LeBron James has stated that he wants to play for a title contender next year, and will sign with the team that he feels gives him the best chance to do that. Consider the Steelers out of the sweepstakes, after they were embarrassed in Cleveland last night by the 1-11 Browns. This win was a huge lift for a Browns franchise who had lost 12 straight games to the Steelers, (7 years of losing) and 10 in a row at home. No one expected the Browns to win this game, and the Steelers needed to win badly to keep their slim playoff chances alive. The defending Super Bowl Champions looked confused by the stifling Browns defense, led by Rob Ryan. The Browns did not even disguise their blitzes in this game, and still managed to sack Ben Worthlessberger 8 times. The Browns rushed for 171 yards and only needed the 13 points they scored in the first half to secure the win.

Not that LeBron would have played for the Steelers anyways, but this will definitely guarantee them no-shot at landing him in 2010. (what?) This season alone they've lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, the dysfunctional Oakland Raiders, and the Browns. Enough said. This is the equivalent of the defending NBA champion LA Lakers needing to win a game in April vs. the Clippers to keep their playoff chances alive, and failing miserably. Maybe this game will move the Browns forward in a positive direction, and LeBron will consider taking a leave of absence from the Cavs in the month of January 2011 to help the Browns hold up the Vince Lombardi trophy.

LeBron is staying in Cleveland, and those who think otherwise are buying into the media creation by the Nike LeBron camp to get people talking about him. He has no reason to leave a team and city that has a serious chance at winning a championship. The Brooklyn Nets and Knicks will not be contenders next year. He's not going to L.A. because Kobe is a selfish shovenistic prick and he doesn't want to share the spotlight. And he's definitely not going to the Steelers who can't beat the Browns when their season is on the line. LeBron is here to stay. LeBron James is underrated

Don't press the panic button yet, but the Cavs have lost their 2nd straight game for the second time this season. Last night the Houston Rockets flat-out outplayed the Cavs, who were on the second night of a back-to-back. Shane Battier and Trevor Ariza did an excellent job discouraging LeBron from driving to the hole, effectively making him a jump shooter. "No one guy is going to stop Shaq. No one guy is going to stop LeBron," Battier said. "I thought our big guys did a great job of forming a wall behind the guy guarding LeBron, and just by being there it deterred some of the drives. And I thought we played really good help-side defense on everybody tonight."

In addition to a mundane 27 points on 21 shots, LeBron and the Cavs turned the ball over 20 times.. unacceptable. Mike "Clown" Brown got ejected in the first half for arguing a no-call on a drive by LeBron, and had an awesomely bad freakout. Talking about the ejection, Mike admitted, "I wanted a technical to get my point across," said Brown, whose team finished with five technical fouls, "but I took it a step too far." At least he showed some signs of life, as the Cavaliers did not. Another thing I applaud is that the assistant coaches really stepped their game up after Brown got tossed; They were standing and yelling almost the entire game when the Cavs were on defense. As you can tell there weren't too many positives to take away from this defeat, and the Cavs better get it together and start racking up some W's on this road trip starting in Portland on Friday night. Dear LeBron, you are the leader of the only legitimate professional sports franchise in the desolate city of Cleveland, and the city needs you to produce a winner. No more back-to-back losses please. We have the Indians and the Browns (who desperately need a win vs. Pittsburgh tonight). Think about it. The Cavs are our only shot. LeBron knows this, and I assure you he will end the championship drought in Cleveland. LeBron James is underrated

Really Cavs? First the Bobcats, and now Memphis? The team that plays Pau Gasol's brother Marc? Marc Gasol is comparable to the unwanted child in the family who gets no attention at the Christmas party, consistently underachieves, and can't quite navigate out of the shadow cast by the "good" brother. The often-conflustered Austin Carr even refers to him as "Paul Gasol's brother". (For what it's worth, the Bobcats beat the Carmelo and the red-hot Nuggets last night, so maybe they're not that bad)

Last night in Memphis, the Cavaliers lost an overtime thriller despite season highs for LeBron's in both points (43) and rebounds (13). Rudy Gay played well in the 2nd half, after an abysmal performance in the first half. The Cavs owned a 16 point lead in the 2nd quarter, but the Grizzlies soon turned it around after haltime showing great poise and a willingness to drive the ball against the Cavs. They went on a 14-5 run in the 3rd quarter and cut the lead to 78-76. You may look at LeBron's stat line and say, "What were the rest of the Cavs doing?" But even though LeBron had 43 points, he made only 6 of his final 20 shots.. (not good). LeBron did help the Cavs get to OT with a layup that made it 100-98 Cavs, but Rudy Gay responded with a drive of his own, then forced LeBron to miss a difficult turn-around shot at the end of regulation. In overtime, OJ Mayo hit a clutch three, and then former O-State guard Mike Conley put the Grizzlies up 2. LeBron missed the final 3-point shot he took with 3 seconds remaining on the clock. Regarding the decision to jack up a 3-pointer instead of attempt to quick-drive, LeBron said this.. "With three seconds left in the game, that was pretty much the best shot I could take." Really? I'm not sure I agree with that one, but what LeBron says goes. LeBron James is underrated

Last night, the Cavaliers looked unstoppable. In a game where LeBron James only scored 12 points, and his first field goal coming with under a minute to go in the first half, the Cavaliers bench and particularly Delonte West came to play. For myself, the 2nd Quarter of this game was the best basketball I have seen the Cavs play this year. Dunks were not in short supply, including multiple monster throwdowns from Shaquille and J.J. Hickson. But the star of this outing was Delonte West, who could not miss from the field in the second quarter. Delonte's offensive production shouldn't be a surprise to Cavs fans; The man may have emotional issues but surely can put the ball in the hole. The Cavaliers started this game down 11-0, and it looked like the Bucks may have a chance to run away with it. However, that was not the case. I remember looking at the score and seeing the Cavs climb back, while the Bucks missed 18 straight shots. We're talking a 36-6 run after the initial scoring by the Bucks, putting the Cavs up 37-17. LeBron and the rest of the Cavs bench was going insane while watching Delonte put on an offensive clinic in the second quarter. LeBron was consistently jumping out of his seat, and you could tell they were really enjoying this one. Like I said after the Mavericks game, when LeBron doesn't have to score all the points the Cavs are unstoppable, as he has proven to be a tremendous distributor adding 10 assists along with his 12 points. Do I even need to say it? LeBron James is underrated

Last night the Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls handily, after a sloppy first half. During the second half, while LeBron was attempting a free-throw, Joakim Noah hurled insults at LeBron while he was shooting. LeBron made his way over to the Chicago bench, where Noah continued to call out LeBron. Is this guy serious?

You are a scrub on a terrible team, and nobody likes you. You are one of the ugliest players in the league. Thus, you do not call out the best basketball player in the world LeBron James for sideline dancing in his own arena.

You can bet LeBron will not forget this, and when the Cavs play the Bulls twice more this season somebody will put Noah in his place. Noah has gotten under the skin of many players in this league, but calling LeBron a "f****** as*****" from his bench was all-time dumb.

LeBron doesn't need more motivation, and this should secure several more beatdowns for the Bulls when they play the Cavs. Joakim Noah you are a freakishly ugly, ignorant, and insecure punk. Don't talk to LeBron while he shoots free-throws, or ever for that matter. LeBron James is underrated

In Shaq's first matchup with his team from last year, the Cavaliers destroyed the Phoenix Suns. Though Shaq played with Phoenix last year, this game was overshadowed by the record set by Zydrunas Ilgauskas for most games played as a Cavalier. Following the debacale on Saturday when Zydrunas was not inserted into the game, Z made an entrance early in the first quarter to a standing ovation from a Cleveland crowd that appreciates the work this man has put in. Zydrunas has been a staple in the Cavaliers offense for years, and has earned the respect of Cavs fans as a solid center in this league. He deserves this award, and in this game Big Z showed why Zydrunas Ilgauskas is underrated; He is a knock-down shooter from virtually anywhere on the floor. The Cavs rocked the blue and orange throwbacks, which are by far the coolest jerseys they will wear all season. This game actually made me want the Cavs to forget the new wine-and-gold, and go back to the utter bliss of the blue and orange coloway. Regardless of what uniform they have chosen to wear, the Cavs have been playing solid, and their growing chemistry and flow of ball-movement should scare any teams (Orlando, Boston) that have to contend with them in the East. Zydrunas is the man. Mo Williams is the consistent PG we need. Hickson and Gibson are stars on the rise. Shaq is the dominant force the Cavs have needed. LeBron James is underrated

LeBron is upset with Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, and with good reason. The so-called "mastermind" of the Cavs failed to play Zydrunas at home vs. the Mavericks on Saturday, which would have made Z the all-time leader in games played for Cleveland. When asked why he essentially embarrassed Z by not playing him for even one minute, Mike Brown claimed that Ilgauskas did not fit into the gameplan. Oh really Mike Brown? Then why did Shaq play 25 minutes? Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer called out Mike Brown for this innexcusable offense, and I fully agree with him and LeBron. Why not at least start Z and then take him out so that he can get his standing ovation? Sometimes I think Mike Brown is oblivious to what's going on around him. Zydrunas should have made an appearance in this game, and he is justified in being pissed off at Mike Brown. Z is a class-act, and Mike Brown is an idiot for not playing him. Don't forget Mike, that if you piss off LeBron you can easily be replaced. Stop overthinking everything please Mike Brown, and don't make LeBron mad again. LeBron is the present and future of this franchise (and pretty much the Coach), you are not. LeBron James is underrated