Monthly Archives: June 2015

THE CAVS DRAFT AND THEN TRADE TYUS JONES TO MINNESOTA AND THEN SELECT THREE SECOND ROUND PICKS

Cavs Press Release Logo

CAVALIERS ACQUIRE DRAFT RIGHTS TO CEDI OSMAN AND RAKEEM CHRISTMAS FROM MINNESOTA

CAVS ALSO DRAFT SIR’DOMINIC POINTER WITH THE 53RD PICK

            CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the draft rights to Cedi Osman, the 31st pick, Rakeem Christmas, the 36th pick, and a 2019 second round pick in exchange for the draft rights to Tyus Jones, the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, to Minnesota. Also tonight, the Cavaliers selected Sir’Dominic Pointer with the 53rd pick of the draft.

Osman (6-8, 210) spent the 2014-15 season playing for Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League first division. He was selected to the league’s All-Star Game after averaging 8.5 points on .438 shooting from the field, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 20.8 minutes over 25 contests. He also appeared in 27 Euroleague games this past year and averaged 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.3 minutes. Osman spent his first two professional seasons with Pertevniyal in the Turkish second division (2011-2013) and moved to Anadolu Efes in 2013-14 in the first division. A member of the Turkish National Team at the 2014 World Cup, Osman holds career averages of 9.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in Junior National Team play and was selected FIBA Europe U20 Championship MVP after leading Turkey to a gold medal.

Christmas (6-9, 250) played in 142 games during his four years at Syracuse. During his senior season, he averaged 17.5 points on .552 shooting from the field, 9.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game. He led the Orange in points, rebounds and blocks, while earning Third Team All-American honors. Christmas was also named ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ACC. He was one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award as a senior and ranks sixth all-time in school history in games played and eighth in blocks (247). The forward finished his four-year collegiate career averaging 7.4 points on .560 shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 22.0 minutes.

In 33 games as a senior at St. John’s University, Pointer (6-6, 192) averaged 13.7 points on .524 shooting from the field, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.4 blocks in 34.6 minutes. He went on to earn Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and Second Team All-Big East honors. Pointer spent four years at St. John’s, playing in 130 games and averaging 8.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks in 28.2 minutes. He ranks third in school history in blocks (172) and fifth in steals (200).

DAVID BLATT POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE NBA FINALS GAME 6

Here’s what Cavs head coach David Blatt had to say following his team’s season ending loss in Game #6 of the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors 105-97.

Listen here –

David Blatt Photo Postgame Presser Game 6 NBA Finals

LEBRON JAMES POSTGAME NBA FINALS GAME 6

Despite his 32 points, 18 rebounds and 9 assists, LeBron James and the Cavaliers fell to the Golden State Warriors 105-97 in Game #6 and lost the 2015 NBA Finals 4 games to 2. Following the game “King James” talked the media about the loss and coming up 2 games short of winning a championship in his first year back in Cleveland.

Listen Here –

LeBron James NBA Finals Game 6 Postgame at the Podium 6-17-15

 

 

KENNY’S KEYS TO A GAME #6 WIN FOR THE CAVS

AGGRESSIVE, ATTACKING LEBRON – While he didn’t get the calls in Game #5 at Golden State, LeBron needs to go to the basket strong and frequently because it’s his best offensive weapon and it will put the onus on the officials to make calls if there is any contact. I expect “King James” to shoot no less than 14 free throws in this Game #6 if he attacks the rim.

 

POUND THE BOARDS – The Cavs lost the battle of the boards in Game #5 overall and at the offensive end, that can’t happen again in this series starting with tonight’s Game #6. Even if David Blatt decides to go small again, the Cavaliers as a unit must find a way to hold the Warriors to one shot, while at the other end create second and third chance opportunities on offense.

 

GET PHYSICAL WITH STEPH AND THE WARRIORS – Curry went for 37 in Game #5, if he does that again the Cavs season will end tonight and the Warriors will be NBA Champs. Overall the Cavs must make Golden State feel them from the opening tip to the final whistle. If that means take a few hard fouls and also grab, bump and knock Steph Curry around, then do it. Don’t let him get comfortable. I would also mix in a little zone when trying to play maybe Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov together, putting Lebron, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert on the perimeter and force the Warriors to go inside. Use this to try and catch Golden State by surprise and it may buy you a few minutes so you can play your “Bigs” together.

 

CONTROL THE TEMPO – This series has been all about the pace of the game. When Golden State has scored 100 or more points in the NBA Finals, they are (3-0). When the Cavs have held the Warriors under 100 points, Cleveland is (2-0). A slowdown, slugfest favors Cleveland. An up and down the court, track meet style game benefits the Warriors.

 

A SUPPORTING CAST – LeBron is doing it all and that’s still not enough. He needs a consistent second and third scorer if the Cavs are to force a Game #7 and have a chance to win the title. That means J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert must step their games up on the offensive end and provide at least 35 points between the two of them for the Cavs to have any chance. I expect LeBron to score between 35 and 45 points tonight, but without help from “The Others”, it won’t matter and the season will come to an end.

 

 

PREDICTION:

With the TV ratings at an all-time high, you know the NBA office wants a Game #7 that would feature Steph Curry and LeBron James. With that in mind and this game being played in Cleveland, I expect the Cavs to get more calls tonight giving them a chance to win Game #6, but it will come down to LeBron and “The Others” making shots and free throws. In a game in the 90’s, I expect the LeBron and the Cavs to find a way to win and force a Game #7 Friday at Golden State by defeating the Warriors tonight 95-91 at The Q!

LEBRON JAMES POSTGAME NBA FINALS GAME #4 – WARRIORS 103 CAVS 82

For the first time in the NBA Finals Golden State was able to keep LeBron James in check holding him to just 20 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists and the Warriors blew out the Cavs in Cleveland by 21. Listen here to what “The King” had to say about the loss that evened the series at 2-2.

Listen Here –

LeBron James Podium Game 4 FINALS

 

TRISTAN THOMPSON POSTGAME – NBA FINALS GAME 3 – CAVS 96 WARRIORS 91

Tristan Thompson went double/double (10pts-13reb) vs the Warriors to help the Cavs beat Golden State 96-91 in Game #3 of the NBA Finals. He shared his thoughts on his performance, as well as Delly’s and LeBron’s after the win that put Cleveland up 2 games to 1.

Listen Here –

Tristan Thompson Podium Photo Cavs Media Day 2014

 

LEBRON JAMES POSTGAME – NBA FINALS GAME 3 – CAVS 96 WARRIORS 91

Here’s what “King James” had to say following his 40 points, 12 rebound, 8 assist game to help the Cavs beat the Warriors 96-91 in Game #3 of the NBA Finals to take a 2 games to 1 lead in the best of 7 series.

Listen Here –

LeBron James Postgame Photo - Game 3 - NBA Finals

PODCAST – KENNY RODA ON NATIONAL FOX SPORTS RADIO – TALKING NBA FINALS CAVS GAME #2 WIN

Following last night’s NBA Finals Game #2 overtime win, 95-93 by the Cavs at Golden State, I joined Chris Plank and Arnie Spanier to talk LeBron, Delly and the series being tied 1-1 coming back to Cleveland for Game #3 on Tuesday night.

Click on this link below and then go half way into the Podcast to hear my conversation with the guys on Fox Sports Radio –

LeBron Sreaming On Court After OT Win Game 2 NBA Finals

 

OFFICIAL CAVS PRESS RELEASE ON KYRIE IRVING OUT FOR THE YEAR AND NEEDS SURGERY ON A FRACTURED LEFT KNEE CAP

Cavs Press Release Logo

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving left last night’s NBA Finals game one in the overtime period with a left knee injury. He received an MRI today at Stanford Sports Medicine Clinic, which revealed a fractured left knee cap. He will have surgery to repair the knee in the coming days at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland by Cavaliers head team physician Dr. Richard Parker. His recovery time is projected to be three to four months and his status will be updated as appropriate.

PODCAST – RECAP GAME #1 NBA FINALS – WARRIORS 108 CAVS 100 IN OVERTIME

The Cavs blew a major opportunity to take control of the NBA Finals by losing a game they should have won in Oakland. For more of my thoughts on the defeat, listen here –

NBA Finals Basketball and Logo