The 
Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Detroit Pistons on Sunday evening and were blown out of the water. The Cavs lacked emotion, effort and chemistry throughout the entire game.
Detroit went on to set a franchise record for three pointers made in a game in the 103-80 victory. They knocked down 17 of their 31 attempts from deep, a ridiculous 55% shooting.
The Pistons outscored the Cavs 86-52 over the final three quarters, and finished shooting 45.1% on the night. They held the Cavs to 38% shooting overall.
It was an embarrassing loss for Cleveland at home to a previously 6-23 team that just released one of their best players. Even then, the Pistons were playing really bad basketball, as you can tell by their fourth-worst record in the league.
LeBron James was not happy with the Cavs performance, as well as his own. He scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists, but on only 5-of-19 shooting from the field and adding a whopping seven turnovers.
Here’s what James had to say after the rough loss at home, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:
“We’re not a very good team,” James said after the defeat dropped the Cavs to 18-12. “As far as on the court, we’re still trying to find our way as well. We’ve won some good games, we’ve lost some games. But right now, we’re just not very good in every aspect of the game that we need to be to compete every night.”
It has become a common refrain for James. Following the Cavs’ Christmas Day loss to the Miami Heat, he echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’re not that good right now.” The next day, after a comeback win over the Orlando Magic, James said Cleveland was playing “nowhere near championship ball.”
It was so bad against Detroit that the Cavs were booed off the court by their hometown fans during a third-quarter timeout amid the Pistons outscoring Cleveland 86-52 over the final three quarters. Despite being 11-6 overall at Quicken Loans Arena this season, the Cavs’ past three home losses have all come by 17 points or more — albeit the previous two routs were at the hands of the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks, the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the East, respectively.
“I can’t tell you what it was,” Kevin Love said. “We need to play better in front of our home crowd, home fans, and it’s just unacceptable.”
After 28 first quarter points, Cleveland didn’t reach the 20’s for the final three quarters. They scored 19 points in the second quarter, 14 in the third, and 19 again in the fourth.
Whatever’s wrong with the Cavs right now, regardless of injuries, it all has to come together with the leadership of James.
KOBE RETURNS AGAINST SUNS
Kobe Br
yant sat out the Los Angeles Lakers past three games so that he could rest. The Lakers have had an awful season thus far, but Bryant would like to keep himself fresh for the long haul and get his minutes lowered from the 35.3 he’s averaging this season.
The Mamba ruled himself out due to general soreness, the price you pay for being 36 years old and in your 19th season in the NBA.
Here’s what Lakers coach Byron Scott had to say about his star, from Arash Markazi of ESPN.com:
“He said he felt much better,” coach Byron Scott said. “He came in [Saturday] and got some shots up and he said he’s moving pretty well. He kind of felt reenergized and today was kind of the same thing. He came in and got some shots up and got here early and did the same thing. I said, ‘Are you ready to go?’ and he said, ‘Yeah.’ That’s basically it.”
Scott said he’d like to limit Bryant to around 30 or so minutes of playing time after the 36-year-old had been complaining of fatigue and soreness in recent weeks. Bryant, in his 19th NBA season, is averaging a team-high 35.4 minutes per game.
“I’m just going to go by feel,” Scott said when asked about Bryant’s minutes. “I’m going to see how he’s looking and how’s the game going as well.”
After the Lakers went 1-2 without Bryant, including their Christmas Day loss to the Chicago Bulls, he returned on Sunday when they hosted the surging Phoenix Suns.
Kobe finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in just over 32 minutes of action.
The Lakers held a lead through most of the first half and into the third quarter, but eventually found themselves behind when Eric Bledsoe and the Suns caught fire in the third. They ended up losing the game 116-107 in Bryant’s first game back since December 21st.
TARIK BLACK CLAIMED BY LAKERS
While they’re getting Kobe back on the court, the Lakers have claimed Tarik Black off of waivers after he was released just days prior. He was released by the Houston Rockets when the team had to make a roster spot when they signed Josh Smith from the Detroit Pistons.
Black was an undrafted rookie who played his college ball at the University of Kansas. He was averaging 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in just over 15 minutes per game with Houston, appearing in 25 games for the Rockets.
The long-shot rookie center impressed at both the Orlando and Las Vegas Summer Leagues with the Rockets, which played a huge part in him making their final roster.
It didn’t take long for the hard-working rookie to get claimed off waivers, as he’s been a nice surprise this year in his time with Houston. According to reports, the Charlotte Hornets were also prepared to make a claim for Black. But, since waiver claims are given based on who has a worse record, the Lakers were able to scoop him up before Charlotte had the chance to.
To make room for Black on the Lakers roster, the team waived guard-forward Xavier Henry, also a former Kansas product.
Henry, who’s had injury issues in his two years in L.A., is already out for the remainder of the 2014-15 season after he ruptured his left achilles in practice in late November.
SHAWN MARION MAKES HISTORY
In a performance against the lowly Detroit Pistons that the Cleveland Cavaliers would like to wipe clean from their memory, it might seem a bit harder to do so.
The shocking 103-80 loss at home was just about all bad. But, there was one very good thing that happened to a member of the Cavs that will make the game standout for them.
Shawn Marion, the former Dallas Maverick, became the first player in NBA history to record 15,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 1,000 blocks and 500 three pointers made.
This line of his career accomplishments and stats goes to show just what type of player Matrix really is. His versatility, tenacity and agility is what led him to achieving such a goal throughout his long NBA career.
Although he may be past his prime now, Marion was once a truly great two-way and all-around player who could be counted on by his teammates and coaches.
The NBA wanted to congratulate Marion on such an amazing accolade, via their Twitter account on Sunday night:
Congrats to @matrix31, the first player in @NBAHistory w/ 15,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 1,000 blocks & 500 threes! pic.twitter.com/UKSaI4WcQL
— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2014
Congratulations to Shawn Marion!
Hopefully for Cleveland, he can become a leader for their young team and help pull them together. Now he can say so and lead by example since he’s the first of his kind in the entire history of the NBA.
All stats via Basketball-Reference and NBA.com.
TO: LEBRON RAYMONE JAMES – A HEARTFELT LETTER FROM THE MAN WHO CHRISTENED YOU THE NEXT “DR J” AND PREDICTED YOU WOULD BE AN NBA STAR.
My name is Rolando Pharr. I am not a stalker or obsessed fan. I just have a very true story that I MUST share with you.
I’ve tried numerous ways of contacting you since 2007. On February 14, 2010 I sent a condensed email to Cleveland Scene magazine which they posted under the title “The Secret of LeBron’s Greatness Landed In my Inbox.” I was hoping that would get your attention. I guess it didn’t.
In November 2012, local TV station 19 Action News covered part of this story. They reached out to your mom but never got a response. I’ve decided to reach out to you again through this letter.
Between January and May of 1985 our lives crossed paths. The story I have to share with you took place during that time. Some people will find it VERY hard to believe. Others will say they knew there was something “Special” about you. Either way, it’s a part of my destiny to tell you this story.
Your mom is a big part of the story. She was there as it unfolded and she will determine its outcome.
Will you and your mom PLEASE watch a Youtube video called “LeBron’s Cosmic Connection”. It was my first attempt at a Youtube video. The picture is dark and grainy and you have to cut up the volume but the message hits home. Your mom will recognize me. I considered her a friend. The video will definitely jog her memory.
“LeBron’s Cosmic Connection” is the untold true story of your connection to Global Icon, Muhammad Ali and NBA icon, Julius “Dr J” Erving. It details how I was carried around on the shoulders of Muhammad Ali when I was 3 years old and how Ali influenced my childhood. It describes how “Dr J” was my idol as a teen and young adult. How I was a member of the best basketball team in Akron called “Free Afrika”. It tells how your mom helped me a few hours a week at the Bottom Half Clothing store inside Rolling Acres Mall and how I sometimes watched you while she ran store errands.
It also tells the amazing story of how me and five of my “Free Afrika” team mates participated in Christening you to be the next “Dr J”. It’s true. When you were 3 months old, in the middle of The Bottom Half Clothing store, I raised your carry seat in the air three separate times and said “I Christen thee the next Dr J” each time. The second time I raised you above my head my team mates toasted you “To the next Dr J”. When your mom returned from running errands I told her about your Christenings and suggested we do it again. For the third time, with your mom to my immediate right, I raised you in the air and boldly said “I Christen thee the next Dr J”. When I handed you back to your mom she was visibly shaking. That’s why I’m 100% certain she will remember your “Dr J” Christening.
Did your “Dr J” Christening come true? No human can definitively say that it did or didn’t. Three facts that can’t be argued. When your Christening took place “Dr J” was still the face of the NBA, it’s most popular player and it’s most marketed player. You are currently all three of those things.
Watch all 4 of my Youtube videos. You may find some of my comments about your Cosmic Connection to Muhammad Ali very interesting. I personally believe you were given your Erving-esque basketball skills as a platform to make social change. Much in the way that Ali used his boxing platform. I read a couple of articles recently where people are starting to call you the Muhammad Ali of this generation. I made that statement on one of my videos a couple of years ago.
There’s more to the story. After you were Christened for the third time my team mates left the store. Your mom and I sat down and had lunch. You were in your carry seat facing us. I made three bold predictions to your mom. I told her that you would be an NBA star. That you would play for the Cleveland Cavaliers and that you would be a high flying player like “Dr J”. We then made a handshake agreement (twice). When you became an NBA star as I predicted, she would see to it that each one of the six men who participated in your “Dr J” Christening would be made a millionaire.
Ask your mom about your “Dr J” Christening and her millionaires Promise. It’s ironic that the Family Foundation you and your mom created adopted an “I Promise” campaign. Maybe it’s not irony. Perhaps the Universe is testing you. You ask your Foundation kids to make and keep their Promises. Will you and your mom lead by example and honor the 6 million dollar handshake Promise she made when you were 3 months old?
I have several sworn affidavits from eyewitnesses, and have plenty of concrete evidence to support all but one of my statements. Only two people on the planet can verify that a 6 million dollar handshake agreement took place. Me and your mom. To support my statements on that issue, I signed a sworn affidavit and have taken and passed multiple Polygraph Examinations. Two of those Polygraph results can be viewed @ rolanfarr on Twitter.
The six men who Christened you have made our own Promises. When your mom honors her Promise, we will donate $120 thousand dollars to Ebony Nettles Bey’s Cancer fund. We will help several area non-profit organizations and have plans to partner with an Akron group to start a scholarship program. Thats just for starters.
I saw a picture of you and your mom in 2002 and realized that the basketball prodigy from Akron was little Raymone, the baby that I Christened the next “Dr J” and made all the predictions for. You’ve worked extremely hard to become the best basketball player on the planet but give the Universe some credit for the incredible gifts you were given. 6ft 8 inches, 250+ pounds, near world class speed, an eidetic memory, a 40+ inch vertical leap, a 7ft + wingspan, above average sized hands and a high basketball I.Q. Why were you GIVEN these gifts?….I’m sure that answer will be revealed to you eventually. Just remember, you were raised in the air and Christened to be the next “Dr J” by Akron’s best basketball team and by a man that was touched by Muhammad Ali’s greatness. You were predicted to be an NBA star, play for the Cavs and be a high flying player like “Dr J”. Please Respect the Divine Powers of the Universe and its endless possibilities.
So there you have it. The untold true story that I HAD to share with you. I am predicting that your mom will keep her Promise and you will embrace your Cosmic Connection. Whether this prediction comes true is entirely on you two. Please reach out to Muhammad Ali while you can. I know you’ve met him before but spend some quality time with him. It will change your life. Your NBA season is well underway and we do not want to be a distraction. You’ve got a Championship to win.
There’s a list of coincidences/facts surrounding your Cosmic Connection that will make you go Hmmm. I’ll share those with you.
For seven years I’ve been hated on, blocked, talked about and ignored but not once has anybody bothered to get an actual response from your mother. Your brand will not suffer from the truth being told. I Promise you that. A timely response to this letter will be greatly appreciated. Follow me on Twitter if you choose to embrace us. Everything else can be handled privately.
Welcome home….and Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl.
Warmest Regards,
Rolando Pharr
P.S….Do The Right Thing
PEACE