Podcast 7/5/17: On NBA Free Agency, Chauncey Billups & Our 3-on-3 Teams

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

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2017 Episodes Of Triple Threat CLE Radio Show
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NBA Finals Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors Part III

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

Finally, after a long drown out NBA season we finally have the last two teams left...and its the Cavaliers and the Warriors for the third straight year. Both teams are healthy heading into the finals and everything is lined up for another epic battle.



How Golden State Can Win:

There is no denying Golden State is a talented team. The team that won a NBA record 73 games last year added arguably one of the top five players in the game in Kevin Durant. The Warriors are a dangerous team in transition. And during the playoffs they are currently undefeated. The Warriors rank first during the playoffs in Points per game and assists per game, and second in field goal percentage and total rebounding per game.

There are a lot of factors for Golden State this series. Draymond Green is currently averaging 14 points eight rebounds and 7 assists per game. He's also shooting 50% from the field and 47% from behind the three point arch. Klay Thompson has been struggling during the playoffs. Only averaging 14 points on 38% shooting and 36% from three. Even if Klay continues to shoot poorly his effort on the defensive end can make up it. And lets not forget about Steph Curry. He is one the best shooters of all time and he can get hot at any moment of the game. He's averaging 28 points during the playoffs on 50% shooting from the field including 43% from three.

If the Warriors shoot like they have been and can crash the boards as a team then there is a very good chance the Warriors can pull a win.



How the Cavaliers Can Win:

Its hard to say the Cavs don't have a chance during the finals. They have the best damn player in the world in LeBron James. During the playoffs the Cavs rank first in field goal percentage and first from behind the three point arch. They have struggled on the glass even though they have Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, and LeBron.

As long as LeBron James keeps on doing what LeBron James does which is Averaging 30+ points per game, 7 assists and 8 rebounds all while shooting 56% from the field and 42% from three. His effort on the defensive end and the leadership he brings are all things that honestly can't be quantified.  And if you have LeBron on your team...you can never be counted out.

Kevin Love finally seems comfortable in the Cavaliers' system. He's averaging 17PPG and 10RPG, while shooting 47% from three. Hopefully Love will be able to play a bigger impact than he did during last year's finals. Yes, he did suffer a concussion and ended up missing a game because of it, but even when healthy he didn't play well until game seven.

And lets not forget about "Mr. Fourth Quarter" Kyrie Irving. The Cavs are undefeated when he records a double-double. Irving is averaging 24 PPG on 46% shooting and 36% from three. Irving has really come into his own this season. Playing a majority of the games this season and has just started to reach his prime.

The Cavaliers main "X Factor" in the finals is Tristan Thompson. His ability to switch onto smaller perimeter players in pick-and-roll defense is second to none...heck he might be the best in the league doing it. And the energy he brings on the offensive glass is key because it will give the Cavaliers extra possessions. Hopefully Thompson can cancel out Draymond Green because Green is the heart and soul of the Warriors. Just like last year, if you can get to Draymond you can get to the Warriors as a team and "Double T" is the key to that.

The Cavaliers' bench is another "X Factor" in this series. Whether its Kyle Korver, Deron Williams, or Iman Shumpert they need to continue to shoot well and also play great defense on the perimeter. Preventing the Warriors to catch fire from behind the arch meaning defensively they can't play one pass away.



Prediction:

Cavs win this series. I know its a "homer" pick but it is hard to pick against LeBron James. The man is on a mission and honestly we might be seeing the best basketball being played...EVER. His leadership he brings and his supporting cast might be one of the best in NBA history. If his Cavaliers team can win four more games an argument can be made for this team as the best NBA team of all time. This is an exciting match up and it should wrap out this rivalry very nicely.

Radio Show 6.22.16: On #Cavs, #LeBron, #Kyrie & #StephCurry, #NBADraft & More

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

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DOWNLOAD: On #Cavs, #LeBron, #Kyrie & #NBAFinals, #NBADraft & More (6/22/16)

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On Cavs & OKCvsGSW, Fans and Media, #BBMAs & MORE (5/25/16)

On Cavs & NBA Playoffs, Believeland, Role of the Media & MORE (5/18/16)

On Cavs, NBAPlayoffs, True Fans, Unfulfilled Potential Athletes & More (5/11/16)

On Browns & NFL Draft, Cavs & NBA Playoffs, Captain America_ Civil War and Summer Movies (5/4/16)

On Browns Trade Down, Cavs & NBA Playoffs & More (4/20/16)

On Kobe Moments, Kobe finale or 73 wins, Cavs Season, NBA Playoffs, Browns & More (4/13/16)

On Wrestlemania 32, NXT Dallas, RAW After Mania (4/6/16)

With Will Burge; On The Browns, RG3, Cavs, Kyrie Irving, D'Angelo Russell, Shows to Reboot (3/30/16)

With RJ The Movie Critic; On The Browns, Hue Jackson; Movies, TV & Games (1/13/16)

Full Court Press 4.14.16: 2015-16 NBA Awards Predictions #NBA

2015-16 NBA Awards Predictions
By Randy Groce, @ImissWiggins

Another long NBA season has come to an end. Records have been broken and milestones have been reached. We have reached the point where we will find out who are the winners and losers of the awards that we as fans have been debating about since the All Star break. All of the categories will have at least four mentionable players, but I will only highlight the top two or three that truly have a shot at winning.

Like anyone else who's a fan of the NBA I have my personal favorites, but the players that I choose as winners will be chosen based on what I saw on the court. The categories are: MVP, Coach of the year, Rookie of the year, Defensive Player of the year, Most Improved Player, 6th Man of the year, and Comeback player of the year. Since we're here I think I'll even throw in the First and Second All NBA Team. So, let the arguments begin........


Comeback Player of the year

Paul George
Kevin Durant

Paul George is my winner. George returned this season after only playing in a handful of games last season to a completely different and younger Pacer roster than he's played with his last few seasons. George is averaging 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists this season all while leading his team back to the playoffs.

Winner: Paul George

Most Improved Player

Andre Drummond
CJ McCollum
Steph Curry

All three of these guys had big jumps in their numbers from last season. It seems as though Portland got rid of every player on the roster except for Lillard and McCollum. McCollum averaged 20 points per game this year and has Portland in the 5th seed right now. Curry has added seven more points per game from last season which is almost unheard of from a guy who just won the MVP. Drummond has looked like a monster in the paint grabbing every rebound in sight this season. Based where Detroit is now compared to where they were last year I think I'll take Drummond. Also, Drummond is the only player in the NBA this season to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 blocks & 100 steals.

Winner: Andre Drummond

Sixth Man Of The Year

Andre Iguodala
Will Barton
Jamal Crawford

I gotta go with Iggy. This was only his second year ever coming off of the bench, but fresh off of being named last years Finals MVP Iguodala made it possible for Steph and Klay to spend many nights on the bench in the fourth quarter with his playmaking and leadership abilities.

Winner: Andre Iguodala

Rookie Of The Year

Karl Anthony Towns
Kristaps Porzingis

This is probably the only category where I don't even think that it's close. Towns is averaging 18points/10 rebounds a game and is making it look easy for a 20 yr old. Paired with Andrew Wiggins, the Wolves are a coach away from maybe seeing how good they can be. Porzingis, averaging 14 points/7 rebounds was booed on draft night by Knick fans. Maybe they'll give up on begging LeBron to come to town and they'll realize that they have a good young piece to watch grow and hopefully turn their franchise around. 

Winner: Karl Anthony-Towns

Defensive Player Of The Year

Kawhi Leonard
Draymond Green
Hassan Whiteside

Both Leonard and Green can guard all five positions without having it affect their offense, but if I need one guy to guard anyone in the league for one possession to win a game I have to pick Kawhi. Whiteside affects the game in the paint the way Dwight Howard used to and the way DeAndre Jordan is supposed to.

Winner: Kawhi Leonard

Coach Of The Year 

Steve Kerr
Terry Stotts
Gregg Popovich

I'm pretty sure Popovich has never won this award which is weird because he should have won it at least 4 times. Unfortunately, I can't see myself giving it to him this year either. He's led the Spurs to the best season in the team's history. The problem with that is Golden State is having the best season ever. As I stated earlier when Portland is in the middle of a rebuild and lost their franchise player and somehow found a way to make it the playoffs this year. No way this happens without Stotts. Although Kerr has coached less than half of the games for the Warriors this season, they had the same players and ran the exact same system as they did last year. The system belongs to Kerr.

Winner: Steve Kerr

MVP

Steph Curry
LeBron James
Russell Westbrook

There is no wrong answer for this category when it comes to these three men. When LeBron (25 points/ 7 rebounds/ 6 assists) doesn't play, the Cavs lose. Despite a coaching change and a lot of "rumblings' in the locker room, the Cavs still finished with the best record in the East. Westbrook (23 points/10 assists/8 rebounds) has matured and has turned himself into an almost automatic triple double machine while leading his team to the fourth best record in the league. Curry, who has more attention payed to him this year than last has improved his scoring average from 23 points per game to 30(29.9). Curry is averaging 30 points/6assists/5rebounds and his team is on the verge of breaking all time wins mark.

Winner: Co-MVP's Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook


First Team All NBA

Steph Curry
Russell Westbrook
Lebron James
Kawhi Leonard
Hassan Whiteside

Leadoff with Lee 2.29.16

By Chris Lee, @TripleThreatLee

- Browns center Alex Mack is expected to opt-out of his contract, but return to Cleveland on a new contract is a real possibility. According to one source the Browns and Mack are close to a new 4 year contract. Mack is in the second year of his five-year, $42 million contract that included $26 million guaranteed. He would make annual base salaries of $8 million over the remainder of the agreement and the deal includes a no-trade clause. Mack has already visited with new Browns head coach Hue Jackson and director of football operations Sashi Brown. Alex Mack could easily become the NFL's highest paid center making at least $10M per year. The Browns have until March 4 to negotiate a new contract with Mack before he is eligible to opt-out.

- There’s a belief at the combine that offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz end up with a contract in the $8M per year. That would make Schwartz the second-richest right tackle in the league in terms of annual salary. With the Browns expected to draft a quarterback with their second pick Hue Jackson would like to protect his investment. Last season Schwartz earned $1.095M in base salary.

- The NFL's competition committee has had "lengthy discussions" about reducing the preseason schedule for NFL teams to just three games instead of the four they have now. Team would have a two-week break between their final preseason game and the start of the regular season.  It doesn't sound as though the change would affect the 2016 preseason, but it sounds like it could definitely be in play for 2017 and beyond. Hopefully this isn't a precursor to the league attempting to lengthen the regular season schedule. . .if the shortened preseason is being done primarily because of potential injury concerns it kind of defeats the purpose of shortening the preseason.

- The Denver Post reported that Peyton Manning is expected to announce his retirement. If this is the end of his career Manning he will have 200 Wins, 71,948 passing yards and 539 touchdowns a 96.5 passer rating and 2 Super Bowls under his belt. He’s got a deadline of March 9th. The end of next week is March 4th. His decision should be final within the next week according to multiple reports. He doesn’t want to force Denver’s hand and make his exit awkward. Denver public relations tweeted the following in response to Dan Petty.

Peyton has not made a decision on his future. Plan remains for him to continue talks with the team this week. https://t.co/2YcjDCCQSg

— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) February 28, 2016

People around Peyton Manning believe he will retire, but as of now, he has not told the Broncos of any decision.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2016

- Unless something drastically changes between now and Tuesday, it appears that the Denver Broncos will place the franchise tag on Von Miller. At this time it's unclear whether the Broncos will use the non-exclusive or exclusive version of the tag. The non-exclusive tag, would allow another team to sign Miller to an offer sheet and in return for two first-round draft picks if the Broncos don’t match the offer, would cost $14.129 million for 2016, fully guaranteed. The exclusive franchise tag would be based on the average of the five highest 2016 cap numbers for all linebackers, measured as of the conclusion of the period for signing restricted free agents to offer sheets, in April. The exclusive tag for linebackers currently is on track to by $14.04 million.

- FIFA has elected Gianni Infantino as its new president. Infantino won on the 2nd ballot, netting 115 out of 207 votes.  He will complete Sepp Blatter's term and serve until 2019. Infantino holds both Swiss and Italian citizenship and has been the general secretary of UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, since 2009. He worked with UEFA to expand the European Championship from 16 to 24 teams, and he has promised to expand the World Cup field to 40 teams. An attorney, Infantino has also served as a member of FIFA’s Reform Committee. Infantino becomes just the third Fifa president in 40 years personified by Blatter and his Brazilian predecessor João Havelange, during which Fifa’s revenues soared but scandals involving World Cup tickets, TV rights and corrupt bidding races multiplied. In May, Sepp Blatter was forced to promise to stand down and then was banned from football for six years for making a $1.3M "disloyal payment” to his one-time heir apparent Platini in 2011. 

- Major League Baseball handed Indians outfielder Abraham Almonte an 80-game suspension Friday for testing positive for boldenone, a form of a Performance Enhancing Drug (P.E.D). Almonte was signed July 31 2015 from the San Diego Padres and was to be the potential opening day starter in the early part of the season while All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. Brantley has only now begun hitting off a tee and will not likely be ready by the start of the season. Almonte and free agent signee Rajai Davis were expected to get at-bats in the outfield as Brantley mended. Now, the Indians must lean more on Davis, and perhaps Colin Cowgill and Will Venable, who was signed to a minor league deal. Venable's deal is for $1.5M is base salary and can make an additional $2M in performance bonuses if he makes the team.

- The Cavs signed Jordan McRae of the D-League's Delaware 87ers will sign a 10-day contract. With Mo Williams' knee injury lingering McRae will help provide additional depth to the bench. The 6'5" guard is averaging 23.3 points, 4.6 boards and 5.2 assists for the 87ers this season.

- NBA veteran guard Joe Johnson was waived by the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, shunned the Cavs and has decided to take his talents to South Beach once he clears waivers today at 5pm. The Miami Heat are expected to sign the seven time all-star for about $3M for the remainder of the season. In Sunday's game vs. the Knicks, Johnson had 12 points in 30 minutes, on 5 of 10 shooting from the field.

- Making the oldest team in the NBA even older, free agent veteran Andre Miller has reached an agreement to sign with the San Antonio Spurs for the remainder of the season. Miller cleared waivers on Saturday after reaching a contract buyout with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

- Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry now has 287 3-pointers this season,breaking his own record from last year of 286 (GSW still have 24 games remaining). And he tied the record for 3's made in a single game with 12. He shares that record with Donyell Marshall and Kobe Bryant. 

Full Court Press 12.25.15: NBA Season Has Finally Arrived #NBAXMas

Basketball Season Has Arrived
By @mrgroce

At first glance, I'm pretty sure when you saw the title, you figured that this was an article written in October. No, it wasn't. It's December 22nd and I'm sitting at my computer watching season one, episode 4 of Breaking Bad. When it comes to this show, I'm pretty late to the party, but as far as the NBA season is concerned, now is the time to start paying attention. Other than witnessing the Golden State Warriors begin the season with best start in the history of the NBA, you haven't missed much. The Spurs are good, as usual. The Cavs are good and injured, but almost back to fully healthy. Kobe is retiring and won't stop shooting. Dwight Howard is unhappy and people in the media are talking way too much about the New York Knicks.

But guess what?

Christmas Day is here, and for a lot of fans this is almost the equivalent of MLB Opening Day. Five games featuring five possible championship contenders. The main event takes place at 5:00 PM when the Cavs visit the Warriors for a one game "rematch" of last season's NBA Finals. 

I'm not quite sure when it happened, but somehow along the way I've developed a deep fondness of the Golden State Warriors and the league's reigning MVP Steph Curry. Like everyone else I was a naysayer who repeatedly said that a jump shooting team can not win a championship, but the Warriors kept winning and we kept doubting. Each round of the playoffs a key player was missing from one of the Warriors opponents. This gave everyone who doubted Golden State an excuse to say that their championship run was lucky. Now I'm no expert, but I think it's safe to say that the absence of Patrick Beverly and Tony Allen is not what propelled the Warriors to the Finals. Would things have been different if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were available for the Cavs? Maybe, but this team is good, they play the right way, and the best player is dominant, all 6'3", 190 lbs of him. 

I'm in the minority, but I feel that Curry has surpassed LeBron as the best player in the game. I think when people hear this they assume that I'm saying that Steph has had a better career or is on pace to have a better one. No, what I'm saying is that RIGHT NOW Curry is better simply because he's unstoppable and knows what his strengths are. 13 years in LeBron still doesn't post up much, still does not have a dependable jump shop (although he loves to shoot em), and is barely an average free throw shooter. Despite that, he still gives you 26 points 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game. Of course these are numbers that can not be ignored or glossed over, but I'm one of those people that feel like numbers do lie. Remember Steph has been in the league seven years fewer than LeBron, but is only has one less ring.

There is still one challenge that I need to see the Warriors complete before I crown them of the best teams that I've ever seen. I need to see what they can do against a Greg Popovich coached team in a best of seven series. So far the all of the attention has been on Golden State and Cleveland, but the Spurs have the second best record in the league and are only 3 games behind the Warriors in the overall standings. They have transitioned from a team that was led by Tony Parker and Tim Duncan to a team that is now being guided by LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard. San Antonio, Golden State and Cleveland all have great rosters, and in my opinion the Cavs have the best, but the Warriors and Spurs play "the right way" for longer stretches in games than the Cavaliers do.

The Cavs have a tendency to get complacent on defense and lackadaisical on offense. The Warriors, a great jump shooting team sometimes forgets that a drive to the hoop is smarter than heaving a 30 footer even if it is a "heat check". The Spurs, well, I'm still having a hard time finding weaknesses, but one or two are bound to pop up.  All three teams have multiple go to guys, and all three teams can play big or go small. Barring some sort of catastrophic disaster the Cavs will be in the Finals, but the battle between Golden State and San Antonio will be epic.

As the NFL regular season is coming to a close, the casual basketball fan will turn their attention to the NBA, and when they do they'll see the defending champs chasing history by trying to match and surpass the 72-10 record of the Chicago Bulls.

There will be other storylines to watch for:

1 Can Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant work together and get OKC back to the Finals?

2 Will the Bulls blow up their roster or make one more run at it with the team they have?

3 Does Miami pose a legitimate challenge to the Cavs in the East?

4 Will the fans or coaches vote Kobe onto the Western Conference all star team?


That last one was for me and I don't care what you have to say about it.



Merry Christmas, and lets enjoy the season.

TripleThreatCLE.com Predicts The 2015 #NBAFinals #Cavs #ALLinCLE

The key to the series is just how healthy Kyrie Irving is. All things equal, he's the third best player in this series. But all things aren't equal, and the Cavs NEED him to be the third best player in this series. If he's not close to 90% then the chances of that happening are slim. But we still have the best player on the planet and this series has a little Ohio State feeling to it. They are going up against a west coast team that no one gives them a chance against due to injuries they have sustained throughout the year. Sound familiar?

I’m predicting Cavs in 6. Game 1 is where I think the veteran leadership and experience of the Cavs will really give them an advantage. I can see the Warriors coming out guns-a-blazing, amped up at home, and getting exhausted trying to win the whole series in the first quarter. Hopefully the Cavs stay focused and under control throughout this game and take the win. With one win down these finals will continue to a 1-3-4-6 or 1-3-5-6 series win for the Cavaliers and a celebratory bottle of Tennessee Honey for me! - Jason Disantis (@jddiantis)

Cavaliers in 5 games - Kate Arhar (@ClvlndK8)

It has taken time for it to happen but finally it's here, Here Comes The Reign! The Cavaliers will finally break the dry spell Cleveland sports have endured. I'm going Cavs in 6, with MVP going to the Akron kid playing on the Cavs. This will finally get the Cavaliers the respect they deserve & place them number 1 in Cleveland. I've been cheering for this team since 1978 while growing up in Pittsburgh. Thanks to my uncle Roy who took me to my first game, R.I.P and thank you again. I dreamed this would happen earlier (Thanks Craig Ehlo). I'm still sick over that one, but after 45 years the Cavs will prevail. ALL IN BABY - Jaison Roberts (@Kratoslives)

One thing I've always wished for every year as a Cleveland fan was getting the chance to see a championship come home. This year we have that chance finally. The Cavs can erase Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, The Mesa Choke, The Decision and year after year of heart break and suffering. Two weeks from now the Cleveland Curse will be lifted and I can die a happy man. Cavs in 6, right at home with the greatest fans in sports! ALL IN - Brandon Albright (@B_Rock1978)

The Cavs have the best East coast team in the the league and the best player. The MVP for the Cavs will not be LBJ, but I'll take it. Cavaliers in 6 games. - Chris Lee (@cleeverizon)

Cavs in 6! - Mark West (@MarkW2112)

Cavs in 6 - Cliff Gulley (@CLG2282)

Through all of the doubt and disrespect the Cavaliers have received from the National media, I truly believe that it will be the role players, “The Others”, that pushes the Cleveland Cavaliers to the franchise’s first championship and gives the people of Cleveland a Summer to remember for the rest of our lives. That said, it DEFINITELY will be a tough task ahead. Golden State is no joke or push over, but they ARE able to be beat. The Cavaliers figure it out and take the NBA Finals in 6 games. - Chris Williams (@nevaRWilliams)