SportsStreet Ohio

Eric Snow said it best. The man who drew the ire of head coach Paul Silas earlier in the season summed up Silas’ release in one simple quote.

“Maybe he had some faults, but we did, too,” Snow said in a Cleveland P-D article. “If a coach goes down, the players have to take some of the blame in the firing.”

And the players do have to take some of the blame for the team’s recent slide.

Perimeter defense has been virtually non-existent all season. Silas hoped to address that by benching Jeff McInnis, sending a message that poor defense will not be tolerated. Outside shooting, the team’s true Achilles Heel, has been awful all season. Some nights, the shooting guard(s) would combine for almost zero offense. Failure to reach double digits from the two-guard will prodcue losses — and recently — the losses have been piling up as teams have adjusted to the Cavaliers’ style of play.

On SI.com, writer Marty Burns claims the Silas’ firing is a gamble by new owner Dan Gilbert to shake up the team. That may be the case, as Gilbert probably doesn’t want to watch his new investment fall into the tank so early in his tenure. But reading between the lines, one has to wonder if this move is just the first step in a process of remaking the team in Gilbert’s vision.

Gilbert has the superstar…but what he doesn’t have is the package deal. Perhaps Cleveland native Flip Saunders is part of the package. Maybe, in an attempt to make a splash, Gilbert has targeted Phil Jackson to coach LeBron James. But the GM also makes up the package…and while Gilbert and GM Jim Paxson agree this year’s version of the Cavaliers are playoff-caliber, it’s very clear this team is not championship caliber. Paxson may be next.

In the end, this is Gilbert’s team. Cavs fans, players, and the front office will need time to adjust. Making the playoffs is very important if this team is to contend in the future. James needs exposure to the postseason, and then the Cavaliers can get down to work in making Cleveland a champion-ship caliber franchise.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Now the fun begins. Cincinnati-area basketball fans asked themselves if it was really true…that a second-round matchup between UC and UK was possible if both could get past winnable first-round games? Well…today we’ll find out as Kentucky and Cincinnati take the first steps toward that matchup.

(2) University of Kentucky vs (15) Eastern Kentucky University
Kentucky should dispose of EKU fairly quickly, but in any tournament game, if you let a team hang around long enough and give them reason to believe they can win a ballgame, they might just give you a scare. However, the Wildcats should easily slip into the second round game.

(7) University of Cincinnati vs (10) University of Iowa
If any doubts exist as to whether UC can make the second round game against Kentucky, we’ll find out early. UC’s physical style of play should make it hard on the Hawkeyes, but a lack of offense should let this one grind out to the end.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Proof positive that pro football is a ruthless business, the Cincinnati Bengals waived cornerback Dennis Weathersby.

Weathersby struggled through a series of unfortunate events worse than any Mr. Snickets could conjure. After being injured in a drive-by shooting, Weathersby suffered a head injury in a car crash in Springdale last spring.

Perhaps Weathersby’s luck will change in the short-term and he can find his way back on to an NFL roster.

Popularity: 8% [?]

All winter, the talk has been about Kevin Millwood and Juan Gonzalez. If those two remain healthy, Cleveland makes some noise in the AL Central. If they’re hurt, the Indians could be hurting.

Today, the Indians shut down C.C. Sabathia for a few days, maybe even week. The injury will probably keep Sabathia from starting the opener. Millwood and Gonzalez might have been questionable additions, “X-Factors” if you will, but no Sabathia can’t bode well for Cleveland either.

Popularity: 5% [?]