![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
and here's some pics from cavs.com and cleveland.com:
sasha got a lot of minutes, but bunch of people including jj hickson, did not play at all :(. sasha had four points though, one of his shots was a dunk according to my mother. lebron had 22, mo had 21, and andy had 15. boobie's out with an injury for about two weeks, which is annoying, but i think we can still win without him, because everyone's really stepped it up this season.
well, here's some pics from last night...the next game's tomorrow at home against philly again, then we're on the road for a while...GO CAVS!
really cool photo of lebron and jj chest bumping!
lebron smashing it
z after breaking the record
some pics...
second...
we won again tonight! against the bobcats!!!!!! WOW!
that's 8 in a row, and we still haven't lost at home! GO CAVS!!!!
Brown gets his wish: Pavlovic's play earns headline credit for Cavs
by Mary Schmitt Boyer
Sunday November 30, 2008, 5:23 PM
It was late and deadlines were looming when reporters met with Cavaliers coach Mike Brown after Saturday's 97-85 victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee. So the coach thought he'd provide a little journalistic assistance by suggesting some headlines.
"'Sasha Pavlovic pulls Cavs to a win' or 'epitomizes what the Cavs are about,'" Brown offered.
Then he got a tad more emphatic.
"Sasha's name should be in the headline," he insisted.
That didn't happen in Sunday's paper, but how about Monday's?
Though not as flashy as LeBron James' 32 points, including 11 in a row in the fourth quarter, or Zydrunas Ilgauskas' season highs in points (23) and rebounds (17), Pavlovic's 13-minute performance was just as key to the team's fifth straight victory.
He didn't enter the game until there were just 49.5 seconds left in the third quarter. By that time, the Bucks had cut a 16-point deficit to two. But Pavlovic hit a big 3-pointer that gave the Cavs a 72-67 lead and some breathing room heading into the fourth quarter. He did the same thing midway through the fourth quarter to keep the Cavs in front, 82-77.
Just as important was limiting former Ohio State star Michael Redd to just two points in the fourth quarter. Redd, who returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing 14 games with a sprained right ankle, led the Bucks with 20 points, but he didn't make a field goal in the fourth quarter, going 0 for 6.
"Sasha hadn't played big minutes in a while," Brown said. "He hadn't played minutes in a tight ball game. All of a sudden we throw him in there, not even in the first half. But we throw him in there after guys have been loose and playing and we ask him to guard Michael Redd. You're not going to stop Michael Redd, but just try to make him work, which is what he did. His teammates helped out also.
"Then he hit a couple of big threes. So I applaud Sasha for keeping himself ready and staying professional just like the rest of our team has."
This season has to be a bit disappointing for Pavlovic. He came to training camp in great shape and raring to go, as if to make up for missing training camp last season in a contract stalemate and then suffering through a series of injuries. At one point, Brown was looking at him as a starter this season, but he has fallen in the rotation and was averaging just 2.2 points and 9 minutes a game heading into Saturday's game.
"I just had to stay ready," he said. "I'm professional. You've got to be ready in this league every time, and that's what I did. I just stepped out and tried to play as hard as I can on defense and help my teammates defend."
Asked about his 3-pointers, Pavlovic said, "They were big, but I'm more proud of my defense, because that's what's going to help us win games."
Those words brought a smile to Brown's face.
"He epitomized what we're about team-wise," the coach said of Pavlovic. "His number hadn't been called for a while. He hadn't played particularly well when he was on the floor. For him to come out and have to guard Michael Redd for the last 12 or 12 1/2 minutes of the ball game, man, oh man, oh man, that's awesome."
On board: The Cavs were one of the best rebounding teams in the league last season, but ranked just 12th heading into Saturday's game. Taking full advantage of the absence of 7-0 starting center Andrew Bogut, out with a bone bruise in his left knee, the Cavs pulled down a season-high 53 rebounds, including a season-high 19 offensive boards.
Seven of Zydrunas Ilgauskas' 17 rebounds were offensive, and five of Ben Wallace's 10 were offensive. Anderson Varejao also had eight rebounds, two on the offensive end.
"Ben and Z were extremely active on the offensive glass," Brown said. "That was huge for us. Those three guys -- Z and Ben and Andy -- were ferocious on the glass. They brought their hard hats tonight."
it wasn't even an intense game...it was just MADNESS how much we destroyed the thunder!!!!
and honestly it was pretty embarrassing to them too probably...
victoria and i didn't even pay that much attention...there was not a single second where we were in jeopardy of losing that game.
lebron had some great moves though...great blocks, great dunks....
and jj hickson did too.
awesome game!
and...i hate to say this, but...sasha didn't even play that much, but when he did, he made some serious mistakes...come on man, get it together! i'm still rooting for ya, show me what you're made of, i know it's in there!!!!
some pics...
boobie looking fierce, sasha and jj in the background:
the boys on the bench, lookin pretty chill, cuz really, there was nothing to worry about...
and wow, lebron had 41 for the third time out of the past four games....HE IS SO AMAZING!!!!
and delonte, z, mo and andy played great...andy had a double-double!
overall...good win!!!!
sasha played and even had points!!!!!!!!
FIFTH GAME IN A ROW BABY!!!!! 6-2 now, woohoo!!!!!
they scored 99 though...so people at the q are probably a little mad that they missed out on that chalupa....
here's a really intense picture of joakim noah basically getting attacked by andy and lebron, ha.
(On the depth of the team):
“When we needed to change things up because this wasn’t working or that wasn’t working, I thought our depth really came into play and we ended up forcing turnovers. I thought Wally and Anderson were terrific off the bench, and even Sasha, too. He only played five minutes, but in those five minutes he had two blocks. In a game like this, two blocks, obviously, can equal four points and that’s the difference in the ball game. So, our depth really showed tonight.”
YEAH SASHA!!!!!! WAY TO GO!!!!
and yeah andy definitely did have a good game, and so did z once again, and lebron and mo!!!
i'm so happy we won!
oh, and i love delonte's shoes!!! "YES WE CAN!"
Beantown rerun: Cavaliers run dry in second half, drop opener to champion Celtics, 90-85
by Brian Windhorst
Tuesday October 28, 2008, 11:12 PM
BOSTON -- This was a case of deja vu, but not just because of the opposition and the setting.
The Boston Celtics beat the Cavaliers at TD Banknorth Garden Tuesday, just as they beat them four times in last spring's playoffs, using a strong second half to win, 90-85, on banner night. It's not just a fact, it is a stinging comparison in an area the Cavs are desperate to avoid.
Prickly similar to the end of last season, when this game got serious, the Cavs' offense lapsed. That's a paramount issue they've been trying to fix by playing a quicker lineup featuring new point guard Mo Williams. After Game 1, there's plenty of time to show improvement, but also lots of room for it.
That includes late-game management as the Cavs missed key free throws and displayed general bad mechanics. That included stuff like losing Celtics while pressing and ending one play with Anderson Varejao taking a 3-pointer.
After an impressive start filled with ball movement, some easy baskets and numerous trips to the foul line in a progressive first half, things regressed in an unexpected but familiar fashion. As the game wore on and the Celtics made the charge you'd expect from a defending champion, the Cavs did a great deal of standing and dribbling as their offense dried up.
"The Celtics stepped up their defense and we were looking to the referees for foul calls," coach Mike Brown said. "We've just got to keep attacking. I didn't think we were good getting the ball from one side of the floor to the other and show patience offensively."
LeBron James did not have one of his better nights, neither getting his jumper going or finding much room to drive. He led the team with 22 points but was not efficient and sometimes downright sloppy with the ball.
James was 9-of-21 shooting, which isn't bad, but was just 4-of-8 at the foul line including two misses in the final seconds that foiled comeback hopes.
"The effort was there," James said. "They turned it up physically and we didn't shy away from it, we just missed some open shots you have to make."
Which is where Williams is supposed to come in, especially in late-game possessions when all eyes are on James. But in his first real game as a Cav, he did not come through. Williams appeared tight and was not very effective, scoring just 12 points with two assists against four turnovers.
His night was summed up in one moment with just over five minutes to play. Down four points, Williams was bringing the ball up the floor against Rajon Rondo. Without much pressure at halfcourt, Williams fumbled the ball away and it led to a turnover and what proved to be the final turning point.
In all, the Cavs committed a hideous 22 turnovers, 12 in the second half when their offense lost all its teeth and ground to a halt. Surely the Celtics' active defense had something to do with it; but not unlike the playoff series, many of the wounds were self-inflicted.
In the first half, the Cavs racked up 11 assists. By moving the ball and forcing the Celtics to react and recover, they also collected 22 free throws. In the second half, the dribbling started in earnest and the Cavs had just five assists and got to the foul line just 11 times -- which explains an anemic 35 points on 38 percent shooting.
The only Cav who seemed to ratchet up his energy toward crunch time was Varejao, who had nine points and nine rebounds and strongly battled Celtics star Kevin Garnett, who was just 5-of-15 shooting.
The Celtics were led by Paul Pierce's 27 points as he was able to mix up his game with mid- and long-range jumpers as well as beating his man to the basket. Rondo also did his damage, just like last May, with dribble penetration that set the offense up repeatedly as he finished with 14 points and six assists.
Leon Powe led a strong Boston bench effort, scoring 13 points as he often took advantage of mismatches when the Cavs went small and played James or Wally Szczerbiak at power forward. His dunk with 5.3 seconds left sealed the game.
"This is something that we can learn from," James said. "We'll watch some film and get ready for Thursday."
but it's okay.
what did we really expect???
i mean, i've said it before, and i'll say it again, the celtics are a great team.
and they were just coming out of a really emotional championship ring ceremony. i mean, did you see paul pierce crying?? that was pretty intense. and they were on home territory, where they always play better, and they had so much support!
despite the fact that we lost, i think we put up a really good fight. i really like our game a lot better this year. i REALLY like mo williams! i think he's a great addition to the team. and sasha stepped it up tonight, especially in the 4th quarter! i think that if we have a rematch with the celtics later in the season, especially on our court, we can definitely beat them. we could've tonight, but we didn't, but i'm not too upset because unlike so many games from last year, i think we actually played pretty well. if there was one thing i would change, though, it would be playing av so much. he made so many errors. imo, people need to stop hating on sasha, and switch their attention over to andy. well, i'd really prefer we support all of our players and not rag on any of them, but andy needs to get his act together because for the past year he hasn't been at the top of his game, and i know he can do better! also, i didn't see as much from delonte or boobie as i'd hoped..i do like boobie's new hairdo though! but i'd like to see him get some more points in.
some pics:
All for One, One for All
With the preseason in the books and the regular season set to tip off on Tuesday night in Beantown, the Wine and Gold come into the 2008-09 campaign with lofty expectations.
Here’s a quick player-by-player look at how the Cavaliers looked in the preseason and what we can expect moving forward as the 82-game journey begins …
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Delonte West – West missed a considerable chunk of the preseason to deal with personal issues, but bounced back over the past week to have a very strong preseason. In just five games, West easily led the Cavaliers in assists (5.2) and managed to challenge for the starting spot at the two. It’s easy to see why Delonte will be such a vital piece to the Wine and Gold this season.
Mo Williams – Williams didn’t do anything spectacular in the preseason, but he really didn’t have to. Williams is the best point guard that LeBron James has played with and has already changed the entire tempo of the team. He averaged 14.0 ppg over the last three games of the preseason and is the primary reason the Wine and Gold are brimming with confidence heading to Boston.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas – Big Z will be asked to do a little less this year, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be any less effective. Working the pick-and-pop to perfection with Mo Williams, Ilgauskas should get plenty of open looks this year. Z netted double-figures in six of the Cavs’ eight preseason games, leading the club in rebounds and averaging nearly 11 points per contest.
Daniel Gibson – Boobie has been very good throughout the preseason, finishing as the Cavaliers' third-leading scorer (10.8 ppg). Gibson has added a new wrinkle to his game – attacking the basket and either trying to score or collapsing the defense. In what should prove to be a dynamic backcourt, the third-year guard is one of its most versatile weapons.
Sasha Pavlovic – Though he may get the start at the two when the Cavaliers tip off against the Champs, no one is really sure which Sasha Pavlovic is going to show up. Still battling nagging injuries that limited him to just five preseason games, Sasha showed glimpses of brilliance against the Sixers. Pavlovic’s play might just be the barometer of the Cavaliers success.
Jawad Williams – Definitely one of the feel-good stories of Camp, Williams – who played his high school ball at St. Ed’s and won the National Championship at North Carolina – made the 15-man roster on the second-to-last day of the preseason. The injury to Darnell Jackson helped, but mostly Williams helped himself with a strong showing early in the preseason and an excellent summer.
Ben Wallace – Big Ben is Big Ben. He’s not going to light up the scoreboard and he may not put up mind-boggling rebounding numbers anymore, but there still isn’t a more intimidating defensive presence in the low post. Wallace should benefit from the Cavaliers’ improved firepower, and – while defenses are focused on LeBron, Mo and Z – get some easy looks at the basket.
Lorenzen Wright – Wright is in the twilight of his career, but is a strong insurance policy for the Cavaliers heading into the long 82-game grind. The 12-year vet from Memphis can still manage to stick the open jumper and has always been able to bang with the bigs down low. He may not see a ton of minutes, but his veteran leadership has already paid dividends with the rookies.
Wally Szczerbiak – Szczerbiak’s role with the Cavaliers could fluctuate throughout the year, depending mostly on how he shoots the ball. Wally averaged a solid 8.1 ppg through the preseason, got a couple starts, and was an impressive 47 percent from the floor – including 43 percent from long-distance. He could wind up starting some games this year or be a lethal weapon off the bench.
Tarence Kinsey – In what is the Cavaliers deepest backcourt of the LeBron James Era, Kinsey will have difficulty getting a lot of floor time this year. But the coaching staff and brass love his length and athleticism and at 6-6, gives Mike Brown another big guard to work with.
Anderson Varejao – Maybe the most-improved Cavalier in the preseason, the Wild Thing came into Camp in the best shape of his career, and it showed. He’s been doing all the things he normally does on the defensive end, but has truly elevated his offensive game. He shot 53 percent from the floor in the preseason – and not all from close range – and gives the second unit frontline a much-needed burst.
Darnell Jackson – Originally selected by the Heat with the 52nd overall pick this past June, the former Jayhawk comes to Cleveland with a Championship pedigree. He injured his wrist halfway through the preseason, but has already left a great impression on the coaching staff. The man they call “D-Block” shot 58 percent through four years of college and 63 percent through four games of the preseason. Could be a solid contributor as a rookie.
J.J. Hickson – The rookie from N.C. State will never be labeled a “finesse player,” but Hickson did prove that he could be a very intriguing piece of the Cavaliers puzzle as a 20-year-old. In limited minutes, Hickson showed off his strength and athleticism, finishing second on the team in blocks during the preseason and occasionally exhibiting his mature moves in the post.
LeBron James – What’s left to be said about the 23-year-old prodigy from Akron? He came into the league with maybe the greatest expectations of any player ever and he’s blown past them like the hordes of helpless defenders that have tried to stop him. Mike Brown has been careful with LBJ’s minutes in the preseason, but in his most extended run – against Washington on Friday night – James showed why he’s the prohibitive favorite to win this year’s MVP award. It’s hard to believe, but the Chosen One actually looks better – and bigger – than he has in the previous five years of his already-brilliant career. The last time LeBron suited up in Boston, he dropped 44 points on the Celtics. What’s in store for Tuesday night and beyond is anyone’s guess.
Growing Up ... Varejao
They’ve always had talent, but what were the Cavaliers like before they became rich and gigantic and famous?
Today, we look back at the beginnings of a Cavalier who was a fan favorite almost immediately and remains that way today. He's the Wild Thing -- Anderson Varejao -- and he has established himself as the Wine and Gold's first Big off the bench.
In today's Growing Up, Andy talks about how he rose through the ranks of the Brazilian National Team and landed in the frontcourt of the Wine and Gold ...
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I was born in … Cariacica, Brazil. It’s a city in Espirito Santo. And I lived in Santa Theresa Sao Joao de Petropolis -- that’s where I lived until 10 or 11 years old. Then I moved to Vitória, where my parents live now. I started playing in Vitória when I was 12 or 13 years old.
My dad played … a lot of sports when he was young, but nothing professionally. He played basketball; he was a runner. My mom, just for fun, would play volleyball with friends.
As a kid, my idols were … my brother, Sandro, and Michael Jordan. When you’re younger, you follow your big brother. And, of course, Michael Jordan, because he was the best.
Sandro is … 11 years older than me. (I have two brothers and two sisters -- all older except for a younger sister.) When I started playing basketball, Sandro was already playing in Idaho -- in junior college. And he went to West Virginia to play college.
About once or twice a month … Sandro would call home. (Because overseas calls were very expensive.) I would stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning, just to talk to him -- to ask him questions about basketball and ask him to bring me a jersey or hat or anything from the NBA. And it’s funny – in my locker in Brazil, I had a picture of Donyell Marshall.
I was too young … to play against Sandro. I would just rebound for him; sometimes just play around one-on-one. I was very little. We played together on the National Team for two or three years. He was a strong player, very tough and a very good shooter. He could really shoot the ball. He played with a lot of heart. He was a winner. He won a lot of championships around Brazil. With the National Team, he won a lot.
I first started playing with the National Team … when I was 17 or 18 years old. Everything happened too fast for me. I played for Vittoria, my hometown team, from when I was about 12 or 13 years old until I was around 16, 17. And from 16 to 19, there was a big change in my career. That’s when I went and played in Barcelona.
I had my big growth spurt from … 16 to 19. That was ridiculous. I couldn’t do any coordination stuff. Everybody used to make fun of me. I couldn’t do it! I kept trying, trying. When I stopped growing, then I could do everything. It was funny -- my friends used to make fun of me. Every other day, they’d say, ‘Did you grow again?’
Everywhere I’ve played … I always tried to find a way to be important. When I started, I was center and the next year I was point guard. (It was crazy.) I used to shoot a lot of three-pointers; I used to score a lot. But I was always a team player. If I shot more than five times straight, I felt like I was being selfish. I don’t know, it’s just me.
Playing on the National Team … is different; I know I have to score. But here (in Cleveland) I know what the situation is. I know what it is and I know how I have to play. I always try to find a way to be important.
The first time I dunked … I was 16 -- about 198 cm -- that’s about 6-6. But I was very skinny, like T.K. (Tarence Kinsey) And all the guys on my team, they were stronger. They would dunk all the time. And I couldn’t dunk. I was trying, trying, trying. Couldn’t dunk, couldn’t dunk. So they all made fun of me. And the (National Team) comes into the gym and I kept trying. Then they all started making fun of me, and I’m like, ‘Man, I have to dunk!’
I remember sitting on my sofa … thinking about it all night. So I woke up the next morning early and went there thinking, ‘Today, I have to dunk.’ So I went to the gym and kept missing, and FINALLY I dunked. But nobody was there. And I was like, ‘Man, I’m gonna have to do this again!’ So when the team got there, I said, ‘You know what? (Expletive deleted) you all! I can dunk now!’ They were like, ‘OK, let’s bet!’ So we bet lunch or whatever and I went in and dunked, and they all went NUTS! That was my first time.
by Brian Windhorst
Monday October 27, 2008, 7:11 PM
The starter:
11 ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS
7-3, 260, 11th season
Contract status: Will earn $10.8 million in the fourth year of a five-year, $53 million deal.
Comment: Still producing at age 33, he is one of the best shooting and offensive rebounding big men in the league. He has his limitations on defense, which the Cavs know, but he's very important to the balance of their offense. Has dealt with back problems over the last year, so the team will need to monitor his minutes.
The bench:
17 ANDERSON VAREJAO
6-11, 260, fifth season
Contract status: Will earn $5.7 million in the second year of a three-year, $17.4 million deal. He can opt out after this season.
Comment: He was playing at the highest level of his career before an ankle injury last January derailed him. He's looked very strong in the preseason, especially rebounding and shooting. His versatility for a big man is valuable.
55 LORENZEN WRIGHT
6-11, 255, 13th season
Contract status: Will make $1.2 million on a one-year contract.
Comment: Can play both power forward and center and has lots of experience, making him an insurance policy if one of the team's big men gets injured. Has been a solid rebounder during his career.
this is going to be cavs season to the maxxxx!
i can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!
what are our predictions for the season?
i think we're going ALL THE WAY!
Cleveland Cavaliers Team Report
There is one unified goal in camp: Winning an NBA championship.
This team is talented and deep and should once again make a deep push into the postseason.
Cavaliers forward LeBron James has a message for the Cleveland fans: "Buckle your seatbelts."
It's no longer about making the playoffs for the Cavs. That's a given, even in the bunched-up Eastern Conference. Anything short of an NBA championship will be a disappointment.
"We came close," James said. "I got a little taste of it when we won the Eastern Conference championship (in 2007). I need more and the fans need more. They deserve it."
The addition of guard Mo Williams has sent a lightning bolt through the fan base and the organization. Finally, many think James has his sidekick. Williams is encouraged by the title talk.
"That enlightens me," Williams said. "Not just LeBron, but Boobie (Gibson), Delonte (West), Ben (Wallace) and Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), these guys are saying, 'I haven't felt like this about this team in a while.' The mental aspect of what we're trying to do is better than it's been for years."
Williams was traded to the Cavs on Aug. 13. He became the immediate starter at point guard and should offset the scoring load put on James' shoulders.
The Cavs also re-signed free agent guards Delonte West and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson in a productive offseason for General Manager Danny Ferry. They added rookie big men J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson. James said the 2008-09 Cavs are the best team on which he's played. He likes the team's depth and talent.
James said he's come back this year a better player. Remember, he was a first team All-NBA choice last year and led the league in scoring at 30 points per game.
"Me as an individual, I've improved five times since Game 7 of the Boston series," James said. "It's not about making the playoffs any more for our team. It's about winning a championship."
Playing with Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony for much of the summer in the Olympics took his game to a new level.
"There's no way you can't get better," he said. "If you can go out and lead guys who are already established, guys who won NBA championships, scoring titles, MVPs and Rookies of the Year, then I should be able to lead Daniel Gibson."
The Cavs have a veteran-laden team that is overloaded with talent in the backcourt. If they get an injury to one of their veterans up front — Ilgauskas, Wallace or key backup Anderson Varejao — that would prove costly.
COACHING STAFF: Head Coach — Mike Brown, 4th year overall, 4th with Cavs (145-101). Assistants — John Kuester, Hank Egan, Melvin Hunt, Michael Malone, Chris Jent.
LAST SEASON, REMEMBERED: 45-37 (2nd in Central), lost in Eastern Conference semifinals to eventual champion Boston, 4-3.
THIS SEASON, PREDICTED: 55-27 (first in Central), they'll lose in the NBA Finals to New Orleans.
POSSIBLE CHANGES, PREDICTED: Brown is removing the shackles from the team and is actually encouraging it to run. They have added much speed and athleticism in Mo Williams, and they want to take advantage of it. Williams will run the offense and James can be a finisher and just run the floor — both strengths.
NOTES, QUOTES
—G Delonte West returned to the Cavs on Oct. 17 after a 12-day absence. He admitted he has been treated for a bout of depression and a mood disorder.
"I needed to seek help and get my thoughts together," he said. "I went to see a therapist (in the Washington, D.C., area)."
West said he's taking medication to help deal with his problem.
"For a while you feel like a weaker man because you have to raise your hand and ask for help," he said. "I found out over the last week it made me a stronger person. I came back focused and with the help of some medicine and talking to some people on a regular basis, I'm back in good spirits."
West, 26, said he's been dealing with depression for years. He's been prescribed pills in the past and didn't take them regularly, which compounded his symptoms.
—The Cavs set their 15-man roster on Thursday when they waived G/F Ronald Dupree. That left F Jawad Williams on the roster. The 6-9, 220-pound Williams can guard shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards. Remember, it always comes back to defense for Coach Mike Brown. Whenever he played Williams in the preseason, he's produced. He's averaging 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in the preseason. Dupree, 27, is a five-year NBA veteran who's played for Chicago, Detroit, Seattle and Minnesota.
MAIN REASON CAVS CAN WIN: They have the best player in the world in LeBron James. He's focused on winning the NBA championship this year. This could be the year.
MAIN REASON CAVS CAN LOSE: Several teams in the East have bulked up, including Toronto and Philadelphia. The playoff seeding is expected to be bunched up and go right down to the wire.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm fine. I'm going through practice. Yes, I'm doing extra stuff to stay afloat and healthy enough to get by. At the same time, surgery is surgery. There's a timetable for it. I have to get my treatment and get my exercises in. I'm not limited in what I can do." — G Mo Williams on how offseason surgery for a sports hernia is affecting him.
ROSTER REPORT
This was supposed to be a training camp of tranquility. That was until Delonte West left before the team's intrasquad scrimmage in Akron.
ANALYZING STARTERS:
G Mo Williams might not be a top 10 point guard in the league, but he's way better than anyone the Cavs have had since Andre Miller. He's a natural scorer who can take over games when he gets the hot hand.
G Sasha Pavlovic is a big guard, and Coach Mike Brown loves big guards. Pavlovic hasn't shot the ball extremely well in the preseason, but he's defended well.
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas is nearing the end of his career, but he still has plenty left in his tank. He remains one of the top shooters on the team, and that includes the guards. He should thrive in the pick-and-pop with Mo Williams.
F Ben Wallace is already starting to break down and the Cavs aren't out of training camp. He's been bothered by tightness in his back. When healthy, though, he can still harass to top power forwards in the league.
F LeBron James led the league in scoring last year. The sky is the limit in 2008-09. He's a mature veteran who will be 23 years old at the start of the season. He loves the fact that the Cavs are going to try to run this season.
ANALYZING KEY RESERVES:
G Daniel "Boobie" Gibson could be the first guard off the bench. He's a 3-point specialist who continues to work on his point guard skills. He's actually shot better from the 3-point line (43.4 percent) than from the field (43 percent) in the first two years of his career.
G Delonte West missed much of the training camp to date. He's expected to play a big role with the Cavs, whether it is as the starting shooting guard or off the bench. He can defend, distribute and catch-and-shoot.
F Anderson Varejao's importance has grown on this team. Both starting bigs are 33 and older. That's why the Cavs want the 26-year-old Varejao to return in the offseason. He's called upon to defend and rebound and has worked hard on his shooting.
F Wally Szczerbiak is a shooter and that's what he'll do when he gets into games. Coach Brown has used him sparingly at power forward in the preseason. Szczerbiak will take the minutes any way he can get them.
MEDICAL WATCH: G Eric Snow will remain on the 15-man roster for the time being. The Cavs have filed a disability claim because of his knee.
Better late than never: Pavlovic finds his rhythm late, helps Cavs rally past 76ers
by Justin Feil, Special to The Plain Dealer
Tuesday October 21, 2008, 10:46 PM
PHILADELPHIA -- Sasha Pavlovic had a frustrating start Tuesday night, but finished strong to lead the Cavaliers to another fourth-quarter rally in a 91-83 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.
When Pavlovic checked back in the game with 10 minutes left, he had not made a shot in five attempts, had five fouls and two turnovers.
"I was trying so hard I was getting mad," Pavlovic said. "I sat down on the bench and when I came back, I tried to do whatever I could to help the team win the game. I came back strong."
The 76ers built a four-point lead to start the fourth quarter, but three straight layups and a three-pointer by Pavlovic in a span of 3:28 gave the Cavaliers a three-point lead with six minutes left that they would not relinquish.
"It was good to see Sasha be aggressive and look to get himself something to the rim first and then everything else is easy after that because he had confidence," said coach Mike Brown. "Sasha played extremely well on the defensive end of the floor and that's why he stayed out on the floor."
It was the only nine points for Pavlovic, who fouled out with a minute left, but it was a big for one of the Brown's candidates to start at the shooting guard.
"To see him bounce back like he did in the fourth quarter was great to see," LeBron James said. "You have to be mentally strong to do what he did, to have as bad as game as he did until that time he started making layups and hit open threes."
Daniel Gibson also came up big with nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. He made three three-pointers and filled in admirably down the stretch with James on the bench.
"We have good players," James said. "We have a veteran ball club that can close out games. It's good to see they can do it without me against a very talented team."
Other than James sitting out the fourth, Brown confirmed his 10-man rotation was the closest to a dress rehearsal for the regular season. Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and J.J. Hickson all saw action off the bench.
It was the second straight win over the 76ers after the Cavaliers opened the preseason with four losses. In Saturday's heated win, Mo Williams was ejected after jawing with Andre Miller six minutes into the game at The Q.
Perhaps conscious of the teams' previous meeting, the referees called it tight in the first quarter. The Cavs were whistled for 11 fouls - most coming on Miller's dribble penetration -- but built a 31-24 lead.
Williams let his game do the talking. He scored six of the Cavs' first 10 points and finished with 13 points. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11 points) and Anderson Varejao (10) gave them five players in double figures.
James had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. He scored 10 of his team's final 16 points in the first quarter. He shot 4-of-5, converting his only 3-pointer, to lead all scorers with 12 points and added five rebounds and two assists in the first 11 minutes.
"I'm going out there the same form I do in the regular season," James said. "I can't shortcut anything. I have to continue to get better, too."
An alley-oop from Ben Wallace that James had to bend backwards to throw down helped send the Cavs into halftime with a 54-47 lead.
The 76ers held a 24-13 advantage in the third quarter that Brown blamed on the offense settling for jumpers that led to fast-break baskets at the other end. The Cavs turned it around behind Pavlovic, Gibson and a strong defense that allowed just 12 points in the final quarter.
"When they had to go against our half-court defense, I thought we were decent," Brown said. "That's what happened in the game on Saturday. That's what happened in the game tonight. We settled down."
The Cavs made 8 of 19 three-pointers while holding the 76ers without a make in nine attempts.
The 76ers played their second straight game without regular center Samuel Dalembert due to a sprained knee.
Taking a break: Brown did not anticipate playing Gibson almost 28 minutes in the first of back-to-back games. Gibson and the Cavs regular starters won't see as much action in Detroit on Wednesday as Brown gives more minutes to his bench.
