Watching the Indians in complete control tonight made me realize that the Indians need to make a move for Quentin Richardson, so we can have Q at the Q and see the kind of success the Indians are seeing.
Really, tonight’s Indians game was a dream to watch because, even with the added playoff intensity, it felt like we were always in complete control. Jake had what CC and Fausto haven’t – command – and used it to control a potent lineup. As soon as he left 2 or 3 balls up, one resulting in a couple of runs, off he went to a standing O, making way for the Circle of Trust. Despite Raffy L (Perez) getting touched Saturday, I have absolute faith in any of the three members of the Circle – Jetson, Raffy L and Raffy B – as well as initiate Nasty Tom Mastny and senile codger, Joe Borowski. As the innings rolled by, I found myself as excited and happy as I ever have about the old ballgame.
Down to business – and I ought to keep this short so everybody notices and reads Ori’s homage to Drew Good’n Plenty.
Let’s something straight here and now: Nobody thinks Drew Gooden is an elite player. Not me, not Ori, not Drew Gooden. What Drew Gooden has is talent. By the bushel. But when you have a bushel of something, sometimes on a bumpy road, you lose some. (A bushel is like a wheelbarrow, right?) If Drew can keep it together he has plenty of talent to be a big part of this Cavs team.
The problem for the Cavs has been the lack of a second viable option. We’ve seen how unstoppable we are those few games Hughes is on. We all know we’re in for a fun night when Z is hitting early. And thank goodness for Boobie deciding he wanted to join the merry-go-round last spring. Though I’m rather adamantly against the campaign to bring Mike Bibby to Cleveland, I do recognize the need to have that 2nd key piece. Problem is that we don’t have one now, we won’t ever have the cash to sign one in his prime, and we’ll always be too good to have a top pick, barring the fleecing of a team like the Knicks (in a trade that also brings Q?).
So let’s review our options for potential second options:
Z? Good, but old and slow. I love him when he’s good, but I know it won’t be for 82 games.
Hughes? I just sneezed, and I think he broke something. Though he is important to our success, he’ll never live up to his contract. Let’s take the pressure off by not expecting him to.
Boobie? A second option has to be able to create for himself. Rumor (Windhorst) has it he’s more willing and able to take it into the lane, but he’ll never be pesky and effective like Tony Parker. He’s too small and not nearly quick enough nor good enough on the handle.
Shannon Brown? Sasha? We’re on the precipice here. Let’s not pin our hopes on the improbable.
That leaves us Duckman. He’s another year older now and he’s tasted success like never before. If he can gives us 35 go-to, head-in-the-game minutes, if he uses that talent to play off Lebron, he’s our best shot at forcing the opposition to defend our team and making Lebron the absolute tsunami he is.
Plus, apparently he can play the piano, and that’s pretty cool in my book.
