Thank You LeBron: The End of an Unforgettable Era

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

Workers begin to take down the iconic LeBron James banner from the Sherwin Williams building on July 3. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

Four years ago, when LeBron James announced his return to the Cavaliers in an essay in Sports Illustrated, he made his goal clear: to bring the city of Cleveland their first championship since 1964. Two years later, he delivered on that promise with arguably the greatest comeback in NBA history. Now, almost four years later LeBron James has left the Cavs for the second time in his career, this time to join the Los Angeles Lakers. No, there is not the level of vitriol that was present when James “took his talents to South Beach” in 2010, but there is a wide sense of disappointment amongst Cavs fans. In his essay he wrote “I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when.” And a few weeks later he would say “I don’t plan on going nowhere. I don’t have the energy to do it again.” As emotional as the essay was, it now looks like a brilliant PR move than a love letter to Cleveland. But even though LeBron has departed for a second time, Cavalier fans should still feel great appreciation for a man who came home and kept his promise of bringing us a title.

This past season was perhaps the most tumultuous in Cavaliers history. It started with Cavs owner, Dan Gilbert and general manager, David Griffin mutually parting ways, followed by star point guard, Kyrie Irving’s trade request. The two decisions proved to hang over the team for the entire season and may continue to do so for years to come. The arrivals of Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, and injured point guard Isaiah Thomas culminated in an explosive team meeting in January. Then there was the total roster reshaping done by first year GM, Koby Altman on trade deadline day swapping out six players and adding George Hill, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr., and Jordan Clarkson. The moves reinvigorated LeBron after he slowed his effort down on the court for the good part of a month in protest to the team’s disfunction. The Cavaliers would finish as the four seed in the Eastern Conference and what followed would end up being a magical farewell tour to Cavalier fans from King James.

LeBron had the best statistical regular season of his career this past season averaging 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a career-high 9.1 assists. He finished as the runner-up to James Harden in the MVP voting. His postseason performance was the most dominant and arguably the most memorable of his 15 year career. He averaged 34 points, 9.1 boards, 9 assists per game. James scored over 40 points eight times in the playoffs including a 51 point master piece in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He had two iconic buzzer beaters: a game winning three pointer over Thaddeus Young in Game 5 of the first round against the Indiana Pacers and a running one-handed bank shot against the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. LeBron celebrated both buzzer beaters by standing on the scorers table at half-court and pounding his chest. These displays of emotion were the first time that James had ever shown this kind of acknowledgement and passion towards his hometown fans. Looking back on it now it was poetic and a way to say goodbye to the Cavalier faithful.

Yes, LeBron has left Cleveland for the second time and it is extremely bittersweet. As I look back and reflect on having the privilege to watch him over his 11 seasons in a Cavaliers uniform, I feel a sense of pride and gratitude to have witnessed the brilliance of the greatest basketball player of my generation. I was fortunate enough to be present for 3 of his 5 buzzer beaters with the Cavs and to experience a number of NBA Finals games. Because of LeBron returning home, I was able to experience a championship with my dad, a lifelong and die-hard Cleveland sports fan, before he passed away. The 11 seasons LeBron James spent in Cleveland are filled with memories I will never forget and will share with my children one day. So as “The Kid from Akron” heads to Hollywood, all I can say is Thank You LeBron for making good on your promise and giving me the best sports years of my young life.

“The Three-Match” 2017 NBA Finals Preview

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

Photo Credit: NBA.com

Cavs: Eastern Conference Finals: Beat Boston 4-1
Warriors: Western Conference Finals: Beat San Antonio 4-0

Season Series: Split 1-1

Game 1: Cleveland at Golden State, Thursday June 1 at 9:00 p.m.
Game 2: Cleveland at Golden State, Sunday June 4 at 8:00 p.m.
Game 3: Golden State at Cleveland, Wednesday June 7 at 9:00 p.m.
Game 4: Golden State at Cleveland, Friday June 9 at 9:00 p.m.
Game 5: Cleveland at Golden State, Monday June 12 (If Necessary)
Game 6: Golden State at Cleveland, Thursday June 15 (If Necessary)
Game 7: Cleveland at Golden State, Sunday June 18 (If Necessary)

Cavaliers forward, LeBron James finishes an alley-oop from J.R. Smith during Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

Tonight basketball fans finally receive the matchup they have been calling for since the Cavaliers historic comeback last June, the rubber match between the last two NBA Champions. “The Trilogy” marks the first time in NBA history that two teams have met in three consecutive NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors became the first team in NBA history to start the postseason with a 12-0 record after a sweep of the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals after two blowout wins. The defending champs would face some adversity as they blew a 21 point lead in Game 3 to drop their first contest of the postseason. After a slow start in Game 4, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James carried the Cavs to the Finals for the third straight year by taking Games 4 and 5. In Game 5, LeBron James passed Michael Jordan to become the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring leader and he also passed Manu Ginobli for third all-time in three pointers made in the playoffs. LeBron stated last summer that he would spend the rest of his career chasing the ghost of Michael Jordan and with the numbers he has posted so far this postseason it is clear that he is ready to lead his team towards another title. The King is having his most dominant postseason to date with averages of 32.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game. With the addition of Kevin Durant, this year’s Warriors team proves to be the toughest opponent LeBron has faced in The Finals. However, with the emergence of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love playing arguably the best basketball of his career, the Cavaliers can make this an epic conclusion to a legendary trilogy.

Key Matchup

Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35) celebrates his basket against the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their NBA first round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 16, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The matchup to watch for in this series is between the two star forwards, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Kevin Durant sent shockwaves throughout the NBA  last July when he announced he would be joining the Golden State Warriors. Despite missing 19 games with a knee injury, Durant has fit nicely with the Warriors this season and he has turned them into a historically dangerous team. KD has had a stellar postseason as he is shooting 55.6 percent overall and 41.7 percent from three point territory. Last year the Cavaliers focussed defensively on Steph Curry, thus forcing the struggling Harrison Barnes to beat them. The Cavs won’t have that luxury this time especially since Durant has already had some success against them. In the two regular season meetings between these juggernauts, Durant averaged 28.5 points per game on 51.3 percent shooting. Tyronn Lue will have LeBron start off with guarding KD, but it would be asking too much of the King to use all of his defensive energy on the Warriors forward. I expect the Cavs to give Durant a variety of looks that include Kevin Love and Richard Jefferson. LeBron is 18-5 against Durant, including a 4-1 victory over KD’s Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals. This year’s Finals could finally see Durant best LeBron with the help of Golden State’s other three All-Stars. Both superstars have almost identical numbers when they face off against each other which should result in a classic Finals clash.

Lansky’s Crazy Stat

LeBron James is the only player to rank in the top ten in points (first), rebounds (seventh), and assists (third) in NBA playoff history.

Bonus Stat

The Warriors (12-0) and Cavaliers (12-1) enter the NBA Finals with the fewest combined losses of any two teams since the current playoff format began in 1984.

Prediction

Kevin Love soars for a dunk on a fast break during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals May 23. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

Never before have two teams met in three consecutive NBA Finals and this series promises to be the heavyweight bout that fans have been dreaming of. The key for the Cavaliers in this series is to get back on defense especially on the fast break. The Warriors lead the league this postseason in fast-break points with 20.7 per game. The Cavs have improved defensively on the fast-break so far these playoffs, giving up 10.2 points per game which ranks fifth in the league. Golden State’s bread and butter is to make you pay on the fast break so is it is crucial that Cleveland plays defense. The way this strategy could swing in the Cavs favor lies with two men: Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love. Both Love and Thompson rank in the top ten for total rebounds this season with K-Love sitting third for defensive rebounds with 9 per game. TT is third for offensive rebounds with 4.2 per game. The rebounding from Cleveland’s big men will be vital in giving the Cavs second chances on offense and the potential to stops runs on defense during transitions. In addition to his rebounding skill, Kevin Love plays another crucial role in this series for the Cavs with his scoring. Last year, K-Love was seen as a weakness at times against the Warriors and his struggles showed. However this season, he has returned to the type of player he was in Minnesota. He caught fire in the Eastern Conference Finals averaging 22.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, and was a mind boggling 23 of 43 from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers do well when they can get Love going early and they will need to feed off of him during this series. You know what you will get from LeBron and Kyrie Irving, but if the Kevin Love from the Conference Finals shows up the Cavaliers will take this series. I believe the conclusion to this epic trilogy is going to be a hard-nosed, back and forth fight. Don’t expect any sweeps or 3-1 leads this time around as this is championship basketball at its finest. By sweeping through the West the Warriors have yet to face any true adversity and I think that will work in the Cavs favor.
Cavaliers in six.

Shipping Up to Boston: Cavs-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals Preview

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

Cavs Second Round: Swept Toronto 4-0
Celtics Second Round: Beat Washington 4-3

Season Series: Cleveland won 3-1

Game 1: Cleveland at Boston, Wednesday May 17 at 8:30 p.m.
Game 2: Cleveland at Boston, Friday May 19 at 8:30 p.m.
Game 3: Boston at Cleveland, Sunday May 21 at 8:30 p.m.
Game 4: Boston at Cleveland, Tuesday May 23 at 8:30 p.m.
Game 5: Cleveland at Boston, Thursday May 25 (If Necessary)
Game 6: Boston at Cleveland, Saturday May 27 (If Necessary)
Game 7: Cleveland at Boston, Monday May 29 (If Necessary)

Cavaliers guard, Kyrie Irving launches a three in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals on May 1 in Cleveland.
Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

The defending NBA Champions return to the hardwood tonight for the first time in 9 days after a second round sweep of the Toronto Raptors. The Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals opponent is a familiar foe in the number one seeded Boston Celtics. The Cavs once again put the question to rest about them “flipping the switch” with blowout wins against the Raptors in the first two games of the series. LeBron James has once again shown why he is the best player in the world by playing arguably the best postseason basketball in his career. King James became the first player in NBA history to tally 275 points, 70 rebounds, and 50 assists in the first eight games of the postseason. That type of dominance has Cleveland poised to earn their third straight trip as well as LeBron’s seventh consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics advanced to their first Conference Finals since 2012 after a Game 7 win at home against the Washington Wizards. The Celtics have faced some adversity so far this postseason overcoming a 0-2 deficit against the Chicago Bulls in the first round, while star point guard, Isaiah Thomas has been playing through the grief of losing his sister in a car accident the day before the postseason began. The Cavs and Celtics have met six times in the playoffs with Boston holding the edge 18-16. These two teams have had some classic postseason matchups, but if the Cavs continue to play at the level they have been this will be a short affair.

Key Matchup

Celtics guard, Isaiah Thomas drives to the basket in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals on May 7 in Washington D.C.
Photo Credit-Keith Allison

The matchup to watch for in this series is between Isaiah Thomas and the Cavalier’s defenders. It is no secret that Kyrie Irving is a weak defender and because of this Tyronn Lue will have to limit the times that Kyrie guards Thomas. “IT” is Boston’s go to scoring option with averages of 25.4 points on 44 percent shooting with 6.5 assists a game in these playoffs. Thomas is also shooting 34 percent from beyond the arc so far this postseason. Lue’s defensive game plan of double teams and traps gave both Paul George and DeMar DeRozan trouble during the first two rounds. Look for Lue to use this same strategy against Thomas to force his teammates to beat the Cavs. In the four regular season meetings against Cleveland, Thomas averaged 29.5 points, 6.5 assists, and he shot 21 percent from three point range. Because of Kyrie’s defensive weakness, I expect J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to guard Thomas during parts of this series. If Cleveland successfully slows down Thomas, Boston’s other players will have a daunting task. On April 5 in the season finale between these two teams, the Cavaliers came out firing and played great defense in Boston to win 114-91. Isaiah Thomas was held to 26 points after scoring 31 plus points in the previous three meetings. During that April 5 matchup the Celtics second leading scorer was Jae Crowder with 13 points, while both Horford and Kelly Olynk added 12 points. If the Cavs can turn in more defensive performances like this they will have make short work of the Celtics.

Lansky’s Crazy Stat

LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to score 35 plus points in every game of a four game sweep. He also completed his eleventh career sweep, which is the most by any player in NBA history.

Bonus Stat

With their sweep of the Raptors, the Cavaliers became the first team in NBA History to start 8-0 in consecutive playoffs.

Prediction

After sitting for nine days, the story of Game 1 will be if the Cavs have any issues with rust. The Cavaliers have stressed the importance of rest in between playoff series these last three years and have made sure to hit their conditioning hard during the extended break. This is a veteran team and they have shown that they have benefited from the rest and haven’t been too rusty at all. In order for the Celtics to have any chance in this series Isaiah Thomas will need help. Al Horford has finally evolved into the player the Celtics were hoping for all season on both sides of the floor. He is coming off a terrific series against the Wizards as he shot 67.6 percent from the field and 60.9 percent from three point range. As good as Horford has been for the Celtics this postseason it would be asking a lot for him to continue producing at the level he has been against the defending champs. Defensively, the C’s will rely on their lockdown wing defenders, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart to give the Cavs some fits. The Cavs bread and butter all season long has been to bury teams with their shooting. Cleveland has a mind boggling effective field goal percentage of 70.7 percent on catch-and-shoot jumpers this postseason, which is the best in the league. The Cavaliers front office built this team by surrounding LeBron James with shooters and it has proven to be very effective. Boston is a scrappy team and I expect the Cavs to face a little adversity in this series. In the end, the Cavaliers experience will reign supreme over a young Celtics team with a bright future ahead of them.
Cavaliers in five.

Cavs-Raptors Round 2 Preview

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

Cavs First Round: Swept Indiana 4-0
Raptors First Round: Beat Milwaukee 4-2

Season Series: Cleveland won 3-1

Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland, Monday May 1 at 7 p.m.
Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland, Wednesday May 3 at 7 p.m.
Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto, Friday May 5 at 7 p.m.
Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto, Sunday May 7 at 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland, Tuesday May 9 (If Necessary)
Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto, Thursday May 11 (If Necessary)
Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland, Sunday May 14 (If Necessary)

LeBron James reacts after a dunk in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quaterfinals against the Indiana Pacers. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

After a first round sweep of the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers return to action for the first time in 8 days to play host to the Toronto Raptors tonight. This second round matchup will be a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, a series that the Cavs took in six games. This year’s matchup proves to be tougher for the defending NBA champs as the Raptors have some new pieces on their roster to challenge King James. Toronto’s acquisitions of big man, Serge Ibaka and the sharpshooting PJ Tucker should make for an interesting series. Cleveland jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first round against the Pacers. They quickly silenced any doubts about them “flipping the switch”, as the Cavs rallied from a 25-point halftime deficit to take Game 3 by a score of 119-114. Cleveland squandered fourth quarter leads in three of the four games against the Pacers, something that they can’t afford to do against a dangerous Raptors team. This matchup may arguably be the most difficult of any potential matchup the Cavs may face in the Eastern Conference playoffs this season. Shutting down Toronto’s superstar backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan will be key for the Cavaliers.

Key Matchup

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports

The matchup to watch for in this series is between point guards Kyrie Irving and Kyle Lowry. Lowry broke his wrist in late February causing him to miss 21 games. Toronto’s All-Star point guard is still trying to find his form again after averaging 14.3 points per game against the Bucks in the first round. He shot 43 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three point land. Lowry is most dangerous off the pick and roll and he can make you pay by drawing fouls on his way to the basket. Kyrie Irving has struggled on defense his entire career and it will be crucial to the Cavs success that he plays smart against Lowry. Irving played very well in three games against the Raptors this season. He averaged 24.7 points, 5.7 assists and shot 47 percent from three-point range. If that Kyrie shows up the Raptors will have their hands full.

Lansky’s Crazy Stat

The Cavaliers swept Pacers guard, Jeff Teague from the playoffs for the third year in a row. Cleveland also swept Teague when he was on the Atlanta Hawks in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals and the 2016 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. I can’t recall any other player being swept by a single team in three consecutive years in each round of the conference playoffs.

Prediction

This year’s Cavs-Raptors matchup is highlighted by new additions for both teams. For Toronto, it’s Ibaka and Tucker who will both be used in different looks against LeBron James. Ibaka has proven to be a threat as he scored in double figures in four of the six games in the first round and he has the second most blocks in the Eastern Conference so far this postseason. For Cleveland, Deron Williams and Kyle Korver will both look to provide instant offense from beyond the arc. As mentioned earlier the key to beating the Raptors is to shut down DeRozan and Lowry. The best way to do that is to force them to make tough shots and keep them away from the foul line. DeRozan ranked fifth in the NBA this season for free throw attempts with an average of 8.7 times per game. Cavs guard J.R. Smith touched on DeRozan’s foul shooting this week saying, “If you can get out of the game with probably a foul or two, him shooting five free throws or less, that’s pretty good.” DeRozan averaged just 5.5 free throw attempts in last year’s conference finals, which proved to be effective. As bad as the Cavs defense has been, they have managed to average the third lowest opponent free throw rate in both the regular season and postseason. If the Cavs can force both Lowry and DeRozan to take contested shots down the stretch and keep them away from the charity stripe they will be in good shape. The Cavs once again showed how dangerous their offense is against the Pacers, but their defensive effort is still lacking. Cleveland became the first team since the 1995 Houston Rockets to allow 100 points in every game of a series sweep. The Raptors are a dangerous scoring team so it will be crucial for the Cavs to make stops and not blow fourth quarter leads. Cleveland has shown that they can “flip the switch,” now can they keep the switch on during crucial parts of the game? That question may define the remainder of the Cavs quest to repeat as NBA Champions.
The Cavaliers will win this series in 6 games.

A Gift From My Dad

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

My Dad and I with the Larry O’Brien trophy last August.

I was waiting to write about this until I was ready, but sometimes your plans change due to an amazing experience. I lost my Dad four weeks ago yesterday after a courageous battle with heart disease. My Dad was my best friend, my hero, and the strongest person I ever met. When I was a baby my father was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and was given 8 weeks to live. He defied the odds and went on to live a healthy life for more than 20 years. He was able to further his dream of being an elected official and it all culminated when he was elected Mayor of the City of Maple Heights in 2007 . My Dad was an inspiration to so many people, but his will to live and never give up attitude is what I will always carry with me. At a young age, my Dad got me hooked on sports taking me to the local sports games, autograph signings and sports card shows. Like any kid once I realized I would never become a professional athlete, I knew I wanted to do the next best thing which was to cover sports. Now with a journalism degree and almost one year removed from college I have my Dad to thank for giving me my dream. I wanted nothing more than to be able to tell my father that I got my first job in sports media, but I am now more motivated to make it in this industry with the same never quit attitude that he had.

As an aspiring journalist, I am always listening to the sports talk shows here in Cleveland. Last week, I was listening to the Really Big Show on ESPN 850 with Tony Rizzo and Aaron Goldhammer like I usually do in the mornings when I was inspired. Hammer encouraged any listeners coming to their draft party at the Hard Rock Rocksino to bring a good luck charm of some sort to bring the Browns good karma on arguably the most important draft night in franchise history. Anyone who knows my family knows what a huge collector my Dad was. He collected all things sports for me when I was little from bobbleheads to autographs. My sisters joke to this day that at one point when I was a kid if you would walk into my bedroom and jump the entire room would be shaking its head up and down at you from all of the bobbleheads. I knew I obviously couldn’t bring something like a bobblehead or an autographed picture so I had to find something small. This was sort of a difficult task considering my Dad gave up our Browns season tickets four years ago because he was finally fed up with the losing, but he still watched them every Sunday. I settled on a small plastic Browns helmet that he got me out of a gum ball machine.

The Next Level, Emmett Golden and Jerod Cherry, preview the 2017 NFL Draft at the Permco ESPN Cleveland Draft Party at the Hard Rock Rocksino on Thursday.

Fast forward to yesterday, the guys on RBS were sharing some tweets about what people were bringing to the Rocksino. I decided to tweet the show with a picture of the helmet in hopes that our special bond would finally bring the Browns some impact players. What followed was completely unexpected. Rizz and Hammer read my tweet on the air and the ESPN Cleveland Twitter account retweeted my tweet. The response was amazing! Many people reached out to me and one of them even shared a story about how he and his Dad bonded over football just like my Dad and I. This reiterated the fact to me that Cleveland sports fans are the best in the world. We have all experienced loss either with our beloved sports teams or our personal lives and somehow we always rally around each other. It’s that togetherness that makes Cleveland such a special place and it’s why people from out of town don’t understand why we love our home so much.

The Rocksino took care of my buddy Nate and I last night by providing us with the VIP experience for the draft party. It was an unexpected, but appropriate gesture because my father loved the Rocksino! Until his sickness progressed, there would be many times he would take me up there to have dinner and play the machines for a little bit. The draft party featured a buffet and the guys from ESPN Cleveland broadcasted all night. The mini Browns helmet definitely brought us luck last night as we selected three impact players and picked up a first round pick for next year (I will have more on this in my Browns draft recap this weekend). Before I left, both the Rocksino and ESPN Cleveland gave me some Bernie Kosar goodies. This whole experience had my Dad written all over it and I have no doubt in my mind he played a part in it. I want to thank Jill Middleton, Dave Shultz, and Sylvia Watson from the Hard Rock Rocksino for their generosity. The Rocksino was our favorite spot and it was so fitting that I had this experience here. I also want to thank Keith Williams and ESPN Cleveland for their kindness. Your radio station provides the best sports coverage in Cleveland and you always take great care of your listeners.

As much as I wanted to have my Dad watching this historic draft with me last night I know he was watching over me. He will continue to look out for me for the rest of my life because a part of him lives in me. I will use that part of him to chase my dream of making it in sports media just like he chased his dreams.

Browns 2017 Draft Preview

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

After going 1-15 in Hue Jackson’s first season as head coach, the Cleveland Browns hold the number one overall pick in arguably the most important draft in franchise history. Executive VP of Football Operations, Sashi Brown, has compiled an impressive amount of capital in the form of draft picks for this year and next year’s draft. Cleveland holds four picks in the first 65 selections with three of them being at the top of the first, second, and third rounds. Coming off the worst season in franchise history, this draft will be a make or break draft for the Browns “Harvard Brain Trust”. Sashi, chief strategy officer, Paul DePodesta, and VP of Player Personnel, Andrew Berry have amassed their vast treasure trove of draft picks from trading down in past drafts by using analytics. This year the trading down comes to an end as this draft class is loaded with elite talent especially on the defensive side of the ball. Cleveland needs help at almost every position and it will be pivotal to their future if they stay put for once to select some cornerstone players. It is crucial that the Browns nail their early picks this year as a part of their rebuild and I will give you my prediction for their top two picks.

Biggest Needs

  • Quarterback
  • Defensive End
  • Safety
  • Cornerback

Browns 2017 Draft Picks

  • Round 1-No. 1
  • Round 1-No. 12
  • Round 2-No. 33
  • Round 2-No. 52
  • Round 3-No. 65
  • Round 4-No. 108
  • Round 5-No. 145
  • Round 5-No. 175
  • Round 5-No. 181
  • Round 6-No. 185
  • Round 6-No. 188

No. 1 Overall-Myles Garrett, Defensive End, Texas A&M

Texas A&M defensive end, Myles Garrett. Photo: Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports

This pick is a no brainer to me. Myles Garrett is the consensus number one overall pick this year and it’s not even close. Garrett is the elite pass rusher that the Browns have never had and could easily build their defense around. At 6’4″ and 272 pounds, he put up freakish numbers at the NFL Combine by running a 4.64 40 yard dash, a 41.0 inch vertical jump, and 33 reps on the bench press. Garrett’s dominance at Texas A&M speaks for itself as he had 11.5 sacks as a freshman and 19.5 tackles for a loss as a sophomore with 12.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He battled a knee injury in the beginning of last season but still managed to record 15 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks in eleven games. There has been talk over the last few weeks that the Browns were split on taking Garrett or quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky with the first pick. While I do think Cleveland has legitimate interest in Trubisky with their second pick, I believe that taking him with the first pick would be a reach. Myles Garrett has the potential to be the next JJ Watt and the Browns CANNOT afford to pass on him. The Browns had the second worst rated defense in the NFL last season behind the San Francisco 49ers. Cleveland gave up 2,283 rushing yards last season, which was also the second worst in the league. Adding Garrett would instantly upgrade the Browns’ defense and would see the creation of a dangerous duo on the edge by pairing him with second year defensive end, Emmanuel Ogbah. As talented as Garrett is the one constant criticism that keeps popping up is the question of his motor. It was brought up again last week when Hall of Fame defensive lineman, Warren Sapp called him a “lazy kid that makes four plays a game.” Any questions about Garrett’s effort level will be put to rest when the Browns new defensive coordinator, Greg Williams gets to work with him. Williams is a no-nonsense coach who has a fiery passion for the game and you will be sure he will not let Garrett take any plays off. In my opinion the Browns have a very easy decision to make at number one by taking the best player in this year’s draft. However, if they don’t take Myles Garret at No. 1, the big man from Arlington, Texas has already issued a warning to the Browns in an interview with Sam Alipour of ESPN The Magazine earlier this month.

“If you don’t draft me No. 1, I will punish your team for the next 10 to 12 years. I’ll knock your QB out of the game every time we play you, and I’ll have to kick the hell out of No. 1, whoever it is.” -Myles Garrett

No. 5 Overall-Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina (PROJECTED TRADE)

North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

For years the Browns have made it an April tradition to trade down in the draft, but this year I predict that they will trade up from the twelfth pick to the fifth spot to take their franchise quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky. A trade at this position with the Tennessee Titans would make sense for multiple reasons. The first being that the Browns have history with the Titans after they traded down with Tennessee last year to select Corey Coleman with the No. 15 pick. The second reason this trade makes sense is that the Titans have their franchise quarterback already in Marcus Mariota and trading down would enable them to select a receiver to pair with him. It is very possible that Trubisky could still be on the board by the time the Browns pick at number twelve, but with another quarterback needy team picking at No. 6 in the New York Jets it may be too risky for the Browns to sit and wait. At 6’2”, Trubisky has the size and arm strength to be a successful starting quarterback, but the main concern that comes with him is the sample size. He started only 13 games at North Carolina after sitting his first two seasons behind three year starter Marquise Williams. Last season, Trubisky ranked fifth in the country with a 68.0 completion percentage while throwing for 3,748 yards with 30 touchdowns. He also ran for 5 touchdowns and 308 yards. The skills and numbers are there, but the Browns will have to have patience as it will take a season or two for Trubisky to develop. Sitting Trubisky behind Cody Kessler or possibly Brock Osweiler (if he is still on the roster by training camp) would not be a bad thing as he showed his potential after sitting for two years with the Tar Heels. The Mentor native has said it would be a “dream come true” to play for his hometown team, but we have seen the good and bad of this narrative before. Youngstown’s own Bernie Kosar was the last great quarterback the Browns had, while Lakewood native, Brian Hoyer was having a breakout season until he torn his ACL in October 2013. Being named the starting quarterback of the Browns already comes with enough pressure, but being the potential quarterback savior and a Cleveland native comes with enormous expectations. I believe Trubisky can handle the pressure and if the Browns truly believe he is their guy then they should move up to get him.

Lansky’s Final Take

Selecting the draft’s premier edge rusher and arguably the top quarterback in this class with their first two picks would be a monumental success for the Browns. If the Browns take both Garrett and Trubisky as well as addressing their needs at positions such as safety and corner, they will finally be on the right track on this long rebuilding saga.

Cavs-Pacers Round 1 Preview

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

Season Series: Cleveland won 3-1
Game 1: Indiana at Cleveland, Saturday April 15 at 3 p.m.
Game 2: Indiana at Cleveland, Monday April 17 at 7 p.m.
Game 3: Cleveland at Indiana, Thursday April 20 at 7 p.m.
Game 4: Cleveland at Indiana, Sunday April 23 at 1 p.m.
Game 5: Indiana at Cleveland, Tuesday April 25 (If Necessary)
Game 6: Cleveland at Indiana, Thursday April 27 (If Necessary)
Game 7: Indiana at Cleveland, Saturday April 29 (If Necessary)

LeBron James brings the ball up the floor against the Indiana Pacers on February 15. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

After a drama filled season the Cleveland Cavaliers are ready to defend their NBA Championship in the playoffs. The Cavs are set to face their Central Division rival, the Indiana Pacers in the first round. Critics have been all over the defending champs as they went 10-14 after March 1. The criticism grew louder as the Cavs squandered a one game lead for the number one seed to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference this past week to finish as the number two seed. Despite their struggles over the past few months, the Cavs have maintained their confidence level and a desire for the playoffs to begin.

“We have a good chance to win it all. But it starts with baby steps first and we understand that.” LeBron James

LeBron James expressed his confidence in his teams chances to repeat as NBA Champions to the media after the team’s first playoff practice on Thursday. And if you needed any more evidence of The King’s lack of concern about the Cavs recent struggles look no further than his Instagram account. Cleveland had the second worst defensive rating in the NBA since the All-Star break. The Cavs defensive effort was head scratching at times and couldn’t be summed up better than when they blew a 26 point lead in the fourth quarter to the Atlanta Hawks last Sunday. LeBron’s playoff performances need no explaining as the history speaks for itself. The real question is can the Cavs flip the switch during the playoffs? The answer to me is yes as they have shown the past two years they can do it. This season is no different as the Cavs field arguably their deepest roster in franchise history. Cleveland has the perfect opportunity to make a statement against Paul George and the Pacers in the first round.

Key Matchup

The matchup to watch for in this series is a no brainer: LeBron James and Paul George. These two superstar small forwards have had classic playoff battles in the past during LeBron’s tenure with the Miami Heat. We got a preview of this matchup on April 2 as the Cavs outlasted the Pacers 135-130 in double overtime. James and George put on a show with The King tallying 41 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists while PG13 had 43 points, nine boards, and nine dishes. This series should give us more epic highlights between James and George. And who knows maybe we will see another “kodak moment” between King James and Pacers guard, Lance Stephenson.

Lansky’s Crazy Stat

LeBron James has not lost a first round playoff game since May 6, 2012 against the New York Knicks. The King is 44-7 all-time in first round playoff games and his teams have never gone to a Game 7 in the opening round.

Prediction

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 04: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 4, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The last few months the Cavaliers having been itching for the playoffs to begin and now they will get their wish. The Indiana Pacers may have clinched a playoff berth on the final day of the regular season, but they are no slouch. When the question of slowing down the Pacers arises the obvious answer would be to stop Paul George. It’s not that simple as the Cavaliers will have to target Indiana’s backcourt to have success in the first round. The Pacers have multiple weapons at the guard position including Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, CJ Miles, and Lance Stephenson. Teague suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday’s season finale, but he is expected to be ready for Game 1 on Saturday. Ellis and Miles are both dangerous scorers that can get hot from beyond the arc at any moment. Stephenson is an excellent wing defender and as noted earlier he is a LeBron agitator.

The Cavs have proved all season long that they have no problem getting their offense going. The Pacers struggle at defending the three-point line, which is where Cleveland can hurt you the most. Kyle Korver punished the Pacers in two games this season by shooting 82.4% from three-point land. However, the key for the Cavs in this series and the entire playoffs is defensive effort. The defending champs have shown that they can play lockdown defense when it matters the most and they will have to prove it again against Indiana’s sharpshooting backcourt. The Cavaliers will win this series in 5 games.

 

A Cleveland Sports Fan’s Christmas Wish List

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

This year has been one of the most memorable years in Cleveland sports history and with Christmas approaching I thought it would be fun to share my wish list for every Cleveland Sports fan.

1. A Browns Win: Time is running out for the Browns to avoid becoming the second team in NFL history to go 0-16. At this point just one win would be nice.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) funnels the ball after he was sacked by Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake (91) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) funnels the ball after he was sacked by Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake (91) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

2. A Franchise Quarterback: With each loss the Browns seem more likely to end up with the first overall pick. Look for the Browns to take their Quarterback with one of their two first round picks.

3. A Power Bat: This offseason the Indians have been linked to sluggers Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo, and Cleveland favorite Mike Napoli.     I expect the Tribe to sign one of these powerful bats before Spring Training.

4. A Backup Point Guard: The Cavs were left without a veteran point guard after Mo Williams retired from the NBA this summer. The defending champs will trade for one in the coming months.

5. Browns Training Camp to Stay in Berea: A report surfaced last week that the Browns are working with the city of Columbus for a new training camp facility set to open in 2018. The move would be another blow to Browns fans in Northeast Ohio.

6. Ohio State’s Second National Title in 3 years: The Buckeyes take on the Clemson Tigers in the Semi-Finals of the College Football Playoff in the Fiesta Bowl on December 31.

7. A T-Shirt for J.R. Smith: J.R. has since found his shirt since stepping off the plane in Cleveland after the Cavs historic Game 7 victory, but the shirtless jokes will never get old.

8. Another UFC Event at The Q: Cleveland native Stipe Miocic successfully defended his UFC Heavyweight Championship on September 10th at The Q. Stipe’s victory has us begging for more UFC events in Cleveland in the near future.

9. A Boot For Draymond Green: Green’s kicking has continued into this season and it has already earned him a few flagrant fouls. Cavalier fans remember what Green did to LeBron in Game 4 of the Finals and they won’t forget it when the two teams square off on Christmas Day.

The Cavs championship banner heads to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena on October 25. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

The Cavs championship banner heads to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena on October 25. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

10. More Championships Next Year: 2016 saw the Cavs end the city’s 52-year title drought, Stipe Miocic capture the UFC Heavyweight title, the Monsters win their first Calder Cup since 1964, and the Indians come within one run of a World Series Championship. The future has never been brighter in the city of Cleveland and next year could see more gold brought home to The Land.

 

Taking a Look Back At a Magical October At Progressive Field

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

The scene before Game 6 of the World Series on November 1. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

The scene before Game 6 of the World Series on November 1. Photo Credit-Jeff Lansky

This year has truly been a historic one for sports in the city of Cleveland. Stipe Miocic started it off by capturing the UFC Heavyweight title on May 14. The Lake Erie Monsters kept the ball rolling by winning the Cleveland’s first Calder Cup title since 1964. And of course, the Cavaliers brought home the city’s first professional sports championship in 52 years by overcoming a 3-1 deficit to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. The Indians joined in on the fun by moving into first place in the AL Central in early June and they never looked back.

Tribe shortstop Francisco Lindor prepares to make a catch. Photo Credit-Erik Drost.

Tribe shortstop Francisco Lindor prepares to make a catch. Photo Credit-Erik Drost.

The Indians squared off with the Chicago Cubs in a World Series that lived up to the hype. It was a matchup featuring the two longest championship droughts in baseball with a combined 176 years without a World Series title. It was a classic World Series that was capped by a Game 7 for the ages. The Cubs had a 5-1 lead in the 5th inning until Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis scored on Jon Lester. The Cubs extended their lead to 6-3 in the 8th inning and were just four outs away from a world title when Aroldis Chapman entered the game. Brandon Guyer hit a RBI double to cut the Cubs lead to 6-4 with two outs in the bottom of the 8th. Rajai Davis stepped up to the plate and smacked a dramatic two-run homer to tie the game at 6. The game would go to extra innings, but not before a 17 minute rain delay stopped play after the conclusion of the ninth inning. With the heart of their lineup due up, the Cubs came out firing as Ben Zobrist hit a RBI double that broke the tie in the top of the tenth. The Cubs would tack on one more run with a RBI single from Miguel Montero. Just like all season long, the Indians proved to be a resilient group to the end. Brandon Guyer drew a two out walk in the bottom of the tenth to get on base. Rajai Davis would strike again with a RBI single to pull the Indians within one run. The Indians magic ran out as Michael Martinez grounded out to end Cleveland’s quest for their first World Series title since 1948.

Indians outfielder, Rajai Davis. Photo Credit-Wikimedia Commons

Indians outfielder, Rajai Davis. Photo Credit-Wikimedia Commons

Despite a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the World Series, I have never been more proud of a Cleveland team than I am of this Indians squad. All year this team was counted out, but it never seemed to matter to them. Through the injuries to Micheal Brantley, Yan Gomes, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, and Trevor Bauer, Abraham Almonte’s 80 suspension to being the underdog in every playoff series, the Tribe overcame it all. When Terry Francona spoke to the media before Game 7, he said something that perfectly depicted the city of Cleveland and the Indians. He said “This city reminds me of our team a little bit. They got pushed around, now they’re starting to push back.” The Indians were pushed around by the Cubs in Game 6 and the same continued for the early part of Game 7 until Rajai Davis pushed back. Davis was struggling with a .121 batting average in the postseason, but he delivered in the biggest at bat of his life with his first career playoff home run. Davis and the Tribe would fight back again the tenth inning, but it wasn’t enough. This magical season didn’t end the way the Indians had hoped, but Cleveland fans should be extremely proud of their team for fighting until the very end. I always knew that Cleveland was a tough city, but if there is one thing that I have learned from this playoff run is that Clevelanders have fallen in love with baseball again. You can see it from the sold out watch parties at Progressive Field for the World Series road games or the thousands that packed Gateway plaza that went berserk when Rajai blasted his improbable homer.

Indians second baseman, Jason Kipnis. Photo Credit-Erik Drost

Indians second baseman, Jason Kipnis. Photo Credit-Erik Drost

Indians fans have reason to be excited as the future is very bright at the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario. For starters, All-Star outfielder, Michael Brantley is expected to resume baseball activities next month and he should to be ready for spring training. Starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco will soon begin “strength work” and will start a throwing program in December. The Tribe have already picked up Carlos Santana’s $12 million option for next season as well as the 2019 and 2020 team options for manager Terry Francona. The Indians did not extend a qualifying offers to first baseman Mike Napoli or Davis, but they have interest in bringing back both. The most exciting thing about this team is that the majority of the roster is under team control for the foreseeable future. Brantley, Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, and Brandon Guyer are under control through 2018. Carrasco, Danny Salazar, and Jason Kipnis are under control through 2020 and the young superstar Francisco Lindor is under team control through 2021. This young team is built to contend for years to come. Baseball is a tough game to have repeated postseason success, but I believe the Indians will come back stronger from this season. The 2015 Kansas City Royals came back from a Game 7 loss in the 2014 World Series to win the whole thing the next season. This Tribe squad is built similar to that Royals team, which should give fans belief that the Indians can seal the deal next season. All season long the Indians gave Cleveland something to believe in and even though they fell short I have never been more excited for the future. This resilient bunch of ball players will be back on the grand stage soon and this time they will have some unfinished business.

2016 World Series Preview: Indians-Cubs

Posted on by Jeff Lansky

world-series-logo

Indians: ALCS: Beat Toronto 4-1
Cubs: NLCS: Beat Dodgers 4-2

Game 1: Chicago at Cleveland Tuesday, October 25 at 8:00 p.m.
Game 2: Chicago at Cleveland Wednesday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Game 3: Cleveland at Chicago Friday, October 28 at 8:00 p.m.
Game 4: Cleveland at Chicago Saturday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m.
Game 5: Cleveland at Chicago Sunday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 6: Chicago at Cleveland Tuesday, November 1 at 8:00 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 7: Chicago at Cleveland Wednesday, November 2 at 8:00 p.m. (if necessary)

Cubs third baseman, Kris Bryant. Photo Credit-Wikipedia

Tonight the matchup that baseball fans have been hoping for all season begins, as the teams with the two longest World Series droughts square off in The Land. The Chicago Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908 and are making their first appearance in the Fall Classic since 1945. The Cleveland Indians look to win their first championship since 1948 as they return to the World Series for the first time since 1997. With two lengthy title droughts on the line, this year’s World Series is shaping up to be epic. The Indians jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the ALCS thanks to terrific outings from starting pitchers, Corey Kluber and Josh Tomlin. In Game 3, starter Trevor Bauer attempted to pitch after slicing open his right pinkie while repairing his drone just days earlier. What followed was a scary scene, as Bauer’s stitches opened up and he was removed from the game after 21 pitches. Tribe skipper, Terry Francona showed why he is arguably the best manager in baseball by once again turning to his bullpen to carry his team to a 4-2 victory.

The pen was led by Andrew Miller who went on to win the ALCS MVP with some crazy numbers. Miller allowed zero runs on three hits in 7 2/3 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts and no walks. In the NLCS, the Cubs found themselves down two games to one to the Los Angeles Dodgers after being shut down by Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill. Chicago’s bats came alive outscoring the Dodgers 23-6 over the next three games to punch their ticket to their first World Series in seventy one years. The Indians are once again facing an offense that is red hot, but as they have shown so far this postseason they are more than capable of facing the challenge.

Key Matchup

Danny Salazar delivers a pitch against the Yankees. Photo Credit-Arturo Pardavilla III

The matchup to watch for in this series is Cleveland’s starting pitching against Chicago’s offense. Chicago’s powerful lineup got off to a slow start in the NLCS, but finally turned it around in Game 4. The Cubs responded to a 6-0 loss in Game 3 by drubbing the Dodgers 10-2 in the next game. First baseman, Anthony Rizzo was 1 for 11 in the first three games of the series until he hit a home run and two singles for 3 RBI’s in Game 4. Rizzo would go on to add two more RBI’s in the final two games of the series. Shortstop Addison Russell joined Rizzo in the scoring frenzy with 2 home runs and 4 RBI’s in Games 4 and 5. The Cubs ranked third in the majors in scoring this season with an average of 4.99 runs per game.

The Indians have faced two explosive offenses in the Red Sox and Blue Jays so far this October and they will once again have their hands full with Chicago. The Indians will have their ace, Corey Kluber on the mound for Game 1 with Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin starting the next two games. The order that Bauer and Tomlin pitch depends on the status of Bauer’s pinkie. The Tribe will also have ALCS Game 5 hero, Ryan Merritt available to pitch as well as Danny Salazar who has been out since September 9 with a right forearm injury. I believe that Salazar could be the “X Factor” in this series for Cleveland. He will obviously be on a pitch limit, but he could give the Indians a few solid innings of relief. The key for the Indians will be to get at least five innings out of their starters and then give way to their prolific bullpen.

Lansky’s Crazy Stat

Seven of the eight teams to win the ALCS in 5 games have gone on to win the World Series (The Minnesota Twins in 1987 and 1991, Oakland Athletics in 1989, New York Yankees in 1996, Anaheim Angels in 2002, and the Chicago White Sox in 2005). The lone exception was the New York Yankees in 2001.

Bonus Stat

The Indians and Cubs have gone a combined 176 years without a World Series title. The Cubs drought has lasted for 108 years. while the Indians last world title came 68 years ago.

Prediction

Indians first baseman Mike Napoli swings at a pitch during ALDS Game 3. Photo Credit-Arturo Pardavilla III

The Indians will win the World Series in seven games. The Tribe are the underdogs for the third time this postseason and it is evident that they like it that way. Francona’s team has thrived in this role and I expect them to do it again. There will be a lot of ups and downs in this series and it is important for Cleveland’s pitching staff to weather the storm of any offensive attacks from Chicago. The Cubs have shown that they can put up a ton of runs in a hurry so the Indians will need significant contributions from sluggers Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana to add runs of their own. The Cubs have one of the best rotations in baseball with John Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, and John Lackey. Lester has allowed 72 stolen bases since the start of last season. The Indians led the American League in stolen bases so their ability to run the bases will be pivotal in this series.

Just like the previous series, if the Indians can take the lead after 5 or 6 innings they can control the game with their bullpen. One team’s painful title drought is going to come to an end and I believe it will be the Indians. The Tribe have overcome every obstacle that has been in their way this year: injuries to Michael Brantley, Salazar and Carlos Carrasco and Bauer’s pinkie in Game 3. So what if the majority of the country is rooting for the Cubs to break one of the longest title droughts in American sports history, the Indians have used their doubters as fuel all year. The Tribe have been through too much to give in now and they are ready to bring home another title for Cleveland.