General

Shanoff’s W.U.C.: LeBron, Caps, MJD, Kinsler

Apr 16, 2009, 11:24 AM UTC

Today’s Calls: LeBron vs. Expectations, Lakers vs. the West, Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Percy Harvin, Ian Kinsler vs. Nelson Cruz, John Wall vs. DeMarcus Cousins, Jonny Flynn vs. Greg Monroe, Charlie Weis vs. Notre Dame and More, Tim Tebow vs. Greg Paulus and More.â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: Is this it for LeBron?â†µ

â†µâ†µHe has put together one of the greatest individual seasons ever. His team had the best record in the NBA, virtually unstoppable at home (when LeBron is actually playing) -- echoes of the legendary ‘86 Celtics.â†µ

â†µâ†µLeBron is clearly the NBA’s MVP this season, all the more remarkable in a year when 5 players (LeBron, Wade, Kobe, Paul, Howard) arguably had seasons good enough to win MVP in any other year.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd this might be as good as it gets for him.â†µ

â†µâ†µOh, LeBron might get better as a player (even better -- shudder), but will his team have a better shot at a title?â†µ

â†µâ†µNext year, the Cavs may be as good as they are this season -- then again, the Lakers may be just good enough to keep the Cavs from the home-court edge that Cleveland will need to win a championship.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd don’t even talk about 2010: If LeBron bolts for New York, his supporting cast won’t be nearly as good as the one he has in Cleveland right now, perhaps not for years. By then, it might be Dwight Howard’s league to rule. Or Chris Paul’s. Or Portland’s.â†µ

â†µâ†µOriginally, I had this cockamamie idea that Cavs fans shouldn’t root for LeBron to win a title just yet -- with a championship delivered and that hero’s legacy secured, he could bolt the city of Cleveland for New York without apologies or regrets.â†µ

â†µâ†µThat is ludicrous, of course. In the NBA, you never know when your moment will come back around. Even when you are as absurdly good as LeBron.â†µ

â†µâ†µHe better win now.â†µ

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â†µWake-Up Call NBA Awards Ballot:â†µ

â†µâ†µMVP: LeBronâ†µ
â†µRookie: Derrick Roseâ†µ
â†µCoach: Stan Van Gundyâ†µ
â†µDefensive: Dwight Howardâ†µ
â†µ6th Man: Chris Andersenâ†µ
â†µMost Improved: Neneâ†µ
â†µ1st Team All-NBA: LeBron, Wade, CP3, Kobe, Howardâ†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Playoffs: Lakers, and...? Does it really matter what the seedings turned out to be in the West? Like the Lakers are losing. My only question is whether the Lakers go “Four, four, four” all the way to the Finals.â†µ

â†µâ†µThat’s not to say there aren’t intriguing 1st-round matchups (Texas brawl, Melo vs. CP3, Battle of the NBA’s best GMs). The East, meanwhile, feels grim in the 1st round until we get Celtics-Magic in the semis. Playoff picks coming tomorrow.â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL Offseason: MJD gets paid. Maurice Jones-Drew will emerge as the NFL’s most productive RB this season -- at the very least, signals are he will be this year’s consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy football. Appropriately, the Jags locked MJD up with a new deal (5Y/$31, with $17.5M guaranteed).â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL Draft: Percy Harvin is reportedly in free-fall down team boards. I think that’s a lot of obfuscation. When teams are on the clock, they will rationalize Harvin’s injury history and alleged off-field issues (please) and focus on “home-run hitter.” Whatever pick he is projected at, I’ll say he goes earlier.â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Myopia!â†µ
â†µâ†µ

â†µâ†µ• Kinsler’s line: Cycle, 6/6, 4 RBI, 5 Râ†µ
â†µ• Robinson tribute: Rotundaâ†µ
â†µ• NL’s Best: Fish | AL’s Best: M’sâ†µ
â†µ• Stadium suit: Yanks called out on “GBA”â†µ
â†µ• Injury Watch: Dice-Kâ†µ
â†µ• Fantasy Stud: Nelson Cruz (5th HR)â†µ

â†µâ†µNHL Playoffs: Caps choke. It’s a good thing I didn’t take a stand yesterday on how the NHL playoffs will play out, because I would have gone long on the Caps -- d’oh. Ovie’s rivals in Pittsburgh took care of business, though.â†µ

â†µâ†µCoaching Carousel: Isiah Thomas will work for free in his first year at FIU. That about sums up the value he will deliver. (Perhaps FIU can use the salary he will donate back to the school to hire an extra half-dozen NCAA compliance officers they will need to deal with the inevitable violations.)â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Draft: Jonny Flynn is in, for good. Patrick Patterson is testing (I think he will be a great pro). Despite being projected as a Top 10 pick, Georgetown’s Greg Monroe is staying in school. (Top 5 lock in ‘10?)â†µ

â†µâ†µCBB Recruiting: John Wall won’t try to get in the NBA Draft this year, even though he would be a Top 5 pick. (Meanwhile, DeMarcus Cousins followed Calipari from Memphis to Kentucky.)â†µ

â†µâ†µPaulus Watch: I think fans are even more intrigued by Paulus going to Michigan to play QB than trying to play in the NFL. Spencer Hall is a little more skeptical. (I love how Duke is offering him a chance to play WR -- why not let him try his hand at QB?)â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB: Tebow, Bradford, McCoy. Who will be SN’s Preseason All-American QB? (Well, you know who I think it should be. And, no, I don’t mean “Greg Paulus.”â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: “Did I expect that I was leaving? No. But did I have a conversation with my family about whether or not there’s a possibility? Well, yeah. But you think about it.” -- Charlie Weis, on his offseason “optimism” about leading Notre Dame football.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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