Posted on Sun, Feb. 26, 2006
Ignoring Ilgauskas goes not unnoted
Snow seems to be only one who doesn't turn cold shoulder on post
By Brian Windhorst
<!-- begin body-content -->An Eastern Conference scout who prepared a report on the Cavaliers recently noted that point guard Eric Snow seems to be the only player who makes getting Zydrunas Ilgauskas the ball in the post a priority.
LeBron James leads the Cavs in assists and is on the other end of many of Ilgauskas' hoops that come off passes, which isn't all that many since he gets many hoops off putbacks, but many of those come in pick-and-roll situations.
Cavs coach Mike Brown has defended the long spurts in which Ilgauskas doesn't seem to get the ball and said the team has ``a million different ways'' of getting the ball to the post. He also points out that throwing the ball into the post can halt the offense.
But when playing against a severely depleted front line in Boston last week, Ilgauskas got just two shots in the first half. Then after scoring 22 points in the first half in Philadelphia, Ilgauskas got just four shots in the second half. Considering he's one of the league leaders in field-goal percentage and offensive rebounds, it's hard to rationalize moments like those, and they're just examples.
Dribbles
• The Cavs will not own so-called ``Bird'' rights on newly acquired guard Flip Murray. Should they want want to sign him after this season they would have to use one of their salary-cap exceptions, and he will be an unrestricted free agent. They do own Bird rights on Drew Gooden, who will be a restricted free agent, and they can exceed the salary cap to sign him if they chose.
• After going a woeful 8-of-19 from the foul line in the loss to the Wizards on Friday night, it is open season on James' free-throw shooting. One expert eye says it is not his form but his rhythm that is off, especially the way he hasn't been focusing on the rim before taking the shot. Opinions will surely vary. However, in the 11 games in February before Friday, James was shooting 80 percent from the line. Even after his bad effort, he's at 73 percent for the month, exactly his season average.
• Larry Hughes has impressed some team officials with his willingness to remain around during his finger injury recovery. At a time when he could be back at his home in St. Louis or just spending down time away from the game, Hughes has been to nearly every game and on every road trip so he can keep up with what the team is doing on the court and in the locker room.
• What a long journey the Cavs' 2006 second-round pick has had. It was traded to the Orlando Magic for Gooden in July 2004. The Cavs got it back as part of a deal to get Martynas Andriuskevicius in October 2005. Now it has been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Lee Nailon. However, it is protected and, unless it is in the last five in the draft, will come back to Cleveland.
• After being mired in a slump for months, it seems Donyell Marshall is showing signs of emerging. He's averaging 11.5 points over the last eight games and is shooting the ball better. A big reason is he's going to the basket more, especially off pump fakes. He's not great off the dribble or in the post, but the new approach has earned him some high-percentage shots and added variety. His rebounding numbers, though, have continued to slide.
• Luke Jackson got the cast off his left wrist on Friday and is hoping to get back on the court within in next four to five weeks. Just where he'd fit in is unclear.
• Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry now has three picks in June's draft, including two seconds that will probably be later in the round. If he follows his Spurs roots, he might use one or both on a developing international player and leave him in Europe to develop. This strategy is being adopted by other teams and is no secret, but with a mostly stocked roster that probably won't have three open spots, it might make the most sense, too.
• There was some hope that Ilgauskas would take Andriuskevicius under his wing this season. Both are lanky 7-footers from the same town in Lithuania and have the same agent. But the 10-year age difference and Ilgauskas' preference to be a lone wolf have prevented the two from having much more than a professional relationship. Both are the first players on the floor before games, Ilgauskas working silently on his post moves and Andriuskevicius, apparently not noticing, continuing to work on shooting long jumpers and 3-pointers.
• After not playing meaningful minutes for a month and not getting off the bench for the last 10 games, it would be understandable if veteran big man Alan Henderson was getting a little frustrated. Team insiders report he's not thrilled that he's lost his usual minutes but has been professional about it and not made a negative peep.
• A respected NBA Web site, Hoopshype, has named Akron's Gus Johnson as one of the 10 players who should be added to the list of the NBA's 50 Greatest. Generally viewed as underrated for various reasons, he was named All-NBA four times in his career, which ended early due to a knee injury. He passed away in 1987, but his daughter Raegan, who played at St. Vincent-St. Mary and the University of Akron, is leading a charge for him to be elected to the Hall of Fame someday.
• ABC is looking for a few Cavs players to possibly play a bit part in one of its daytime soap operas. James isn't interested, but it is no surprise Damon Jones asked to be at the head of line and requested a love scene if possible
