CLEVELAND, Ohio – Speaking to myself because the Cavaliers put together to open the season Wednesday:
QUESTION: What number of video games will the Cavs win this season?
ANSWER: I normally hate that query.
Q: Why?
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A: When LeBron James was right here, the variety of common season victories was virtually meaningless. The Cavs wanted sufficient to succeed in the playoffs, then James & Co. performed for actual. Even in LeBron’s first tour of responsibility, the common season was fairly irrelevant after a number of years.
Q: And when James wasn’t right here?
A: Predicting they’ll win 25 video games … or 28 … or 32? Who cares? They had been going to lose greater than 50. The common season additionally had a lame really feel to it. Again then, it was all about lottery ping-pong balls.
Q: However now?
A: The turnaround engineered by the entrance workplace of Koby Altman and Mike Gansey together with coach J.B. Bickerstaff and his workers has been beautiful. Whereas the 2021-22 season ended on a downer, they completed 44-38. They had been enjoyable to observe. They had been within the playoff race. They had been younger and so they defended. I beloved that group.
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Q: What was your prediction for 2021-22?
A: It was 32-50. I believed I used to be being optimistic. No less than it wasn’t the dumbest prediction I’ve ever made in regards to the Cavs.
Q: What was that?
A: I’m not saying. Too embarrassing.
Q: You’re underneath oath.
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A: Oh, boy. When James left for Miami in the summertime of 2010, I predicted the group would completed 46-36 with out him.
Cleveland Cavaliers Jamario Moon was the Cavs subsequent beginning ahead after LeBron James left in 2010.The Plain Vendor
Q: With Jamario Moon beginning a small ahead after LeBron?
A: I used to be indignant in regards to the Determination Present, and so on. I misplaced my brains.
Q: Have you learnt what they did that 2010-11 season?
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A: They’d a report of 19-63. They misplaced a franchise report 26 in a row.
Q: What did you are expecting the second time James left, which might be for the 2018-19 season.
A: I take the fifth, as a result of this may deliver me up on some sort of costs.
Q: Your prediction was …
A: Kevin Love was again. They’d Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, Tristan Thompson and about everybody else from the 2018 group that misplaced within the finals.
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Q: Your prediction was …
A: I believed they’d be 36-46.
Q: And so they had been?
A: (In a whisper) 19-63.
Q: In order that they had been the identical 19-63 in 2018-19 because the they had been in 2010-11 – each occasions the primary seasons after LeBron left.
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A: Is {that a} query?
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell poses for a photograph throughout media day, September 26, 2022, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Q: Simply establishing your historical past. What number of video games will this group win?
A: The Donovan Mitchell commerce modified the whole lot, not less than when it comes to elevating expectations. As one NBA government informed me, “Cleveland took an enormous swing with that commerce, and I’d have achieved the identical factor. There are occasions when you understand you’re giving up loads, however you do it. You seize the second.”
Q: The Cavs traded Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji and unprotected first spherical picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029 to Utah for a three-time All-Star.
A: A profession 28-point scorer within the playoffs who has three years left on his contract. The extra I believed in regards to the deal and talked t NBA individuals from different groups, the extra I grew to become extra passionate about it. Whereas Mitchell wished to be traded to New York, he has come throughout as able to embrace Cleveland.
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Q: What about on the courtroom?
A: That’s what has been intriguing. Watching the preseason video games, Darius Garland and Mitchell have blended collectively sooner than I believed. They nonetheless have loads to work out. However they clearly need to play collectively. Mitchell is a superior passer, ballhandler and defender than Collin Sexton. I discussed that as a result of some followers wrote me to ask what’s the distinction between the 2 gamers? Mitchell is bodily stronger.
Q: The prediction?
A: I like how Bickerstaff characterised Garland and Mitchell within the backcourt: “They play nicely collectively as a result of they perceive how you can play basketball … they’re two clever guys who makes photographs and know how you can move the ball.”
Q: Nonetheless ready …
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A: Bickertsaff additionally stated: “They’re so harmful, individuals (opponents) must take note of them. Individuals gained’t need to depart them open That’s going to assist all people.”
Q: Will you give me the numbers?
A: This group has to remain true to its defensive mindset. It has Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, two 7-footers who can defend. Mobley is on the verge of stardom. The protection nonetheless needs to be good, even when it’s not top-five as final season.
Q: Actually ready now ...
A: Bickerstaff known as the group “a piece in progress, a brand new fascinating dynamic.” That seems like a plea for endurance, and it’s to an extent. However the expertise is actual, even when Bickerstaff is correct when he’s says, “We’re not a completed product.”
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Q: Final probability…
A: The Cavs will end 51-31 and win a spherical within the playoffs. The final time a Cavs group gained not less than 50 video games with out James was 1992-93, the final season with Lenny Wilkens as coach.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the new sports season approaches, parents can take advantage of an opportunity to ensure their child is ready for the field, court or track. Hometown Urgent Care is offering free sports physicals on select days at each of their clinics.
To qualify for the free sports physicals, parents and guardians are required to pre-register their children. The free physicals will be available on designated days.
For days outside of the free promotion, sports physicals are available for $25.
For more information on the free sports physical days or to pre-register your child, visit www.myhometownuc.com or contact the clinic directly.
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Below are Hometown Urgent Care’s locations throughout northeast Ohio:
Akron area
Hometown Urgent Care – Akron
Address: 472 E. Waterloo, Akron, OH 44139
Hometown Urgent Care – Barberton
Address: 49 5th Street SE, Barberton, OH 44203
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Hometown Urgent Care – Cuyahoga Falls
Address: 2967 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
Hometown Urgent Care – Massilon
Address: 1111 Lincoln Way E, Massilon, OH 44646
Hometown Urgent Care – Streetsboro
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Address: 9300 State Route 14, Streetsboro, OH 44241
Hometown Urgent Care – Wooster
Address: 4164 Burbank Road, Wooster, OH 44691
Cleveland area
Hometown Urgent Care – Berea
Address: 205 W Bagley Rd., Berea, OH 44107
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Hometown Urgent Care – Euclid
Address: 22595 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid, OH 44123
Hometown Urgent Care – Garfield Heights
Address: 12813 Rockside Rd., Garfield Heights, OH 44125
Hometown Urgent Care – Lorain
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Address: 2251 Tower Blvd., Lorain, OH 44053
Hometown Urgent Care – Mentor
Address: 6006 Andrews Rd., Mentor on the Lake, OH 44060
The Cleveland Guardians made their first move of the 2024 MLB trade deadline with the acquisition of Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas. It was a move that improved one of the main weaknesses that the team had.
While Thomas is a solid addition, the Guardians could still use some more help if they want to make a run at a championship this season.
Keeping that in mind, Chris Antonetti, the team’s President of Baseball Operations, has spoken out and hinted about more trades coming in the near future.
“We’re definitely not done pursuing things. Whether or not that leads to another deal or more deals, it’s really hard to forecast.”
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Antonetti did honestly state that the trade market has been a tough one to navigate this year.
“It was one of the reasons we went out and signed Matt Boyd a couple of weeks ago because we were anticipating this was going to be a challenging market. That’s proven to be the case.”
Acquiring Thomas was a move to improve the offenses potential. Antonetti spoke out about what he expects the veteran outfielder to bring to Cleveland.
“We feel we’ve been able to do that by bringing Lane into the organization. He’s a versatile outfielder, a guy that’s capable of playing center field, right field and can contribute offensively, defensively and on the bases.”
In order to get Thomas, the Guardians had to give up a lot of value, something that Antonetti also spoke out to the press.
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“We gave up a lot of value, but that’s what the market necessitated. We gave up three players that we think have a chance to go on and have bright futures and it’s painful to make deals like this, but this is one we felt we had to make.”
All of that being said, it doesn’t sound like Cleveland is done following their move to acquire Thomas.
More trades appear to be likely, assuming the Guardians can find a team that wants to deal as well. It will be interesting to see what Tuesday brings for Cleveland.
The host for “The Biggest Party of the Summer” has been announced.
On Monday evening, WWE announced during the WWE SummerSlam 2024 “go-home” episode of Monday Night Raw who will be hosting the premium live event this weekend.
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It was revealed that Cleveland’s own The Miz will serve as the official host for this year’s WWE SummerSlam show at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH.
Make sure to join us here on August 3 for live WWE SummerSlam 2024 results coverage.
