Cavs 06-07 season thread

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Varejao is getting early start

Cavs' forward already preparing for key season after tough summer

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - Flashing his disarming smile under his bouncy multicolored locks during a workout this week with teammates at Quicken Loans Arena, Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao sure looks like his old self.
The mop-topped Brazilian is back early and getting extra floor time with many fellow Cavs in advance of Tuesday's training camp kickoff. But it isn't the same Wild Thing; it can't be.
His personality is as bubbly as ever, but Varejao is carrying a new burden. He's facing a crucial season with major financial implications and some hefty expectations he created with his timely play last season. All while trying to heal from an injury and international controversy.
``This has been a disappointing summer; it is something I am really trying to put in the past,'' Varejao said. ``I want to forget it.''
Cavs fans' most recent memories of Varejao come from the narrow loss in May's conference semifinals against the Detroit Pistons. He averaged nine points and four rebounds in 20 explosive minutes per game off the bench. He seemed to single-handedly shred the Pistons' potent defense for enough points to help carry the Cavs to three wins.
In August, while playing for Team Brazil at the FIBA World Championship, Varejao started complaining of a bizarre fatigue in his legs that team doctors couldn't diagnose. His play showed it as he shot 31 percent and averaged nearly three turnovers per game.
The Brazilians, shockingly, didn't advance past the preliminary round.
``I still don't know what it was. I tried massages and everything to get over it but nothing worked,'' Varejao said. ``Maybe it was all the travel. We flew from Brazil to Paris to China and then to Japan. It took us two days to get there.''
Varejao said a month off seemed to alleviate the symptoms, and he has declared himself fit for the start of training camp. Taking no chances, the Cavs intend to restrict his playing time in the preseason to keep him fresh for the start of the season.
That wasn't all that happened in Japan.
In a game against Greece, Varejao elbowed guard Nikos Zisis during a drive to the basket. Varejao claims it was an accident. Zisis, who suffered several broken bones in his face and has undergone several surgeries, and his Greek teammates believe it was intentional. Zisis has threatened to sue Varejao.
``I was upset about it. It happened when we were down 17 points and trying to make steals to get back into the game,'' Varejao said. ``I've never done anything like this in my life.
``I went for the ball and he was hit with my elbow. It was bad luck for him. I feel bad for him. I understand why he was mad. I tried to tell him this after the game. But I want all that to be in the past now.''
What is in the future is Varejao's contract season. Slated to make $945,000 this season, he will become a restricted free agent next summer. If he can deliver on the promise he has shown in his first two seasons, he can expect a major raise from the Cavs or someone else.
Though Varejao downplays the contract's importance publicly, he was serious enough about it to hire Dan Fegan, known for being one of the most aggressive agents, to represent him.
With Drew Gooden being re-signed to a three-year, $20 million deal, Varejao will remain a backup power forward with Donyell Marshall. There's little doubt he'll get more attention within the offense, however, especially running pick-and-roll plays with LeBron James.
There was a reason the Pistons couldn't figure out where Varejao was going during the playoffs: He and James were totally off the script in executing the plays. More order should be coming.
``I just want to keep doing what I've been doing here: playing hard,'' Varejao said. ``I hope I will get more chances, I think I will.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Take heart; It's almost LeBron time

By Tom Reed

The Indians quietly conclude another frustrating season this weekend. The 0-3 Browns travel to Oakland to face the 0-3 Raiders in the Just When Will You Win, Baby? Bowl.
And so the hungry eyes of a title-starved Cleveland fan base turn to LeBron James, the athlete who makes the city most relevant in the sports universe.
Cavaliers training camp opens with media day on Monday. It can't come soon enough.
A franchise that not long ago relied on appearances by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to guarantee decent crowds is one of the NBA's hottest tickets. All things are possible with No. 23.
LeBron excites. LeBron captivates. LeBron legitimizes. In a city where fans are forever being asked to wait on the potential of the Tim Couches and Andy Martes, the chiseled 6-foot-8 Cavs swingman has delivered from the moment of his professional debut.
NBA Rookie of the Year. NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. League MVP runner-up. Everything the kid touches turns to, well... bronze, but, hey, he's only 21.
Fans aren't required to take a leap of faith with LeBron and the Cavs. Heading into his fourth year, you can see the organization getting better, as evidenced by its playoff run a season ago.
Can you say the same for the city's other two franchises?
Randy Lerner is so committed to the Browns that he bought an English soccer team (Aston Villa) this summer. Lerner holds the distinction of being an absentee owner on two continents. A regular Dan Rooney, no?
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert made a mistake firing respected television analyst Michael Reghi in the offseason, but he has the luxury of knowing fans would tune in to watch LeBron if Myron Cope, waving a Terrible Towel, were calling play-by-play.
Such is the power of LeBron -- guest of David Letterman, lunch date of Warren Buffett. You never know what he will do next, and you can't wait to find out.
Is there a pro athlete who means more to his city? He is Mario Lemieux in Pittsburgh, circa 1987. (I know it's the third Pittsburgh reference in the last four paragraphs; no more, I promise.)
When the Indians stumble or the Browns fumble, America looks on and wonders: What did Cleveland do to deserve this? When LeBron delivers two game-winning baskets in the same playoff series, America looks on and wonders: What did Cleveland do to deserve this?
Same sentence, different sentiment. From pity to envy.
Cavs fans are understandably unnerved every time LeBron's name is linked to another franchise. New Jersey Nets minority owner and rap mogul Jay-Z is on every watch list in Cleveland.
LeBron's contract negotiations this summer produced nothing short of candlelight vigils around Quicken Loans Arena. His eventual signing, securing his services through the 2010 season, prompted the headline: ``We can breathe again.''
No Browns or Indians player, regardless of his value, could elicit such hyperbole.
The play-making skills of Charlie Frye, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow give Browns fans hope for the future. With a healthy and happy LeBron, the future will always be now.
That's why next week is cause for so much excitement and optimism. Training camp. Preseason games. LeBron's maturing talents make all of the tedium seem tolerable.
How will rookie guard Shannon Brown mesh with his teammates? Can General Manager Danny Ferry swing a deal to acquire a defensive-minded big man? Can the Cavs go deeper into the postseason with the experience gained from last spring?
LeBron's presence makes the questions relevant.
As Frye continues his Johnny Knoxville impersonations, attempting the most dangerous of all stunts -- playing quarterback behind the Browns offensive line -- the rest of us should feel secure in knowing the Cavs' season is almost here.
Not a minute too soon.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Cavaliers need to throw some change-ups

By Terry Pluto

While Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has stressed that he doesn't want to make any big changes with his offense, word is that he is looking at doing some things differently. Let's hope so. The offense too often dragged to a halt, and consisted of pick-and-roll up high, pick-and-roll on the side or throw the ball to LeBron James and let him do something. Occasionally, the ball went inside to Zydrunas Ilgauskas or Drew Gooden. That's not good enough to go deep in the playoffs.
? The Cavs need to find a way to get the ball consistently near the basket when needed. Ilgauskas is a good medium-range shooter, and he likes being outside. James likes running the pick-and-roll with Ilgauskas, because Ilgauskas can make the open 15-footer. But there are times in the game when the offense needs to get the ball to someone under the basket who can score, or at least draw fouls. Ilgauskas can do that, and it helps the team that he's an outstanding 83 percent shooter from the line.
? Gooden also has some effective inside moves. Gooden won over the coaching staff and the front office with his willingness to concentrate on rebounding, to try to play some defense and to not worry about his shots. That's why the Cavs re-signed him to that three-year deal.
? Time to 'fess up: I never believed Gooden would blend in so well with Brown's accent on defense and an offense that had absolutely no plays for him to shoot. But Gooden did. And Brown was patient with him and seemed to earn the player's trust. Brown also was the first coach that Gooden had for an entire season, and after four years in the NBA, that made a real difference.
? This is not meant to say Gooden is a great player. He still has mental lapses on defense, and there are times when he seems to disappear on the court. But he just turned 25 on Sept. 24. He shot better than 50 percent from the field in the regular season and the playoffs. Give him 25 minutes a game, and he'll average about 10 points and eight rebounds. If his attitude stays positive, he will be a very good complementary player in the Cavs' system.
? The Cavs have three guys who can consistently score inside: Ilgauskas, Gooden and James. That's right, James is so big, so strong and so quick at nearly 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, he probably could play power forward. You don't want him to do that, but there are times when it makes sense to get him the ball in the low post -- rather than just throw it to him on the wing.
? James led the NBA in ``And-One,'' meaning he scored a two-point field goal and then drew a foul, allowing him to take a free throw. That's another reason to use him inside sometimes to score.
? The Cavs supposedly are putting in more plays for James and Anderson Varejao to run that high pick-and-roll that worked so well in the playoffs against the Detroit Pistons. The plan is to keep Gooden starting and bring Varejao off the bench, which makes sense. In the seven games against the Pistons, Varejao averaged 20 minutes, scoring 9.3 points with 4.3 rebounds and shooting 57 percent. The most amazing stat was his 80 percent at the foul line, compared to 52 percent for his career.
? Brown has said his goal for this season is to keep James' average minutes at 41. He said part of the reason James' minutes rose was because Larry Hughes was hurt. But the numbers don't show that -- at least, not entirely. Hughes was injured at the end of December. In the month of December (with Hughes), James averaged 43.2 minutes. In January (without Hughes), it was 41.8. But for the rest of year, it was 44.6 (February), 45.2 (March) and 39.1 (April).
? For James, the goal should be an average of 40 minutes. It doesn't matter that he wants to play more or that he's still 21. James has been second in the NBA in total minutes the past two years.
? Signing free-agent guard David Wesley is a plus. He's a better all-around player than Damon Jones. I have a feeling rookie Shannon Brown also might take some of the minutes that went to Jones. It's no secret that the Cavs have an interest in moving Jones because they have a glut of guards, but with three years and $12 million left on Jones' contract, that might not be easy.
? In a way, the Cavs are starting over again with Hughes, who never was healthy last season. He was the major free-agent signing of 2005, then broke the middle finger of his right (shooting) hand, at the lowest knuckle. He still averaged 15.5 points but was not himself. He also lost his brother due to heart problems during the playoffs.
? The Cavs need to do more than just have Hughes dribble the ball 20 feet from the basket. He's a slashing player, and the offense should have some plays for him to go to the basket. Overall, Mike Brown should have one goal for his team's offense this year: Lots more movement, both of the players and the ball.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Raised to win

Cavaliers rookie Shannon Brown enters his first NBA training camp with a passion to succeed forged by the guiding hand of a loving - and strict - father

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Story by Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

Chicago -- Chris Brown was surrounded by several exuberant teenagers. Brown, a police officer on duty at the neighborhood high school, could barely make sense of the commotion through the excitement. All he remembered hearing was his son's name, Shannon, amid the chatter and the laughter.
The teenagers led Chris Brown through the halls and to the gym. Class was still in session, but no one was using the gym floor. Brown immediately saw why. The shattered remains from the backboard littered the court.
"Shannon dunked and broke the backboard," said Chris Brown of his son, a ninth-grader at the time. "I was surprised and happy to see he had the ability to get up like that, but at the same time I was hoping I didn't have to pay [for the damages]."
Shannon Brown can certainly afford to help his father pay for any broken backboards since becoming the first-round pick of the Cavaliers in last summer's NBA Draft and receiving a four-year deal with options worth up to $5 million.
As the Cavs prepare to open training camp Tuesday, Brown, a 6-4 shooting guard, knows the team will look to him to help a backcourt that ranked last in the league in scoring last season.
Brown will begin this level of his basketball life mentally and spiritually prepared for success, thanks to the foundation his father helped build.
In his father's words, many hard lessons, words of wisdom, plenty of prayer and sometimes corporal punishment went into Shannon's development. But all of the teachings were wrapped in love, and solidified an unmistakable bond between a father and a son.
"We have a special kind of relationship," Chris Brown said. "I'm his father and close friend. He knows he can sit down and talk to me about any topic and I won't sugarcoat anything. I'm a straight shooter, and he knows I tell it like it is."
Chris Brown and his wife Sandra told Shannon and his brothers, twins DeAngelo and Dominique (24), and Sterling (11) exactly how it was and how it was going to be. For instance, attending church as a family was mandatory.
Chris Brown said he was strict with his sons because he did not want them to get into trouble. Sandra Brown embraced her husband's tough-love teachings.
"The problem with society, from what I can see, is that too many kids and boys don't have strong male images," she said. "Masculinity is a learned trait. Too many men are feminine because they never had a masculine man to imitate.
"I feel very blessed that my son is around a strong black man."
In America, statistics show an increasing percentage of children grow up without fathers. And those statistics also show that those children are more likely to drop out of school.
Shannon Brown said his father has guided him and his brothers toward a more productive path.
"I didn't want to get in trouble because my father's the police and I knew he'd find out anyway," Shannon Brown said. "He's a disciplinarian. He'd grab me if he had to or talk to me . . . he's just a tough guy."
Compared to how Chris Brown's brand of tough love guided his sons, basketball didn't matter much. He instilled more important values as he nurtured them through a life centered in a blue-collar community that has seen better days.
Maywood, Ill., 12 miles west of Chicago, still has well-cared-for lawns and quiet tree-lined streets. But a slow economy, the influx of drugs and a growing gang presence are just a few reasons why this town has the highest crime rate of any suburb in the Chicagoland area.
As a police officer, Chris Brown has protected and served Maywood since 1982. Being the son of a police officer is never easy, and Chris' commitment to safer streets clashed with gangs trying to expand their presence. Nor did some of Shannon's peers, who were more concerned with parties than homework, encourage him in his goal to be the next great player out of Proviso East High. Alumni include Michael Finley, a two-time All-Star who has played 11 seasons in the NBA, and Celtics coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers, who played 13 years in the NBA and was coach of the year in 1999-2000.
At one point it appeared fighting, not pro basketball, was in Shannon's future.
"I live in a city where there's gangs and drugs and my father's a police officer, so fighting's going to happen," Shannon Brown said. "People would challenge me, and I took that challenge. But as I got older, people stopped fighting and began shooting. I had to be smart."
Instead, Shannon put his energy into sports. In middle school, he gave up baseball - his first love - to concentrate on basketball.
His decision surprised his father, especially because, at that time, baseball was Shannon's best sport. But his newfound love of basketball won his father over, and the quest to become the best player possible began.
"His decision to give up baseball for basketball was the turning point," Chris Brown said.
Chris Brown, though, still wasn't quite convinced that Shannon was serious about basketball. That was until he was summoned to that high school gym during Shannon's freshman year.
"That gave me the indication that he wanted to be the best player he could be," said Chris Brown, who played at Wright Junior College and Lewis University in Illinois. "So he went to work. When he was in high school, I would critique his games. I wouldn't hold back. It was about playing the right way."
Indeed.
"Chris would critique [Shannon's] games, and he'd watch those tapes over and over again," Sandra Brown said. "Chris would study them and give Shannon advice. When Shannon was home from college, they'd both sit up late at night watching those tapes together. Watching those games together is part of their special bond."
Summer camps, endless hours of practice and those late-night video sessions helped Shannon develop into Illinois' "Mr. Basketball" in 2003. He earned a reputation as one of the nation's top high school players, along with St. Vincent-St. Mary senior LeBron James.
As a senior, Shannon averaged 27.9 points and 7.2 rebounds. From there, he moved on to Michigan State.
In his junior season, his last at MSU, he averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists and shot 47 percent from the field. Those three years in East Lansing, Mich., were exciting times for coach Tom Izzo, who enjoyed the relationship he built with Shannon and his father. The Spartans reached the Final Four in Brown's sophomore season and went 66-31 in his three years there.
"I remember in a loss to Duke, Shannon was the best player on the floor," Izzo said. "But his dad pulled him aside and was giving it to him. . . . Parents usually stick up for their kids, and they don't want to push them hard, but if Shannon's not playing well, his dad will tell him. If Shannon didn't want to play basketball, his dad would've been cool with it, but for Chris if you play, you do it right or don't do it."
Chris Brown has spent his life trying to do everything right in raising his son. Shannon Brown loves him for it, too.
"My father has always been there for us," he said. "It wouldn't have been good for [the family] if my father wasn't around. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for him. Everything negative that my parents stopped me from doing would've dominated my life if my father wasn't around."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4671

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Keys to the community

MAYWOOD, ILL. - Shannon Brown returned home from high school in the fall of 1999 to find his bedroom vacant of all prized possessions.
No television. No boom box. No video games.
The future Michigan State basketball star was about to discover the meaning of a Spartan existence.
``I walked in and all I saw was a bed, a desk and an alarm clock,'' said Brown, the Cavaliers' first-round draft choice.
Maywood, a western Chicago suburb, has big-city crime, but Brown knew filing a police report would be fruitless. After all, it was a cop who had removed the items.
The cop was Shannon's father, Maywood Police Sgt. Chris Brown.
Brown's grades had slipped. His dad needed him to understand there would be consequences.
``We wanted to nip this in the bud,'' said Sandra, Shannon's mother. ``I didn't agree with taking everything out of the room, but we wanted to send a strong message.''
The Cavaliers have plenty of questions to answer as their 2006-07 training camp opens today. How their first-round draft choice responds to discipline and a structured environment won't be one of them.
Brown grew up with both in a two-parent household. He was raised to believe accountability would take you further than any jump shot. He was taught to resist temptation and accept constructive criticism. He was allowed to fight his own battles but made to realize toughness came in many forms.
The imprints of his parents' teachings are as evident as the ``Chris'' and ``Sandra'' tattoos on his wrists.
``Shannon Brown is who he is because of his family,'' said Tom Izzo, Michigan State's basketball coach.
Keys to the community
Chris Brown doesn't like to discuss his work or the tragedies he has witnessed in more than 20 years on the police force. Maywood is no Mayberry. The urban setting, which resembles West Akron in appearance, has one of the highest crime rates in Greater Chicago.
Maywood (population 27,000) had 38 murders from 2003 to 2005. One of Shannon's best friends, 17-year-old Calvin Ector, and Shannon's 14-year-old cousin, Tatiana Cannon, were killed by gunfire in recent years.
Chris Brown has invested considerable energy keeping neighborhood kids off the streets. Most cops carry keys to a police cruiser and handcuffs. Chris Brown seems to have one to every Maywood gym. The man known as ``C.B.'' often opens one on summer nights giving athletes a safe haven to play.
Two-time NBA All-Star Michael Finley is a native of Maywood and knows Chris Brown well. Finley conducts his annual summer camp there.
``He is a cop, but he means a lot more to the community,'' Finley said. ``He has a lot of clout around here and he has used it to open a lot of doors for kids.''
Tradition of excellence
Despite Maywood's hard edges, a proud community committed to its famous high school exists at its core. Proviso East High is a three-story brick building standing defiantly against the surrounding urban decay. Built in 1929, the school's signature clock tower still keeps accurate time.
The gymnasium is a separate structure on the well-kept grounds. It looks like a typical City Series gym right up to the moment you peruse the over-stuffed trophy case. The names encased on awards and pictures serve as eye candy to the sports fan.
Proviso East alumni include a Pro Football Hall of Famer (Ray Nitschke), an NFL veteran (Ray Buchanan) and a host of current and former NBA players, such as Finley, Jim Brewer, Doc Rivers, Shannon Brown and Dee Brown.
Basketball is king at Proviso East, and one of its crowning moments came in the spring of 2005 as former backcourt mates Shannon Brown and Dee Brown (no relation) appeared in the NCAA Final Four. Dee played for Illinois. Both were drafted this summer, an accomplishment that streams across the digital message board in front of the school.
Chris Brown points to a Chicago Sun-Times headline, ``What Can Brown Do for You?'' that hangs in a high school office. His love for the school extends beyond his bloodlines, however.
He has worked Finley's camp for 10 years, doing everything from arranging security for NBA guest speakers to cooking hot dogs. He introduces visitors to all the camp volunteers and tells of their affiliations to Proviso East. As he watches pint-size campers run the floor, Chris Brown notes that each season, about 60 boys try out for the Pirates' varsity basketball team.
The alumni connection to the school is strong. Finley, who helps fund a recreational center, not only lends his name to the summer camp, but he also officiates games and acts as the public address announcer.
When Shannon Brown participated in the 2003 McDonald's All-American all-star game from Quicken Loans Arena, he looked into the ESPN cameras and shouted: ``Maywood.'' People here still talk about it.
The explosive guard, who attended Finley's camp as a youth, returned this summer to speak to the hundreds of campers, including his sixth-grade brother, Sterling. It's a family circle, a community tradition that Police Sgt. Brown hopes to protect and serve.
Family tradition
Chris Brown learned how to be a father from his own dad, Willie Brown Jr. The work ethic that Shannon Brown demonstrates on the basketball court has been passed down from a grandfather who held multiple jobs.
Willie Brown had a limited education, but he read his Bible cover to cover. He taught Chris the importance of being a good husband and a reliable father. Chris has four sons: twins Dominique and DeAngelo, 24; Shannon, 20; and Sterling, 11.
Shannon praises his mother for being ``the glue that keeps the family together.'' A service assistant for PepsiCo, Sandra is a strong, no-nonsense presence in Shannon's life. While acknowledging her role, Sandra talks about the challenges confronting single-parent mothers and the advantages she thinks her sons have enjoyed.
``Women can raise children, but they can't teach boys to become men,'' Sandra said. ``Having a strong father makes such a difference.'' Nearly 30 percent of American kids live in one-parent homes.
Shannon Brown isn't comfortable making personal thoughts a matter of public record, but his feelings for his father are unmistakable. ``He has always been there for us,'' Shannon said. ``It's way deeper than people could comprehend.''
Earning his respect
Growing up the son of a police officer is a blessing and a curse. Shannon had a strong sense of right and wrong. He knew any public misconduct would be amplified because of his father's job.
Chris Brown was a police counselor at the high school during Shannon's freshman and sophomore years. Proviso East has a history of hard-boiled cops, real and fictionalized. It's also the alma mater of Dennis Franz, who portrayed Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue.
Father and son rode to school together every day. Anything Shannon did got back to Chris. Curfews were honored, weekend parties rarely were attended. When the son ``got a bit goofy'' and his grades dipped, Chris took swift action in removing his bedroom amenities.
``They can take away anything from you except your brain,'' Chris Brown said. ``You have to use it if you want to get ahead.''
Shannon also needed to use his fists on occasion. Some students considered him a snitch, a kid who might report transgressions to his father. Shannon was challenged as an underclassman, jumped on the streets.
``I never backed down from anybody,'' Shannon said. ``I had to prove myself.''
Being tough
The son channeled most of his aggression into sports. He spent long hours in the gym and at the asphalt courts of Schroeder Park in neighboring Broadview. He starred at Proviso East, earning the honor ``Mr. Basketball of Illinois'' as a senior.
Chris Brown, who played basketball at Wright (Ill.) Junior College, never let his son get too full of himself. They broke down game film together, the father offering criticism without becoming suffocating.
At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Shannon had the requisite physical tools, but it was the mental approach that resonated with college coaches.
Izzo liked how the Brown family had conditioned Shannon for the college experience. His maturity and tenacity were superior, and they allowed him to become an impact player immediately at Michigan State.
The coach recalled how well Shannon played in a blowout loss to Duke during his freshman season and the sight of Chris challenging him to get better. Shannon helped carry the Spartans to a Final Four berth as a sophomore.
``His dad rules with an iron thumb,'' said Izzo, one of the NCAA's most intense coaches. ``He has been tougher on him than I ever was.''
Izzo believes that the Cavaliers got one of the steals in the draft by selecting Brown with the No. 25 overall pick. He said coaches will appreciate his hard work at both ends and the physical presence he brings to the guard position.
Michigan State will miss the 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists Brown averaged as a junior last season. Izzo said the void runs deeper, however.
``We not only lost a great player. We lost a great family,'' Izzo said. ``You can't underestimate what that means in this game.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

James confident Cavs can win NBA title

TOM WITHERS

Associated Press

CLEVELAND - LeBron James palmed a basketball in each hand and spread his arms out for the photographer. Smile. Picture. At the next photo station, he balanced a ball on his left shoulder. Smile. Picture.
Without prompting, James then paused at the appropriate times during a slow, 360-degree spin so the camera could capture every angle of his powerful physique. Smile. Picture. Smile. Picture. Next.
James has this stuff down cold. Entering his fourth year as a pro, the Cavaliers' All-Star forward understands that every NBA season must begin the same way: photo shoots, interviews, wind sprints.
He's hoping, though, this one can end differently.
"Last year making the playoffs was our main goal," James said. "This year, it's about winning a championship."
With James, the Cavaliers are confident they can.
One season after its first trip to the playoffs since 1998 ended with a Game 7 loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Cleveland has enough pieces to make a legitimate run at a title.
That's big talk for a franchise that has never made the finals. But as Cleveland fans have witnessed, with James, dreams are possible.
"That should be the goal every year," point guard Eric Snow said. "You have to believe you can win it before you can do it. If you're not going to believe, then who is?"
Monday's media day at Quicken Loans Arena kicked off training camp for the Cavaliers, who made a few tweaks to their roster during the offseason and are a much more settled and experienced team than a year ago when they were coming off a summer overhaul.
When James, who won a bronze medal with USA Basketball at the World Championships this summer, made his entrance onto the practice court he was swarmed by the usual horde of cameras and reporters who document the 21-year-old's every move.
James was relaxed but less playful than in past years. He was much more business-like as he spoke with conviction about his expectations for this year's Cavaliers, who open the preseason on Oct. 10 against Boston.
"I think we can win it all," said James, who averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists last season. "That's all that's on my mind right now, trying to win the whole thing. There' no reason to play in the NBA if you don't think you can win it all."
After a brief summer vacation, James captained the U.S. team that toured China before finishing third in Japan. He hung out with good friends Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, filmed a few commercials and something with Spike Lee, had lunch with billionaire Warren Buffett and shot free throws on the New York City streets with David Letterman.
About to begin another whirlwind year of his glamorous life, he is neither overwhelmed or intimidated by anything.
"It's stressful and it's tiring, but it's fun," he said.
The Cavaliers won 50 games in the regular season, and as the No. 4 seed, they eliminated Washington in the first round of the playoffs. Cleveland then dropped two straight to the Pistons before winning three straight and the Cavs were within an offensive rebound of winning Game 6 and the series at home.
The Cavs had the lead at halftime of Game 7 in Detroit before the Pistons brought the defensive clamps down on James, limiting him to one field goal and the Cavaliers to 23 second-half points in an 18-point win.
James insists the bitter conclusion to last season doesn't gnaw at him.
"It's over and done with," said James, sporting a 330 tattoo - his hometown of Akron's area code - on his right forearm. "Who knows what happens if we win that game. It's about a new season and we have to leave that behind us. We're one of the premier teams in the league. It's not about trying to chase anyone. It's about everyone chasing us now."
Larry Hughes just wants to stay in the race.
The Cavaliers' biggest offseason free agent signing in '05, the 6-foot-5 guard missed 45 games after fracturing his middle finger. He returned for the final month but then missed time in the Pistons' series following the death of his younger brother.
"Last year was tough," Hughes said. "But it made me grow, made me appreciate things more and hopefully I can do more to help the team this year. I'm not 100 percent, but I'm ready to go."
So, too, is Scot Pollard. The free-spirited power forward signed as a free agent to bolster Cleveland's soft inside game. Pollard, who made 32 starts for Indiana last year, joked that he's just happy to be on James' team.
"Am I excited to play with LeBron? It's awesome," said Pollard, sporting a big smile and a spiked hairdo. "I'm a witness. I got the T-shirt and everything. I just wish I could have his Nike shoe contract."

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Cavs, James tending to goal

There's no question about starting lineup. Camp focus is guards

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - The last day of the season is time for reality; the first day, time for dreams.
The Cavaliers afforded themselves that right Monday as they took physicals and had meetings leading up to thetipoff of training camp today. After their best season in more than a decade, 50 wins and a victory away from an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, all were talking big.
``I think we can get to the Finals. I think we can win it all,'' LeBron James said. ``That's what's on my mind right now, trying to win the whole thing. You shouldn't be in the NBA if you don't want to.''
Just 12 months ago, the Cavs gathered before the same assembled microphones at media day and proclaimed just making the playoffs as their goal. That was something they hadn't accomplished, after all, in eight years.
Saying they wanted to win a championship last year at this point probably would've gotten them a laugh. But after the way the team finished last season -- with wins in 14 of their last 17 games, followed by a bold playoff run, and with preseason Most Valuable Player favorite James -- a championship no longer seems impossible.
The Cavs are hardly the favorites. Vegas has them between 12-to-1 and 15-to-1 to win it all, but they are in the conversation.
``Last year, they just wanted us to make the playoffs; this year, they want us to win a championship,'' guard Eric Snow said. ``It doesn't sound like much, but that's a major difference. That's what you want. That should be the goal.''
The team will start two-a-day practices today through Saturday, when its evening workout will be open to the public with tickets at the University of Akron. Its first preseason game is next Tuesday against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena.
Playing time will be at stake, but there are no significant starting position battles during camp. Eric Snow remains the starting point guard, Larry Hughes and James will be on the wings, re-signed Drew Gooden will start at power forward and Zydrunas Ilgauskas remains the center.
The only real pressing issue to watch is how coach Mike Brown finds playing time for backup guards David Wesley, Damon Jones and rookies Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson.
All that will be settled in the coming month, but on Day 1, Brown took his place thinking pie in the sky.
``Winning a championship is our goal,'' Brown said. ``I feel good about our chances.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Cavaliers notebook

Hughes still can't bend finger on shooting hand

Guard says it's better after two operations, won't stop him from playing

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - When Larry Hughes tries to make a fist with his right hand, it looks like he's making an obscene gesture.
That troublesome right middle finger, subject of plenty of woe, tiny screws and small incisions, is still not completely healed. Despite an offseason full of rest, the knuckle is still swollen after the two operations that cost him 41 games last season.
Nonetheless, Hughes insists he's feeling better and hopes it won't affect his game once this season gets going.
``I'm not a hundred percent. It is not where it was,'' Hughes said. ``I don't have any problems with it. I can reach with it, I'm able to block shots, everything I couldn't do last year I can do now.''
A small fracture last October in a preseason game in Milwaukee derailed Hughes' season. He played through it for 28 games before he couldn't take it any longer. At its worst in December, he felt a pop every time he took a shot.
Two operations later, he returned in April, but clearly had lost timing and some feel around the basket. He's hoping to be able to do everything he did before the injury. Yet doctors have told him it will take a full year to completely recover and he may never have the same movement as before.
The hope is that his finger is gradually getting better, unlike the early stages of last season, when it was gradually getting worse.
``I would love to have some more range of motion, but if not, I can play the way it is now,'' he said. ``They said I should see progress, so ask me again next year.''
Being cool
Damon Jones showed up at the media session Monday wearing a T-shirt that read ``Be Cool.'' That seemed to be more of a personal directive than a fashion statement. Last season, Jones so wanted to beat out Eric Snow for the starting point guard spot, he boycotted media interviews for three weeks after Snow won the job. Now he's facing a serious challenge to his playing time after shooting guards Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson and David Wesley were added to the roster over the summer.
For now, he's apparently not going to let any inner feelings out. He was indeed cool when facing such questions on Day One.
``I have nothing to prove. I'm not the coach. I just show up in the best physical condition as possible,'' Jones said. ``I'll have a positive mind-set. Whatever the coach deems is appropriate. Everyone has a role; hopefully, everyone plays that role. I don't get into those games or those issues anymore.''
Commercial credits
Over the summer, LeBron James filmed a series of commercials that will begin airing soon. He has revisited his multiple personalities with a new set of Nike ads featuring ``The LeBrons.'' He has also recorded a new Sprite spot.
``The LeBrons II will be coming to a store, town and television near you, and I've got a Sprite joint coming,'' he said. ``You'll see my face everywhere.''
Dribbles
Two Cavs preseason games will be televised by FSN-Ohio: the opener Oct. 10 against the Boston Celtics and the Oct. 17 game with Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.... Camelot Ventures, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's venture capital group, has purchased Fathead LLC, which makes sports-themed wall decals. Last winter Gilbert also bought an AHL hockey franchise that will play in Quicken Loans Arena starting next year.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Cavs reach for new goal
Tuesday, October 3, 2006 [FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]BY Mike Popovich REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]

Cavaliers guard Eric Snow, a McKinley High School graduate, prepares to have his photo taken during Monday?s media day at Quicken Loans Arena.​

CLEVELAND - The aura surrounding the start of Cavaliers training camp is a lot different than it was a year ago.
Stopping the team?s lengthy playoff drought was the goal then. Seven seasons without a taste of the postseason was too long and frustrating.
Now, the sky?s the limit for LeBron James and his teammates.
The Cavs open camp today as a legitimate contender to at least make the Eastern Conference finals. They came within a defensive rebound or two of getting there last season, but ultimately lost to Detroit in a memorable seven-game series.
Making the final four is another step in the right direction for a franchise that was wallowing in the depths of the NBA before James arrived in 2003. The players feel they can even take a step or two beyond that.
?This year, it?s about winning a championship,? James said.
Last year?s 50-32 record was the third best in team history. The Cavs won 14 of their final 17 games to clinch home court in the first round of the playoffs, and beat Washington in six games for their first postseason series win since 1993.
They had a 3-2 lead and had Detroit on the ropes in the conference semifinals. But the Pistons held off the Cavs in Game 6 at The Q and won the deciding game on their home court.
?Who knows what would have happened if we would have won that game, but it?s over and done with now,? James said. ?It?s about a new season.
?We have to leave that behind us and know we?re one of the premier teams in this league now. It?s not about trying to chase anyone. It?s about everyone trying to chase us.?
The organization certainly did not rest on last year?s laurels.
The Cavs signed veteran free agents Scot Pollard and David Wesley. They are counting on Pollard to be an aggressive presence in the interior and relying on Wesley to help improve the team?s outside shooting.
In the draft, the Cavs selected promising guards Shannon Brown from Michigan State and Daniel Gibson from Texas.
?I?m excited about the pieces we brought in,? Head Coach Mike Brown said. ?They do different things for us. They bring different things to the table.?
If the Cavs hope to claim the NBA?s top prize, they are going to have to earn it.
Defending NBA champion Miami stands in their way in the East. The Central Division itself is no picnic. The Pistons still will be a contender. The Chicago Bulls, who landed NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace, and other teams want to be in the mix.
?Our division is the hardest division in the NBA,? James said. ?Every team in our division made it to the playoffs last year. ... It?s going to be very competitive in our division like it has been in the past.?
Ultimately, the Cavs want to live up to the high expectations and win it all. Guard Eric Snow came close to doing it twice when he played for Seattle and Philadelphia.
?That?s what you want to do,? Snow said. ?There?s only team at the end of each year who can say they did that.
?That?s should be the goal. That?s what I?d like to do.? Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

CAVALIERS GET SET FOR ANOTHER SEASON
Follow the leader: LeBron James


Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

Training camp for the 2006-07 NBA season begins today, but LeBron James already has a head start with his participation during the summer's World Championships with Team USA.
Team USA finished the FIBA Championships in Japan with a bronze medal, but the lessons and experiences James learned were more valuable than gold, and the Cavaliers will be the main beneficiaries.
The summer allowed James to fine-tune his game.
He didn't leave his jumper in Japan, and he promises to have the same ferocity going to the basket this season as he did a year ago.
One of the major differences is James' continued growth as a leader. That role will be vital during the dog days of training camp and in making a key stop or shot to win a game.
Coach Mike Brown saw James' growth when he watched several Team USA practices in Las Vegas and Japan during the summer.
"You're talking about leading a group of your peers," Brown said. "[LeBron's] on his way in being a great player and then he had other guys around him in that same category, and for him to still take on that leadership role was terrific. I'm excited to see what he brings to the table this year in that category."
James' role as one of the co-captains on Team USA was a new experience compared to the 2004 Olympics. At Athens, Greece, James seldom played and was mum on the sidelines.
"I didn't have much of an opportunity to say much then, but I was a little bit more vocal this time," James said. "Guys looked at me as a leader and I tried to do everything in my will to try to go out and lead our team toward winning basketball games."
Despite being just 21 and playing only three NBA seasons, veterans like Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh and Elton Brand followed James' direction.
James' leadership ability is nothing new to his Cavaliers' teammates. They accept his role. He's matured from being a leader by example to a vocal leader.
"The guys know what to expect out of me," James said. "They know I'm a leader, I'm going to tell them when they're doing things good, and I'm going to tell them when they're doing things bad. If I have to get on somebody, that's the way it has to be. But we're all one unit and I'm no bigger than anyone on this team."
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said James' leadership role with the Cavaliers began to flourish following his rookie season.
"His leadership evolved naturally," Ilgauskas said. "He has an outgoing personality and the fact that he's a great player doesn't hurt either. The more comfortable he became [playing in the NBA], the more he became a leader."
The growth of a player is not only determined by his physical gifts, but his ability to will his team to victory.
It is James and his leadership qualities that could determine the Cavaliers' success this season.
"He's really coming to understand that how he wants the team to be starts with him," Eric Snow said. "If he wants the team to be a certain way, he sets the standard and that's the way it is."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4671

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Second chance to deliver

Hughes, Marshall, Jones must improve on their records from last season

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - The Dow Jones industrial average is at an all-time high, but the Cavaliers' portfolio hasn't performed as well over the last year or so.
Sure, LeBron James' stock has soared, but the returns on last year's offseason investments weren't as strong as expected. The Cavs dropped nearly $100 million to lock up Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones as part of their radical makeover. So far, the Cavs haven't seemed to get their money's worth.
All three played key supporting roles in getting the club eight more wins last season, but not as much as hyped. Marshall and Jones both struggled shooting from 3-point range, and Hughes' productivity was down across the board.
Combined, the three saw their scoring averages drop 14 points a game from the season before. Jones' and Marshall's 3-point averages declined sharply,and Hughes saw his rebounding and assist numbers drop.
There were circumstances, of course, such as fewer minutes for Jones and a finger injury for Hughes. But there's no debating they didn't live up to the lofty expectations their signings promised.
Without major additions to the roster this year, if the Cavs hope to increase their win total, the trio will probably have to be more productive.
This isn't news to any of them. Marshall and Jones put themselves through rigorous offseason workouts. Marshall did it in Cleveland, Jones with a personal trainer in Las Vegas, with the goal of producing more on the floor.
``It's done wonders for my game and my confidence,'' Jones said. ``My physical conditioning is at a level where it hasn't been since I left Miami.''
Considering that he left Miami before last season, that comment might indicate that Jones is admitting he wasn't in the best shape when he reported for duty last October. His renewed vigor seems prudent, considering he is in a fight for playing time with new additions Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson and David Wesley.
Marshall isn't guaranteed his same playing time, with Anderson Varejao commanding more minutes and the addition of free agent Scot Pollard.
``I told the whole team that training camp is going to determine minutes,'' coach Mike Brown said. ``I think in their minds, Damon and Donyell think they could've played better than they did last year. I think they can play better than what they played last year.''
As for Hughes, the team's hope is that he can remain healthy and there are no lasting effects from his two finger operations. That alone, or so the thinking goes, would help improve the team. With Hughes in the lineup, the Cavs were 23-13 last season.
``Being injured set me back from doing what I prepared myself to do,'' Hughes said. ``I'm looking to be healthy and be better.''
Time off
There are no two-a-days for James and Varejao. Mike Brown is giving them evening practices off during training camp to provide them with some extra rest. Both put in overtime in the summer, having training camp and then playing for their national teams in the FIBA World Championship.
Both are attending the night sessions and taking part in instruction but are sitting out all drills and contact work.
Ball talk
A popular topic of conversation across the NBA in the first few days of training camp has been the new synthetic-leather balls the league is using this season. It is the first time in 35 years there's been a major change in the game's basic equipment.
Shaquille O'Neal said the NBA front-office employee who made the move should have his college degree revoked. Players have grumbled about the slickness of the ball.
But not everyone. Cavs forward Drew Gooden is one of those who like the feel.
``I can palm this ball a lot better than I could before; it is easier to grip,'' Gooden said.
With one exception. ``When it gets wet, it gets slick. It might have to be like Wimbledon. When they get wet, we'll have to get a ball boy to bounce a new one in.''
James said if he came across the ball in a store, he wouldn't buy it. But he's not complaining.
``It has a fake leather material, but it's a basketball. I've probably played with 20,000 different ones in my life,'' James said. ``I'll put it in the hole.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Talking title, James turns up intensity

Cavaliers star takes role seriously, leads by example in practice

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - When the Cavaliers finish a practice, there is no need for a whistle from coach Mike Brown.
There's no buzzer that goes off or drill that ends, just a single voice calling a huddle. Then only one man speaks, and that isn't Brown either. When it comes time for the traditional joining of hands at the center, it is just LeBron James who verifies the breakup chorus.
``Championship!''
Early-season team building is customary and sometimes corny, but it is also where the team leaders take the reins. Just three days into training camp, James has a firm grip and is further showing his maturity coming off his captainship of Team USA during the summer at the world championships.
Not only has James been doing it by talking and with his commanding presence, he's been doing it on the floor. And not just because he makes the most baskets.
During five-on-five drills open to the media, James has been digging into his defensive stance, showing heretofore unseen practice intensity. When it comes to the end of workout wind sprints, it is No. 23 at the head of the pack nearly every time.
``Ultimately, when your best player becomes your best example, the better team you will be,'' said veteran guard Eric Snow, who will likely be named James' fellow captain for the second consecutive season. ``Everybody has to follow suit. It makes it easier for the coach to coach because that guy is demanding things be done the right way.''
Despite the disappointing FIBA bronze medal with Team USA, James insists he's grown as a leader. Veteran teammates like Shane Battier and Antawn Jamison verified it. Now the Cavs are getting a taste of an even more confident James than they saw during his blossoming 2005-06 season.
``This isn't about pacing ourselves or just trying to make the playoffs anymore,'' James said. ``I'm trying to win a championship here.''
James laughs when asked to compare his demeanor now to when he was an 18-year-old rookie, when he openly said he was following the lead of Ricky Davis. ``I was a whole different player. I can't even believe how much I've grown since then,'' he said.
Of course, James won't be judged on his practice intensity, especially in the season's infancy. It will come down to whether his leadership can eventually translate to that ``championship'' cadence that he's making a practice routine.
``He's more tuned in to being a leader now,'' Snow said. ``When we start playing a little more basketball, I think it will become a little more evident to everyone else.''
Brown backing off
In the early going last season, the Cavs' veterans quietly but routinely complained about the length of Brown's practices and shootarounds. Before one preseason game, the players even tricked Brown by asking to have shootaround on the main floor because they knew they'd be limited to an hour because the visiting team was scheduled for its court time. With more familiarity and perhaps some discretion, Brown has scaled back his workouts so far this preseason.
``I'm letting my assistants do more of the coaching because they're familiar with what we do now,'' Brown said. ``Last year I was having to stop practice a lot and it led to us standing around.''
Brown is also starting to protect against fatigue. Already limiting James and Anderson Varejao to one full practice a day, Brown on Thursday held Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Scot Pollard and Ira Newble out of running and contact for the morning workout.
Wedding crasher
In a surprising turn of events in July, Ilgauskas and his wife, Jennifer, thought they were going to a party and ended up dangerously close to a war zone. The Cavs center was in Israel for festivities following the wedding of his close friend, Indiana Pacers guard Sarunas Jasikevicius, when fighting between Israel and Hezbollah broke out.
``There were bombs falling 30 miles away and people were just living their lives as normal,'' Ilgauskas said. ``We just went to the airport, went through all the security, and left.''
Jasikevicius, who was in Ilgauskas' wedding last year in Hawaii, married Israeli Linor Abargil, a former Miss World.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Cavs' pick-and-roll strategy works to LeBron's strengths

Teaming James with key contributors makes style tough to defend against

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - The Cavaliers' offense won't win any beauty pageants or prizes for originality, but there's no questioning its fidelity to basketball's most basic play.
The pick-and-roll isn't eye-catching like the team's pregame fireworks shows or flashy multicolored uniforms or court paint schemes, but it is still fast becoming its trademark. The Cavs' methodology is clear, they have assembled a group of players to run the pick-and-roll with LeBron James. In Year Two of coach Mike Brown's regime, they are trying to perfect it.
``There is an art to it,'' said assistant coach Kenny Natt, who was on the Utah Jazz staff for nine years and oversaw perhaps the greatest pick-and-roll tandem of all-time with John Stockton and Karl Malone.
``If you get caught in it as a defense, there's nothing you can do about it.''
With James as the centerpiece, the Cavs have constructed a multifaceted pick-and-roll structure.
When pairing with Donyell Marshall or Zydrunas Ilgauskas, James has big men who can come out to set picks at the top of the key or near the 3-point line on the wings. Because each are reasonably good jump shooters, Marshall more of a 3-point specialist and Ilgauskas from mid-range, they can roll or ``pop'' off the screen and often find themselves wide open.
When pairing James with Drew Gooden or Anderson Varejao, there are different advantages. Both are good at catching the ball on the move and driving to the basket after setting picks. That's one of the reasons both Gooden and Varejao shot better than 50 percent last season, they often showed strength finishing near the basket.
The Cavs can also use Larry Hughes as the primary ballhandler in the pick-and-roll situations.
``If you don't help off a screen on LeBron or Larry, then it is probably going to be a dunk or a shooting foul,'' Ilgauskas said. ``The pick-and-roll bails us out all the time, which is why it is such a big part of offense.''
So big that the Cavs often have plays that call for two or three pick-and-rolls in an effort to get into the situation they want. Other pieces are positioned within the scheme as well, such as having Damon Jones, David Wesley or Marshall on the other side of the play to accept a cross-court pass for an open jumper if the defense collapses. Which is why having reliable 3-point shooters is a must, a factor the Cavs struggled with at times last season.
``The reason it can work for us is because LeBron has a passion for passing,'' Natt said. ``That's what made it work in Utah because Karl and John had it, and that is what makes it work here.''
There are rough edges, such as when the ball swings to Eric Snow, who is not a strong jump-shooter, on the weak side. Plus, James handling the ball so far from the basket and so much often causes stagnation and can make it easier to double-team him. One of the challenges the Cavs' coaches have been working on is to find a way to get the ball back to James when he has been forced to give up on a double team.
``It's something I've been trying to focus on,'' James said. ``It is a big part of our game, it's very important to get comfortable with it.''
Gibson impressing
Brown said he has been especially pleased with rookie guard Daniel Gibson during the first week of two-a-days.
``Daniel has surprised me a little bit, he's learning really fast,'' Brown said. ``He's showing the ability to get things accomplished at both ends of the floor.''
At this point, the second-round pick from Texas is still a longshot to make the 12-man active roster and remains a candidate to be sent to the NBA Development League for at least a portion of the season. But he has gotten noticed.
Feeling for Jackson
Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson is close to both Brown and his children from when Brown and Jackson were members of the San Antonio Spurs and Pacers organizations. The Associated Press reported Jackson was punched and hit by a car outside a night club early Friday morning. Police also said he fired several gunshots.
``If he's hurt, I'm concerned about him; I love Stephen, he's a great guy,'' Brown said. ``But I don't know what happened.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Sizing up Cavs' roster opening

Hunter juggling numbers to fit in


Friday, October 06, 2006

Branson Wright

Plain Dealer Reporter

From high school in Cincinnati to Ohio University, criticism has followed Brandon Hunter. And the skepticism has remained since joining the NBA in 2003.
Hunter, an undersized power forward at 6-7 and 266 pounds, will continue his quest to quiet critics as a free agent trying to make the Cava liers' roster. There are 19 players in camp, 15 with guaranteed contracts, all vying for 15 roster spots. Hunter, a training camp invitee (i.e. practice player) has the odds stacked against him. That's nothing new.
"I don't know what too small is," Hunter. "That talk definitely motivates me. Negative comments have always motivated me. I had to prove myself in college and I have to prove myself in the NBA."
Hunter's proving ground began when he was cut from his AAU team following his junior year. He started his senior year of high school with a vengeance. Despite his dominance, he wasn't considered one of the top power forwards in Ohio. The summer following his senior year, however, Hunter made plenty of noise in a high school All-Star Tournament.
"It was the Wendy's Classic," said George Jackson, Hunter's coach at Withrow High School. "It was the best players from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. A team from Ohio had never won the tournament until that year."
Hunter received the MVP.
"I just went in there knowing that I was better than some of those guys and just as good as others and I went out there to prove it," Hunter said.
The highlight of the tournament happened during a game against Illinois, led by current Lakers forward Brian Cook. During this particular play, Hunter went up for a dunk but it was blocked by Cook. Shortly after the crowd roared with approval, Hunter retrieved his miss and dunked on Cook with two hands.
"That's when everybody took notice," said Jackson, who also coached former Cavaliers forward Tyrone Hill. "People wondered how did Ohio University get Brandon. After the tournament, an assistant from Xavier University said they made a mistake in not recruiting Brandon."
Hunter continued to establish himself on the next level. He played four years at Ohio and became the third player in MAC history to compile 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds (Gary Trent and Ron Harper). He finished as the Bobcats' all-time leader in rebounding, free throws made and free throws attempted. Hunter's 12.8 rebounding average led the country his senior year.
But Hunter rose again on the national stage when Ohio played at North Carolina. Hunter scored 20 points, had nine rebounds and six assists in the Bobcats' upset at Chapel Hill in a nationally televised game. His success led him to the Boston Celtics as a second-round pick. He played in 36 games with the Celtics. The following year Hunter was selected by Charlotte in the expansion draft and was traded by the Bobcats to the Orlando Magic. Hunter spent last season playing overseas. He made an impression with the Cavs during the Las Vegas Summer League with an average of 9.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in five games.
Despite his size, he's in training camp with plans to remain.
"I modeled my game after all of those undersized power forwards, like Gary Trent and Anthony Mason," Hunter said. "I'm a competitor. I will continue to work hard and play harder."
Free throws:
Coach Mike Brown will add a twist to the Cavs' offense this season. The offense will continue to include a lot of plays where LeBron James will make decisions off of pick-and-rolls. But Brown also added more options for the man with the ball. . . . Several changes are in store for fans this season. Fans will get to see the team's new court that is lighter with two-toned wood. Also, the arena has new lights and it will allow instant on-and-off capability throughout the arena.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4671

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Jones is fit from the start

Cavs guard began last season flabby

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Damon Jones who played in the first half of last season was a fraud.
Says who? Says Jones.
"I was out of shape," said Jones, a 6-1 guard counted on by the Cavaliers for his perimeter shooting.
"I came to camp out of shape. Fans did not see the real Damon Jones in the first half of last season.
"They will see the real Damon Jones from the start of this season."
Jones, signed to a four-year, $16.1 million contract in September 2005, said he reported to training camp last season weighing 205 pounds. "I'm down to 195 pounds and 8? percent body fat," he said, "just like I was during my time in Miami."
Starting 66 (out of 82) games for the Heat in 2004-05, Jones had a career season -- averaging 11.6 points while ranking third in the NBA with 225 3-pointers.
Not wanting to risk an injury that would diminish his free- agent value following the breakout season, Jones did little to stay in shape. "Then," he said, "I ended up signing late [September].
"You can't come into camp trying to get into shape," he said. "It took me half a season to get to where I wanted to be."
The result: a 6.7-point average and 140 3-pointers in 82 games with the Cavaliers last season.
To ensure there would not be a repeat of last season's first-half scenario, Jones recently spent eight weeks of intense training at Abunassar Impact Basketball in Las Vegas.
Among founder/president Joe Abunassar's other NBA clients: Detroit's Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups, along with Minnesota's Kevin Garnett. "There were 19 or 20 other NBA guys there at the time I was," Jones said.
"We had two-a-day sessions for five days a week. A lot of cardio work, a lot of five-on-five basketball.
"Hopefully, all this vigorous training pays off. I'm ready."
After last season's slow start, when Jones appeared resigned to hoisting 3-pointers rather than bothering to mix it up by putting the ball on the floor and going to the basket, he began to lose minutes in coach Mike Brown's rotation.
The minutes eventually returned. Jones shot 49 percent (30-of-61) from the field over the last 15 regular-season games before again losing time in the first round of the playoffs against Washington.
But, make no mistake about it . . . the self-proclaimed world's greatest shooter can bury jumpers when they count. In a March 8 victory at Toronto, he knocked down a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
And, entering Game 6 of the playoffs against Washington for the first time with four seconds to go in overtime, he hit a 17-footer from the left corner that clinched the series.
"Hopefully," he said, "I have a bigger role than I did last season."
With the addition of guards David Wesley and rookie first-round pick Shannon Brown, it is unclear how the backcourt minutes will be sliced up. "There are a lot of guards on the roster," Jones said.
"Everyone has to play a role."
Brown said he is impressed with what he's seen of Jones early in training camp. "His conditioning seems better," Brown said.
"He's shot the ball extremely well. We'll see if it translates into the games. He will get his minutes. Just how many, I don't know at this point."
Finally:
Brown said that guard Larry Hughes, who is not fully recovered from a broken middle finger of the right hand that sidelined him for 45 games last season, will play in tonight's Wine and Gold scrimmage at the University of Akron's Rhodes Arena. Tipoff is 6 p.m.
Hughes said he takes calcium pills daily. "Hopefully they will strengthen my bones," he said. "They were recommended by the team's medical staff."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479