Cleveland's Sweet Release: Dust Settles After Jamison Trade

After Antawn Jamison's 0-12 debut with his new home team Cleveland sports fans, who in their defense have been on the receiving end of an abusive relationship with their professional sports teams for years*, had apathetically given up hope on the former Wizards general. Under the breath comments and offhand grumbles that they still hadn't found their missing piece. Quick to say goodbye to their playoff hopes, goodbye to their championship, and goodbye to Bron Bron. Resigning themselves to be self fulfilling victims in their own vicious cyclical history of dissapointment.

Now seven games into the new look Cavs', Cleveland can give a collective sigh of relief. Jamison is a stud, even though every year i admit I look at his birthday, 6/12/76 if you must know, and think "Well, great season last year. But he's getting up there..." Dude is 34 and coming off a surgery that would have ended a lesser mans tenure as one of the most versatile floor stretching power forwards of the 2000's. Sure Jamison's scoring per is down a couple points in Cleveland (a big throbbing K'DUH) on a team with this many active weapons it was to be expected. Really, my only worry for the Jamison-Cavs experiment, a formula that assures a lock on home court advantage during the playoffs is the very strange phenomenon Jamison's developed of shooting under 68% FT percentage at home this year, as opposed to a near 78% on the road. That being said Jamison is a VERY good look on a new look team. Dear Danny Ferry, it took you twenty years but you've finally made up for that 2nd overall draft pick... (For those of you NOT from Cleveland the Cavs infamously drafted Ferry ahead of Glen Rice, Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Cliff Robinson, Mookie Blaylock, and of course my boy Vlade "Dadi We Like To Party" Divac in 1989)

So after two games of adjustments and a little time to get back into sync after the roster retooling we are starting to see a Cav's team streaking to the finish line. Also of note is the return of Mo Williams, say what you will but without Mo this team is not a championship contender. What Mo gives this team besides a generally excellent line is a tremendous weapon that you simply cannot ever forget about. Mo Will I repeat WILL always get his... it's a promise. I don't care if Mo comes into the fourth quarter with 3 points on 1-6 shooting he will end that game with 12 points and 3 three's to go with 5 assists.

Shaq Out Until Playoffs

If Cleveland is the "Forest City" They'll be missing their biggest tree for a while longer. Shaq's finger ligament injury did indeed require surgery and sources say he won't be back until the second round of the playoffs, and that may be a best case scenario.

In the mean time Cleveland has reached out to a familiar face and fan favorite (as if we didn't see Z's buyout coming)and are testing the waters in talks with Big Z to see if they can't make it 12 years straight in Ohio for our favorite 7 foot Lithuanian. Mr. Illgauskus I'm convinced would love nothing more than to end his career in Cleveland even if it means eating a little crow and playing Shaq-up back up, maybe even Hickson back up at this point... Rookie J.J. Hickson's play has been phenomenal as of late if you haven't been paying attention (and yes I know it's been coming in blowouts of the Nets and Knicks but come on the kid can play!!) Don't believe me check out his high pressure D against Boston!!

Until next time be well and check back with Trippell Dubbell soon!!

*see: The Browns, The Bengals, The Cavaliers, and The Browns again. I'll let the Indians slide but only because Major League is pretty much the best movie about all heart, balls out, punk rock pitching ever made!!

COSA SALVAJE QUE PIENSO TE AMO!!