulders.

“The adrenaline that was flowing probably kept him going," coach Byron Scott said. "I think he’ll feel it (Tuesday) morning a little bit."

Gee's thud -- it came after a traveling call that nullified the basket -- summed up a frustrating evening for the home team.

Rookie Kyrie Irving struggled on both ends in his NBA debut -- shooting 2-of-12 for six points -- and many of his veteran teammates were equally ineffective in losing to the Raptors.

Irving will have plenty of chances to make good on his No. 1 overall selection in the June draft. He's 19-years-old and playing the most demanding position for a rookie. On this night, blame was as easily as spread as warm butter. The Cavs defended poorly, allowing the Raptors to hit 9-of-21 3-point shots. Their lack of communication and trust also was evident as Toronto repeatedly worked the ball inside for 48 points in the paint.

Scott was most disappointed in his team's defensive play, a focal point of training camp. The problems Monday night were similar to a season ago, especially in defending the 3-point shot.

“I thought we took a little bit of a step back on the defensive end after the last couple weeks (of practice and training camp),” Scott said. “We probably had a little lack of trust and communication, but that is something we will continue to work on.”

While the scoresheet doesn't reflect it, the Cavs appeared to get beaten on the boards. Is it me or did the Raptors seem to grab every meaningful rebound? They also blocked nine shots -- all in the first half.

Antawn Jamison had a tough night all around. He was a step slow in half-court defense and he launched 20 shots, hitting just six to contribute 15 points. Omri Casspi had a dubious debut with two points and one rebound in 20-plus minutes. He is returning from a knee injury so we'll see how he plays in the coming games.

Overall, the Cavs starters were a combined 17-of-51 (33.3 percent) from the floor while the subs converted 18-of-34 (52.9 percent). Anderson Varejao was the most effective starter with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cavs' second unit kept the game from being one sided. Point guard Ramon Sessions was the team's best player with 18 points and six assists. Gee, who added 15 points, and rookie Tristan Thompson, 12 points and five rebounds, also played well. Thompson, 20, did not appear nervous in his NBA debut. He was active in the paint and aggressive for much of his 17-plus minutes. The Cavaliers had to be thrilled with his production.

His friend and fellow rookie, Kyrie Irving, never found a rhythm. Part of it was due to Raptors veteran point guard Jose Calderon. The Spaniard made Irving work on defense. Calderon drove past him on several occasions to set easy buckets for teammates. On the other end, Irving looked a bit rushed as he shot early in some possessions. He made some nice passes and finished with seven assists and only one turnover.

I liked that Scott put him back into the game with under six minutes remaining and the Cavs trailing by eight points. It would have been easy to stay with Sessions, who was solid throughout. But Scott wants to see how his rookie guard reacts under pressure. Some fans will question the wisdom of it, but this season is about developing the youngsters.

A more curious decision was sticking with Ryan Hollins on a night the 7-footer collected no points and one rebound. Samardo Samuels never got off the bench. Scott explained that Hollins was serving as backup center for this game. The coach is trying to assemble a rotation based on two preseason games which isn't easy. But the guess here is Samuels gets a shot Wednesday night in Detroit.  

   


    
 
 

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Who will win and by how much? Poll

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The game will end the season for the Browns, who are 4-11. The Steelers, 11-4 and playoff-bound, defeated the Browns, 14-3, in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8.

jerricho-cotchery.jpgJerricho Cotchery scores Pittsburgh's first touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger during the Steelers' 14-3 win over the Browns on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh.



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns will finish their 2011 season on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Browns Stadium.



The Browns are 4-11, in fourth and last place in the AFC North, five games behind the third-place Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) and seven games behind the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens (both 11-4).



For the Browns, it will be the finish to their 11th losing season in 13 campaigns since returning to the NFL as a franchise in 1999.



For the Steelers, who have clinched a playoff berth, it's a must-win game if they hope to win the division. Baltimore, also guaranteed a playoff spot, owns the tie-breaker over Pittsburgh, and would clinch the division title with a win at Cincinnati on Sunday. The Bengals, meanwhile, would lock up a wild card playoff spot with a win or tie against the Ravens.



The Steelers defeated the Browns, 14-3, in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8 -- the game during which Steelers linebacker James Harrison landed his infamous helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, who suffered a concussion on the play. Tony Grossi wrote the game story for The Plain Dealer.



Cleveland.com's Browns history database includes Plain Dealer stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history, through the 2010 season. Click here for the first of five cleveland.com pages that link to Plain Dealer game stories on every Browns vs. Steelers game in the history of the series.



The usual one-sided nature of the rivalry has been well-documented in recent years.



A short summary:



The Browns have won 56 regular season games against the Steelers and lost 61. Pittsburgh has won both playoff meetings, defeating Cleveland in a 1994 season second-round playoff game and in a 2002 season wild card game.



After joining the NFL in 1950, the Browns won their first eight games against Pittsburgh and 16 of the first 18. The Browns led the series, 32 wins to nine for the Steelers, until Pittsburgh dominated the rivalry from the mid-1970s into the early 1980s, winning 14 of 16 games during one strech.



When the Browns left Cleveland for Baltimore -- becoming the Ravens -- following the 1995 season, they had won 52 regular season games against Pittsburgh and lost 40.



Since the series resumed with the Browns' return in 1999, Pittsburgh has won 21 of the 25 regular season meetings with Cleveland, including 15 of the last 16.





Nothing to gain from playing McCoy Sunday - Browns Comment of the Day

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"It makes no sense to play Colt. The team can just be honest and say they want to see what Seneca can do in this game to compare with how Colt played against the Steelers. Everyone knows the Browns are seriously contemplating a change at QB next year." - clevebrown1

freeney-chase-mccoy-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeColt McCoy hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh.
In response to the story Cleveland Browns' Pat Shurmur won't rule out Colt McCoy vs. Steelers on Sunday, cleveland.com reader clevebrown1 thinks the Browns gain nothing by playing McCoy against the Steelers. This reader writes,

"It makes no sense to play Colt. The team can just be honest and say they want to see what Seneca can do in this game to compare with how Colt played against the Steelers. Everyone knows the Browns are seriously contemplating a change at QB next year."

To respond to clevebrown1's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cavaliers need to make lineup changes - Comment of the Day

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"Tristan Thompson should start. Samuels should play. Jamison should play less. Hollins shouldn't play at all. Why couldn't Irving and Sessions play together down the stretch?" - lambbone

ramon-sessions.JPGView full sizeRamon Sessions had a nice start to the season for the Cavaliers.
In response to the story For starters, Cleveland Cavaliers have a dubious season debut -- Days of Wine-n-Gold blog, cleveland.com reader lambbone has some lineup changes in mind. This reader writes,

"Tristan Thompson should start. Samuels should play. Jamison should play less. Hollins shouldn't play at all. Why couldn't Irving and Sessions play together down the stretch?"

To respond to lambbone's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Walter Payton's life more bittersweet than pure "Sweetness"

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Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton lived the public life of "Sweetness." Privately, life wasn't so sweet.

  

BIOGRAPHY


Sweetness


By Jeff Pearlman


Gotham, 430 pp., $30




25BPEARLMAN_11894635.JPG"Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton," by Jeff Pearlman.

By Bill Lubinger

A s a boy, he tacked up a poster of his favorite NFL player on his bedroom wall. But the first time Jeff Pearlman finally met Walter Payton was the last time.

They spent about 30 minutes in an interview at Payton's home in Arlington Heights, Ill. By then, the explosive Chicago Bear in the poster, legs churning, deflecting tacklers like gnats, was shrunken and gaunt, eyes yellowed from a failing liver.

"Worst experience of my life," the author told his father later that night. "Like watching a superhero die."

In some ways, "Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton" re-creates that experience too, delivering the death of a manufactured image.

Payton, whose older brother Eddie briefly played for the Browns in 1977, was one of football's greatest running backs, and not just for his stats. He was beloved for his unmatched work ethic and lauded as a clean-living, fun-loving family man.

We, the fans, buy the packaging. We inflate celebrity, athletes especially. When the truth punctures, we're disappointed -- shocked even -- that our heroes are flawed and conflicted.

Payton's career spanned the mid-'70s to mid-'80s, well before The Smoking Gun and TMZ and athletes themselves began peeling back the facade with unfortunate Tweets.

Many books have been written about Payton, who grew up poor in segregated Columbia, Miss. Pearlman, a columnist and former senior writer for Sports Illustrated, leans on exhaustive research -- 678 interviews -- to detail the life of a complicated man.

Some of the findings conflict with Payton's own autobiography, including the revelation of a son out wedlock he acknowledged only with support payments. The boy was born just two months before Payton and his wife welcomed their second child. Soon after, he was named Chicago's "Father of the Year" by the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative.

Pearlman also shows the man was addicted to painkillers, contemplated suicide and, on the day he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, fretted that his wife and a girlfriend might run into each other. (They did.)

"Sweetness" is repetitive in spots and long. And honest. We see him sullen and moody, and just as easily as the locker room prankster, flicking earlobes and pinching behinds.

Even the nickname "Sweetness" was derived from football frivolity. During practice at Northwestern University for the Rookie All-Star Game, Payton teased Ohio State's hard-hitting Neal Colzie, "Your sweetness is your weakness!"

"At his core, Walter was incredibly insecure," the author quotes Bud Holmes, Payton's longtime agent. "He would do things to draw attention, but only if it looked like he wasn't trying to draw attention. He might go to a banquet and if they were bringing out steak he'd say, 'I don't eat red meat.' And . . . he'd ask for fish -- then complain it wasn't cooked right. An hour later, he'd be sneaking into McDonald's for a Big Mac, begging me, 'Don't tell anybody!' "

That insecurity drove him to out-train anyone else and strive to disprove doubters.

Bill Parcells, then a Florida State assistant coach, passed on young Walter out of high school for being too small. While in college at Jackson State, a girlfriend's mother once told him he wasn't good enough for her daughter. He was overlooked by the national press, finishing 14th in Heisman Trophy voting behind Ohio State's Archie Griffin.

Yet, no less than San Francisco 49ers coaching wizard Bill Walsh predicted he'd become the best who ever played. (Payton stands as the NFL's second highest all-time rushing leader.)

He certainly was among the most durable. He missed one game in 13 seasons.

That drive and indestructibility made his death, from bile duct cancer in 1999 at age 46, all the more incomprehensible.

Lubinger is a reporter for The Plain Dealer.

To reach this reporter: blubinger@plaind.com; 216-999-5531.

Cleveland Cavaliers, Alonzo Gee, are fine the morning after their opening-night fall -- Days of Wine-n-Gold

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The small forward had a similar fall after a dunk while playing in high school

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Raptors, 104-96Cleveland Cavaliers forward Alonzo Gee scored 15 points in 28 minutes Monday night in opening night loss to Toronto
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Alonzo Gee has improved his  footwork and shooting.

His hang time, at least where the rim is involved, still needs some work.

Gee supplied one of the few solid performances in the Cavaliers' 104-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors at The Q on Monday. But his 15-point outing off the bench was almost overshadowed by a spectacular second-quarter spill in which his hands slipped from the rim following a dunk and he landed on his neck and shoulders.

Remarkably, Gee popped up and remained in the game. He experienced no pain or headache, Gee said, from a hardwood crash that made ESPN's SportsCenter.

The second-year pro  hasn't seen the highlight and doesn't care to watch it. He answered numerous phone calls checking on his well being.

"I made sure I talked to everyone and let them know I was fine," said Gee, who was whistled for traveling on the play.

The Cavaliers can only hope they bounce back as quickly as the 6-foot-6 small forward. He assured coach Byron Scott that he felt fine and he was fit for practice. The coach has put a lot of work into boosting the confidence and fine-tuning the game of Gee, who played for San Antonio and Washington before joining the Cavaliers last season from the NBA Development League.

After the season and prior to the lockout, Gee occasionally came into town to get coached up from Scott. They worked specifically on his footwork and shooting.

“Obviously, we couldn’t get our hands on him this summer, but before he left, before the lockout we worked with him a few times,” Scott said. “I thought he was getting it then. It was just a matter of him getting comfortable and doing it.”

Gee played in Poland for several months during the lockout before returning ample time for training camp. Scott said Gee was the most pleasant surprise of camp, but that he still needs reassurance from the coaching staff.

"The biggest leap with Zo is he has some confidence,” Scott said. “Even in the two preseason games (in which Gee was 1-of-9 from the field ) I pulled him aside and told him, ‘You’re thinking too much – just play. You did all this work in the summer now put it to use. Just go out and play basketball like you are capable of playing. I thought (Monday) night he was free. He played like he was free.

“He wasn’t worried about making mistakes. I thought he did a heckuva job defensively which I know he can do night in and night out, but on the offensive end he gave us a good boost.”

Scott said the swingman is versatile enough that he would consider using him at shooting guard. The coach was asked if Gee was this season's pet project the way Daniel Gibson had been a year ago.

"He’s somebody I take a lot of pride in," Scott said. "I’ve seen where this young man has come from and how hard he worked."

Gee needs to work on his dismounts following dunks. He's actually had similar spill in high school.

"Ive done it before a while ago," he said "So I knew nothing was wrong with me."

PLAYING TIME

Gee played 28 minutes in the opener, taking some time away from starter Omri Casspi. The small forward played 20-plus minutes, but just 6:47 in the second half.

“It was a tough night for me and my team," said Casspi, who had two points and missed all four field goal attempts. ". . . I wasn’t as focused as I wanted to be,” Casspi said. “It is what it is . . . You get slapped in the face and you have to bounce back tomorrow.”

STATUS QUO?

Scott said he didn't expect to make any changes to his 10-man rotation.

"It’s just one game," he said. "We’ve got 65 more. Defensively, we have to make sure we’re on the same page. If we’re on the same page and teams beat us than more power to them. But when we have mishaps we had last night then it’s on us."

SESSION UNDERSTANDS 

Ramon Sessions said he had no problem with Scott's decision to replace him with 5:28 remaining and the Cavs trailing by seven points. Sessions scored 18 points and contributed six assists, but was lifted in favor of rookie Kyrie Irving, who had a tough NBA debut.

“That’s what the Young Fella is here for," Sessions said. "He started the game and he is going to finish it. The Young Fella is really talented. You guys have seen that. That’s his job. He’s the starting point guard. He’s going to finish the game.”

We will have a story on Scott's decision to play Irving down the stretch posted on cleveland.com in several hours


 

 
  

 

  
 
 

 

      


Where has the progress been? - Browns Comment of the Day

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"At the start of the season, coming off the lockout with a lot of new young guys and little time putting in a new system, you expect problems. My concern is that I don't see the team making progress under Shurmur. I actually don't think the team has gotten better as the season progressed." - aroundsince48

View full sizePat Shurmur's Browns have struggled all season offensively.
In response to the story Tony Grossi talks about the Browns' loss to the Ravens - Podcast, cleveland.com reader aroundsince48 is concerned about the lack of progress shown this season. This reader writes,

"At the start of the season, coming off the lockout with a lot of new young guys and little time putting in a new system, you expect problems. My concern is that I don't see the team making progress under Shurmur. I actually don't think the team has gotten better as the season progressed."

To respond to aroundsince48's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Ryan Hollins shouldn't be getting minutes - Cavaliers Comment of the Day

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"Anyone wondering why Hollins is getting minutes while Samuels and Harangody are DNP-ed? Hollins is atrocious. I don't care if he is 12 feet tall, he has a terrible attitude and no basketball sense at all." - Ryan Hollins is awkward when it comes to dating.

ryan-hollins-byron-scott.JPGView full sizeRyan Hollins has already drawn the ire of Coach Byron Scott and Cavaliers fans in this shortened season.
In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers fall in season opener to Toronto, 104-96, cleveland.com reader Ryan Hollins is awkward when it comes to dating. isn't sure why Hollins is even playing. This reader writes,

"Anyone wondering why Hollins is getting minutes while Samuels and Harangody are DNP-ed? Hollins is atrocious. I don't care if he is 12 feet tall, he has a terrible attitude and no basketball sense at all."

To respond to Ryan Hollins is awkward when it comes to dating.'s comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Cavaliers need to shore up defense, Terry Pluto writes

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The Cavs know there will not be many wins this season, but they need to find a way to play some defense, Terry Pluto writes.

terry28.jpgIt's going to be a long season for Anderson Varejao, left, if he has to spend most of his time trying to cover up for the defensive mistakes made by his teammates.

Along with giving their young players plenty of court time, the other goal for the Cavs this season is to become at least an adequate team defensively.

As was evident in Monday's 104-96 opening night loss to Toronto, the kids played . . . and no one young or old played much defense.

The lack of effort on that end of the court was the first thing mentioned by Byron Scott after the game.

The numbers were embarrassing, Toronto shooting 53 percent from the field, 43 percent from 3-point range. Raptors' point guard Jose Calderon blew past rookie Kyrie Irving, and the Cavs seemed clueless when it came to defending the pick-and-roll.

They also were out-rebounded, 45-37, by a team that is not known for being physically tough or strong on the boards.

So what happened?

Yes, rookie point guards usually struggle on defense. Yes, the quick training camp doesn't lead to much defense being taught. Yes, the Cavs don't have a single shot-blocker, although rookie Tristan Thompson may develop into that man.

But the Cavs' coach has to consider something else -- his starting lineup. Anderson Varejao will weigh about 112 pounds by Valentine's Day if the hustling center has to keep trying to cover up the holes created by his 19-year-old point guard and his two defensively challenged forwards.

Ok, it's only one game . . .

But this is a team that ranked 27th out of 30 teams in defensive field goal percentage (.475) last season. It was 30th in defensive 3-point percentage (.411).

It took only one game to see that if the Cavs continue to play Antawn Jamison and Omri Casspi together at forward, those numbers won't improve. What the two 6-foot-9 forwards have in their favor is size . . . and what they lack is footspeed.

Shooting guard Anthony Parker plays decent position defense, but no one has ever accused him of being a player blessed with quickness.

One of the reasons the second unit looked so much better is that it's more athletic with Alonzo Gee and Thompson at the forwards, Daniel Gibson and Ramon Sessions in the backcourt.

For whatever reason, Scott used Ryan Hollins as the backup center. He hauled down one rebound. I must have blinked and missed it. That was his contribution in 16 minutes -- along with three missed shots, a turnover and a defensive three-second call.

It's amazing how Hollins -- a high-jumper on the UCLA track team -- can work so hard and rebound so little.

But he does, year after year.

So a little Samardo Samuels, please.

But this isn't about backup centers, or even Jamison shooting so much -- and does he ever heave up the jumpers.

What Scott must consider is breaking up the Jamison/Casspi combination. One needs to go to the bench. It's doubtful that Scott will want to do that to Jamison.

It makes sense to flip Casspi with Gee, a bearish 6-foot-6 small forward who is sincere about defense.

While some fans dwelled on Irving's 2-of-12 shooting for six points, the most disappointing opening night performance belonged to Casspi. He is reasonably athletic at 6-foot-9, but Casspi had two points and one rebound in 21 invisible minutes.

It's far too early to draw any conclusions about 23-year-old Casspi, but he came from Sacramento, where defense isn't even a rumor. So he has some bad habits.

And it is only one game . . .

Consider that J.J. Hickson (traded for Casspi) came off the bench for the Kings, 1-for-4 from both the field and foul line for three points and five rebounds in 22 uneventful minutes.

Nonetheless, to upgrade the defense, the Cavs need to alter the lineup -- and also have defenders rush to jam up the lane whenever a guard is beat off the dribble.

That won't plug every leak, but it may stop that flood of easy baskets witnessed by Cavs fans in the opener.

Tony Grossi's scouting report: the Pittsburgh Steelers

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Tony Grossi scouts the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kickoff: Browns vs. Steelers, Sunday, 4:15 p.m. at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Record: 11-4.

Most recent game: Beat St. Louis Rams, 27-0, Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Coach: Mike Tomlin, 59-27, fifth year.

Series record: 63-56 (counting postseason).

Most recent meeting: Steelers won, 14-3, Dec. 8, in Pittsburgh.

League rankings: Offense is 11th overall (16th rushing, ninth passing); defense is first (ninth rushing, first passing) and turnover differential is minus-12.

Offensive overview:

bigben.jpgBen Roethlisberger was injured in the first Browns-Steelers game and sat out last week's victory over St. Louis. The Steelers would like to play him against the Browns on Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger, injured in the Dec. 8 meeting, hobbled through a four-interception game 10 days later against San Francisco and then sat out the Rams game on Saturday. The Steelers would prefer Roethlisberger play a half or so on Sunday to keep him sharp for the playoffs. Center Maurkice Pouncey, also injured in the first Browns meeting, might not be ready. Since backup center Doug Legursky also is out, next man up at center is backup guard Trai Essex. This would force previously demoted Chris Kemoeatu to starting left guard. The offensive line has been a revolving door all year, and, given Roethlisberger's ankle injury, it would appear to call for a more traditional game plan tailored for running back Rashard Mendenhall. He had his first 100-yard game in nine weeks against the Rams.

Defensive overview:

Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who missed the Dec. 8 game with a hamstring injury, is expected back for Sunday's game. That's one headache for the Browns. The other is serial headhunter James Harrison. After his one-game suspension for the cheap shot on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, yet another offense could affect Harrison's playoff availability. He had no questionable incidents against the Rams. With the Steelers' pass rush as fearsome as ever, the improvement in this unit continues to be in the secondary. Keenan Lewis and rookie Cortez Brown have emerged as surprise contributors when the defense adds a fifth and sixth defensive back.

Special teams overview:

Kicker Shaun Suisham is 21-of-28 in field goals with a long of 51 yards. He has 27 touchbacks. Punter Jeremy Kapinos has a gross average of 45.0 yards and a net of 38.1. Antonio Brown has a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown. He is ninth in the NFL with a punt-return average of 10.8 yards and is third in kickoff return average (27.7).

Players to watch

* Linebacker James Harrison: In two of the past three meetings, he has taken out Mohamed Massaquoi, Josh Cribbs and Colt McCoy with hits. Two of the three were deemed illegal, and he was suspended one game for the brutal helmet-to-facemask kill shot to McCoy.

* Running back Rashard Mendenhall: His 116 rushing yards were the most he had since Game 6 against Jacksonville. He needs 110 for his third straight 1,000-yard season.

* Safety Troy Polamalu: He was all over the field in the first meeting, and influenced just about every play at the end when the Browns had a chance to take the lead.

Injury report

OL Legursky (shoulder) is out. WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot) missed the past three games. C Pouncey (high ankle) missed the past two games. QB Roethlisberger (high ankle) missed the last game.

Small world

Former Browns coaches include Bruce Arians (offensive coordinator), John Mitchell (defensive line) and Keith Butler (linebackers). . . . Quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner was born in Cleveland and is the son of former Browns DB Ross Fichtner. . . . Linebacker Harrison is an Akron native and played at Kent State. . . . Quarterback Roethlisberger is a native of Findlay, Ohio, and played at Miami (Ohio).

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott happy with development of forward Alonzo Gee: Cavaliers Insider

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Coach Byron Scott likes what he's seen from Alonzo Gee: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider.

gee.jpgForward Alonzo Gee (33) has made a good early impression on Cavaliers coach Byron Scott.

Alonzo Gee

has improved his footwork and shooting.

His hang time, at least where the rim is involved, still needs some work.

Gee supplied one of the few solid performances in the Cavaliers' 104-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors at The Q on Monday. But his 15-point outing off the bench was almost overshadowed by a spectacular second-quarter spill in which his hands slipped from the rim following a dunk and he landed on his neck and shoulders.

Remarkably, Gee popped up and remained in the game. Gee said he experienced no pain or headache from a hardwood crash that made ESPN's "SportsCenter."

The second-year pro hasn't seen the highlight and doesn't care to watch it. He answered numerous phone calls checking on his well being.

"I made sure I talked to everyone and let them know I was fine," said Gee, who was whistled for traveling on the play.

The Cavaliers can only hope they bounce back as quickly as the 6-foot-6 small forward. He assured coach Byron Scott that he felt fine and he was fit for practice. The coach has put a lot of work into boosting the confidence and fine-tuning the game of Gee, who played for San Antonio and Washington before joining the Cavaliers last season from the NBA Development League.

After the season and before the lockout, Gee occasionally came into town to get coached up by Scott. They worked specifically on his footwork and shooting.

"Obviously, we couldn't get our hands on him this summer, but before he left, before the lockout, we worked with him a few times," Scott said. "I thought he was getting it then. It was just a matter of him getting comfortable and doing it."

Gee played in Poland for several months during the lockout before returning in ample time for training camp. Scott said Gee was the most pleasant surprise of camp, but that he still needs reassurance from the coaching staff.

"The biggest leap with Zo is he has some confidence," Scott said. "Even in the two preseason games [in which Gee was 1-of-9 from the field] I pulled him aside and told him, 'You're thinking too much – just play. You did all this work in the summer now put it to use. Just go out and play basketball like you are capable of playing.' I thought [Monday] night he was free. He played like he was free.

"He wasn't worried about making mistakes. I thought he did a heckuva job defensively, which I know he can do night in and night out, but on the offensive end he gave us a good boost."

Scott said the swingman is versatile enough that he would consider using him at shooting guard. The coach was asked if Gee was this season's pet project the way Daniel Gibson had been a year ago.

"He's somebody I take a lot of pride in," Scott said. "I've seen where this young man has come from and how hard he worked."

Gee needs to work on his dismounts following dunks. He actually had a similar spill in high school.

"I've done it before a while ago," he said. "So I knew nothing was wrong with me."

Playing time: Gee played 28 minutes in the opener, taking some time away from starter Omri Casspi. The small forward played 20-plus minutes, but just 6:47 in the second half.

"It was a tough night for me and my team," said Casspi, who had two points and missed all four field goal attempts. ". . . I wasn't as focused as I wanted to be. It is what it is . . . You get slapped in the face and you have to bounce back tomorrow."

Status quo?: Scott said he didn't expect to make any changes to his 10-man rotation.

"It's just one game," he said. "We've got 65 more. Defensively, we have to make sure we're on the same page. If we're on the same page and teams beat us, than more power to them. But when we have mishaps we had last night, then it's on us."

 

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