What about the Cavs?

[Ytown Tribe fan]

This relates to the St. Bonaventure thread: what do you do about an NBA team that has thrown in the towel for the season?

Did anyone watch the Cavs- New Orleans game two nights ago? Let me tell you something -- the Cavs had 9 points and 9 turnovers in the third quarter. They were literally throwing the ball around the court at random.

Some nights, the team tries and some nights they do not.

There are teams in the NBA that are competing for playoff spots. If they don't face the Cavs, they should be a little miffed that their competitors ARE facing the Cavs late in the season.

Even Joe Tait, the venerable Cavs announcer, has stated that they were throwing the game away against N.O. I watched that game and it didn't look like the Cavs were even going through the motions after halftime. They were smiling and joking and having a great time throwing the ball to the other team. It was a complete travesty, and nothing resembling professional, competitive basketball.

Shouldn't the NBA punish a team that does this, by denying them a chance at the top draft pick?

[JamesI]

If any team in any sport gets caught doing this they need to be punished. The NBA should just remove them from the lottery for this.

[LeGrandOrange]

They should just remove them from Cleveland. They aren't any good with arena sports. And they're the only team that is immune from New Logo Syndrome, so they will still suck in 2003-04 even if they do get LeBron. Besides, LeBron doesn't wanna play there anyway.

Move the team to Louisville and bring back the Kentucky Colonels, dammit. Maybe people will actually watch them and players might even wanna PLAY there.

[Gosfgiants]

The Cleveland Calviers: The Los Angeles Clippers of the Eastern Conference.

The lottery system was established to stop a team from throwing games to get a high draft pick. Let them get the pick for James. It sure will be entertaining to watch him not want to sign with them.

[Craig S.]

It's tough to see them having such an awful time, because I remember when they were a good team with respectable players and management. Right now, it seems like nobody cares. I'm sure they'll end up with Lebron James (despite his unhappiness earlier this season with the Cavs), but they need more than that.

[Skip]

Originally posted by LeGrandOrange
Move the team to Louisville and bring back the Kentucky Colonels, dammit. Maybe people will actually watch them and players might even wanna PLAY there. Why LGO, you make be blush sir. I didn't know you cared. :wavey:

[SmedIndy]

I don't think the Cavs are throwing the games, intentionally. They're actually doing what many baseball teams are doing - trying out their young players.

I also think Cleveland would support the Cavs if they were decent. They have in the past.

Kick the Hawks out of Atlanta if you want to punish a city.

Keith Smart wouldn't let a team quit.

[LeGrandOrange]

Originally posted by Skip
Why LGO, you make be blush sir. I didn't know you cared. :wavey:

I definitely care about the NBA having basketball teams in markets that will support a franchise. I'm pretty sure there are times the Cavs have been supported, but I'm trying to figure out when those were. Bring back the Kentucky Colonels (bright green uniforms and dog mascot optional) and you'll get a great deal of support, after all, it's a state with two widely followed college basketball teams. Plus you get an instant rivalry with the Pacers...much like it was in the ABA.

Kentucky may not be the most glamorous place to have a basketball team, but I bet more players would rather play there than in Cleveland.

That's what I think in least. Of course, if all problems were solvable my relocation, I'd have no Mariners to root for. I just think that's the best way to get the franchise going again, even if Cleveland will forcibly try to get an expansion team out of it. (Wouldn't be much different from what it is now. ;))