Daily News - December 1, 2016

**NOTE: The news clips and articles listed don't necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of the Cleveland Cavaliers or their Basketball Operations staff, partners, or sponsors.**

LeBron James Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for 2016
Author: Joe Vardon
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Well, folks, you beat the Chicago Cubs in something: LeBron James is the 2016 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, and from the sound of it, he couldn't have done it without you, Cleveland.

"It took something really exceptional to name somebody sportsperson of the year ahead of the Chicago Cubs this year," Chris Stone, editor in chief for Sports Illustrated, told cleveland.com.

"Cleveland is a big part of the story and a big part of this choice," Stone said. "Had LeBron won anywhere else, in any other city, I'm fairly certain we'd be talking about the Chicago Cubs right now."

James, 31, won Sports Illustrated's award for the second time, becoming just the second athlete since its inception in 1954 to win it twice. James also won in 2012; golfer Tiger Woods won in 1996 and 2000. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Tyronn Lue talked to J.R. Smith about his 'embarrassing moment' during Milwaukee loss
Author: Joe Vardon
Publication: Cleveland.com

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cavs coach Tyronn Lue called J.R. Smith's wandering off the court to hug the Bucks' Jason Terry an "embarrassing moment" and said Smith's ski-masked explanation of ignorance after the game "wasn't right."

"Me and J.R. talked about it," Lue said after practice Wednesday, which followed what was Cleveland's worst loss of the season, a 118-101 downer in Milwaukee. "We're just going to move forward. We had a discussion about it, he felt embarrassed about it, it was an embarrassing play. We talked about it. We're moving on."

Lue said after the game Tuesday night that he actually hadn't seen the play that had already lit the Internet on fire. With 2:57 remaining in the second quarter and play set to resume following a timeout, Smith walked from the Cavs' bench, to where they were setting up to play defense, and kept going.

He found Terry and hugged it out with him. Meanwhile, the ball was in play and former Cav Matthew Dellavedova rifled the ball right to Smith's man -- Tony Snell -- who was wide open for a dunk. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

J.R. Smith's boneheaded play one example of Cavs' admitted boredom and waning focus
Author: Joe Vardon
Publication: Cleveland.com

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cavs have a bit of a focus problem right now.

It's not just J.R. Smith, though he happens to be the ski mask-wearing, Jason Terry-hugging, 3-for-29-shooting team member right now.

And it's not even Cleveland's 17-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, though it was the Cavs' largest defeat of the year and they did cough up 68 points in the paint.

They canceled practice on Monday, went to the Ohio State-Michigan football game Saturday instead of practicing, and on Friday canceled shootaround before playing the Dallas Mavericks. And when they have practiced, coach Tyronn Lue said recently that they haven't been very good. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

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