L.A. Story
Posted February 15th, 2007 by Brian Windhorst
Los Angeles — It is almost 2:45 a.m. back in Cleveland. My guess is most fans didn’t get to see the Cavs finish off a 114-108 win over the Lakers tonight at the Staples Center. Enjoy the highlights, they will be all over the place tomorrow. Here are some of my thoughts.
–This was a nice, quality win for the Cavs that they gutted out. Easily could’ve won in Miami and in Salt Lake the same way. The fact that they played well all three places perhaps bodes well for them in the future. Nine games over .500 at the break is not bad, they have the No. 2 seed. If they have that at the end of the season, no matter the record, it will be deemed a successful year. Long way to go, though.
–If LeBron James played to 75 percent of this level 60 percent of the time, he’d win the MVP award. The 38 points is nice, the 10 in the fourth is better, the 18-of-22 at the line is brilliant. Now, he got some calls tonight he doesn’t get other nights. But his willingness to drive and find lanes, even against Kobe Bryant, showed how dominant he can be. He backed down a bunch of guys tonight and that only makes him stronger. He played an A-plus game and won it for the Cavs. That is how he played at the end of last season.
–Sasha Pavlovic was great down the stretch. Not just with his big 3 late, but he was strong when LeBron was resting as well. His 11 points and Donyell Marshall’s 11 were just as vital as LeBron’s.
–Eric Snow gets a gold star with 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. He won’t do this every night but it shows what it means when LeBron doesn’t have to spend so much time at point guard. Again, having one would make such a major difference on this team.
–Andy Varejao makes two starts, plays 38 minutes in both, stays out of foul trouble, makes free throws and gets 28 rebounds. If I were his agent, I’d make copies of these two games and prepare to send them out.
–Following my ongoing theme of the season, allow me to point out the Cavs had 50 points in the paint. This is how you win games, folks.
–In the final minutes when Kobe was guarding LeBron and he got the ball and was matched up with him, you could sense a heightened attention in the building. There were some great battles between the two and on this night, LeBron got the better of them. Kobe hit a couple great shots, but then he always does. LeBron gets the nod in this one, just as Kobe individually probably outplayed him last Sunday.
–In my first three years covering the Cavs, I never saw them win a game in the Staples Center. Now they have two wins in a month and they went 4-0 against the L.A. teams this season. It’s too late for me to look that up, but I gotta believe if it isn’t a first in franchise history, it hasn’t happened in a while.
Also, off topic, the issue of whether an openly gay player could peacefully play in the modern NBA is obviously in the news these days. With everyone doing issue stories at the All-Star Game, I’m sure there will be a lot of talk about it over the weekend. Regularly spending time in NBA locker rooms, I say that time has not yet arrived and I will give you two moments from Thursday night that illustrate what I mean.
Before the game, LeBron was asked who would win the planned race between Charles Barkley and referee Dick Bavetta scheduled for Saturday night. LeBron said: "I’ll take Dick in that race." As soon as the interview ended, James’ teammates started teasing him about the comment. After the game for some reason both doors leading to the visitor’s locker room were propped open, which meant there was a view right into the shower area from the arena tunnel. One Cav, emerging from the steam, looked and saw he was visible to passersby and asked that the doors be closed. Then he said "I don’t know if Amaechi’s out there or not."
Look, it’s all locker room banter and there was plenty of laughter everywhere. I’m not a prude or a defender of social justice, I laugh at jokes. But my point is that is standard fare in the NBA every single day. And it seems like it is a long way from being tolerant or changing from my vantage point. And I don’t need Tim Hardaway to tell me that.
OK, I’m off to Vegas with almost no sleep. I’ll be writing plenty from there, but I can’t promise coherence.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:46 am
I was biting my nails start to finish! When Sasha hit that 3, I knew we had it. That was a huge win for the Cavs. They outplayed the Lakers for 4 quarters but could never break away. Costly turnovers, timely offensive rebounds for the Lakers, and blown layups for the Cavs really hurt them. I think that would have been the most dissappointing loss of the season if they would have fallen. Nice to see remants of the old LeBron. These are the kinds of adjustments he needs to make. It’s obvious he doesn’t have the same hops he had - because of injury or fatigue i don’t know - so he needs to keep attacking the basket and not claning jumpers off the front rim because he can’t get the lift he normally does. Great job LeBron - you redeemed yourself from last night’s awful game against utah.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:49 am
Glad to see you’re up this late Brian. You need constant 24/7 updates to this blog btw. I can’t stand not having Cavs material to read over at all times.
February 16th, 2007 at 3:04 am
Oh - and don’t let D Ferry trade Sasha or Andy. I don’t want a mediocre/old point guard now - those guys are a huge part of our future.
February 16th, 2007 at 5:02 am
In a locker room, everyone gets made fun of for just about anything. If Scot Pollard’s not getting alot of crap, I’d be surprised. The team needs to pin him down to the bed full metal jacket style and give him a hair cut. He looks like a total toolbox. All I can guess is Mommy and Daddy didn’t pay enough attention to him.
It’s just It was good to see the focused LeBron- this is why he’s the best. Maybe he’s getting his game going for Vegas.
Gilbert better be ready to get his check book out- It’s going to take big $ to keep Andy Varejao around!
February 16th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Lock up Andy and Sasha immediately. Keep
Hughes and get rid of Z for a point guard.
The way they have played the last 4 games
with this outfit is top 4 in NBA material.
Did you see Snow last night. Did someone
light a match under his ass?
February 16th, 2007 at 6:18 am
“Close The Door, I Don’t Know if Amaechi is out there” LOL That is funny!
February 16th, 2007 at 6:29 am
As I have said, free throws made the diference. Congrats James and Varejao. I’m glad that James made a lot of runnings. Do these throughout and MVP will be yours this time.
February 16th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Hardaway has ordered all shower rooms
opened to inspect for gay players.
February 16th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Rudy Gay must now be getting it from every guy in the league, including every Tom, Dick and Harry. Figuratively, I mean. Not that there’s anything wrong with Gay getting it from every Tom, Dick and Harry literally.
By the way, notwithstanding that nonsensical Utah “points in the paint” stat found in these parts to make a “pro-Z” argument, in both games they have looked so much better without Ilgauskas’ cement shoes and assist-free game. Even without a point guard out there, they still looked better. Varejao right now is too scrawny to be a solution, but stats lie, eyes don’t. Sorry, Kevin the Stat Man and every other obsessive statistical maven out there. Overall, the Cavs function better as a group without Ilgauskas.
His silly contract is untradeable, but you almost wish his foot would crack again just to keep him out of the lineup.
February 16th, 2007 at 8:51 am
u homophobes think this is funny
your ignorance has no bounds
February 16th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Of course, more evidence that the Cavs are better without Z, because they won. Of course, they lost Wednesday night, making them 1-1 without him. And maybe it was Daniel Gibson being out of the lineup yesterday that made the difference. Or maybe it was because the Cavs actually respected the penetrating abilities of Bryant, and gameplanned for him.
Or maybe it was none of the above, because the Cavs looked just as lousy at the end of the 2nd Quarter and the beginning of the 3rd Quarter as they have all season. Alan’s “eyes” should have told him that the stagnation during that time certainly wasn’t caused by Z, any more than it is caused by him when he’s actually with the team. And he even points out the bigger problem, noting that Varejao is too “scrawny” to play Center. Yes, he is, and just like every other Center that could possible come to the Cavs, he has his weaknesses. Hakeem Olajuwon isn’t available.
That being said, if Scottie Pippen wants to come to Cleveland, bring him on. I don’t think he’s the greatest leader in the world, but he’s matured, I’m sure he’s still a great passer, and I think the young guys could learn a lot from him. My only concern is that he might jeopardize Coach Brown’s already tenative control of the team. But I’d be willing to risk that to take a flyer on Pippen.
Go Cavs,
Mike
February 16th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Actually, if your “eyes” would have read what I wrote, I also said they played better together without him against the Jazz. When they lost.
Varejao is scrawny, but given the lack of options out there right now, I’d still rather see him playing full-time, with Alan Henderson backing him up for 10-15 minutes a game.
Like an actor before a big Broadway show, “Break a leg.” Or a foot. Please.
Z-fawners are a ridiculously stubborn breed. You can’t even accuse them of wearing rose-colored glasses, because that would be in bad taste. Much like a guy suffering from gay, glaucoma is never a joking matter.
Politics, religion and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Three topics that should never be discussed at a dinner table.
February 16th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Brian,
judging from today’s article, is Hughes becoming a malcontent? It sounds like he’s saying that Lebron being on the court at the same time forces him to take ill-advised jumpers. How come Sasha doesn’t have that problem? Maybe Hughes’ big game in Utah displayed that he is tradeable, hopefully.
P.S. Tucker are you saying that you want Alan Henderson back?
February 16th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Brian,
judging from today’s article, is Hughes becoming a malcontent? It sounds like he’s saying that Lebron being on the court at the same time forces him to take ill-advised jumpers. How come Sasha doesn’t have that problem? Maybe Hughes’ big game in Utah displayed that he is tradeable, hopefully.
P.S. Tucker are you saying that you want Alan Henderson back?
February 16th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Brian,
judging from today’s article, is Hughes becoming a malcontent? It sounds like he’s saying that Lebron being on the court at the same time forces him to take ill-advised jumpers. How come Sasha doesn’t have that problem? Maybe Hughes’ big game in Utah displayed that he is tradeable, hopefully.
P.S. Tucker are you saying that you want Alan Henderson back?
February 16th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Heyyyyyy Tucker:
You are Z-aphobic and therefore are
banned from the festivities in Vegas.
You will never work for the National
Bigot Association again.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Sorry about the triple posts
February 16th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Heyyyyyy Tucker:
You are Z-aphobic and therefore are
banned from the festivities in Vegas.
You will never work for the National
Bigot Association again.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Heyyyyyy Tucker:
You are Z-aphobic and therefore are
banned from the festivities in Vegas.
You will never work for the National
Bigot Association again.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Ditto my apologies to all including
Tucker,Amaechi, and Hardaway. Do I
see a trend here?
February 16th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Yes, now that Stern has determined my Zphobia is bad PR for the NBA, I won’t be able to place bets on the game and see all the topless dancing boobies at the local cabaret. Everything the NBA stands for, I now won’t be able to do. The tyrannical jerk.
No, I don’t want Alan Henderson back. But Henderson wouldn’t be a bad guy to have for 10-15 minutes a game behind Varejao, would he? Hopefully the next time Ilgauskas is in New York visiting his mother-in-law, he’ll slam the taxi door on his foot, and wishes will be granted. Varejao/Henderson wouldn’t exactly be an O’Neal/Mourning combo, but hey, it’s the Cavs. Ya take what you can get.
February 16th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I would trade Z straight up for someone like Adonal Foyle, not because Z’s as limited as Foyle but because the team needs to move past the silly notion that it needs a “true center” for its halfcourt offense.
The halfcourt offense, not the running game, is where Z clogs things up for the Cavs most. He refuses to pass the ball back when he doesn’t have good position in the low post. It’s as big a reason for the other players standing around as LeBron’s one-on-one stuff.
Foyle might block a few shots and grab a few rebounds, and he doesn’t seem to complain much considering his limited minutes.
Speaking of Z and inconsistent veteran players, it might be time to send a few kudos Mike Brown’s way–he’s made the right adjustments at the right time and the team is playing well heading into the second half.
The Cavs have some weird chemistry and seem to come close to complete meltdowns at certain points each season. Unlike Paul Silas, Brown has kept them from doing so.
February 16th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Larry D:
Adonal Foyle? You might as well trade
him for a piece of garbage. 2.5ppg 2.5
rpg 9.8 min in Golden State? Come up
with better? How about Magliore or
Muhammed? Better yet Earl Boykins or
Watson and a big man.
February 16th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Despite previous posts the Cavs will not
trade Z. LBJ and the organization like
him. His role however will be diminished
to about 20-24 minutes a game. If he can
average a double-double thats all they will
ask of him.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Scottie Pippen is 41 yrs old. Do any of
you honestly think he could play with any
degree of success in todays NBA? I would
love to see him try to pass or post on
Garnett, Kobe , Lebron, you name it, what
a farce. Pippen, Kemp, Sir Charles, Kenny
Smith and Mutombo could start their own
team the Oswego Old Farts.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
We need to get Manute Bol to clog up the paint for the Cavs…you know that guy still has it in him.
February 16th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Uh BW I think your first 3 years at the
Staples Center the Lakers had Kobe and
Shaq like together and like totally kicked
our buts wherever we played them, even in
Oswego.
February 16th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Maybe not Manute Bol, but give the Cavs that 7′9″ Chinese guy. Sign him up for five years and $55 million, with an additional 15% automatic pay increase that his new team has to pay him if he’s traded. A bargain.
February 16th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
I thought that Pippen reference was a joke…until I just read it on another site. I know Ferry isn’t the most savvy judge of talent to hit town, but come on.
Why not go for the Daily Double? Perhaps Jerry West is the point guard the Cavs have been looking for. Sign him up, too.
February 17th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Alan, I too thought the Pippen reference was a joke. But wow, if we’re honestly that desperate at point that we’re considering a washed-up “point-forward” who would rather play in Miami, why not throw Manute Bol in the mix. Might as well take a look at Robert Parish too–I’m sure he’s been working his way into “basketball shape” looking to make a comeback as well.
February 17th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Larry D.,
Sorry I’ve been so long in responding. I have a reply to your post re: rebounding on Brian’s blog. Read it if you choose.
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Brian,
In your LA Story blog you were wondering if the Cavs ever went 4-0 against the LA teams.
I had some free time and looked up the numbers. In 1996 they went 4-0 against the LA teams. So they have done it twice now.
Surprisingly, the Cavs have only gone 0-4 twice - in the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons. Get this - in the 90’s their winning percentage was .702 against the LA teams - .736 at home and .666 out West. Overall, since 1970, their percentage is .478 but .593 in Cleveland. Worst percentage was in the 80’s, obviously, at .343 but we were still .500 in Cleveland in the 80’s. Even during the 1972-1973 season when the Lakers won 33 in a row and 67 for the season we beat them in Cleveland.