Cavs 07-08 Season Thread

[osugrad21]

Canton

West: Cavs let teams 'hang around'
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CLEVELAND Pointing to the fourth quarter provides the quick and easy answer to how the Cavaliers lost their last two games.

Brutal shooting and not enough defense during the final 12 minutes turned third-quarter leads into ugly losses.

Point guard Delonte West, though, looks elsewhere in diagnosing a problem that has plagued the team and may better explain why they are struggling down the stretch.

"At times, we get up on guys and we kind of go through the motions and allow people to get back into the game," West said after Saturday's loss to Orlando.

That's not a new problem for the Cavs. They've had the tendency to let teams hang around, or they linger in neutral themselves before trying to turn it on at crunch time.

It's added up to the Cavs playing 17 games decided by 3 or fewer points and 25 games decided by 10 or more points ? both high marks in the NBA. Their nine wins by 10 or more points are by far the fewest of the 15 teams with a winning record. The next lowest total belongs to Golden State with 22.

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[osugrad21]

Canton

Cavaliers Notebook
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

James is battling back problem

LeBron James was held out of Cleveland's practice Monday to rest his back, which has been tightening up and bothering the Cavaliers' All-Star forward for the past few weeks. His back spasms got so severe during a recent game against Chicago that James was unable to sit in a chair during timeouts.

As Coach Mike Brown put his team through a workout, James received treatment on his back. Later, though, he came out on the floor and practiced a few shots.

"I told him just to watch TV," Brown said, looking in the direction.

James was asked if back spasms were his only problem.

"That," he said, "and tightness and some stuff that shouldn't be going on right now."

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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Cavaliers' strategy is caution LeBron wants to play to help get fourth seed, but team wants him to rest, so he'll be healthy for playoffs
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: The Cavaliers are trying their best to rest LeBron James, but their intentions will be tested.
While the rest of the Cavs went through a full practice on Tuesday, James was on the massage table and receiving other treatment on his ailing lower back. This after he skipped Monday's workout when coach Mike Brown assigned him to ''go watch TV.''
Sunday was an off day for the entire team, which made it a rare three full days off in the midst of the season. Nonetheless, Brown said he is not sure whether James will play when the Cavs host the New Jersey Nets tonight.
''He wants to play, but we have to be cautious,'' Brown said. ''We want him healthy in the playoffs, and that is the biggest thing. Yes, we want the fourth seed, but to get it and have an unhealthy LeBron throughout the playoff run wouldn't do us any good.''



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[osugrad21]

CPD

44 of 45 don't select James

Of 45 voters, 44 do not pick James
Wednesday, April 09, 2008Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
LeBron James will end the regular season with one of the best individual seasons in recent memory, but his effort is still not good enough for many sportswriters, broadcasters and radio announcers from across the country.
The Plain Dealer polled the 125 media members who will vote for this year's Most Valuable Player award, asking for their top three choices, in order. Forty-five responded, and in a close vote, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was chosen as MVP, with Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets second and James third. Surprisingly, James only received one first-place vote, while Bryant received 25 and Paul 17.
The official NBA MVP ballot is not due until next Wednesday, the last day of the regular season. The MVP will be announced during the NBA Finals in June, and if it's Bryant, Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine said it was a long time coming.

"Kobe's been regarded as the best player in the league since Shaquille O'Neal left L.A., but he's never had the wins to get the award," said Broussard, a former Plain Dealer sports staffer. "Now he finally does, plus his numbers are still good, though not as good as James' and Paul's.




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[osugrad21]

CPD

Cavs star's team helps him lose steam in award race


Wednesday, April 09, 2008Bud Shaw
Plain Dealer Columnist
Chants of "M-V-P" at The Q have become extinct. And since New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul isn't coming back this season, there's no reason to revive them.
The race is over from LeBron James' standpoint, lost somewhere in midback spasm. Z's. Big Ben's. And now his own.
There are differing opinions about how the NBA MVP award should work, but all should be based on an impressive season turned in by the candidate's team. The Cavs might still find their stride in the postseason, but April has cast gloomy doubt on that while dooming James individually. Where would they be without him? If you answered praying for the right pingpong ball bounce, no arguments here.

But the fourth seed in the East isn't the mountaintop and certainly not impressive enough to sway voters given the work of the Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
"Valuable" is one of those concepts that's hard to define. Like "fidelity," certain governors might say. It's easier to state what the MVP award shouldn't be.
It shouldn't be a lifetime achievement award (Kobe Bryant).
It shouldn't simply go to the game's best overall player. That's James or Bryant, take your pick.




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[osugrad21]

Canton

Cavs' LeBron James may miss tonight's game vs. Nets
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

INDEPENDENCE Optimism remains in their words. They maintain high expectations.

"Our team has a lot of talent, a lot of guys that can play," Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said Tuesday.

But the fragile state of the Cavaliers continues to be driven home as the playoffs approach.

In need of a win to stem a late-season slide, the Cavs could be without LeBron James for today's 7 p.m. game against the Nets at Quicken Loans Arena.

"We'll make a decision (today) whether or not he'll play," Head Coach Mike Brown said after Tuesday's practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

James did not practice for the second straight day as he continues to battle back spasms.

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[osugrad21]

Canton

Devin Brown is Cavs' go-to guy
UPDATE: 1:27 AM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

INDEPENDENCE Figuring out Devin Brown's role on the Cavs isn't hard.

The 6-foot-5 guard looks to do a little bit of everything regardless of if he's starting or coming off the bench.

"I'll do whatever to help the team, Coach (Mike Brown) knows that ... because I'm all about winning," Devin Brown said.

Winning hasn't come easy to the Cavs of late as they head into Wednesday's 7 p.m. home game with the Nets. Cleveland is 2-5 during its last seven games and struggling to hold on to the fourth seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Brown has been one of the more reliable players for the Cavs during a tumultuous season of holdouts, injuries and a big trade. In his first year with the team, he is averaging 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 22.8 minutes a night.

Brown considers himself "a utility guy" able to make plays as a defender, scorer or passer.


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[exhawg]

If the Cavs can continue to play all the time like they have so far in the 4th they will be a hard out. If they play like they played in the first 3 quarters they can start making tee times for May.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

If the Cavs can continue to play all the time like they have so far in the 4th they will be a hard out. If they play like they played in the first 3 quarters they can start making tee times for May.

I agree, but I think a lot of tonight was with guys finally stepping up and making the shots around LBJ...If Boobie and Wally can shoot like they did tonight we will be tough to beat, and I really hope that Brown is planning on working Sasha back into the lineup...I don't understand that move, and just hope that he realizes it was a mistake and works him back in it...

Also would like to see LBJ's back get better...

 

[exhawg]

I agree, but I think a lot of tonight was with guys finally stepping up and making the shots around LBJ...If Boobie and Wally can shoot like they did tonight we will be tough to beat, and I really hope that Brown is planning on working Sasha back into the lineup...I don't understand that move, and just hope that he realizes it was a mistake and works him back in it...

Also would like to see LBJ's back get better...

28-9 in the 4th quarter. Tonight it looks like Pavs is Lebron's backup. The way I see it now West/Boobie, Brown/Wally, Ben/Joe, and Z/Andy will pretty much be splitting time at their possitions with Pavs in while Lebron is on the bench and maybe some SG minutes. Hopefully the Cavs can take the next two to lock up the 4th seed. Once that happens look for Lebron to start resting a lot more with Pavs, Boobie, and Wally getting plenty of shots to get their stroke right. If the Cavs have the 4th spot locked up I would be shocked to see Lebron play against the Pistons in the final game.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NBA roundup: James shrugs off back pain, lifts Cavs

Thursday, April 10, 2008 3:32 AM



ASSOCIATED PRESS

So much for LeBron James' aching back.
After missing two days of practice because of back spasms, he scored 33 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat the New Jersey Nets 104-83 last night.
While the NBA's leading scorer moved stiffly at times during his 35 minutes on the floor, the results were vintage James. He was 11 of 21 from the field and 10 of 13 from the line, and had seven rebounds and eight assists.

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[BuckeyeMafia]

I was really impressed with that. Didn't get to watch it.. as usual... But looking at the stats, we spread the ball around, and people made it rain.

9 points by them in the fourth? Wow- actually. I don't care if it is the Nets.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Family's return provides comfort
For Cavs' Szczerbiak, shooting touch seems to be coming back, too
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, Apr 11, 2008


INDEPENDENCE: Wally Szczerbiak finally has his team back.
Wednesday was a big day for the Cavaliers guard, in fact it was a big day for the Szczerbiak family. After being apart after his trade to the Cavs from the Seattle SuperSonics and then the birth of his son, Maximus, the family was finally reunited in Cleveland.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Happier times for Cavs' Gibson
[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Guard is working his way back after ankle sprain[/FONT]
Friday, April 11, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER


INDEPENDENCE Look for the smile on Daniel Gibson's face.

If his smile is lighting up an arena, then it's likely the Cavs guard is lighting up an opponent.

"That's what I've been waiting to try to bring ... smile and get out there and push the ball and get some open looks and have fun," Gibson said after Wednesday's game when he helped spark an impressive comeback win over the Nets.

The Cavs routed the Nets, 104-83, outscoring them 51-16 during the final 18:44.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Cavs Notebook: Brown still looking for consistency
Friday, April 11, 2008
BY Chris Beaven
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

INDEPENDENCE One game doesn't erase weeks of inconsistency for the Cavs.

But the Cavs hope Wednesday's 104-83 win over the Nets is the start of a turnaround. They got after it on the defensive end and took over from there in outscoring the Nets, 51-16, during the final 18:44.

"One game to me doesn't seal the deal for me," Head Coach Mike Brown said after practice Thursday. "I'd like to see consistency ... over a number of games. And once you start seeing that ... you start to feel that the team understands this is how we're going to play; not just for three or four games, but this is what our identity will be."

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