Cleveland Cavaliers’ struggles spark trips down misery lane

LeBron James and the lifeless Cleveland Cavaliers picked a strange time to rekindle memories of the Cadavaliers.…

Shaquille O’Neal, trying to reassure a reeling fan base, told reporters afterward, “I’ve been in this situation before.” …

The last time was in 2003, when he and the Lakers trailed the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, 3-2, and lost Game 6 at Staples Center by 28 points.…

This time, he’s on the road.…

Lakers fans rarely (never?) root for the Boston Celtics, but an NBA Finals matchup with Gang Green is the only one that would give Kobe Bryant & Co. home-court advantage.…

Attention, Jay-Z: There’s a greater chance of LeBron signing with the Clippers this summer than with the New Jersey Nets, according to odds posted at BetUS.com.…

The Cavaliers are the betting favorite, followed by the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Clippers.…

“Say what you will about Wall Street bonuses,” reader Dave Macaray of Rowland Heights e-mails to note, “but Adam Morrison made more than $5.25 million this year.” …

Trivia time: Who has won the third-most major golf championships, behind Jack Nicklaus, with 18, and Tiger Woods, with 14? …

Reader Bruce Dobos of Lomita, suggesting that Chad Billingsley’s woes might be attributable to an ill-fitting uniform: “Always tugging, pulling; distracting to watch; must be really nagging him when he pitches.” …

A report that Ken Griffey Jr. was unavailable to pinch-hit during a recent game because he was sleeping in the clubhouse brought to mind Tom Lasorda, who used to nod off in the dugout.…

A Craigslist ad for an “Angels baseball player,” apparently posted by a disgruntled fan before it was removed, listed key responsibilities as “running to position on field without falling down” and “spitting,” as well as a benefits package including “time off during all of playoffs and off-season.” …

Relax, folks, it’s only May.…

According to ESPN’s Barry Melrose, the Chicago Blackhawks wear “the greatest jerseys in sports.” …

Native American activists probably would disagree.…

Sporting News Today college football columnists Dave Curtis and Matt Hayes, in separate rankings of Pacific 10 Conference quarterbacks, listed USC backup Mitch Mustain sixth and UCLA starter Kevin Prince 10th.…

UCLA’s average attendance at Pauley Pavilion last season was 8,081, lowest of the Ben Howland era and less than half the basketball capacity at the Forum, where the Bruins will play their home games during the 2011-12 season.…

Chad Ochocinco apparently hasn’t seen much of the Oakland Raiders the last few seasons if he’s lobbying the Cincinnati Bengals to sign JaMarcus Russell.…

Reports out of Pittsburgh indicate that Steelers fans wouldn’t mind seeing Ben Roethlisberger sent packing.…

The greatest NFL draft class: Four of the first five players taken by the Steelers in 1974 — Lynn Swann of USC, Jack Lambert of Kent State, John Stallworth of Alabama A&M and Mike Webster of Wisconsin — made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.…

The one that didn’t, former UCLA cornerback Jimmy Allen, won two Super Bowls with the Steelers.…

“When did length replace height when referring to a basketball player’s size?” reader Joel Rapp of Los Angeles e-mails to ask. “I must have missed the memo.” …

A slew of TV analysts didn’t.…

Only five of the 20 horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby, winner Super Saver and sixth-place finisher Lookin At Lucky among them, are entered in the Preakness.…

Sunday is the 30th anniversary of Magic Johnson’s 42-15-7 Game 6 masterpiece against the Philadelphia 76ers.…

Janet Evans, John Naber and other Olympians are scheduled to participate in a charity swim/walk benefitting the High Hopes Head Injury Program on Sunday at Newport Harbor High.…

Information: (949) 733-0044.…

Trivia answer: Walter Hagen, with 11.…

Lou Piniella made his major league debut in September 1964 as a pinch-hitter for Hall of Famer Robin Roberts, who died last week, grounding out to second base in the fourth inning of a 7-1 Baltimore Orioles loss to the Angels at Dodger Stadium.…

Afterward, when Piniella returned to the dugout, Roberts reportedly told him, “Hell, I could’ve done that.”

jerome.crowe@latimes.com