Cleveland News Orgy

Not only do we have to think about that loss to the Lebrons on Friday, but now word is coming that Cleveland is ready to sign a "surprise" Free Agent. However, being that today is March 1st and it's also the deadline for a player to be waived and still be eligible for the Playoffs, we'll know who this "surprise" Free Agent is very soon. That is unless Danny Ferry is completely full of shit...which is my guess. I'm thinking this Free Agent is either Joe Smith or Drew Gooden. SURPRISE! Then again this anonymous Free Agent could be this guy. The guy on the left silly. He recently told reporters he's in the market for a come back. Problem is no one wants him.

So let's get to the game on Friday night. I guess I was right to worry. The offense without Tim AND Manu just isn't good enough to keep up with great teams. Dallas and Portland aren't great teams. Hell, even the Cavs had trouble with our scraps. It wasn't until LeBron realized Michael Finley was guarding him (more on this in a second) that the game started to creep, and then run away. And hell, our scrubs are better than theirs. George "Long Arm of the Law" Hill, Malik Hairston, and POPS all played well with their extended 4th quarter minutes.

So now I come to the main point. Pop (not POPS) is either a stubborn bastard or a genius. Finley on LeBron? Really? You think an aging, 6'4 shooting guard can handle a young, 6'8, tank of a human being? Seriously? LeBron looked almost shocked that this guy was guarding him. He took advantage of Finley's spacing to hit at least 4 wide open jump shots in the first half alone.

Then came the defining moment of the game. James went in for a layup and thought he got fouled. The Spurs pushed the ball but came up empty on the other end. LeBron, always the defensive minded player, didn't even leave his end of the floor. So he was fairly open for three. No one closed out and he sank it. Knowing he could hit a three, he shot 2 more in a row. Who was defending him you ask. Michael Finley. Did Finley try to push him inside instead of letting him have open threes? Of course not. That would mean Michael Finley is a capable defender. And we all know that he's not.

What really got me was how Malik Hairston defended LeBron. Hairston might be 6'6 but he's probably closer to 6'4 1/2. Even so, he did amazingly well on LeBron for the brief time he was assigned to him. He even had a nice little block on LeBron in the lane. But obviously, Michael Finley is better. Because not too long after Hairston made that good defensive play, he was taken out. Makes sense.

All in all there was little chance the Spurs were gonna win the game. But Pop's (not POPS) decisions left me puzzled. Maybe he's saving some strategy for the Finals if it comes to that. I don't know. All I know is if I see Michael Finley guarding Kobe Bryant on March 12th, I'm gonna throw something.