Big Night in Cleveland

Hello everyone, as you may know today begins the first round of the NFL Draft, and game 3 of the first round series between the Cavs and the Bulls. Here are some quick thoughts.

Browns

-I am seeing mock drafts from left to right that have Eric Berry falling to us, or the Browns selecting DE Derrick Morgan, QB Jimmy Clausen, DT Dan Williams, RB CJ Spiller or S Earl Thomas. My first option would be to get Berry, my second option would be to select Thomas, my third option would be to take Spiller, and my fourth option would be to take Clausen. I didn't write about Morgan or Williams in my NFL Draft preview, but I wouldn't want to select them. Defensive line is a need for this team, but I would rather spend the #7 pick on someone in the secondary, a QB, or an offensive playmaker.

-Spiller would be an interesting pick as he would add an offensive playmaker this team lacks. He is elusive, extremely quick, high character guy, and is a great return man. While the Browns already have a guy named Josh Cribbs retuning kicks and punts, Spiller would be great running and catching passes out of the backfield.

-If Berry is gone by #7, look for the Browns to try to trade down a few slots. If they cannot accomplish that, then look for them to select either Thomas, Williams, Clausen, Morgan, or Spiller at #7. If I am the Browns, I take Thomas at #7 if you cannot trade down.

-There is talk that the Redskins are thinking about selecting Eric Berry. The Redskins desperately want to move down because after their pick in the first round, they don't pick til the fourth round. They don't need a safety as they have La'Ron Landry, but the team is trying to send a smokescreen to the Browns. To move up to #4 it would probably cost the Browns a third round pick, and I don't know if I would pay that price for Berry. The Browns could try calling the bluff of the Redskins and hope Berry falls to them at #7, but we will see.

-CB Kyle Wilson of Boise State could be an interesting pick in the second round as well. He is a smart, quick, aggressive player who can sometimes lose matchup problems with his small height (5'10), and average instincts.

-Everyone keeps talking about QB Colt McCoy coming to the Browns at pick #38, and don't be surprised if the Browns make a trade to get back into the late parts of the first round or the very early part of the second round. Remember, the Browns have 3 third round picks and 3 fifth round picks at their disposal. Look for a trade to happen with some of those extra picks. If we don't select McCoy, look for guys such as Tony Pike, Dan LaFavour, Tim Tebow, and Tim Hiller to be drafted by the Browns.

-The Browns in their first 5 picks need to come away with a S, QB, RB/WR, OT. I believe these are the positions most in need as we need to add a playmaker to our secondary, a QB of the future, a playmaker on offense, and depth on the right side of our offensive line. This is a very deep draft class, so the Browns should come away with some solid picks.

-I don't think the Steelers would ever trade Big Ben to us, so any talk you hear of that is probably not true. It would cost the #7 pick, and while I would pay that price for a 2 time Super Bowl champion QB, I don't think the Steelers want to help their rivals. Yet again, the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to their division rival Redskins.

Cavs

-As I expected, the Cavs are up 2-0 on the Bulls here in the first round. I think they will lose tonight in Chicago. The Bulls have played the Cavs pretty tough, and its evident that they are just a less talented team than us.

-LeBron's 40 points in game 2 was great as he was just making jumper after jumper. When LeBron is making 3 point and mid range shots, he is unguardable. If you get in his face to prevent him from shooting, he will just drive right by you. LeBron stepped up on a night where Jamison (14 points) and Shaq (8 points), did not impact the game that much.

-You saw how rusty Shaq looked in Game 2 and there is going to be a period of adjustment for the Cavs. It will take some time for the team to get re-acclimated with him and Jamison. The Cavs now have to slow the tempo down a little bit, and grind games out.

-I wish Daniel Gibson would see the floor a little more often. Instead of throwing Anthony Parker out there, put in Gibson who was 47% from 3 for the season. Parker has been getting a lot of open looks and in the first 2 games of the series he is 4-11 from 3. While Parker is a bigger and better defender, Daniel is a quicker and better shooter than Parker.

-JJ Hickson is someone I would like to see out there. Yes he is young and still developing, but his athleticism down low would be key for a team like the Cavs. He can dunk with the best of them, and he can get up and down the floor pretty easily. We saw how well he and Shaq worked in the middle of the season. I know the minutes are hard to come by when you have to give Z and Andy time, but I hope to see Hickson out there more.

-Jamario Moon stepped up big hitting 4 3's in game 2, but most importantly he had 2 blocks and defender the perimeter pretty well. The Bulls shot 4-13 from 3, and Moon's athleticism was key in this game. I don't think we would've seen a performance like this from Wally Z or Sasha last year in the playoffs.

-It just goes to show you that in the playoffs, every team needs other players to step up besides their superstars. In Game 1, Mo (19 pts 10 assists), Jamison (15 points 10 rebounds), and Shaq (12 points 5 rebounds) all stepped up, and in Game 2, Moon stepped up with his defense and timely three point shooting. When the supporting cast of the Cavs steps up, we are a very hard team to beat. D Wade in Miami is currently down 2-0 to the Celtics, why? Because no one on his team can score. In game 1 of that series, besides Wade only 1 player scored in double figures (15). In game 2 of that series, besides Wade only 2 players scored in double figure (13 and 10). It goes to show you that every superstar needs a great supporting cast.

-I am still very fearful of the Magic and I have watched both of their games versus the Bobcats. I am thoroughly impressed with the way the Magic have been coached and played. If we do meet them in the Eastern Conference Finals, it will be an all out battle.

Well folks that just about does it. I will write my thoughts on the NFL Draft next, along with some thoughts on the Indians. Thanks and go Cleveland!

-Raz