LeBron James Named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week - January 26

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 19 through Sunday, January 25. This marks the third time this season LeBron James has earned Player of the Week accolades, well as the 48th time in his career, the most in NBA history. It also marks the 46th time in franchise history a player has earned Player of the Week honors and the 29th time James has earned the honor as a member of the Cavaliers. LeBron led the Cavaliers to a perfect 4-0 record this past week, averaging 27.8 points on shooting .506 shooting from the field, 6.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.3 steals in 34.3 minutes per game.

LeBron Asked For Longer All-Star Break

LeBron reportedly asked commissioner Adam Silver for a longer All-Star break according to NBC Sports News. This is what Marc Stein of ESPN said, "Sources in the room say Silver, at All-Star Weekend 2014 in New Orleans, addressed the All-Star in both conferences and vowed to seek the players' input to grow the game and make the league better. LeBron James, sources said, promptly responded with a plea to make the All-Star break longer and reduce the number of back- to- back games for each team." The All-Star break was extended. LeBrons' other request was a bit too much to ask for though. Because the league must fit 82 games in one season per team. Commissioner Adam Silver is trying to accommodate by shrinking the preseason and moving up the start of the regular season. So, is Silver going too far to please LeBron? No, it is great ideas. Just like when LeBron James wanted the NBA to dump sleeved jerseys. Then this years Christmas Day jerseys were sleeveless with no last name on the back instead their first names.

LeBron Doubtful Against Kings

Today, January 30, 2015, LeBron is doubtful against the Kings because of sprained right wrist. If LeBron does miss the game this will LeBrons' career high 11 games missed throughout his entire career due injury this season. LeBron fell in the third quarter in Tuesday's win against Detroit. LeBron came back in the fourth quarter and scored 10 of his 32 points, LeBron had a MRI and X-ray prior to the Blazers game, and revealed it was a sprained right wrist. With LeBron doubtful for todays game it brings it back to January 11th when the Cavaliers played the Kings and lost without LeBron, the final score was 103-84. Do not doubt the Cavaliers though, Kyrie scored 55 against against Portland. That is one game where they kind of proved they have a person who can take over when star LeBron is not capable for playing.

Kyrie Irving Drops 55

Today, on January 28, 2015, the Cleveland Cavaliers went up against the Portland Trailblazers to continue their winning streak to number 8. LeBron did not play, probably due to rest. Most people would think that the Cavaliers would lose without LeBron like they did when he was out due to injury, but it was a whole different story tonight. The Cavalier went out today and retrieved the win without LeBron. One player stepped it up, and no it was not Kevin Love. It was the other "Big 3" member Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving scored 55 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Kyrie shot 17- 36 from the field, and 11- 19 from the arc with 38 minutes of playing time. The final score was 99-94 at the end of the game to continue the Cavaliers winning streak to 8. Lets hope the Cavaliers can keep their hot streak going knowing the best team in the East as of right now the Atlanta Hawks are on a 14 game winning streak.

7 Game Streak

Yesterday January 27, 2015, the Cleveland Cavalier won their 7th straight game against the Detroit Pistons. This is the Cavalier team that had a bad start to the season, especially when LeBron was injured for almost two weeks. But on Tuesday LeBron James had 32 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, and Kyrie Irving had 38 points to add to the scoreboard which is 70 points combined for the Cleveland duo. Today, Wednesday the Cavaliers will go up against the Portland Trailblazers to continue their winning streak. After LeBrons' return he has player phenomenal in the eight games he has played since returning, averaging 30.5 points and scoring 30 or more points five times. The Cavaliers were 19-19 when LeBron returned against the Phoenix Suns, which the Cavaliers lost. Now, after yesterdays win against Detroit they Cavaliers are 26-20 and are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Everything is looking good for this Cavalier team. Hopefully they can get the win today, and continue their streak and win more games to better their record in the Eastern Conference. Healthy team equals more opportunities, but most importantly is HEALTHY LEBRON equals BETTER CHANCES TO WIN.

All Star Starter

Well thanks to all you Cavalier fans, LeBron will make his 11th consecutive start for the Eastern Conference in next month's All-Star Game in Madison Square Garden. LeBron received the most votes in the East with 1.47 million votes, but sorry Cavs fans. The most votes for any player this season goes to West All-Star point guard Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors. Curry received 1.51 million votes overall, according to voting results announced Thursday on TNT. The fans select the starters by position. LeBron had won the most votes in the NBA on three earlier occasions and led Curry by about 13,000 votes on January 8, 2015. LeBron, a two time Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game, was the only Cavalier voted in as a starter. That's bad news for Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, who was voted in last year and won MVP honors. The All-Star game is on February 15, 2015 at 8:30 PM. East starters are LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, and guards Kyle Lowry and John Wall. The West starters starting with the guards are Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, forwards are Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin and Marc Gasol were selected. Kobe Bryant on the other hand was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff on Thursday that in all likeihood would keep him out of the game. All around it looks like the All- Star Game held in New York is going to be a great game hearing the starters. There are other players coming off the bench for the starters who have one as much talent as the starters, but it was fan voted. So, tune in on February 15, at 8:30 PM, to watch the East versus the West. It usually is show off basketball, with tremendous dunks. It is just for show, and a break for some players for a whole week and watch a great show.

Shawn Marion Retire After This Season

Cleveland Cavalier small forward is looking to retire after this season. No, I'am not talking about small forward Cleveland star LeBron James, but other small forward Shawn "Matrix" Marion. Marion plans to retire after this season with the Cleveland Cavaliers which will mark the end to his 15 year NBA career that mostly spent as a star with the Phoenix Suns. Marion had to say this, "I wanted to go on my terms, the biggest thing is having a son. I got attached to him. Seeing him periodically is hard. Watching him grow up on pictures and videos is hard." Marion considered retirement last summer but chose to sign with Cleveland mostly for a chance at a second championship ring and the proximity to his son in Chicago. Marion was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1999, when he set to play 15 seasons. The 36 year old believes he could play another three seasons but being away from his first son, eight month old Shawn, has convinced him to retire after this season with the Cavaliers.

Kings Meet... LeBron King James and Three Point King Ray Allen

According to ESPN news LeBron has met with his former teammate from the Miami Heat Ray Allen. LeBron was not only in Miami for rehab for injury recovery. He had the time to sit down with Ray Allen to try and appeal the league's all-time leader in three pointers again about joining the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. Ray has not played since his 18th season ended with a Finals loss for the Heat to the San Antonio Spurs. According to ESPN Radio's Ryen Russillo reported that Ray Allen message to teams inquiring for his services earlier in the season was to check back with him in January and he would make his decision to return or not and which team to choose if he did opt for season number 19 in February. LeBron is not the only Cavalier member to meet face to face with Ray Allen, several other members of the Cavs have kept in contact with the shooting guard this season like James Jones and Mike Miller, who were also Allen's teammates in Miami. Allen also vacationed with LeBron, and James Jones visited the Bahamas together along with their families. The Cavaliers have 14 players on their roster and have one open slot which they try to recruit Ray Allen. Allen played 73 games with the Miami Heat in the regular season and all 20 postseason games last season. He averaged 9.3 points per game on 41 percent shooting in the playoffs. Hopefully Ray Allen would decided to join the league in his 19 season and become a Cavalier maybe for his last season.

Cavaliers Versus Utah

Today, January 21, 2015, the Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Utah Jazz. LeBron is having flu like symptoms, but will most likely play today in the Quicken Loans Area in Cleveland. The symptoms kept LeBron out of practice Tuesday the bug is spreading because Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving missed morning shoot around according to Cleveland news. Kyrie is probable for the game tonight versus Utah. LeBron said today that he started to feel sick two days ago. LeBron also had to say this, "Been better, I'm alright." Still sounding sick after this mornings shoot around. The Cavaliers are hoping to bounce back against the Jazz after meeting the last time Gordon Hayward had the game winning shot to win the game for the Jazz 102-100. That game LeBron had 31 points and Hayward had 21. Hayward after that game had to say this in his blog about LeBron, "Can't bully me as much as he used to, and I'm able to stand my grounds against him." LeBron was asked to respond to Haywards comments and this is what LeBron had to say, "I don't believe me ever pushing him around in the past, I don't use one on one matchup against everyone. I play team ball, I just try to win ball games. It's not about me and Gordon Hayward. If it made him feel better by saying that, good for him, but I don't really care about that stuff." Words of wisdom from the King that is always humble. He does not care what people have to say about him or how he plays. He has taken so much criticism already from joining the Miami Heat back in 2010 that he does not care what people have to say about him now. He will play his game and let it speak for itself.

J.R. Smith Improved Stats

Since the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired J.R. Smith from the New York Knicks, his stats have improved dramatically according to Cavs Nation. They named the Picture "Tale Of Two Smiths" and updated his statistics from his games with Knicks and the Cavaliers. In the Picture it shows that Smiths' average points with the Knicks were 10.9 points per game shooting 40 percent from the field, 36 percent from the arc, and 0.8 steals per game. Now that he has joined LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie down in Cleveland he has improved quite nicely. His statistics with the Cavaliers so far is 14.6 points per game shooting 44 percent from the field, 39 percent from the arc, and 1.7 steals per game. Smith is not the only player required from the Knicks who yet has not shown some great improvement. We all know J.R. Smith told media, "When in doubt, shoot the ball." But Iman Shumpert who still needs to make his Cavalier debut from a shoulder dislocation while playing with the Knicks. Both are talented players and can mature playing with LeBron James and the Cavaliers. They just need to trust the team and coaching staff. If they can do that then they can be a championship contending team. Most people would doubt that, but anything can happen in the game of basketball. Defense and teamwork wins championships. NBA fans learn that from watching the San Antonio Spurs competing against the Miami Heat for two years in the Finals. That is if players can stay healthy on the Cavalier roster, and do not have any trade deadlines later in the season.

Timofey Mozgov

J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert are not the only new players traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Seven foot one inch Timofey Mozgov was traded to the Cavaliers from Denver. The reason why the Cavaliers acquired Mozgov was because Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao is out for the season with A torn achilles tendon. This is actually kind of great for the Cavaliers so they have a big man down in the paint contesting shots, grabbing the boards, and posting up other big men. This also a good deal for the Cavaliers because head coach David Blatt coached Mozgov on the Russian national team. The Cavaliers traded two protected first round picks for Mozgov which the Cavaliers probably do not need. Mozgov is 28 years old, averaging 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. This more defense which the Cavaliers which they need, but Mozgov is protecting the rim. If the Cavaliers roster can stay healthy it is going to be heck of a roster. The new roster includes Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov,(starting five) Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson, Shawn Marion, Mike Miller, and Matthew Dellavedova (coming of the bench).

LeBron Returned but Still Lost

On Tuesday, January 13, 2015, LeBron made his return from back and knee injury which was suppose to keep him out for two weeks, but he made an early return. LeBron and the Cavaliers faced off in Phoenix against the Suns where the Cavalier would fall short 100-107. Now the Cavaliers record is 19-20 just one game behind the .500 mark. No team has won a championship at or below .500 mark within 30 games into the season. People are already counting out the Cavaliers in the Finals picture and knowing that Cleveland forward Kevin Love and point guard Kyrie Irving have no playoff experience. But that was not the news of yesterday, yesterdays news was LeBron pushing his head coach David Blatt. LeBron was arguing a call for an offensive foul, but it seemed his head coach was a little to fired up and almost got a technical foul, so, LeBron pushed Blatt toward the Cavaliers bench. Blatt and James both faced media attention on the push and this is what James had to say, "I got called for an offensive foul, and they said I hooked one of the Morris twins on a post-up when he grabbed me, it was a referee that was away from the play (who called it). I was talking to Eric Lewis, one of the refs, and Coach Blatt was getting a little fired up about it, too, and he was on his way to a technical. So I just got him up out of the way before he got a T. So, just protecting my coach. Blatt said, "He was trying to keep me from getting a technical foul." Despite LeBron making 33 points along with seven rebounds and five assists, the Cavaliers are still in a losing streak. Kevin Love had to say this after Tuesdays loss versus Phoenix, "We've woken up and we're ready to play, we know that we're desperate for a win, and hopefully we can get one on Thursday."

J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert

With the Dion Waiters trade to Oklahoma in part of the three team trade the Knicks traded J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland. This is a good pick up for the Cavaliers to be honest. People might no think so because J.R. Smith is now on the Cavaliers roster. People already think J.R. is the worst player because his shot selection. But people do not realize that his shot selection is way better then Dion Waiters. Smith is more of a reliability than Waiters in so many ways, if it is shooting the ball or playing defense. Also, the Cavaliers got Iman Shumpert! He is a great defensive player just what the Cavaliers need knowing how badly their defense is since the beginning of the season. Iman can also shoot the ball, but he is a selective shot taker. He needs to shoot the ball more if he wants to be an effective player on the Cavaliers roster. So, trading Waiters was not a loss or a good deal. It was a great deal. Will just have to see how both these players fit in the roster with LeBron, Love, and Kyrie. Iman Shumpert will be out for a couple of weeks still due to a dislocated shoulder. I would not sleep on the Cavaliers just yet. They may be doing bad, but just wait and watch to see what they can pull together as a team and not just an individual player like how Dion wanted to be.

Dion Waiters

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded Dion Waiters to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This trade was a good deal for The Cavaliers. The Cavaliers acquired two other players from the Knicks. Dion Waiters was talented, but he is too young. All he really cares about is his numbers. When Waiters founded out he was traded he partied with longtime friend Meek Mill who is a rapper. Waiters also said he was better than Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving. Waiters has not really seemed to get along with Kyrie also, Kyrie is a way better player than Waiters. Since LeBron came back Waiters has not really fit in. Even though LeBron James told him to be ready for his return, but Waiters has been sort of an outcast. He was taken out of the starting line up, and made some pretty stupid shot selections. Waiters who never worked out with a team and just relied on his thought he is the best player needs to mature if he wants to get anywhere in the NBA, or possibly win a Championship especially if he was traded to the Thunder with players like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and Steven Adams. Waiters trade was good for the Cleveland organization in some many ways.

Possible Return For LeBron

LeBron is dealing with a back and knee strain. These injuries are suppose to keep him on the bench for two weeks. The Cavaliers have been doing horrible without LeBron. The team is 1-7 without LeBron, and at the 500 mark in the Eastern Conference. On January 12, 2015, According to Sam Amick of USA Today said, "After practicing with the Cavs on Monday, LeBron James says of his possible return at Phoenix Tuesday: "I'm game time decision.." Cavaliers head coach David Blatt said he is hopeful LeBron will practice Monday in Phoenix. David Blatt also said, "Right now we're in the stage where he is shooting and he is moving. He is running through sets. He still has not done live work. Monday we will see if we can do that with him." Cleveland is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Cleveland needs LeBron back, but his health is pretty important knowing that father time is catching up to him.