Cleveland

While the Cleveland Cavaliers may be inviting a handful of top-ranked win players to Independence for a workout, ESPN’s Chad Ford says that a pair of centers are the “early favorites” to be selected with the first-overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. The team is expected to host several non-centers to Independence on Wednesday, including Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore and Georgetown small forward Otto Porter Jr. In a chat conducted on Wednesday afternoon, Ford says that while there are several players in the mix, odds are that the Wine and Gold add a big man to their stable come June 27, be it in the form of Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel or Maryland’s Alex Len. “There’s more in the mix there,” said Ford, “but I think those two are the favorite.” While the majority of mock drafts have had the Cavaliers selecting Noel, recent murmurs have added Len’s name into the mix for the No. 1 pick due to his offensive skill set and ability to play from the start of the season. Ford, however, is sticking to his guns and penciling the Cavaliers in for the flat-topped Kentucky product. “Despite the Internet chatter, I don’t think it’s correct to say that the Cavs are leaning toward Len,” said Ford. “I think they’re using this week to evaluate everyone. Figure out who the best fit is and I think by early next week we’ll have a read on the favorite. To me it’s Noel until I hear otherwise from Cleveland and I’ve yet to hear otherwise.” [Related: Top Pick Debate: No Clear Answer, But Several Theories To Rule Out]

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in a huddle with his teammates during the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports It is the time of year when every NFL fans wants to believe their team has good things in store for the season ahead. That is particularly true of Detroit Lions fans who had to endure a terribly disappointing 4-12 season following a ten-win season and a playoff appearance. The Lions have done a good job adding talent at critical areas but there is more than good old fashioned optimism that says the Lions are primed for a bounce-back year. In fact, there are two metrics that say the 2012 Lions’ 4-12 season was an artificially low result. Statistical Underachievers The net difference between points scored and points allowed has been shown to be the best predictor of team success. If you want to know the particulars you can read up on Pro-Football-Reference but the basic premise is that an expected win value can be calculated based on how many points a team gives up and how many they score based on historical data. Cold Hard Football Facts tracks correlation between winning percentage and five different independent variables. After all the wheel turning CHFF lists the Lions as the second biggest underachiever checking in with 2.08 wins less than expected. In other words, while the Lions won just four games, they performed like a team expected to win six games. That doesn’t make the 2012 any less painful, but it does suggest their foundation heading into 2013 isn’t as bad as it might look according to the standings. Offensive Mix In yesterday’s ‘Scanning the Savanna’ I linked to a good article by The National Football Post’s Joe Fortenbaugh in which he recounted his experience working under current Cleveland Browns general manager Mike Lombardi. One of the things he learned from Lombardi was the target of 50 combined completions and rushing attempts. He notes the link between hitting (or getting close to) that magic number and team success. Fortenbaugh did the work of compiling the data for the 2012 season and the Lions were one of just seven teams to meet or exceed 50 combined completions and rushing attempts. Fortenbaugh took a look at the top ten for combined completions and rushing attempts per game and that group’s winning percentage checks in at .631. Conversely, the bottom ten teams for combined completions and rushing attempts had a combined winning percentage of just .387. The Lions find themselves in the “right” group but their 4-12 record makes them a severe outlier. Outliers have a tendency to not hang around so we have to ask ourselves what is more likely to change, the Lions’ record or their combined number of completions and rushing attempts? If you belive the Lions are going to mostly do what they have done in the past offensively, you’re left with the record changing for the better. Is all this a guarantee of success in 2013? Of course not, but don’t sleep on this team just because the win total took a steep step back last season.

Nights on the town here in Cleveland can get pretty goddamn rowdy. Simple excursions to the bowels of West 6th Street can end up as depraved, acid-bleached odysseys into the salt mines below Lake Erie.… [ Read more ] [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

New York based artist Mark Reigelman has created The Reading Nest, a new temporary art installation at The Cleveland Public Library in Cleveland, Ohio. You can watch a video of the installation – here Description The Reading Nest was inspired by mythical objects and symbols of knowledge. Concept: For centuries objects in nature have been associated with knowledge and wisdom. Trees of enlightenment and scholarly owls have been particularly prominent in this history of mythological objects of knowledge. The Reading Nest is a visual intermediary between forest and fowl. It symbolizes growth, community and knowledge while continuing to embody mythical roots. Process and Specs: The Reading Nest was created with discarded wood boards that were obtained through local Cleveland industrial and manufacturing sources. A basic wooden 2″x4″ armature was built and reinforced with 200′ of steel cable. The armature was cladded with over 10,000 discarded palette boards which were held in place by approximately 40,000 nails. It took a team of 5 guys 10 full days to complete the installation. The final work stands approximately 13′ tall and 36′ wide. Color: The Reading Nest is comprised of 10,000 reclaimed boards. 4,000 of these boards were left raw and weathered while 6,000 were painted with a gold exterior paint. The exterior of the nest is a combination of raw boards and golden boards while the interior is completely covered in golden boards. During the day the installation offers a powerful glow and an intense experience for visitors. This color choice was inspired by the legendary Griffin. This king of beasts, with the rear body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, is said to have made it’s nest of pure gold and, as such, protected it ferociously. The Griffin is regularly seen sculpted from stone and standing guard at the entrances of civic buildings across the country including The Cleveland Public Library. The project is presented by the Cleveland Public Library and LAND studio. Artist: Mark Reigelman Photography: Mark Reigelman and Bob Perkoski

Follow Kid Ink & crew as they continue the GKMC Tour w/ Kendrick & TDE across the Midwest. Watch as Ink stops at his Grandfather's house in Cleveland and links with fellow 2012 XXL Freshman Danny Brown and MGK in their respective cities. "Almost Home" EP on iTunes Now!

Even if it's not obvious to everyone watching, or evident in the results on the field and in the standings, Washington Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond told reporters last night that he sees signs of improvement in the 34-36 Nats, who are tied for second in the NL East after last night's loss in Philadelphia. "We're a good ballclub," Desmond said, "We've played some really good games, obviously we've played some not-so-good games, but we've got to give ourselves a chance to kind of come into our own this year." Is it the lack of consistency that's held the team back? "I think what you guys and what the fans see as a consistent effort or a consistent performance on the field is different than the way we see it," Desmond said, "We're playing cleaner games, we're playing better, we're getting better at bats. Right now it's not resulting in wins, but we're taking steps in the right direction, I've been saying it for weeks..." "I think what you guys and what the fans see as a consistent effort or a consistent performance on the field is different than the way we see it." - Ian Desmond to reporters after Tuesday's loss Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo, it seems, would agree with Desmond's assessment. On his weekly radio show on 106.7 the FAN in D.C., the Nats' general manager told hosts Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier this morning that he too sees signs of improvement. "I think you see the solidification of the rotation," Rizzo said. "I think that the starting pitchers have thrown extremely well. They've all given us a chance to win ballgames, including [Dan] Haren's [start Monday] night, he gave up four runs against the Phillies in this park, you're giving your club a chance to win. I think that the rotation has really solidified themselves. I like where the bullpen is at right now. I think our two lefties [Fernando Abad and Ian Krol] are throwing well and the back of our bullpen is throwing well. I feel that's coming along." "We just haven't gotten that big at bat and a big hit and a big rally to get us jumpstarted and get us over the hump." - Mike Rizzo on 106.7 The FAN in D.C. "I think our defense has been much better," Rizzo continued, "We've played much cleaner games in the last couple weeks. So, I think that's improving and we've been getting on base at a pretty good clip the last week, we just haven't driven them in. It was exemplified by those games at Cleveland, we had all those guys on base with less than two outs and couldn't get them in. So, the opportunities have been there. We just haven't gotten that big at bat and a big hit and a big rally to get us jumpstarted and get us over the hump." Could the Nationals get a boost from a returning Bryce Harper? The latest reports earlier this week said that the Nats' 20-year-old outfielder had been cleared to start walking and jogging as he ramps up the activity and begins working his way back. Though they offered no timetables when the team trainer spoke to reporters, Rizzo updated everyone on Harper's status on this morning's show. "I haven't seen him personally," the GM said, "He's improving daily. He'll be doing some baseball activities in the next day or so and then we'll evaluate him on a daily basis and I'm not going to put a time limit on it because I haven't physically seen him in his rehab myself, but all the reports I'm getting back are positive." "I'm talking about [Ryan Zimmerman]. [Jayson] Werth and [Adam] LaRoche. They're not doing the things we know they're capable of, they can lead by example." - Davey Johnson on 106.7 the FAN In D.C.'s The Sports Junkies Nats' skipper Davey Johnson told 106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s The Sports Junkies this morning that it's the middle of the Nats' order he wants to see get things going. "I think the big key for us," Johnson said, "is really the middle of our lineup has to start really stepping [forward]. And they're certainly capable. I'm talking about [Ryan Zimmerman]. [Jayson] Werth and [Adam] LaRoche.

Vinnie Pestano was been one of the better relievers in baseball in 2011 and 2012, but this year, when Cleveland has needed him, he has been pretty bad. It is not completely clear what the root of his struggles has been. Read more Vinnie Pestano news

Let me make something clear right off the bat: I unabashedly dislike LeBron James as an athlete.I rooted against him in Cleveland, slammed him for The Decision and yelled at him through my TV on an embarrassing number of occasions. So it’s safe to say my opinions on LeBron, Game 6 and his legacy should be taken with a dump truck full of salt. But this is America, so I’m going for it anyway.LeBron James is, at his best, the greatest basketball player I’ve ever seen. I was born in 1990, so unfortunately my memories of Michael Jordan are limited. I watched as Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won three straight championships. I saw Tim Duncan win four, and then Kobe two more.But I’ve never seen anybody do the things LeBron does. He defends all five positions, takes it to the rim at will, passes as efficiently as anyone, blocks shots, snags rebounds—the man does it all.Except, something seems to be missing. I can’t quantify it. I don’t know if there’s even a word for it. Killer instinct? Cold-bloodedness? Guts? Maybe.MJ had it. Kobe has it.At the end of the game, with the season on the line, do you have the gumption to take the last shot without doubting yourself? MJ and Kobe always believed the ball was going in on that last heave. With LeBron, it seems like he’s hoping and praying it goes in so he doesn’t have to face the world after coming up short again.Last night, LeBron single-handedly brought the Heat back from the brink of elimination with an unbelievable headband-less performance. I’ve never seen anything like it. He looked like a bully fifth-grader trying to impress his friends by facing off against five kindergartners. But then, all of a sudden, the game was on the line. The pressure mounted. And LeBron James made two consecutive and crucial turnovers. The Spurs had them dead to rights.At this point I’m thinking about LeBron’s tarnished legacy. One win and three losses in the NBA Finals. Two crucial mistakes in the biggest game of the season.Then Ray Allen bailed him out.So today, LeBron gets a pass. To his credit, he did record a monster triple-double. But I can’t forget him looking completely lost at the end of Game 6—not to mention his uninspired performance through the first three quarters. Lebron is great. He's really, really great. But legends don’t shrink in the biggest moments. That’s what made them legends in the first place. I’ve seen LeBron shrink too many times to be compared with the likes of MJ and Kobe.Who knows? Maybe Game 7 on Thursday will change my mind.I doubt it.

Mock drafts are always fun. They're even more fun when YOU get to choose what the teams do. We've been getting a lot of response to the SBNation Blogger Mock Draft, with you guys having a lot to say about the draft choices Dave (and the rest of the Bright Side Front Office) has been making. Well, here's your chance to run things your own way. Taking a page from Fear the Sword (check out their Community Mock Draft sign-up here), we have decided to give BSotS users a chance to participate in an interactive mock draft. In the comments section of this post, sign up for one of the 30 teams. The teams will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so whoever requests a team first will get assigned that particular team. I will be the Suns so pick anyone but them, please. Hehe sorry. The actual draft will happen live on Monday, June 24th at 10 pm EST/7 pm PT. We will do the draft on a live thread, which I will be updating as people make their respective teams' picks. Here are some rules: We are only drafting the first round. On draft day, you will have 5 minutes to make your pick once your team is up (like the real draft). If you fail to make your pick within those 5 minutes, I (or another moderator) will make your pick for you. To make your official pick, either post a comment (on the mock draft thread, not this one) with your pick in the subject line or email me a list of your top picks you think might be available at your spot ahead of time. TRADES ARE ALLOWED. However, I need to make sure they're valid so when you and another user agree to a trade, one of you needs to email me (sjasthi13@gmail.com) so I can approve them. If you can't be here on Monday night but still want to participate, you will need to email me your pick ahead of time. Please email me a few options of players you think will be available when you're picking, ranked in your order of preference. Pick your team in the comments section below (once again - first-come, first-served). You can/should also use comments to discuss trades with other users (you may also choose to provide your email address so others can contact you about possible trades). Feel free to ask any questions about something I may have forgotten to mention. Here is the order of the 2013 NBA draft. 1. Cleveland Cavaliers 2. Orlando Magic3. Washington Wizards4. Charlotte Bobcats5. Phoenix Suns - Richard6. New Orleans Pelicans7. Sacramento Kings8. Detroit Pistons9. Minnesota Timberwolves10. Portland Trail Blazers11. Philadelphia 76ers12. Oklahoma City Thunder13. Dallas Mavericks14. Utah Jazz15. Milwaukee Bucks16. Boston Celtics17. Atlanta Hawks18. Atlanta Hawks19. Cleveland Cavaliers20. Chicago Bulls21. Utah Jazz22. Brooklyn Nets23. Indiana Pacers24. New York Knicks25. Los Angeles Clippers26. Minnesota Timberwolves27. Denver Nuggets28. San Antonio Spurs29. Oklahoma City Thunder30. Phoenix Suns - Richard

By Michael HubermanCSNwashington.comRecord: 3-4Runs per game: 3.42Opponent runs per game: 3.42Batting average: .207Batting average against: .258Team ERA: 4.06HOT:Anthony Rendon, 2B – 10-23/1 HR/2 XBH/3 R/1.176 OPSRendon’s reputation as a hitter was no secret, but his excellent numbers at the plate have to be one of the more encouraging developments for the Nationals this season. In addition to hitting his first career home run, a game-winner Saturday night in Cleveland, Rendon is 17-for-43 (.395) with six doubles and has reached base safely in 11 consecutive games since his return to the majors.Stephen Strasburg, SP – 0-1/5 IP/1 ER/1.80 ERA/4 BB/4 SOIn his first start since being activated off the disabled list, Strasburg showed little rust. In five innings Strasburg gave up only one hit, and though he received the loss, Nationals fans had to breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of their ace dominating, including one stretch when he retired eight straight Indians’ hitters.Read more »