Cavs 07-08 Season Thread

[jlb1705]

On defending Rasheed Wallace: Everyone knows you just have Varejao pester him for a few possessions until Sheed gets pissed off, gets his two Ts and is off to the showers. :tongue2:

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

CAVALIERS INSIDER
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Daniel Gilbert says team was determined to make change in roster


Monday, February 25, 2008
%%kicker%%CAVALIERS INSIDER
%%endkicker%%%%head%%Gilbert says trade is change team believes in
%%endhead%% The Cavaliers were six games over .500, but the desire of the front office to improve the roster was shared by owner Dan Gilbert.

"I don't know if [not making a deal] would've been the death of the franchise . . . but the competition got harder and it would've been an even bigger challenge than last year," Gilbert said. "Right now, everybody feels good."
The Cavs acquired forward/center Ben Wallace, forwards Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak and guard Delonte West as part of an 11-player, three-team deal just before last Thursday's trade deadline. Gilbert said the organization had been working hard on making a deal.
"We talked about this deal over the last week or so," Gilbert said. "There were two separate deals with Chicago and Seattle, and sometime [on Thursday] it got put together as a three-way to make sense for everybody. [Management was] working 20 hours a day for the past few weeks, and at 2:58 p.m. [Thursday] it finally happened."
Some believe the deal had to happen, especially if the Cavs want to keep LeBron James from bolting after the 2009-10 season, when he has the player option to stay or become a free agent.
Gilbert said pressure to make a deal was not just from James.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

New LeBron James gang rocking with stylish look for Cleveland Cavaliers


Monday, February 25, 2008Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist
Prowling the locker room before the game, LeBron James spotted Ben Wallace, the biggest newcomer. "Got you some new braids," James said in a sing-song tone. "Looking good."
Damon Jones, who had starred in Friday's victory along with James, sat in front of his locker, unwittingly making himself a target of opportunity, too.
"Got a new Mowie," said James, noting Jones' newly sculpted and folliclely more dramatic Mohawk. "Looking like Greg Oden."

This was an offense to Jones' pronounced sense of style. "Big men should not do Mohawks. It is a cry for attention," Jones said of the injured Oden, who was the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft after spending a year at Ohio State.
James said he is always like this before games, but the chirping and needling were still nice to hear.
"He's full of energy, like a bouncy ball," said a member of the Cavaliers' publicity staff.
It was, for the Cavaliers, a matter of new stylin', new players, new bounce, new start.
"The players who had been through it said the Saturday practice was like Midnight Madness in college. Of course, I didn't experience that," said James.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

New-look Cavs off and running
Monday, February 25, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND Throw out strategy. Forget calling plays.

Energy, effort and emotion ruled Sunday night at Quicken Loans Arena when the revitalized Cavaliers delivered a 109-89 beating to the Memphis Grizzlies. A sell-out crowd of 20,562 showed up ready to roar, fired up the players and then got quite a show in watching the Cavs win their third straight.

From "Big" Ben Wallace chasing around a point guard and forcing a five-second count to Joe Smith making jumper after jumper, the new-look Cavs made an impressive debut together and had as much fun as the fans.

"I was telling the guys on the bench that might have been the first time in a long time I got chills when I took the court," Smith said. "When we ran out on the floor for warm-ups, the crowd reaction and how they accepted us, I kind of got goose bumps on my body. And that hasn't happened in a while."


Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Gilbert says trade should take Cavs to another level
Monday, February 25, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND Excitement over the Cavs' blockbuster trade last week extends beyond the locker room and into the owner's suite.

Dan Gilbert talked enthusiastically Sunday about the franchise's biggest trade ? six players departed in return for four ? since he took over as owner in March, 2005.

"I think this is Cavaliers 2.0 ... meaning that 1.0 was great and got us to a certain point," Gilbert said. "But I think with these guys here it's just going to be a whole different level. Obviously, you've got to prove that on the court, right? So I can't wait."

Gilbert spoke with media before Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West made their debuts with the Cavs in a game against Memphis. The four players came to Cleveland in a three-team, 11-player deal completed one minute before Thursday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.

"I felt it was pretty important (to make the trade)," Gilbert said. "I think everyone felt it was pretty important. I don't know if it would've been the death of the franchise or anything like that. Certainly, we got to the finals with the team we had."

Cont...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

New players mesh for Cavs
Wallace has 12 points, 10 rebounds in debut
Monday, February 25, 2008 2:52 AM



ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mark Duncan Associated Press
Forward Ben Wallace, right, playing in his first game for the Cavaliers, defends Grizzlies guard Mike Conley Jr.



CLEVELAND -- LeBron James and his new teammates didn't need any time getting acquainted.
James had 25 points and 11 assists, and all four players acquired in Thursday's blockbuster trade contributed, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers past Memphis 109-89 last night.
As debuts go, these new-look Cavaliers were a smashing success. Cleveland built a 28-point lead midway through the second quarter and coasted to victory.

Continued......

 

[Piney]

I guess we'll just have to disagree then. I think Wally will be crucial in matching up with bigger lineups. I like Brown a lot, but it's not like he's a stalwart defensively.

We will just agree that you are a moron. Wally will NEVER be matched up on purpose with a PF. He will be guarding SG/SF. And we have Ben Wallace that will match up against Rasheed Wallace.

Can't wait to see Wild Thing and Wallace on the floor at the same time...That is going to be intimidating for teams inside...

I am mixed about that possibility. On one end the defense would be great. But I can just see how bad the offense would be with those 2 guys in there. It is like a double edged sword. Great Post Defense vs Horrendous Post Offense.

Just think of the possibilities with a lineup of Gibson, Jones, Wally, Lebron, and Andy/Big Ben? As long a Ben keeps his motor running like it was today this is going to be a very good trade. The pick and roll with him was awesome. I liked what I saw out of the new guys.

The possibilities are endless and exciting. But someone will have to lose minutes. My guess is Sasha will lose the most. This season he has been lost. The amount of time he has missed along with being rusty does not make for playing time in my book.

While Jones has been great lately, he will also lose time to see if Wally can be productive. If Wally struggles than I can see Jones get his playing time.

The one thing I loved last night was how Ben and Z played together on the defensive end. They rotated and communicated greatly and shows of things to come between them. It just opened my eyes on how bad Gooden really was on rotating.

 

[Brutus1]

Until he proves to Brown that he's not a defensive liability, then WZ won't be getting 24 minutes a game. I do believe that when he is in the game, it will be when LeBron is also in, to be most effective. His role will be similar to Donyell's his first season here. If he keeps hitting the shots from LeBron, then he'll continue to get minutes. I'm figuring he'll be getting around 20 mpg the rest of the way. Either way, he'll still be getting more minutes than Damon Jones.

Wallace looked just as we expected he would. He rebounded and he played good defense and dunked. That's all that will be expected of him. The 2 free throws he made were a bonus.

Joe Smith looked very good. He played good D and had very nice range. He'll be able to hit a 3 if needed. Age aside, he's an upgrade over Gooden. His bb iq alone wins him that battle.

West looked very comfortable with the ball in his hands. That lob to LeBron was great. His shooting sucked but he looked much better with the ball in his hands than any of the other guards that we've had on the roster all season. His 6 assists and 3 steals were nice also.

It was a very nice win, considering it was everyone's first time together.

 

[Napoleonbuck]

We will just agree that you are a moron. Wally will NEVER be matched up on purpose with a PF. He will be guarding SG/SF. And we have Ben Wallace that will match up against Rasheed Wallace.

I must be the moron for thinking our biggest SF would ever be used on big small forwards or smaller power forwards. If not Rasheed, then what about Jason Maxiel? I'm not saying Wally will eat up most of the minutes at that point, but you're an idiot if you don't think he'll be used for certain matchups because of his size.

If you read what I wrote, I said Wally could be instrumental when/if teams go big against us. That's when Wally could come in handy. Against normal lineups, Sasha(if healthy) or Brown is most likely going to be the better option, but it's moronic to assume that will be the case always.

FWIW, I'm not sure this Ben Wallace as Power Forward lasts long. Eventually I think he'll be moved to back up Center with Varejao or Smith as our starting PF.

 

[billmac91]

I must be the moron for thinking our biggest SF would ever be used on big small forwards or smaller power forwards. If not Rasheed, then what about Jason Maxiel? I'm not saying Wally will eat up most of the minutes at that point, but you're an idiot if you don't think he'll be used for certain matchups because of his size.

If you read what I wrote, I said Wally could be instrumental when/if teams go big against us. That's when Wally could come in handy. Against normal lineups, Sasha(if healthy) or Brown is most likely going to be the better option, but it's moronic to assume that will be the case always.

FWIW, I'm not sure this Ben Wallace as Power Forward lasts long. Eventually I think he'll be moved to back up Center with Varejao or Smith as our starting PF.

No, Wally won't ever play a PF no matter the size unless it's on a switch. Having Wally on Jason Maxiell is not going to happen either. It's a horrendous mis-match and asking to get dominated on the glass. Wally will guard the 3 when he is in the the game, and the only way he ends up on someone bigger is on a switch.

You seem to think we could run a line-up of Wallace, Wally, LeBron, and 2 guards. That will never happen.

 

[exhawg]

No, Wally won't ever play a PF no matter the size unless it's on a switch. Having Wally on Jason Maxiell is not going to happen either. It's a horrendous mis-match and asking to get dominated on the glass. Wally will guard the 3 when he is in the the game, and the only way he ends up on someone bigger is on a switch.

You seem to think we could run a line-up of Wallace, Wally, LeBron, and 2 guards. That will never happen.

I wouldn't say that will never happen, but Lebron would be playing the 4. They've gone with Lebron and 1 big several times this season.

 

[Piney]

I must be the moron for thinking our biggest SF would ever be used on big small forwards or smaller power forwards. If not Rasheed, then what about Jason Maxiel? I'm not saying Wally will eat up most of the minutes at that point, but you're an idiot if you don't think he'll be used for certain matchups because of his size.

If you read what I wrote, I said Wally could be instrumental when/if teams go big against us. That's when Wally could come in handy. Against normal lineups, Sasha(if healthy) or Brown is most likely going to be the better option, but it's moronic to assume that will be the case always.

FWIW, I'm not sure this Ben Wallace as Power Forward lasts long. Eventually I think he'll be moved to back up Center with Varejao or Smith as our starting PF.

Hate to tell you but LeBron is our biggest SF. And in theory Joe Smith can be used at SF also.

And really Wallace will stay at PF. He is actually a better fit at that position (for what the Cavs want to do). He makes Z better and the matchups that Z and Wallace create just enhances their talents.

Andy will keep coming off the bench. The reason is 2 fold, you keep Wallace happy by him starting. And also Andy is use to coming from the bench and will continue to infuse energy on the 2nd team.

 

[Napoleonbuck]

No, Wally won't ever play a PF no matter the size unless it's on a switch. Having Wally on Jason Maxiell is not going to happen either. It's a horrendous mis-match and asking to get dominated on the glass. Wally will guard the 3 when he is in the the game, and the only way he ends up on someone bigger is on a switch.

You seem to think we could run a line-up of Wallace, Wally, LeBron, and 2 guards. That will never happen.

He's played power forward before. I don't see why he couldn't play it against, especially if match ups necessitated that he play it.

I don't think he'll be our power forward, but I do think there will be situations in which he'll be the better option than either Sasha or Brown. That's all I'm saying and nothing more.

I think some people are too quick to dismiss his size advantage when it comes to certain defensive match ups.

 

[Piney]

You seem to think we could run a line-up of Wallace, Wally, LeBron, and 2 guards. That will never happen.

I wouldn't say that will never happen, but Lebron would be playing the 4. They've gone with Lebron and 1 big several times this season.

Dang exhawg, you beat me to that. They do play alot of Andy at C, LeBron at PF and then 3 shooters. But that is more of an ingame matchup and rarely is the other team have a big lineup in when that happens.

 

[Napoleonbuck]

Hate to tell you but LeBron is our biggest SF. And in theory Joe Smith can be used at SF also.

And really Wallace will stay at PF. He is actually a better fit at that position (for what the Cavs want to do). He makes Z better and the matchups that Z and Wallace create just enhances their talents.

Andy will keep coming off the bench. The reason is 2 fold, you keep Wallace happy by him starting. And also Andy is use to coming from the bench and will continue to infuse energy on the 2nd team.

I think he's better in the enforcer role when he's manning the center position. When he plays power forward, he has to play too far from the basket so he can't always make it back to the lane to help. I also think he'll have some issues guarding quicker power forwards(such as Hakin Warrick last night).