Cleveland, OH

Cavaliers looking to build on promising season

Published

12 months ago

October 20, 2023

Cavaliers looking to build on promising season

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) — A triumphant return to the NBA playoffs for Cleveland last season ended with a thud.

The Cavs were bullied and bounced in the first round by the New York Knicks, who exposed Cleveland’s lack of toughness, outside shooting and depth.

What You Need To Know

The Cavs are hungry and out to prove a 51-win season was no fluke

With All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland they have one of the NBA’s top backcourts

Entering his third season, forward Evan Mobley invested in a home gym and nutrition plan to add some needed muscle to his slender, 6-foot-11 frame

With Mitchell around, All-Star guard Darius Garland has had to morph into more of a playmaker than scorer.

The Cavs spent much of the summer stewing over what went wrong and figuring out how to fix it. Forward Evan Mobley added muscle thanks to a home gym and a better diet.

The Cavs are hungry and out to prove a 51-win season was no fluke. With All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland they have one of the NBA’s top backcourts.

Last season: 51-31, reached Eastern Conference playoffs, lost to New York Knicks in first round.

Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff (fifth season with Cavaliers, 122-125; ninth season overall, 207-256).

What to expect: All-Star Donovan Mitchell’s arrival accelerated the Cavs’ rebuild and pushed them back into the postseason for the first time since 2018, when LeBron James headed to California. The good vibes didn’t last, however, as the Cavs were bullied by the Knicks, who exposed Cleveland’s biggest weaknesses — physicality, outside shooting and depth.

The Cavs spent the summer stewing over the early exit while making plans to stop it from happening again. Entering his third season, forward Evan Mobley invested in a home gym and nutrition plan to add some needed muscle to his slender, 6-foot-11 frame. Mobley’s defensive game is on point. What the Cavs need is more offense (Mobley averaged 16.2 points) from the still-improving and still-growing 22-year-old.

Bickerstaff has promised his team will be more physical and play with a faster offensive tempo. That should mean an uptick in 3-point attempts and the Cavs signed Max Strus (37.1% on career 3s) and Georges Niang (40.3% on 3s) as deep threats whose mere presence can open the floor.

With Mitchell around, All-Star guard Darius Garland has had to morph into more of a playmaker than scorer. He’s still figuring out that balance. Mitchell’s uncertain future with Cleveland will be a storyline until it’s not.

Although he’s under contract for two more years with the Cavs, Mitchell has long been linked to his hometown Knicks. His decision not to discuss a contract extension this summer only fueled speculation he’ll eventually leave. At some point, the Cavs may have to weigh moving Mitchell or risk losing him for nothing. That decision is still far off, but it’s imperative Cleveland starts well to stop the narrative from gaining traction.

Departures: F Kevin Love, F Cedi Osman, C Robin Lopez, F Danny Green, F Dylan Windler, F/G Lamar Stevens.

Additions: F Max Strus, F Georges Niang, F Tristan Thompson, C Damian Jones, G Ty Jerome.

Player to watch: Rookie F Emoni Bates. A tantalizing talent, the 19-year-old was among the most intriguing players in the draft — Cleveland took him at No. 49 — and his stock is rising. Bates has played well during the preseason, reinforcing the Cavs’ belief he can be a future rotational player. He’s signed to a two-way contract and will split the season between Cleveland and the G League Charge.

Season opener: Oct. 25 at Brooklyn before opening at home on Oct. 27 against Oklahoma City.

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Cleveland, OH

‘This is still terrifying’: Police respond to multiple citywide, social media-organized ‘street takeovers’

Published

1 hour ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

‘This is still terrifying’: Police respond to multiple citywide, social media-organized ‘street takeovers’

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) – Police in Cleveland said they responded to several “street takeovers” all across the city Saturday night.

According to Police Chief Dorothy Todd, the takeovers involved individuals shutting down traffic, shooting off fireworks, attempting to light fires and shooting at officers with pellet guns.

Todd said the calls came in for multiple locations of vehicles gathering and blocking traffic after 11 p.m.

Some of the locations included:

West 25th Street and Lorain
Roses Plaza on West 65th Street
Steelyard Commons
East 105th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
East 93rd Street and Opportunity Corridor
East 55th and Woodland Avenue
I-90 West Freeway near West 14th Street

Todd said I-90 had been shut down by the suspects who blocked traffic, shot off fireworks and tried to light fires.

She said they were unsuccessful at lighting the fires because of the wet roadways.

Melvyn Beck, a party bus driver, said his bus was stopped during the I-90 incident. He also said he filmed from inside the vehicle as a masked individual clung to his window.

Beck said his door was also defaced, and he called 911 20 times Saturday night.

Fortunately, no one on the bus was harmed.

Officials said at least one officer was hit by a pellet gun. Some residents also reported firearms that were pointed at them.

However, Todd said there were no serious injuries.

“But this is still terrifying,” she said.

The Cleveland Police Department said an Instagram post Saturday evening warned of these events, which were allegedly organized by someone from Cincinnati.

Police said they were monitoring the activity to see if the incidents would happen.

“Unfortunately, they did show up in the area,” Todd said.

The vehicles seen in the areas had license plates suggesting they were both local and from out of town.

These sort of incidents have occurred in a number of major cities, according to Todd. She said this may have been a part of a social media trend.

“This is more than a traffic issue. These are felony crimes,” Todd said.

Officials said they will continue to work to identify these involved individuals.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Police called after firefighters find body in burning car

Published

11 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

Cleveland Police called after firefighters find body in burning car

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police were called to the scene of a car fire after firefighters found a body in the vehicle Saturday morning.

According to Cleveland Police, officers responded to the scene at the intersection of East 138th Street and Aspinwall Avenue just after 2:15 a.m.

Cleveland firefighters were called to the scene earlier for a car fire. Firefighters put out the fire and found a body inside of the burned car.

Cleveland Police say the body was taken to the medical examiner’s office for identification.

The Cleveland Police Homicide Unit is still investigating.

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Cleveland, OH

Milta Iris Segarra Obituary 2024 – Slone and Co. Funeral Directors

Published

18 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

Milta Iris Segarra Obituary 2024 – Slone and Co. Funeral Directors

Milta Iris Segarra, 66, of Cleveland, Ohio passed on September 27, 2024. She was born on August 17, 1958 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey to the late Manuel Segarra and Julia Figueroa.

Milta is survived by her devoted husband, Anibal Rios Quinones, and her cherished children, Marko Rios, Sara Lacey, Elizer Torres, and Jonathan Torres. She found immense joy in being a grandmother to Ariyanna Bargainer, Aaliyah, Andrew, and Andre Lacey, as well as Jaiden, Torrey, and Janiya Rios. Each of her grandchildren held a special place in her heart, and she relished the time spent with them.

Milta was born into a loving family and leaves behind her sisters, Diana Smith and Wanda Segarra Cruz, as well as her brothers, Daniel, Richie, and Samuel Segarra. She was also an adoring aunt to her niece Justine Cruz and her nephews Juan Carlos Cruz, Shane Smith, and Tyler Smith.

Milta was preceded in death by her beloved son, Gabriel Rios, whose memory will remain forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

A graveside service to honor Milta’s life will be held on October 1, 2024, at Riverside Cemetery, located at 3607 Pearl Rd, Cleveland, OH at 12:00 PM. Please meet at the cemetery gates at 11:45 AM.

Milta Iris Segarra will be deeply missed, yet her love and spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of her family and all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Arrangements entrusted to Slone & Co. Funeral Directors, 13115 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44111.

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