Cavs 06-07 season thread

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NBA
James has fond memories of title victories in Columbus
Sunday, October 22, 2006
James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



LeBron James enjoys coming back to Columbus. It?s where he began to carve out his basketball legend, winning three state championships for Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
James wowed fans again last night in his unofficial basketball home away from home. He scored 21 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers? 90-88 exhibition loss in overtime to the Atlanta Hawks in Nationwide Arena.
Before the game, James put on a rare dunking exhibition for the fans, at one point throwing a ball high in the air and then catching it off the bounce for a tomahawk slam.
"I?ve had great moments here in Columbus, winning three out of four state championships and being here four years in a row," James said. "The fans here have always treated me well and with respect, and they love the way I play the game."
James has played in Columbus every year since he was 14. He said he can remember coming to the city as early as age 10 to play in AAU games. The Cavaliers also had training camp in Columbus before the 2004-05 season, and the team played an exhibition here three straight years.
It?s all part of an ongoing effort to tap into this much sought-after market for Ohio pro sports teams.
"Columbus has really been a huge growth market for us the last couple of years," Cavs senior vice president of communications Tad Carper said. "Our TV and radio exposure in the market has certainly been strong. The fan base here has been very supportive, and the ticket sales are up considerably and have been strong.
"Over the last couple of years we?ve been selling thousands of thousands of tickets to fans coming up from Columbus ?and it?s not just individual fans. We have groups and sometimes buses that are being organized."
On the court last night, the Cavaliers looked sloppy at times but played much better in the second half. James and forward Drew Gooden (17 points) spurred a comeback that forced overtime. Joe Johnson?s jump shot with 1.7 seconds remaining in the extra period sealed it for Atlanta.
The Cavaliers will begin their regular season against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 1 in Cleveland.
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Ilgauskas injured in Cavaliers loss

Center says his bruised knee should to be OK

By Tom Reed

Beacon Journal sportswriter

TORONTO - October losses never carry over into the regular season.
The same cannot always be said of preseason injuries.
So despite another last-minute loss Sunday at the Air Canada Centre, the Cavaliers left Toronto feeling fortunate, considering their franchise center left the court at one point grimacing in pain with a knee injury.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas sat out the second half of the Cavs' 91-90 setback to the Toronto Raptors, but he doesn't think that his right knee bruise is anything serious.
Ilgauskas was involved in a knee-on-knee collision with Raptors guard Fred Jones early in the second quarter. Jones was driving to the basket when the two bumped knees.
The Cavs center went immediately to the bench, before playing several more minutes later in the quarter.
``I was able to run around on it, but it was achy,'' said Ilgauskas, who scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds in just under 12 minutes. ``I just decided to pull myself out.
``If it was the regular season I would have tried (to keep playing). It was getting sore and achy a little bit, but I'm pretty sure I would have been able to get through it.''
Ilgauskas said the knee didn't swell up and he expects to play in Wednesday's preseason finale against the Dallas Mavericks in Pittsburgh.
``I just know that he was hurt and it scared me,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ``... Any time any of our players does this (clutches his knee) I'm the first one to say, `Are you OK?' ''
This preseason has witnessed a rash of injuries with the likes of Chris Bosh (Raptors), Yao Ming (Houston Rockets) and Derek Fisher (Utah Jazz) missing time. The Cavs had been virtually injury free save for a slight quad strain of Drew Gooden at the start of exhibition play.
The Raptors were without two starters Bosh (left heel) and T.J. Ford (left hamstring) and No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani (left ankle) for Sunday's game.
The Cavs (2-5) took advantage of the Raptors' short-handed status early in building a 13-point first-half lead. LeBron James (21 points, six assists), Donyell Marshall (17 points, nine rebounds) and Larry Hughes (14 points, eight assists) had the Cavaliers positioned for victory.
Ragged third-quarter play -- the Cavs committed seven turnovers -- and Brown's decision to rest his regulars down the stretch helped swing momentum.
In the final five minutes of a tight game, Brown fielded this lineup: Sasha Pavlovic, Anderson Varejao (13 rebounds), Dwayne Jones and rookies Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson.
The Cavs reserves held their own, however. Brown hit two clutch shots to keep it close.
Raptors coach Sam Mitchell coached his undefeated team (6-0) as if a BCS ranking was at stake. He called two timeouts in the final minute. Kris Humphries supplied the winning points up a layup with 45 seconds left.
James was happy to see his young teammates get the experience.
``The guys that came in played well,'' he said. ``You can't be disappointed with what happened.''
Status quo OK
The Cavs had little money to spend in the offseason, but James said he's happy the roster remains relatively unchanged.
``We wanted to keep the same guys we had from last year so we could keep the same thing going,'' James said. ``We didn't want to add anything or add a bunch of guys where it was going to take a lot of time to get back to what we need best.''
Cuts looming
Brown expects to make his final two cuts in the coming days. He said there is a good chance that it will come before Wednesday's final preseason game. Guard Stephen Graham and center Ondrej Statosta are the candidates most likely to be released.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Cuts looming
Brown expects to make his final two cuts in the coming days. He said there is a good chance that it will come before Wednesday's final preseason game. Guard Stephen Graham and center Ondrej Statosta are the candidates most likely to be released.

So does that put them down to 12??

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

His big arrival merely the start

Cavs' Pollard hit world in a two-foot way, hasn't stopped drawing notice

By Tom Reed

Beacon Journal sportswriter

Some athletes work hard to attract attention.
Others, such as Scot Pollard, literally are born with the quality.
On Feb. 12, 1975, the Cavaliers' backup forward checked into the world at 13 pounds, 8 ounces. He measured 24 inches in length.
Years before donning his first pair of samurai pants or treating his hair the way Edward Scissorhands would a shrub, Pollard knew how to draw a crowd.
``Doctors and nurses were coming down to the maternity ward just to get a look at him,'' Pollard's mother, Marlyn, said in a phone interview from Provo, Utah. ``Scot likes to tell people he was never shorter than 2 feet tall.''
Hard work and grit have allowed Pollard (6-foot-11, 265 pounds) to enjoy a 10-year NBA career. He dives for loose balls, battles for rebounds, relishes every minute in which he gets off the bench.
His basketball talents are journeyman material, but his quick wit, outrageous fashion sense and peculiar background have placed him on everybody's all-NBA interview team.
At Cavs media day, Pollard was asked whether he was looking forward to playing alongside LeBron James. Pollard went Jim Carrey on his inquisitors.
``Am I excited to play with LeBron? It's awesome,'' Pollard said on Oct. 2 while sporting his hair in a Mohawk. ``I'm a witness. I got the T-shirt and everything. I just wish I could have his Nike shoe contract.''
Pollard joked that his only endorsement deal is with Fun Dip, the Nestle-manufactured candy.
``I guess I like to float my own boat,'' said Pollard, who signed a one-year free-agent deal in the off-season. ``It's what keeps me sane.''
Some might challenge Pollard's mental state, but those who know him say it's all in fun. Besides, anyone who called Ron Artest a teammate for three seasons is entitled to some eccentricities.
Pollard has a catalog of talking points.
? He grew up as one of six children in a devout Mormon home, but never embraced the religion.
? He did not take basketball or school seriously until after his father -- University of Utah hoops legend Pearl ``Poison'' Pollard -- died when Scot was 16. Pollard has a tattoo on his back that reads, Son of Poison.
? He enjoys vintage cars,and drove around the University of Kansas in a 1972 Cadillac convertible he calls Marvin.
? He proposed to his wife, Mindy, in front of 16,000 fans at a Jayhawks Midnight Madness practice. His wife also is something of a free spirit, a woman who shops for his unusual fashions and suggests different hairstyles.
``She inflames (my quirks) sometimes,'' Pollard said. ``She will say, `Why don't you grow your hair this way?' She painted my nails in college.''
Fingers or toes?
``Both,'' he said.
Pollard's hairstyles and facial features have run the gamut: ponytails, spiked hair, mutton chops, Van Dykes, handlebar mustaches. As a member of the Sacramento Kings, he went through a John Belushi ``Samurai Warrior'' phase.
How many NBA career backups get critiqued by the editors at GQ?
Pollard, shaggy-haired Anderson Varejao and flamboyant Damon Jones give the Cavs one of the league's most colorful benches.
On the court, though, Pollard is decidedly no-nonsense. He hustles and bangs and does the little things that seldom merit SportsCenter air time.
Teammates appreciate his subtle contributions. His teams in Sacramento and Indiana made the playoffs over eight consecutive seasons.
As the Cavs fifth big man, Pollard figures to see limited minutes -- barring injuries to regulars. Which is not to say Pollard will go unnoticed. We're talking about a player who has worn satin pants with a dragon design.
``I like to experiment with the way I look,'' Pollard said. ``It's not for attention, but it has certainly attracted attention.''
His mother finds Pollard's style sense amusing. She knows the Pollard clan always has stood out in spite of its conservative nature.
Marlyn was 6-foot-2 in eighth grade. Finding a steady boyfriend was challenging until 6-foot-10 Pearl walked into her life. They married right out of high school and started producing baby giants.
The five Pollard boys grew to about 7 feet tall, and two of them, Alan and Carl, played at Brigham Young University.
The gregarious Scot Pollard didn't speak until he was almost 4. He was an introverted child whose best friend was a baby lamb the family dubbed ``Woolite.''
Once Pollard began talking, however, he never stopped. He was a 4-year-old using complete sentences.
``I was a weird little kid,'' Pollard said. ``I was always singing and making noises. I guess I have been speaking my mind for years.''
Pollard's family lived in Orem, Utah, and suburban San Diego, Calif. Unlike his brothers, Pollard opted not to go on a Mormon mission. His mother said the family has respected Pollard's individuality and choices.
Marlyn adores her daughter-in-law, Mindy. The child of a U.S State Department employee, Mindy grew up abroad in Thailand and India. She lived across the hall from Pollard at Kansas.
They have been together for 13 years and married for nine. Mindy joined Pollard in Columbus over the weekend to celebrate her birthday.
The two have interests that run from zany to humanitarian. Pollard and Mindy helped coordinate a Tsunami Relief effort among the Indiana Pacers in January 2005. Mindy, who is of Thai descent, presented a check to UNICEF for $57,400.
``She couldn't watch the tsunami coverage because it was so painful for her,'' said Pollard, who makes an annual trip to Thailand.
His constant travels belie his homebody instincts. He loves spending time with his two daughters or curled up with a good book.
Pollard, who received his degree in education, is a history buff and just finished reading about the final days of Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
``Booth hid in a thicket for five days out in the woods,'' Pollard said. ``I like history, I don't like fiction.''
Pollard's life is testimony that truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
Z update
Zydrunas Ilgauskas was checked out by the Cavs medical staff Monday after he banged knees with the Toronto Raptors' Fred Jones on Sunday night. The injury is not believed to be serious. Ilgauskas will probably be out a couple of days and may sit out Wednesday's final preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks in Pittsburgh.

 

[Brutus1]

So does that put them down to 12??

Graham was waived. The roster currently stands at 16.

I read that Luke is likely to be cut loose by the Celtics already. Too bad.


Hughes has looked much bewtter this preseason than at any time last year. His shot just seems smoother.

It should be a great season.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

LeBron is ready, Brown would like a little more time
Thursday, October 26, 2006
BY Mike Popovich REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER


WIZARDS AT Cavaliers

8 Wednesday
Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland
TV Channel 43, ESPN

PITTSBURGH Finally, it's over.
After three weeks of training camp and exhibition games, the Cavaliers can now put the preseason behind them and focus on the games that mean a lot more.
Their final tuneup was Wednesday's 83-81 loss to Dallas at Mellon Arena. In six days, the Cavs will tip off the regular season against Washington and start playing for keeps.
LeBron James can't wait for it to begin.
"I'm so excited about the preseason being over," James said. "I'm ready for the regular season to begin so we can go out there, play some real basketball, have some fun and win some games."
The Cavs won just two of their eight preseason games. One of them came against European power Maccabi Tel Aviv Elite.
For Head Coach Mike Brown, the preseason was not about finishing with a perfect sheet. His front line is set, but the exhibition games gave his backups a chance to battle for playing time.
Brown actually would not mind if he had another preseason game or two to play.
"Our guys wouldn't like it," Brown said. "But if we had a couple more preseason games, I'd need four or five more practices. Then maybe I'd feel ready.
"But, hey, everybody had the same amount of time, so we have to go with what we have."
A crowd of 9,051, including Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, saw the Cavaliers and Mavericks play their starters no more than 30 minutes and let the reserves finish it out.
James finished with 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Drew Gooden added 10 points and six rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 17 points for Dallas.
The Cavs went with rookies Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson, Sasha Pavlovic, Scot Pollard and Anderson Varejao down the stretch. Dwayne Jones came in when Varejao fouled out with 47 seconds left.
The Mavericks outscored the Cavaliers, 23-16, in the final quarter. Free throws by former Cav DeSagana Diop and Austin Croshere in the final 1:08 broke an 81-81 tie. The Cavs turned the ball over seven times in the fourth quarter after they had just six the entire first half.
Brown finished with 8 points, and Pavlovic and David Wesley added 7 apiece. Pavlovic also finished with six assists.
"I thought Sasha passed the basketball really well and made great decisions when it came to shooting the ball," Brown said.
Pavlovic can hit outside shots, but his ability to convert off the dribble impressed the coach. There are no guarantees for the 6-foot-7 swingman from Serbia, but Pavlovic appears to be doing nothing to hurt his playing time.
"Every day he steps on the floor, in my mind, he's winning minutes," Brown said. Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Cavs end preseason unscathed

But they lose another close game to Mavericks

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

PITTSBURGH - The Cavaliers closed the preseason without incident Wednesday.
That's perhaps the most interesting fact coming out of their 83-81 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, a third consecutive close preseason defeat, to finish the practice games with a 2-6 record.
But unlike last season, when Larry Hughes and Ira Newble suffered injuries before the opener, the Cavs appear to have come through unscathed.
Despite the nasty-looking record, the Cavs showed some things in October.
After taking nearly half of last season to start picking up coach Mike Brown's defensive principles, the Cavs have routinely been hard to score on thus far.
The Mavericks shot just 40 percent Wednesday, and the Cavs held their opponents in the eight games to 41 percent shooting and an average of 88 points.
On offense, the Cavs have added facets to their game, which largely has been positive, though there have been growing pains.
While force-feeding new sets, the Cavs have gone through scoring droughts and turnover binges.
``For the most part, with some of the new wrinkles we've thrown at them, the front line has played well,'' Brown said. ``I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but we've done a decent job defensively, too.''
LeBron James scored 13 points with six rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes against the Mavericks.
Drew Gooden went 5-of-6 for 10 points and finished the preseason shooting 61 percent.
Sasha Pavlovic played his best ball of the preseason, scoring seven points and handing out six assists.
He has pretty much won the backup small forward job, especially considering that Brown has benched Newble for the past five games.
``I thought Sasha made great decisions on offense, and defensively he played OK,'' Brown said. ``Sasha is a talented, gifted player. There's a lot of things he can do. It is up to him to do it all the time. Sometimes he floats in and out.''
Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavs with 17 points.
Cuban returns
Usually at preseason games at neutral sites, it is James who draws the biggest crowd. Not so at Mellon Arena, where Mavericks owner and Pittsburgh native Mark Cuban got plenty of attention. It was the first time he was able to get the Mavs into a preseason game in his hometown since he bought the team.
LBJ in NYC
James is scheduled to be in New York City today for a promotional appearance for Cub Cadet, though the Cavs are practicing in Cleveland. It is not part of a new endorsement deal and is also separate from Cub Cadet's sponsorship of the Cavs. James does have his first major endorsement deal in three years on the way. He and his representatives were in talks with several companies, including Microsoft, during the summer.
Dribbles
Hughes sat out Wednesday to get extra rest.... After being cut Tuesday by the Cavs, Stephen Graham was claimed off waivers by the Portland Trail Blazers.... Shannon Brown and his former Michigan State backcourt mate, Maurice Ager, guarded each other in the fourth quarter.... Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sat courtside.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

National eyes are watching Cavs rise


Friday, October 27, 2006

Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

One tired refrain the Cavaliers won't be citing to start the season: We don't get any respect.
Virtually every national publication and Internet site previewing the upcoming NBA season rates the Cavaliers among the league's elite teams.
LeBron James can't stand at the magazine rack of any book store without looking back at himself on the covers of Sports Illustrated, AthlonSports, Hoop and Slam.
Some observations on the Cavaliers, who won 50 games last season and took Detroit to seven games before losing in the second round of the playoffs:
ESPN.com's Greg Anthony rates the Cavaliers the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference. "I think this is going to be a breakout for the Cleveland Cavaliers," he writes.
ESPN.com's Chris Broussard also ranks the Cavaliers No. 1 in the East. "With Larry Hughes healthy, the supporting cast more confident and the best player in the game [James], the Cavaliers should approach 60 wins, then fall to the Heat in the East Finals," he writes.
AthlonSports predicts the Cavaliers will win the Central Division. "It will be New Jersey over the Cavaliers in the East Finals, with New Jersey to win it all," says the magazine.
Sports Illustrated picks the Cavaliers to win the Central, but Miami to beat the Nets in the conference finals, then lose to the Suns in the NBA Finals. Reporter Marty Burns writes that too often "players stood around waiting for LeBron James to work his magic."
From Hoop magazine: "James and company continue to grow and make a trip to the conference finals.
Not everyone is buying into the Cavaliers, who open their 37th season on Wednesday night at The Q against Washington.
The doubters:
Street & Smith's picks the Cavaliers to finish third in the Central, with Miami beating Detroit in the East Finals. "For Cleveland to take the next step from good to great, the surrounding cast around LeBron James must improve," the magazine says.
Hoop magazine agrees with Street & Smith's tabbing the Cavaliers third in their division. "Their point-guard problems look destined to continue," says Hoop.
Charlie Rosen of FoxSports.com predicts a second-place finish in the Central. "Still not enough defense to mount a serious challenge for the gold," he writes.
Cavaliers second-year coach Mike Brown says he does read the publications previewing the NBA. "We are a good team and deserve some respect," he said, "but we've got to show we're not a one-hit wonder by doing it again and again if we are going to be talked about with teams like Miami, Detroit and San Antonio.
"We had some success last year and that doesn't mean a thing this year."
Hoop happenings:
Brown said he will open the season with a nine-man rotation - starters James, Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Eric Snow and Drew Gooden, with the reserves being Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones, David Wesley and Anderson Varajeo. "Sasha Pavlovic is not far behind those reserves," Brown said.
Hot shot:
After Stephen Graham was waived Tuesday, Brown said the 6-5 guard was capable of playing in the NBA and would be picked up by another team.
Graham was picked up by Portland on Wednesday, then had 15 points, four rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes against the Clippers later that night.
Missing in action:
James did not participate in Thursday's practice. He was in New York City, where he made a promotional appearance for Cub Cadet. The Cavs reduced their roster to the regular-season limit of 15 by releasing Ondrej Starosta, a 7-1 center from the Czech Republic.
No action for Jackson:
The Boston Celtics waived forward Luke Jackson. Boston acquired Jackson from the Cavaliers on Oct. 13 in exchange for forward Dwayne Jones.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

MorningJournal

Cavaliers' success may be reserved in backcourt
By BOB FINNAN, Morning Journal Writer
10/27/2006


The Cavaliers' front-court rotation is talented and deep.


But there appears to be questions about the backcourt, especially off the bench. Sheer numbers don't necessarily translate into success on the court.

With starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, coupled with Anderson Varejao, Donyell Marshall and Scot Pollard, the Cavaliers can match up with most teams' big men.

However, their guard play in the preseason has been iffy.

If Larry Hughes stays healthy, he's among the top 10 shooting guards in the league. He'll get the bulk of the minutes, but he obviously can't play the entire game.

Backups David Wesley and Damon Jones certainly didn't distinguish themselves in the preseason. Both shot under 33 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point line.

Rookie Shannon Brown is next in the pecking order. If you know anything about Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, you know he's not fond of giving rookies significant playing time. So, nail him to the bench for the time being, at least.

Point guard Eric Snow will remain in the starting rotation, but he's probably seen his better days in the NBA. His scoring and shooting abilities are non-existent.

Snow is still a low-risk playmaker. He gets the ball where it's supposed to go and doesn't turn it over. This might be his last year in the starting lineup. He can defend and is strong as an ox. But the Cavaliers can no longer ask him to defend the quick, darting point guards.

Wesley and Jones are also the backups at the point. Neither is a true point guard. Jones has been getting by with suspect ballhandling ability for years. He usually makes up for it with above average long-range shooting.

Rookie Daniel Gibson has played well in stretches during the preseason, but he likely won't play early on. Only if Wesley or Jones falters will Coach Brown dig down deeper into his bench and play the rookies. It could be until the All-Star break before either of them gets regular minutes.

LeBron James is probably the top small forward in the game, so he'll rarely leave the court. He's backed up by Sasha Pavlovic, perhaps the most inconsistent player on the team.

Coach Brown is concerned that Pavlovic sometimes ''floats'' out on the court. He was asked how to keep him from floating.

''I sit him next to me,'' he said. ''He won't float at all on the bench.''

When asked yesterday if he was comfortable with his bench, Coach Brown said ''at times'' he was.

''It's got to evolve,'' he said. ''I'm seeing flashes from Sasha, Shannon, Daniel, David and Damon. It's going to be a work in progress. The potential is there. I'm excited about Andy, Donyell and Scot.''

Like Coach Brown said, the potential is there for the veteran guards. Both Wesley and Jones have a long track record. Perhaps they'll turn it up a notch for the start of the regular season Wednesday at home against Washington.

''I think the guys coming off the bench have had starting positions in this league,'' Wesley said. ''That gives them confidence. They know the ins and outs.''

Wesley said his coach should have a lot of options.

''We have a lot of guards and a lot of bigs,'' he said. He's looked at a lot of combinations. Some have worked, some haven't.''

The coach said his rotation stops at nine players (the starters, plus Wesley, Jones, Marshall and Varejao).

He keeps bringing up the word ''sacrifice.'' He knows he can't play everyone, so guys will have to be ready when called upon. On some nights, they might not play.

''I'm not going to worry about minutes,'' Wesley said. ''I don't care if I play two minutes or 25 minutes. I'm not going to trip at all. I can't control that. Everyone would like minutes. I'm not going to be tripping.''

Coach Brown said the Cavaliers have to prove they are as good as many people think they are.

''Look at the elite teams -- Miami, San Antonio, Detroit -- they are deep teams,'' he said. ''You have to have the right pieces. I feel confident about our bench. We have a chance to be pretty good coming off the bench. We have to prove it first.''

[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Snow plows gripes aside

Defender plays his game, says team's belief in him is what really matters

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - Eric Snow is perhaps as well rounded and well read as anyone in the NBA.
In the past, NBA general managers have voted him the player most likely to become a future head coach. He has been to the Finals on two different teams. He has been a part of the core, anchored by LeBron James, that turned around the Cavaliers from a losing team into a 50-win team over the last two years.
By coach Mike Brown's admission, Snow was about the only player he could count on each night on the defensive end. Brown trusted/needed Snow enough to have him guard star players from Dirk Nowitzki to Tracy McGrady to Gilbert Arenas. Snow has also only missed one game in the past four years and has been the most durable Cav over the last two years.
Yet because of his style of play, Snow is often the subject of criticism from fans and media. Most of the focus is on his age (33), his offensive ability (4.8 points per game last season) or his contract ($6 million this season and $14 million over the next two seasons).
With so much attention on the Cavs this season, even more of a spotlight has been on Snow and his perceived shortcomings, especially leading up to Wednesday's season opener against the Washington Wizards.
``It has been something that has been said since I was a freshman (at Michigan State),'' Snow said. ``It is unfortunate, but I still have a job to do. If people don't like what I do or what I'm doing, that's up to Dan Gilbert, Danny Ferry and Mike Brown to make a change.''
There is no change in the offing. He started the last 225 games he played with the Philadelphia 76ers, but Snow lost the point guard job to Jeff McInnis after being traded to the Cavs. By the end of the season, McInnis had been benched and Snow was in the lineup. Then the Cavs signed Damon Jones, who had starter for the Miami Heat, and Snow beat him out in last season's training camp.
Still, most preseason publications have cited Snow and the Cavs' backup point guards Jones and David Wesley as the team's weakest links.
``With LeBron, Drew (Gooden) and (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), the backcourt isn't our strength,'' Snow said. ``We won 50 times last year, maybe I had something to do with the 32 losses and not the wins.''
Snow is used to it. One of his favorite things to do is ask people to try to name players other than himself and Allen Iverson who were on the 2000-01 Sixers team that won 56 games and made the Finals. His point is usually made: key players on that team were overlooked and criticized at times that season. Which is why he isn't letting a new round bother him too much.
``Everybody has been writing the same stuff every year. (The media) wrote it when I was in Seattle, when I was in Philly and now,'' Snow said. ``I guess it will stop when I retire. It can't bother me because it won't stop. I don't need any credit, it is given by whether your team believes in you.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

James learns word power

Chosen well and said at the right time, they can help a team win

By Tom Reed

The words of a leader can inspire his followers. They also can cast doubt in the minds of the non-believers.
In the final 15 seconds of last season's opening-round playoff series, Cavaliers star LeBron James crept into the head of Gilbert Arenas, who stood at the Verizon Center foul line with a chance to expand the Washington Wizards' lead to two points in Game 6.
Arenas already had missed the first of two free throws when James sidled up to him like a specter in the night. Like the Ghost of Michael Jordan playing head games with a vulnerable opponent.
``If you miss both of these free throws, the game is over,'' James told his fellow all-star.
Arenas failed to convert, and James moved the ball up the floor, eventually getting it in the hands of Damon Jones. Jones hit a 20-foot jumper with four seconds left, delivering the signature shot of a playoff run that didn't end until the Cavs forced the Detroit Pistons to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
``Leaders know what to say and when to say it,'' Jones said in the days following the improbable 114-113 overtime win.
James' actions always have spoken louder than his words. But as the 21-year-old matures, he seems to realize the power words can convey when chosen properly. Words such as ``championship.''
After a summer in which he helped take ownership of Team USA at the FIBA World Championship, James returns to Cleveland determined to lead the Cavaliers to a title. Let others discuss his league MVP chances; James' focus is fixed on only one NBA honor.
``Our only goal is to win a championship,'' James said last week. ``That should be the main goal of everyone on this team.''
On the surface, the Cavs added little to a team that won 50 games and was one postseason victory shy of reaching the conference finals. Except for the drafting of guards Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson, the nucleus is unchanged.
The Cavs' biggest improvement, however, could be James himself. He is blossoming as a leader, growing comfortable with the idea of carrying the franchise to a title. His leadership skills and intensity of purpose have caught his awesome talent. You could see signs of it late last season; it's unmistakable now.
James' voice is the last one heard at every practice. He breaks huddles with a single word: ``championship.'' He also is rounding out his game, playing defense with more commitment.
Others are noticing. Veteran guard Eric Snow said that when the ``best player becomes the best example,'' the team can only prosper.
James understands his legacy is tied to championships. He doesn't want to be the Dominique Wilkins of his generation, a hall-of-fame dunker and scorer who never won a ring.
The Cavs' icon was the league's best player in the second half of the regular season and the first half of the postseason. He was brilliant in the playoffs, averaging 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists, while contributing two last-second game winners against the Wizards. With the Pistons double-teaming his every move, James still put up big numbers and nearly led the Cavs to a massive upset.
The postseason ended, however, with good friend and Miami Heat standout Dwyane Wade hugging the Larry O'Brien Trophy and earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors. James knows that for the first time since entering the league, there are whispers that Wade has moved slightly ahead of him among the Class of 2003 rookies.
Obviously, James has no one resembling Shaquille O'Neal in his lineup, but you can bet he will use the Wade talk as motivation. James might be thinking about it as he leads the Cavs in wind sprints.
Wade and the Heat are not James' only long-term challenge to multiple titles. The Chicago Bulls are building a powerful nucleus made better by the addition of Ben Wallace.
The Cavs made no such splash in the offseason because of salary cap constraints. James claims the team needed no revamping. A healthy Larry Hughes should make them better. So should a new offensive approach that will de-emphasize James.
Coach Mike Brown is trying to install more motion and scoring options for other players. How many NBA superstars would endorse such a plan? James is fine with it. He doesn't need to score 35 points a night to prove the Cavs are his team.
``At crunch time, we know what plays to run that will get us points,'' James said.
Spoken like a leader whose actions and words increasingly are carrying equal clout.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Optimism makes sense this season

First, LeBron; Marshall good sub off bench; rookie Brown needs to play

By Terry Pluto

Talkin' to myself about the Cavaliers...
Q: Do you think the Cavs will go to the NBA Finals?
A: I can't believe you're even asking that question.
Q: What's not to believe? They won 50 games last season. They lost to Detroit in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. They were a couple of rebounds away from wrapping up the series in six games, then facing Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals. They have LeBron James...
A: I know all that.
Q: So what's not to believe?
A: That we can legitimately discuss the Cavs making it to the Finals, and we can. Miami is the favorite in the East. As long as Shaquille O'Neal is somewhat healthy and reasonably motivated, they probably will go to the Finals again. They have their own LeBron in Dwyane Wade.
Q: Do you think Wade is better than LeBron?
A: I don't, but I also don't watch Wade every day. I do know that Wade is talented and dedicated enough so that at some point in their careers -- remember, neither of them has seen his 25th birthday -- James and Wade can become the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird of this era.
Q: Who is Magic, and who is Bird?
A: I have no idea. The point is they not only are great players, but also are players who know championships define careers. They both have leadership ability, and their duels will be something fans will relish for years.
Q: So what's not to believe about the Cavs reaching the NBA Finals?
A: The Cavs overachieved last season. Winning 50 games with Larry Hughes sitting out nearly half the season... then nearly upsetting Detroit... and doing it with a rookie coach and a rookie general manager, that just doesn't happen. At least, not to a team that hadn't been in the playoffs for seven years. Staring at last season in the rearview mirror, it's even more remarkable now than when we were watching it the first time.
Q: OK, let's try this: Will the Cavs be a better team?
A: I know that Danny Ferry thinks so, and the general manager is not one to deceive himself. James is convinced the Cavs can seriously contend for a title. On paper, the roster is stronger. They lost no key players other than Flip Murray. And Murray was probably not going to play much this season. He also really struggled in the conference semifinals, averaging 5.6 points in almost 33 minutes per game and shooting a dismal 22 percent. The young/old combination of rookie Shannon Brown and veteran David Wesley should replace Murray, and perhaps be more effective in the playoffs.
Q: Don't you think the Cavs should have gotten a quicker point guard?
A: Only if he's good enough to start. I'd like to have Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups or Tony Parker. They currently are employed. If Hughes can stay healthy, he can play significant time at the point. Eric Snow had a solid playoffs defensively. Look, it's the weakest spot on the team, but it's not hopeless.
Q: Why didn't they get a big-time point guard?
A: Because the NBA has a salary cap. Thank the basketball gods (and David Stern) for that, because otherwise LeBron James would not be signed for the next four years. The NBA cap helps you keep your stars. Ferry's offseason goals were to retain James and Drew Gooden, which he did. He wanted to add a muscular big man, and he did in Scot Pollard. He believes Wesley will give some shooting and experience in the backcourt.
Q: Why are you shilling for Ferry?
A: I'm being realistic. The reason the Cavs won 50 games last season was Ferry used much of his cap to sign Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones and Hughes. He needed to leave room for James. The NBA is designed so that no team will have a star at every position.
Q: What's so great about that 2005 free-agent class?
A: Ilgauskas is among the top seven centers in the NBA. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds and shot 51 percent last season. He wasn't great in the playoffs (10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds), but you don't just find guys to supply that production at center. He's a lot like Brad Daugherty, who was never appreciated by the fans until he was gone.
Q: What about Jones and Marshall?
A: Jones was a miss, but give him his due for hitting that shot in Game 6 at Washington in the first round of the playoffs. But if he had been the player the Cavs hoped, then they never would have signed Wesley this season. As for Marshall, he also is underrated by many fans, who get discouraged when he's missing 3-pointers. He led all NBA reserves in rebounding. That's a big deal, especially since he can play backup center or power forward. Mike Brown has persuaded Marshall to score more inside, as Marshall did early in his career. I expect him to have a strong season. He's a terrific bench player.
Q: Shouldn't the Cavs have known Hughes would get hurt?
rebounds. I expect a better season from him this year, especially since Mike Brown has altered his offense to create more scoring opportunities for Hughes. Best of all, Hughes has excellent ballhandling skills and fits in well with James.
Q: What if he gets hurt again?
A: He probably will miss some games. It's critical that Mike Brown develop a young guard. He didn't a year ago. Luke Jackson and Sasha Pavlovic played little and weren't ready when Hughes was injured. Jackson (back problems) may never have been healthy. It wasn't until Ferry traded for Flip Murray that the Cavs began to thrive without Hughes.
Q: So whom should Brown be playing?
A: The coach may think the Wesley/Jones combo can do it. Neither has the athleticism of Hughes. Pavlovic is a streaky scorer, but he inspires little confidence. Ira Newble? Not this century. The real answer is Shannon Brown, and the kid from Michigan State should be seeing time in every game so he can be ready if needed. This guy is a major athlete in terms of speed, leaping ability and strength on a sturdy 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame.
Q: You do sound optimistic...
A: Why not? James was second in the NBA Most Valuable Player voting a year ago, and he could win it this season. Not a bad place to start building a winner. He averaged 31 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the playoffs, with the tempo slower, every defense keying on him and Hughes not able to make a jump shot. It's early, but James has taken leadership seriously. He consistently leads the team in wind sprints. He's in the center of the players' huddles. He has been trying to get his teammates more involved early in the game in the preseason. He's great now, and he's going to get even better.
Q: Do the Cavs have enough depth?
A: They should, especially if Shannon Brown develops at guard. But consider the power forward/center spots. They start Ilgauskas and Gooden. By the way, Gooden seems primed for a stronger season. He's happy to be back, and this is the first time in his NBA career he has had the same coach for two years in a row. The Cavs will bring Anderson Varejao and Marshall off the bench. Varejao is a relentless rebounder and defender. He averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds and shot 58 percent in 20 minutes a game in the physical Detroit playoff series. Pollard is a solid backup. They have five capable big men, and they should be one of the best rebounding teams in the league. That's especially true because their small forward (James) and shooting guard (Hughes) are above-average rebounders at their positions.
Q: Who will be under the most pressure this season?
A: Mike Brown, because of the success of his first year. His offense seemed primitive a year ago, and he appears to be adding more plays to create more movement and more ways to get the ball inside. We'll see if that is true in the regular season. Because he puts so much emphasis on defense, that also will be scrutinized. Let's face it: He has LeBron James. He is expected to win big, and do it soon.
Q: So how many games will the Cavs win this season?
A: I'll go with 53.
Q: Only 53?
A: Since when did ``only'' and ``53 wins'' ever appear in the same sentence about the Cavs? That's a lot of victories. The East is better, especially in the Central Division, where Detroit will win at least 55 games, where Chicago has improved dramatically and where Milwaukee is solid.
Q: But they won 50 a year ago; shouldn't they win at least 55?
A: The idea is to have the team winning enough games for home court in as many playoff rounds as possible. Even more important, to be playing as well as possible in the playoffs. That means not playing James more minutes than anyone else in the league to win a few extra games. It means working on an offense that is more than pick-and-rolls -- or throwing the ball to James and letting him do something. It means growing on defense, and learning how to win close, physical games under pressure. It means making sure the key guys on the bench play enough to stay sharp. So 50, 53 or 55, there's no big difference if the Cavs can accomplish most of these goals.
Q: So will the Cavs make the NBA Finals?
A: How about the Eastern Conference Finals this season, a real run at the title in spring of 2008? But with James, truly anything is possible. Everything in his career has happened ahead of schedule.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

TALKIN' CAVS
Defense against point guards will be key

? Early signs are that rookies Daniel Gibson and Shannon Brown will play little as the regular season begins. Both have had some good moments in camp, and in another year they may be in the rotation. The Cavs are stacked with veteran guards, though, and coach Mike Brown expects to use them first -- at least early in the season.
? Larry Hughes and Eric Snow will start at guard. They will be backed up by David Wesley and Damon Jones. Mike Brown likes the two veteran outside shooters. Neither shot well in training camp -- both at 32 percent -- but fans should not worry about that.
? The real key will be defending opposing point guards. The Cavs believe Snow is an underrated defensive player. He's savvy and strong enough to keep most point guards from driving around him at will. We'll see if that continues. He certainly is a better bet on defense than Wesley or Jones. Let's face it: None of these guys is known for his speed.
? That's why Shannon Brown may work his way on the court. He can defend. He shot 43 percent from the field in camp. After LeBron James, Drew Gooden and Hughes, he may be the best pure athlete on the team in terms of speed, strength and leaping ability. He also likes to defend.
? Gibson surprised some by playing reasonably well at the point. The knock on him during his two years at Texas was his ballhandling. He obviously has worked on it. He's only 20 and could end up being a good second-round pick.
? Mike Brown wants to have a nine-man rotation. His four off the bench will be Donyell Marshall, Anderson Varejao, Wesley and Jones. The 10th man as of now is Sasha Pavlovic, who averaged 7.1 points and shot 39 percent in camp. The Cavs liked how he drove to the basket and worked hard on defense.
? The best player in camp (other than You Know Who) was Gooden, who played 24 minutes a game. He averaged 14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and shot 62 percent. Right behind him was Marshall (9.1 points, 5.9 rebounds in 19 minutes). Last season, 60 percent of Marshall's field-goal attempts were from 3-point range. The Cavs pushed him to score more inside. During camp, only 20 percent came from the 3-point line.
? Marshall led all NBA reserves in rebounding a year ago (6.1), and along with Varejao, the Cavs have two excellent rebounders coming off the bench. Scot Pollard also can help on the boards. After James, the strength of the team is the depth in the frontcourt.
? Hughes is feeling better than at any other time in a year. He broke that middle finger during last season's training camp, then had two operations. His shooting, driving and virtually every aspect of his game seems sharper. He is gifted enough to defend some point guards, so that may help.
? We'll see how this works in the regular season, but in some exhibition games, Brown insisted his team run a motion offense. There were times when he didn't allow them to use the pick-and-roll to make sure the players keep moving. In close games, however, they still have to make sure they just don't toss the ball to James and expect him to create something.
? In case you missed it, the Boston Celtics cut Luke Jackson. Another former Cavs top pick, Dajuan Wagner, is making a strong comeback with the Golden State Warriors. After knee surgery and a major problem with colitis (more surgery), Wagner is averaging 13 points and shooting 53 percent with Golden State. He's only 23. He missed virtually the last two seasons, and never was fully healthy with the Cavs.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Cavaliers enter new stratosphere

Expectations change; nothing less than success

By Brian Windhorst

Starting this week, the Cavaliers' honeymoon is over.
That doesn't refer to the end of the preseason. It means the end of their underdog status.
No more will the expectations be reasonable for the Cavs and LeBron James; the bar set in the mediocrity of just making the playoffs. Not even the silver elite status of reaching the conference semifinals will be deemed appropriate.
Those tickets have been punched and the pats on the backs awarded. Since James' arrival in 2003, the Cavs have constantly dealt with increasing expectations. But the target was always much bigger. Now they are expected to make the NBA's final four or it will be considered somewhat of a letdown, a spinning of the wheels.
``There's 16 teams that make the playoffs, there's only two that make the Finals,'' Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said this week. ``It's the hardest jump to make. The Cavs are on their way, but it isn't easy.''
Cuban's Mavs have won 50 games or more six consecutive seasons. But it wasn't until last season that they broke through to the NBA Finals. They've poured hundreds of millions into contracts, made numerous major trades and undergone more than one philosophical shift to get there.
Some say the Cavs are being built in the Mavs' image. Though they've tried to use the San Antonio Spurs model to construct the roster and playing scheme, owner Dan Gilbert's big spending on free agents and player amenities mirrors fellow entrepreneur Cuban's tactics.
The gregarious Cuban knows all too well the path the Cavs are on and smiles at his team's long ago lost innocence of being a little playoff team that could. It's the same club the Cavs are now in.
``We were always a team that didn't have this or that to become champions,'' Cuban said. ``Making the second round, as the Cavs did, is something to learn from. A lot of learning is what it takes.''
Dribbles
? There was a report out of Denver this week that linked the Cavs to Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, saying the Cavs had been scouting him during the preseason. Though Smith is close to James and has come to Akron in past offseasons to work out with him, a Western Conference executive confirmed that Smith isn't on the block.
? With the news out of New York on Sunday that guard Jalen Rose was in buyout talks and perhaps soon to be a free agent, Cavs fan message boards started burning up with the possibility he could be a target. After checking with league sources, it seems the Cavs would not be interested if the deal does go down.
? NBA players routinely pay big money for watches, but not the one Drew Gooden is now sporting. Gooden is on a big 1980s kick, a current fad in his hometown of Oakland. The Cavs forward recently plunked down $300 on eBay to get a vintage Casio calculator watch.
He's growing a square patch of hair in the back of his otherwise shaved head, which he calls a ``ducktail,'' another '80s look. His left eyebrow also has two lines shaved into it, another forgotten trend from the time of the Reagan Administration.
Gooden, however, was a little upset he had to get into a bidding war for the watch. Apparently he's run into another trend, as fans of NBC's The Office are in the market because one is sported by favorite nerdy character Dwight Schrute.
``It was me and another guy and we were bidding back and forth and it kept going up and up,'' Gooden said. ``I was lucky I got it.''
No word yet on his bid for retro leg warmers.
? According to various reports, the FIBA Americas Tournament for next summer has been awarded to Las Vegas after Venezuela's bid was voided. That makes Team USA officials happy since not only will it mean homecourt advantage but also some players were a little leery of security in the largely anti-American country. Two teams will advance to the Olympics, the favorites being the USA and Argentina. James is expected to take part.
? Second-year forward Dwayne Jones is a candidate for an early assignment to the Cavs' new D-League affiliate, the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. The Cavs seem like they'll keep rookie guards Daniel Gibson and Shannon Brown around the big club for awhile.
Backup guards Damon Jones and David Wesley did not shoot the ball well in the preseason, though the Cavs were working on new offensive sets that did not favor their talents. Coach Mike Brown is going with his veterans at the start, but if either falters Brown or Gibson might get an opportunity.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

So guys how many wins do you think that we are looking at this season.

I am going to go in between 52-56.

I think that would give us homecourt in the central and hopefully win the central, b/c I don't see anyone of the teams just completely running away with it and the teams having some sort of balance.

I also think that we should get to the Eastern conference finals if not the NBA finals.

As of right now I think the Suns with Amare are the team to beat.