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Cavs 06-07 season thread

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ABJ

Cavaliers must adapt to league's faster pace

Defensive play going out of style in NBA

By Brian Windhorst

The Cavaliers are going out of style.
A team whose primary focus is defense? That is so 2005. The Detroit Pistons' and San Antonio Spurs' systems? Boring.
The NBA is going fast and loose, and the Cavs are not exactly along for the ride. With fans and players praising its virtues and new rules helping, more and more teams are plotting up-tempo, high-scoring attacks this season.
The Phoenix Suns pioneered the spreading fad. During the past two years, the Suns have been able to get players to maximize their potential by running and gunning. When the Suns first debuted the style in 2004, pundits said it wouldn't last or hold up in the playoffs. Two Western Conference Finals appearances later, everyone is starting to think it is a good idea.
Already the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets have openly stated their plans to install up-tempo running games.
The trend is expected to expand. Coaches and players from the Indiana Pacers and Pistons, two teams known for being defense first, are saying they will open up their offenses.
New rules instituted two years ago severely limited the ability of defenders to use their hands and forearms to slow dribble penetration. Some called it the Pistons rule, because they were infamous for being physical in and around the paint, creating low-scoring, ugly games.
The Cavs certainly have benefited from this rule, especially LeBron James. It was one of the reasons three penetration specialists -- James, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant -- averaged more than 31 points per game last season. In all, scoring surged in the league last season, which delighted league officials who have been trying to recapture the high-scoring, high-viewership days.
In June, the Dallas Mavericks often complained about how many fouls Dwyane Wade drew during the finals going to the basket. Now it seems as if the general consensus is if you can't beat them, join them.
Cavs coach Mike Brown prefers to play games in the 80s, not in the triple digits as the league is headed. The worst thing that can happen in Brown's help-and-recover system is when the ball gets dribbled into the middle. It was one of the reasons quick point guards gave the Cavs all sorts of trouble last season.
If you need a refresher, recall how Antonio Daniels wreaked havoc during the playoff series with the Washington Wizards.
Adapting to the changing environment is vital if the Cavs want to seriously contend for a title at some point in the near future. Brown can handle giving up some more points as NBA games naturally become higher scoring.
He'll continue to target field-goal percentage defense, which he'd love to keep around 42 or 43 percent (last year it was closer to 46, but improved throughout the season).
One of the reasons Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson and David Wesley were picked up in the offseason is that the Cavs believe that they can defend quick guards and keep them from penetrating into the middle.
It was also one of the reasons Damon Jones worked hard in the offseason to try to improve his lateral foot speed, because if he can't keep opponents in front of him without using his hands, he won't get the playing time that he'll want.
Dribbles
? The Cavs' new floor color scheme features more blue and almost no gold. Owner Dan Gilbert is a fan of the wine and blue and not so much of the gold. Which is why the blue has slowly been more emphasized the past two years, including last season's all-blue jerseys. This is the fourth year of the return to the Cavs' wine and gold roots, but it wouldn't be surprising if sometime in the future, the primary colors just become wine and blue the way things are going.
? In an effort to invest further in the health of the players, the Cavs have added a physical therapist to their support staff, and he'll travel on the road with them all season. During the past three years, the Cavs have started carrying two trainers on the road full time and added massage therapy after practices.
? Not that there's a lot of minutes available there, but Brown said this week that backup small forward is still an open competition. Heading into his free-agent season, Sasha Pavlovic is in good shape and has been shooting well in practices thus far. Ira Newble, who has also dropped some weight in the offseason after being slowed nearly all last year by injury and illness, also might win some minutes there.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at [email protected].
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ABJ

Cavaliers look for point in Akron

Scrimmage gives chance for coach Brown to look at lead-guard situation

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

CLEVELAND - Like a baseball team without a closer, the Cavaliers' lack of depth at true point guard has them doing it by committee.
Which is a fancy and politically correct way of saying they're searching a little bit.
Not only are there 12 players who could be considered guards on the training camp roster, but coach Mike Brown also says all can run the point in his offense.
``For me, our (point guard, shooting guard and small forward) are interchangeable,'' Brown said.
During Saturday night's Wine and Gold Scrimmage at Rhodes Arena, nearly a dozen players brought the ball up the floor for the Cavs. The most interesting ``interchangeable'' guard might have been first-round draft pick Shannon Brown. His first public performance with the Cavs left the crowd of more than 5,000 wanting more.
Running the point for large chunks of the workout, Brown had 12 points, two assists, two turnovers and a steal in 25 minutes. His most memorable moment was a driving dunk in traffic, but he knocked down four jumpers, including two 3-pointers, in going 5-of-11 from the field.
He played with confidence and considerable aplomb, especially since not even his teammates consider him a point guard.
``His natural position isn't point guard, so we had him in a bad position out there because he's a `two' guard,'' said LeBron James, who started slowly but finished with 15 points, five rebounds and two steals. ``We've got enough point guards where he won't have to play point guard.''
Since Larry Hughes and James are expected to gobble up large minutes, Brown might find himself in a so-called point guard role. That depends on how he fits in the rotation with Eric Snow, Damon Jones and David Wesley.
``Whichever one they need me to play, you just have to go out and execute,'' Brown said. ``Every time I go out on the court, I feel like I have something to prove. Anybody could bring the ball up. We want to go in transition.''
In the Las Vegas summer league in July, some injuries forced Brown to be the point guard in several games. Just as he did Saturday, he performed well enough to perhaps deserve a longer look.
``He still has to get reps to get out on the floor to get a better feel of what we're trying to do offensively,'' Mike Brown said. ``He showed he has some talent and knows how to get some things done on his own.''
Most of the work during the first week of training camp has been on defense, so understandably it was ahead of the offense Saturday. There was some sloppy play at times, but several players besides Brown started off well. That included Donyell Marshall, who played around the basket much more than he did last season in scoring 20 points with nine rebounds.
Freshly signed Drew Gooden was his usual active self, putting up 14 points with 10 rebounds. Larry Hughes' jumpers were a little off, but he scored seven points and had five assists. Free agent Brandon Hunter performed well, making 5-of-6 shots for 11 points.
For record-keeping purposes, the Wine team (which had James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Marshall and Brown) won 71-64.
The Cavs have their first preseason game Tuesday against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena.
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CPD

Rookie Brown's skills a thrill for Cavaliers


Sunday, October 08, 2006 Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Cavaliers have at least five point guards in training camp and LeBron James hopes at least one comes off the list of candidates.
"We have enough point guards and hopefully he won't have to play point guard," said James, about rookie Shannon Brown. "He's a two-guard. You saw what he was able to do out there. He can shoot the ball very well and he's very athletic. He played under control."
Brown, especially early on Saturday night, was in control by knocking down open jumpers and even slamming one home as his Wine team defeated the Gold, 71-64, in the Cavaliers' scrimmage at the Rhodes Arena on the campus of the University of Akron.
Brown was 5-of-11 from the field with 12 points and two rebounds in 25 minutes. Donyell Marshall led all scorers with 20 points and nine rebounds. James, a native of Akron, had a slow start but had 15 points.
But this scrimmage was not about leading scorers or rebounders. Part of it was about fringe players trying to get noticed and about rookies making a statement. Brown is fighting for time as either a backup point guard behind starter Eric Snow or as a backup to shooting guard Larry Hughes.
Brown served notice with his performance Saturday.
"It was about going out and having fun," Brown said. "Every time I step out on the court I feel I have something to prove. I just want to go out and have fun and showcase my talent to the world."
The NBA world will have to wait but the soldout crowd at the Rhodes Arena witnessed Brown play an adequate point guard (two turnovers, two assists) but he was even better at shooting guard. His first two points were on a fastbreak thunderous dunk. Brown also displayed his outside touch with two 3-pointers. Coach Mike Brown, who was more of an observer while his assistants managed each team, said Shannon Brown played well.
"He shot the ball well early," Mike Brown said. "He still has to get reps to get a better feel on what we're trying to do offensively but he showed that he has some talent to get things done on his on."
Shannon Brown said he is willing to play either position. But for the Cavaliers it's more important on how he plays compared to where he plays.
"Our [point guard, shooting guard and small forward] positions are interchangeable," coach Brown said. "[To get playing time] He's got to keep busting his behind on both ends of the floor and if he's open and the ball gets swung to him, he has to show he can do something with it. And he has to get a better feel on what we're trying to do offensively."
Day of rest:
The Cavaliers are off today and will resume practice on Monday. . . . The Cavs' first preseason game is Tuesday at The Q against the Boston Celtics at 7 p.m.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4671
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ABJ

Playoffs not good enough for Cavs

By Terry Pluto

A year ago, the goal was clear for the Cavaliers: Make the playoffs.
Mission accomplished, and more, thanks to 50 regular-season victories and taking the Detroit Pistons to seven games in the second round.
Now, as the Cavs open the preseason tonight at Quicken Loans Arena against the Boston Celtics, they are talking about the NBA Finals.
At least LeBron James has mentioned it. General Manager Danny Ferry wants to build a team that wins a title, knowing there are few shortcuts, even with a great player like James.
The keys are to keep moving forward, keep growing as a team and add pieces around James. An NBA title really can happen here. Maybe not this year, but some year in the not-too-distant future.
Certainly owner Dan Gilbert is committed to chasing a title. That's why he paid $375 million for the Cavs, and why he has been spending money for everything from free agents to new dressing rooms to building a new practice facility.
Of the three Cleveland pro sports franchises, the Cavs are best equipped to win a championship. The Browns are a long way from .500. The Indians have to take some major steps to contend in the strongest division in baseball.
The Cavs have James, and no other franchise in town has a player who can make such an impact.
In basketball, a great player means more than in most other team sports because five play at a time -- compared with 11 in football and nine (or 10, with the designated hitter) in baseball.
Michael Jordan spent a year in minor-league baseball; he talked about the frustration of waiting. He had to wait for each turn at bat. He had to wait for someone to hit the ball to him in the outfield. He had to wait to make a play.
In basketball, he could just make one. Get a rebound. Catch a pass and drive to the basket. Steal an opponent's dribble. In baseball, the rules make it hard for any one player to dominate. Same in football, where there are separate groups for offense and defense.
In basketball, you can play every minute (as James too often has) and handle the ball most of the time. Little (other than talent) holds you back.
As veteran guard Eric Snow has said: ``We have the kind of guy that most other teams want'' in James.
Former Cavaliers GM Wayne Embry was riveted by James in the playoffs. He watched James win three games in the final seconds with shots -- and two more with his passing.
To Embry, it was a flashback to Jordan, only this time No. 23 was in a Cavaliers uniform.
On the road, James can turn an entire building on the home team with one soaring slam. If you catch the Cavs on the road, you see fans everywhere from New York to Orlando to Los Angeles wearing No. 23 in wine and gold.
It's like the fans who would wear Magic Johnson, Larry Bird or Jordan jerseys to the old Coliseum when they faced the Cavs. Right now, there's no star in basketball with more glitter than James.
He can pop eyes with more than a dunk. He delivered an outrageous left-handed, no-look pass to Zydrunas Ilgauskas in a scrimmage Saturday at the University of Akron's Rhodes Arena.
James threw it 20 feet, past three defenders, to Ilgauskas, who caught it for a layup. Now remember that James is right-handed, yet he fired the ball with his left hand -- without looking at his target.
James is compared with Jordan in basketball greatness because he can convert the basic fundamental plays (layups with either hand, for example) along with his God-given physical attributes.
Like Jordan, he dedicates himself to winning. He gets along with his coaches. He wants to lead his teammates. He doesn't yet have Jordan's dedication to defense, but that might come.
James is just 21. Jordan was beginning his rookie season at that age. It took seven years for Jordan to win his first title. James is entering season No. 4 with the Cavs, and he is signed up for four more years.
For James and Cavs fans, time really is on their side.
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ABJ

Cavs' veterans take their best shots

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter


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CLEVELAND - Usually the last players off the court after a training camp practice are the rookies or free agents putting in extra work to impress the coaching staff.
The last off the floor Monday afternoon were David Wesley and Damon Jones, two veterans on guaranteed contracts. They're trying to make an impression, too.
Starting with the preseason opener against the Boston Celtics tonight at Quicken Loans Arena, there is an open competition for minutes at the guard spots. Wesley and Jones appear to be in a direct struggle with each other to secure time in coach Mike Brown's rotation with additional competition from rookie Shannon Brown and others.
Barring injuries or dramatic shifts, the starting lineup on opening night against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 1 will be expected to be the same as in last season's opener with Eric Snow and Larry Hughes as the starting guards.
That leaves much of the attention and the drama during the eight preseason games squarely on the race for backup minutes at the guard spots.
``We can all do the math; there's not a lot of minutes,'' Mike Brown said. ``Whoever is in that rotation is going to have to take advantage of their minutes.''
Wesley, Jones and Shannon Brown have downplayed the significance of their performances in the exhibition games, but their actions speak differently. All have been putting in extra work.
Wesley, who was a starter last season with the Houston Rockets, said he worked harder this offseason than he has in recent years when he was more assured of his position.
``Each year it is a competition; I prefer this year not to look at it that way,'' Wesley said. ``I'm going to do what I do. If that equates into more playing time, great.''
Jones arrived in much better shape than last season, attempting to earn more minutes than he got last season behind Snow.
Shannon Brown had a solid showing in summer league in July and then spent much of the rest of the summer working out with coaches in Cleveland.
``I've been pushing myself in practice, and I plan to go all out in the preseason games,'' Jones said. ``That was the same way I approached my best year when I was in Miami, and it got me into a great rhythm for the season. Hopefully, with my mentality changing and the shape I'm in will get me more minutes.''
Shannon Brown perhaps struck the first blow with a strong performance in the intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday. He scored 12 points and showed excellent outside shooting in 25 minutes. He'll need a lot more of that to edge past Jones and Wesley before the regular season starts.
``The guys in front of Shannon have played well, and I'm not going to hand anything to him,'' Mike Brown said. ``As a rookie, he has to sort of earn it one and a half times.''
Of course, those three are just the leaders of a pack. Luke Jackson is trying to proving himself after returning from back surgery; Sasha Pavlovic is going into a contract year; Ira Newble is in better shape after being injured and sick for much of last season; rookie Daniel Gibson has impressed the coaches in the early going; and Eddie Basden and Stephen Graham are fighting to make the team because both only have partially guaranteed contracts.
There should be plenty of time for evaluation; Mike Brown said the starter's minutes will be limited for the first four or five preseason games. Tonight, the starters -- LeBron James, Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Snow and Drew Gooden -- are only expected to play in the first half.
Arena goes smoke-free
The Cavs announced Monday that Quicken Loans Arena will be nonsmoking, effective immediately. Smoking had been permitted in the arena's restaurants. There still will be five smoking areas available outside the building with arena entrance and exit capability and video monitors.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at [email protected].
Check out Windhorst's Cavaliers weblog at http://blogs.ohio.com/cavaliers_blog.
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Canton

Gooden happy to be ?home?
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 [FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Mike Popovich REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]
10gooden.jpg

Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden, a restricted free agent after last season, is happy to be back in Cleveland. ?I?m elated. I?m excited,? Gooden said. ?I know this is my home. I didn?t care about interviewing with other teams. I wanted to be here. ...?​


CLEVELAND - Drew Gooden wanted stability. As he approached free agency this summer, his hope for the future was quite clear.
?I want to be a Cavalier,? he said.
Gooden?s wish came true.
The Cavaliers signed the 6-foot-10 forward to a three-year-deal last month. General Manager Danny Ferry said from the start the team wanted to keep Gooden, a restricted free agent. The Cavs could have matched any offer he received.
?I?m elated. I?m excited,? Gooden said. ?I know this is my home. I didn?t care about interviewing with other teams. I wanted to be here. I knew the organization, the fans and my teammates wanted me back.?
Gooden is entering his third full season with the Cavs. The former University of Kansas All-American was on the move during his first two years in the NBA with stops in Memphis and Orlando.
The Cavs acquired Gooden from the Magic in July 2004. He came at a time when the team was building a nucleus around LeBron James and trying to overcome the sting of Carlos Boozer bolting to Utah via free agency.
Times have changed since Gooden arrived. The core to help the Cavaliers go deep in the postseason is in place.
?They?re building a program,? Gooden said. ?They?re trying to build a dynasty where the same players are jelling. The owners and the organization are doing a great job.?
Gooden averaged 10.7 points and 8.4 rebounds last year. His scoring average was a career low and his rebounding total also dropped from the 2004-05 season.
The knock on Gooden is he is inconsistent, and Head Coach Mike Brown did not hesitate to cut his minutes last season. Still, Gooden didn?t mind his role.
?We were winning,? Gooden said. ?As long as we won, I played my role and was happy for anybody who was in for me. If I was in the game, I played my heart out.?
Gooden?s winning layup in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Detroit put the Cavs on the cusp of a huge upset, but the Pistons came back to win the series in seven games. The team?s long postseason helped set higher goals for this year.
Gooden?s is to win it all.
?I think we overachieved last year,? Gooden said. ?Some people expected us to get swept by Detroit, but almost beating them kind of surprised everybody.
?We?re never going to settle on anything less than winning the whole thing.?
n
NOTEBOOK The preseason tips off tonight at home against Boston (7 p.m., FSN Ohio). The Cavs also play preseason home games against Washington on Saturday and Maccabi Tel Aviv next Tuesday. ... Season ticket holders can now sign up for a free service called Flash Seats. It will eliminate the need for physical tickets and allow ticket holders to enter The Q by swiping an electronically embedded credit card or driver?s license. For more information, visit www.cavs.com. ... The Cavs announced Monday the arena?s smoke-free policy also will cover Gordon?s Sports Bar and Bridges restaurant this season.
Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]

Celtics at Cavaliers
Preseason
7 tonight
Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland TV FSN Ohio
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CPD

Big expectations not a worry for Big Z


Monday, October 09, 2006

Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

Bellyaching was at a minimum in the aftermath of the Cavaliers' march to the second round of the playoffs, where they were ousted in seven games by Detroit.
The euphoria generated during the team's first playoff appearance in seven years and its deepest penetration in 14 years masked any disappointments. But, there was one significant, puzzling question to ponder: Why the dropoff in center Zydrunas Ilgauskas' production?
Ilgauskas averaged 15.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and shot 51 percent (450-of-889) from the field in 78 regular-season games.
In 13 playoff games, the num- bers dipped to 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 45 percent (54-of-119) shooting. He exceeded his regular-season scoring average just once in the playoffs; exceeded his regular-season rebound average twice.
Plenty of theories surfaced as to why the 7-3, 260-pounder was not the force in the playoffs he was during the regular season.
Such as:
He was worn down, despite playing the fewest regular-season minutes (2,283) he had in four years.
A sprained left ankle, suffered on April 4 that sidelined him for three games with eight games remaining in the regular season, was bothersome in the playoffs.
The two centers he faced - Washington's Brendan Haywood and Detroit's Ben Wallace - were too quick for him to handle at either end of the court.
The Cavaliers did not look inside enough to get him the ball.
Whatever the case, Ilgauskas is back for his eighth season, appears to have shaken off the personal playoff disappointment and will be counted on for his usual 15 points and eight rebounds a game.
"First of all," he said, "the ankle was OK. It didn't bother me. It's hard to say what happened.
"I thought I was prepared, but I just could not get into the offensive flow of things."
Ilgauskas said that because there is little practice time during the playoffs, it was difficult making adjustments. "Eventually," he said, "I had to stop worrying about scoring and figure out ways to help in other areas.
"It's harder to score in the playoffs because teams see you so much, they can better prepare for you. When you are struggling during the regular season, you have time to work your way out of it.
"My numbers may have been down, but I thought I played good in the playoffs."
Last season's trip to the postseason was Ilgauskas' first in nine years.
"He had not been to the playoffs in so long," teammate LeBron James said, "that it was almost like something he'd never before experienced.
"He still made big plays for us and is going to be a better player after going through it."
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said Ilgauskas looked like he favored the ankle in the six-game series against Washington. "Z is a rhythm player," Brown said "At the start of the playoffs, I didn't think he was in his rhythm.
"Against Washington, I didn't think he played as good as he can. But, against Detroit, he played good basketball."
Ilgauskas averaged 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and shot 43 percent (21-of-49) against the Wizards. Against the Pistons, he averaged 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and shot 47 percent (33-of-70).
In Game 5 against the Pistons, when the Cavaliers took a 3-2 lead in the series with an 86-84 victory, Ilgauskas had 14 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.
But, in the Game 7, a 79-61 loss, he scored two quick field goals, but did not score another until late in the game - getting eight points, three rebounds and one blocked shot before fouling out.
"I think all of us learned a lot in that Detroit series," Ilgauskas said. "Now, we have to carry it into this season."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479
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CPD

Sadness lingers as Cavs' Hughes' finger heals


Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

A broken bone mends more quickly than a broken heart.
The broken right-hand middle finger suffered by Larry Hughes early last season is healing fine.
"There is really no swelling, no aching," said Hughes, who will be in the starting lineup tonight when the Cavaliers face the Boston Celtics in a preseason game at The Q.
It's a differ ent story with the broken heart.
The ache from the bro ken heart he suffered when his brother, 20-year-old Justin, died on May 11, lingers.
"It's getting better," Hughes said. "I have gone from thinking about him every minute of the day to every hour of the day.
"Emotionally, playing basketball has helped."
Justin Hughes, born with a heart defect and the recipient of a heart transplant when he was 11, died in St. Louis, where the brothers were raised by their mother -- Vanessa.
Hughes, 27, is beginning his second season with the Cavaliers after being signed to a five-year, $70 million free agent contract in August 2005.
He was signed for his ability to shoot from the perimeter and break down defenders off the dribble -- along with his on-the-ball defense.
In 31 games before going down with the finger injury, he averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
The broken finger was the latest in an extensive list of injuries that Hughes has suffered throughout his career.
In five of eight previous NBA seasons, he has missed 20 or more games with an assortment of injuries -- including a fractured right thumb and broken left wrist.
"At times, I may take too many chances," Hughes said, "but that's the way I play. It's the only way I know how to play."
Hughes, who averaged 35.6 minutes a game last season, will be brought along slowly. "I think I can play a normal number of minutes once the regular season starts," he said. "I feel I am ready and able to hold up in a 48-minute game."
Hughes is not wearing any protection on the finger, which underwent two surgeries. "It's been hit a lot in practice," he said, "but there has been no extra pain. I can't worry about it."
Hughes, Eric Snow, Shannon Brown, Damon Jones, David Wesley, Sasha Pavlovic, Daniel Gibson, Eddie Basden and Stephen Graham will share minutes in the crowded backcourt during the preseason.
Hughes keeps in constant contact with his mother.
"I am in touch with her, either by phone or text messaging, about 30 times a day," he said. "Basically, I am in contact with her throughout the day. She's getting better. We are trying to move past our loss, but it will take time."
Smoke clears:
The Q has banned smoking throughout the building. The facility had allowed smoking in portions of a restaurant and a bar.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4655
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ABJ

Cavs ugly against Celtics

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

247315425506.jpg

(Ken Love/Akron Beacon Journal)
Cleveland Cavaliers' Drew Gooden tries to shoot over Boston's Al Jefferson in a preseason game at the Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, in Cleveland, Ohio.
More photos

CLEVELAND - In a prototypical preseason opener, the Cavaliers experienced some good, some bad and some ugly. Make that lots of ugly.
Tuesday night's exhibition was hardly a banner performance by the Cavs as they were rolled 109-93 by the Boston Celtics. Here's a list of some observations from the forgettable affair:
? The Cavs' starters were strong at the start, especially on the offensive end. They made 11 of their first 14 shots and built an 11-point lead. LeBron James had a steal and dunk in the game's opening moments and raced out to six quick points but didn't do much else in his 17 first-half minutes. The starters took the second half off.
? After a strong performance in Saturday's scrimmage, Drew Gooden again was impressive Tuesday. He made his first seven shots, most on slick and strong moves from the post. He finished 8-of-10 overall for 16 points, with six rebounds in the first half. He also showed aggressiveness on the defensive end, blocking two shots in 17 minutes.
? Overall the defense appeared to be a step slow for much of the night. They were sluggish in their rotations, and Boston's quick point guards, known more for their driving than their shooting, repeatedly were able to penetrate into the middle. Sebastian Telfair scored 12 points without making a jump shot and drew six fouls. Same for rookie Rajon Rondo, who ripped the Cavs' perimeter defense and then found teammates on his way to eight assists.
The Celtics shot 51 free throws, making just 30, which kept the game from being more lopsided. The Cavs were also hit for no less than five defensive three-second technicals, which is probably a team record.
``I thought their whole team got into the paint on us,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ``When they got in there, we gave up easy shots, fouled them or gave up offensive rebounds, so that disappointed me a lot.''
? Anderson Varejao got 24 minutes, the most of any Cavs' player, as Brown wanted to take a harder look at him. He had 10 points and seven rebounds, but gambled on defense and often found himself out of position to defend and to rebound. Michael Olowokandi, who is in the Celtics' camp without a contract, burned Varejao a number of times on his way to 10 rebounds, five of them offensive, in just under nine minutes on the floor.
In all, the Cavs gave up 19 offensive rebounds for 18 second-chance points.
``He played with energy but he, like the rest of our team, has a long way to go,'' Brown said. ``He was turning and going to the rim instead of boxing his man out.''
? Rookie Shannon Brown didn't get any time on the floor with the front line and didn't really play until the fourth string was in. He played the last 18 minutes of the game and scored eight points. Fellow rookie Daniel Gibson had six points in 16 minutes. Neither made much of an impression.
``I had a set rotation going in. I may mix it up a little bit,'' Mike Brown said. ``Shannon is going to get his opportunity, Daniel is going to get his opportunity.''
LeBron gets rest
During two-a-day practices, Mike Brown gave James evening practices off and he's expanding his energy-saving approach to the preseason games. The coach said he'd sit James out of at least one of this weekend's back-to-back set of exhibition games. The Cavs will play the Celtics on Friday in Manchester, N.H., and are home Saturday night against the Washington Wizards.
``You take the rest when you can,'' James said. ``You don't get it in the regular season.''
New rules
The Cavs got their annual briefing from NBA referees Tuesday. There aren't any major rule changes. The most significant adjustment is that clear-path fouls will now be two free throws and the ball instead of one.
The referees' biggest influence this season will be on complaining. All players have been warned that there's a new policy regarding technical fouls. Officials will be lowering their tolerance for chirping.
``It is an emotional game, so it is hard for some guys not to say anything,'' Larry Hughes said. ``It bothers us because there's times you get it back from the refs also, so it puts us in a tough position.''
Expect to see a large volume of technicals in the preseason and early in the regular season as officials attempt to show they're serious and set the tone.
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Canton

Cavaliers preseason: Brown trying to rest James during preseason
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 [FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]BY Mike Popovich REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER [/FONT]
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Repository Bob Rossiter TAKING IT EASY Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown (right) will closely monitor LeBron James? minutes this preseason. James averaged more than 42 minutes per game last year and spent a month this summer playing in the World Championships.
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CLEVELAND A busy summer of basketball for LeBron James will require Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown to monitor his star player?s minutes more closely this year.
During preseason, James may even go a game or two without seeing any playing time.
Brown knows James will play all 48 minutes if asked to. James averaged more than 42 minutes last season, a slight dropoff from the previous year.
But after James spent more than a month playing for the U.S. team at the world championships, the second-year coach must consider the future.
?We have to make sure we keep him around the 40-minute-a-game mark,? Brown said before Tuesday?s preseason opener against Boston. ?Once he starts to get above that, it can have some long-term effects.
?He?s a young guy, and he?s not going to feel the effects right now. ... Maybe not even in this postseason. Maybe three, four or five years down the road.
?I respect him and his livelihood more than anything else. I?m not going to destroy that or mess that up, because he is a huge chunk of this franchise.?
James played just 17 minutes during the 109-93 loss to the Celtics. He scored 6 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field, handed out three assists and grabbed two rebounds. Like the rest of the starters, he sat out the entire second half.
?We?re just trying to be smart about things,? James said. ?My body feels great, but sometimes you don?t know you need the rest. The best thing is to take it when you can. Sometimes you get a couple of breaks in the preseason you can?t get during the regular season.?
Brown relieved some of the training camp workload the first three days of two-a-days when he sat out James one full practice. Brown also has talked about resting James for an entire preseason game.
?It?s going to have to happen before the last three or four games,? Brown said. ?In the last three or four games, we have to start trying to get him in a rhythm. ?Right now, I?ll pick and choose my spots based on how long we practice.?
The schedule also could dictate the decision. The first half of the preseason has two back-to-backs. Home games against Washington on Saturday and Maccabi Tel Aviv next Tuesday are part of the back-to-backs.
Brown said he would even consider having James sit out a home game if he has to.
?Yeah, it would be great to play him at home for the fans who are here,? Brown said. ?But if I felt he needed the rest, I?d have to think twice about his body as opposed to the fans and sit him. I?ll just dodge the eggs on my ride home.?
James says he has no problem with sitting out a preseason game if Brown wants him to.
?I had a long summer, and he knows that,? James said. ?We?re just trying to play it by ear and see how I feel.?
CELTICS 109, cavaliers 93
The Celtics outscored the Cavaliers, 83-59, after Brown?s first nine helped Cleveland open up a 34-26 lead after one quarter.
Drew Gooden hit his first seven baskets and finished with a team-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.
?He was active defensively and did a terrific job finishing up his minutes, attacking (with) the basketball and getting back to where he needed to go,? Brown said.
Sixteen of the Cavs? 19 players saw action.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 11 points, Anderson Varejao scored 11 and Larry Hughes and first-round pick Shannon Brown added 8 apiece. Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]
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CPD

Cavs' Gooden shows plenty against Celtics


Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

The most important decision made by the Cavaliers over the summer was on display in living color during Tuesday night's preseason game against the Boston Celtics.
There was Drew Gooden scor- ing inside, snatching rebounds with one hand, defending and even going old school.
"I had Theo Ratliff [on me] and I had to get it over him," Gooden said.
"I couldn't shoot my traditional hook, I had to shoot my sky hook over him."
Gooden was so good that he scored 16 points (on 8-of-10 shooting) collected six rebounds and had two blocked shots in 17 minutes but it was not enough in a 109-93 loss to the Celtics at The Q.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 11 points and LeBron James scored six points and had three assists in nearly 17 minutes.
The Cavs were strong in the first quarter, but the Celtics chipped away and took a two-point lead at the half.
Coach Mike Brown sat the starters in the second half and that's when the Celtics took over.
Brown was not pleased about the Cavs' 28 turnovers and that they were outrebounded, 48-43, but Gooden, who re-signed for $23 million over the summer, was a highlight.
"Drew gave effort," Brown said.
"He did the things we asked him to do offensively and defensively, and he tried to rebound. I liked what I saw out of Drew Gooden. He was active defensively. He reacted to the ball whether it was the pick-and-roll or helping when someone got beat."
Gooden provided plenty of help early on, and the Celtics could not keep up with him inside. Gooden made seven straight shots before a miss.
"He did pretty good," James said of Gooden. "Drew is very effective when he just takes his time and he knows what he's going to do. . . . This just shows the hard work he put in this summer."
The Cavaliers expect and will need plenty of help from Gooden this season and over the next three years in the team's quest for at least an Eastern Conference title. Gooden is the team's best on-the-block scorer and his energy and tenacity on the boards are only matched by Anderson Varejao.
"That's me," said Gooden about his style of play. "I'm capable of doing that and I'm staying within my role. Unfortunately, we didn't win [Tuesday night] but we'll get better."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4671
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