General

Shanoff’s W.U.C.: Cavs, Karl, Citi, Kalas

Apr 14, 2009, 12:14 PM UTC

Shanoff’s W.U.C.: Cavs, Karl, Citi, Kalasâ†µToday’s Calls: Cavs vs. the Field, George Karl vs. Phil Jackson, Citi Field vs. the Mets, Zack Greinke vs. Zach Duke, Matt Stafford vs. Greg Paulus, Kansas vs. UNC, Remembering Harry Kalas.â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: The NBA Playoffs just got interesting.â†µ

â†µâ†µThink the Lakers are the team to beat? Not anymore. They will have to get through Cleveland first -- figuratively and, now, literally.â†µ

â†µâ†µBy clinching home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs -- including the Finals -- the Cavs take the league’s best home record into the 2009 playoffs. â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd if LeBron and Co. do nothing but hold serve at home, they will be champs 16 wins later.â†µ

â†µâ†µIf the Celtics didn’t have home court advantage a year ago, they arguably wouldn’t have gotten out of the first round. They couldn’t beat the Cavs in Cleveland, either. And putting the Lakers in an 0-2 hole after 2 games in Boston set the tone for the Celtics’ 6-game run to the title in the NBA Finals.â†µ

â†µâ†µCan the Celtics beat the Cavs in Cleveland during the playoffs -- even just once? The Celtics lost all 3 games in Cleveland last May during the playoffs. Earlier this season, Boston lost there by 15; on Sunday, they humiliatingly got shellacked by 31. â†µ

â†µâ†µThere is an interesting twist: The Cavs’ only loss at home? To the Lakers. â†µ

â†µâ†µDespite the Cavs’ stellar home record, all it takes is a single loss to flip the script.â†µ

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â†µGeorge Karl on the Lakers: "I think they are a great team, don't get me wrong, but I don't think they're in that 'unbeatable' category that people want to put them in." Anyone agree with the Nuggets coach? Anyone? Anyone? (Didn't think so, at least in the West.)â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Myopia!â†µ
â†µ• Citi Field debut: Losing mojo for Metsâ†µ

â†µâ†µ• Royals: are 4-3; Yankees: are 3-4â†µ

â†µâ†µ• Milestones: Dye/Konerko join 300 Clubâ†µ

â†µâ†µ• Firsts: Hitting for cycle at Dodger Stadiumâ†µ

â†µâ†µ• Fantasy Studs: Lilly, Duke â†µ

â†µâ†µ• RIP: Mark “The Bird” Fidrych.â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL Draft: More signs Stafford going to Detroit? The QB is telling his buddies that he will be a Lion, done-deal. It is very possible that a team would obfuscate its intentions -- even to players it may want. But all signs point to Detroit rebuilding around the Georgia QB.â†µ

â†µâ†µGreg Paulus ... NFL QB?! Wouldn’t it be wild if Greg Paulus couldn’t start for Duke hoops, but could make the NFL as a backup QB? He would be the Bizarro Charlie Ward.â†µâ†µ

â†µâ†µDraft Must-Read: Mike Florio grades the 2006 draft. His verdict? 11 “busts,” 19 “not-a-busts,” and 2 “incompletes.” (Guess where he puts Reggie Bush?)â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Draft: With Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich staying in school -- and either Xavier Henry or Lance Stephenson joining them -- put Kansas at the top of the list of contenders to dethrone UNC next year. If KU can be a Top 10 team in a “rebuilding” year, how good can they be when NOT in one?â†µ

â†µâ†µMore: Louisville’s Earl Clark -- a possible Top 10 pick -- is jumping in the draft. Wake’s Al-Farouq Aminu -- another Top 10 pick -- is staying in school; perhaps the Demon Deacons’ pathetic showing in March convinced him he has unfinished business in college.â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB Spring: With all the injuries to Florida’s starters, Saturday’s spring game will be more of a showcase of the Gators’ depth than a spectacle of its front-line talent. (Watch back-up QB John Brantley.)â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: “Outta here.” R.I.P., Harry Kalas. You will be missed.â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/danshanoff. â†µ

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