Somewhere in the South Pacific — I’m a long way from home, but still get ESPN and the Internet so I fully followed the NBA Draft yesterday (early in the afternoon where I am). Here’s a couple of things to chew on:

–I’m getting feedback that a lot of fans are upset the Cavs did not get into the draft. Especially considering, as predicted on this blog and elsewhere over the last week, the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers sold their picks when they couldn’t package them to move up. Here’s what you need to understand: The only pick the Cavs wanted was the Suns’ No. 24, ironically their own pick. I still believe my source that Jared Dudley was their top target, but he was gone by 22. The only other guy it seems the Cavs had interest in was Tiago Splitter from Brazil, who was gone at 28.

Here’s what you need to understand about why the Suns sold the pick to Portland and not the Cavs: The Trail Blazers had a bigger trade exception than the Cavs and that was part of the deal. Late after the draft, the Suns sent James Jones to the Blazers for that trade exception. So including the $3 million the Blazers sent to Phoenix, they saved $6 million more in salary owed to Jones over the next two years. That is a $9 million benefit for Phoenix, which is very, very tight with a buck on the fringes of the roster to avoid the luxury tax. It was out of the Cavs hands at that point, it was a pure business deal.

–When considering Cavs point guard options, keep an eye on Seattle. By picking up Delonte West in the Ray Allen deal, the Sonics have three point guards including Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour. They are also a franchise not crazy about spending money while their arena situation is in flux. The Cavs have liked West for several years and may make a call to Seattle to see how badly the Sonics want to keep him. Chances are the Sonics will move one of those guards. Perhaps Ridnour is the favorite because he makes the most money and will be a base-year compensation player, which means it’s easier to make a dollar-saving deal with him.

–In what seemed like a harmless chat on ESPN.com, Chris Sheridan wrote he heard the Cavs were shopping Larry Hughes. This is true and this has been true since the trading deadline when Danny Ferry openly told the media that he had conversations about every player on his roster with the exception of LeBron James. Make no mistake, the Cavs could trade Hughes, he is not totally untradeable as many suggest. But at this point it would be doubtful they could get back equal value, which would defeat the purpose. Hughes helped the Cavs win a lot of games last season, he’s just not a good fit with LeBron at this point. They do not complement each other and most times they do not have a great chemistry on the court. It is an issue but not the biggest issue on the team.

OK, folks I’m coming off the island vacation I am currently on for 15 minutes to give a brief update for tonight. I spoke with some Cavs officials yesterday and I am told they have about 15 guys they will be would be willing to draft if they can get in with cash and or taking back a player with their trade exception ($2.1 million). These guys would be available from picks 22-40, I am told. So when those picks arrive, start paying attention.

Another source has told me the one guy the Cavs covet in this draft might be Jared Dudley. He’s an undersized power forward from Boston College. In some ways, he’s a classic Danny Ferry pick, because he’s sort of undervalued. The last ACC Player of the Year to get this little run was Josh Howard, by the way. I’ve never seen him play, so I can’t really rate him. I understand he was impressed at the Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando.

I would say the chances of the Cavs getting into the draft at this point are about 50/50. It will depend on how the night develops, as usual.

I am also told the Cavs are not really close to any trades at this point. Earlier this week there was some buzz about the Cavs getting Beno Udith from the Spurs and perhaps their draft pick this year. I am told that is not happening right now.

I have been getting lots of e-mail asking me how the Cavs can get into the lottery, or at least the first round, of this week’s draft.  Here’s what I can tell you.  First, they’re not getting in the lottery so cease with the Mike Conley Jr. e-mails.  Second, the Cavs feel like their first-round pick this year is Shannon Brown.  As I’ve written here before, Shannon worked just as hard at his game as Daniel Gibson this season and I expect him to get a chance to play next season.  I look forward to watching him at summer league in Las Vegas in a few weeks and you can bet that I will be giving you a full report about it.  Remember, as high as Danny Ferry was on Gibson, they still took a risk of losing Gibson to get his hands on Brown first.  Sure they’d love to have a pick in this draft but even at No. 24, where they would’ve picked had the Jiri Welsch trade never happened, we’re talking about a prospect pick and not an impact pick in all likelihood.

As for buying a pick, I am sure the Cavs will have the green light to try from Dan Gilbert.  I think the two targets in the first round will be the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns, both of whom have multiple picks.  But if that happens, don’t expect it until the last minute on draft night.  Both will want to hold onto it for as long as possible to keep options open.  And remember, the Cavs will only look to make a move if there is a guy they like up there.  They won’t just have a pick to have a pick at this point.  Most of the players they’ve been bringing in for workouts in Cleveland — the latest guy I’ve heard is Dustin Salisbery from Temple, who was in yesterday — are mostly fringe guys.  Why would potential first rounders waste their time coming to Cleveland, anyway?

As for the second round, the Portland Trail Blazers have four picks and a bevy of young talent already.  Perhaps the Cavs could offer a future second rounder and/or cash for one of them.  But, again, only if it is for a guy they really like and think can make the roster.  Last year the Cavs used a second-round pick on Ejike Ugboaja, who probably won’t play for the team next season, either.

I have not put a whole lot of research time into this year’s draft, although I’ve seen a lot of the players.  Last year in Japan I told some blog readers about Yi and other prospects including Marco Belinelli.  In my personal opinion, Greg Oden is a no-brainer at No. 1 and my reason is Shaq and Tim Duncan have eight of the last nine trophies.  But the guy I would really want as a GM is Florida’s Corey Brewer.  I know his size is an issue because he’s 6-foot-8 and only 180 pounds, but I love that guy.  He makes big shots and big plays and he is a good defender.  That’s a guy I’d want if I need a complementary piece for my team.

The New York Daily News reported today that the Toronto Raptors may want to trade point guard Jose Calderon.  I know for a fact the Cavs like him a lot.  I also think the Raptors like Sasha Pavlovic — they want to collect versatile international players who can shoot and Sasha fits the bill — although, I’ll bet Luke Jackson wouldn’t be thrilled with that.  But it’s all rumors, I’m just commenting on them, I have no sources saying the same thing.

Finally, today is a big day.  It is the annual time when News-Herald beat writer Bob Finnan posts his famous year end series of behind-the-scenes stories on the Cavs beat.  It is long, here’s Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.  All year, when something crazy happens we think Bob will include, we refer to it as a "Finnaner Moment."  Well, I can tell you Bob doesn’t always include everything.  Last year he left off the story in Miami when he stopped watching the season premiere of The Sopranos because he saw a woman skinny-dipping in the roof-top pool of the hotel next door.  This year, the story of the two foreign journalists who ordered and ate nachos with an obscene amount of chili, sour cream and salsa in the row in front of us in the first half didn’t make it in.  In the fourth quarter, Bob leaned over to me and said: "These two guys are farting like hell and I know why."

It has gotten to the point where Bob forbids me to write certain things in my blog.  Moments after this photo below was taken in San Antonio at a Mexican joint during the Finals, for example, he looked at me and said: "No blogs."  Well, tough big guy, tough!

–There is a report in today’s Washington Post that says the Cavs are considering offering a contract to Wizards restricted free agent prospect Andray Blatche.  Blatche is very young (20), 6-foot-11, and has lots of talent.  He’s spent most of his first two years in the league sitting and watching, but his future is pretty bright.  What I’m sure the Cavs like about him, whether they truly intend to offer him or not, is that he appears to be offensively gifted, especially as a shooter.  I wrote a story about Blatche and how his rookie season was marred by a shooting for ESPN.com last summer.  You can read it here (I think you need Insider, though).

While I think the Wizards would probably match just about any offer Blatche gets  — the Post said the Nets and Cavs may offer a five-year deals starting at around $4 million — I think what you are seeing here is the Cavs working on contingency plans with Anderson Varejao.  I think you’ll hear more about it, too.  By the way, as food for thought, the Wizards are believed to be one of the teams that would have interest in Varejao.  So let your mind wander with all this on the table.  Especially considering the Wizards are expected to bring last year’s first-round pick, Oleksiy Pecherov, over from Europe this season.  Pecherov, who I was impressed with at summer league last year, is a lot like Blatche.  Not quite as athletic, but he’s young, very big (6-10) and is a better shooter.  Perhaps there isn’t room for both Blatche and Pecherov, but there surely is room for Varejao in Washington.  We’ll see.

–Apparently New York Post rumor man Peter Vecsey has been saying the Cavs may go after Rashard Lewis.  It would take a sign-and-trade with the Seattle Sonics.  I will not rule anything out, because as I said before, expect the Cavs to be aggressive in trying to get offensive talent this summer.  Also, looking at guys like Blatche and Lewis would follow the way the Cavs have built their team.  They want "long" players who can play multiple positions.  Again, this is why Earl Boykins is a long shot to me.

Whether or not this is a valid rumor or not, it reminds us of a point.  Most NBA teams right now aren’t in spending mode.  Contracts are getting shorter by average and fewer teams want to use all of their mid-level exceptions.  The Cavs, however, seem like they are willing to spend and that gives them a massive advantage.  In the previous blog, I explained how they can creatively reduce other teams’ payrolls with their current roster.

In the past, GM Danny Ferry has used owner Dan Gilbert’s checkbook to make cap-reducing deals with Billy King, who is a close friend.  Helping King get the 76ers under the luxury tax line two years ago got the Cavs Daniel Gibson when they made a cap-absorbing deal for a draft pick at the deadline.  Well, two teams looking to reduce costs are the Suns and Sonics.  They both have new general managers (Sam Presti and Steve Kerr, respectively) and Ferry won NBA title rings with both of them and has good relations with each.  Also, both are in the other conference, making a big deal more likely.  So when it comes to Lewis or Shawn Marion rumors or any other Sonics or Suns cash-dumping moves, expect that the Cavs could be very much involved.

For the last several weeks I have been collecting information on the Cavs’ thought process and options for this summer.  Of course, it is poor form to be writing about the offseason while in a playoff run.  So I horded it all, piled it together and dumped most of it into this story, which has a bevy of information (despite what the headline implies).  If you can’t bear to go to the link, let me sum it up for you very quickly:

–Based on my read of the winds at the Q, the Cavs won’t be going to the wall to keep Anderson Varejao.  The buzzword these days is flexibility, I think the Cavs would rather let him walk than pay him crazy money (like, say, $8-$10 a year as has been predicted by some).  But it is going to be hard to determine what he’s worth because there aren’t comparable players.  That said they would prefer to sign him.   Read the story for a complete understanding.
–Dan Gilbert has cleared Danny Ferry to go into the luxury tax.  By the way, this is no small feat.  Just ask some other GMs.
–Carlos Delfino switching teams impacts Sasha Pavlovic.
–The Mike Bibby deal is probably dead.   The Kings wanted most of the Cavs’ expiring contracts.  Now, they can’t really make the same deal.  Never say never, but do yourself a favor and don’t harp on it.
–The Cavs are interested in Theo Papaloukas.  Who, you say? This guy.  The team loves his grittiness.  Problem is, he can’t shoot and the Cavs don’t need more guards who can’t shoot and they know this.  Small chance of him being signed.
–Sarunas Jasikevicius would love another shot to play for the Cavs, not sure if the feeling is mutual.
–Earl Boykins is a shoot-first player and a poor defender.  I respect the hell out of the guy, but I’d be shocked if the Cavs sign him.  However, I have different thoughts and sources on Steve Blake.
–Do you know the Cavs could trade Damon Jones, Ira Newble and David Wesley for up to an $11.1 million player while the other team would only be responsible for around $4.6 million in actual dollars next season.  Dude, read the story.  Those guys are assets, trust me.  UPDATE:  I’ve gotten some e-mails because some people aren’t understanding this (which is why you should read the story).  The Cavs can and will kick in as much as $3 million in any deal.  Wesley, Jones and Newble combined cap numbers are about about $9.4 million next season (add the 20 percent rule in trade and you get a little over $11 million in return value potential).  Reduce the Wesley buyout plus the payment and hard cash due to cover the Cavs players is close to $4.6-$4.8 million depending on some things.  Now, here’s where I should point out that the Phoenix Suns love Drew Gooden, they spent all last summer trying to get him.  Plus they really want to kill payroll and have been floating Shawn Marion’s name.  That’s not a rumor, OK, that’s just me thinking out loud.  By the way, new Suns GM Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry are tight.

Now, here’s some other things I need to say heading into this summer:

–The correction of the offense starts with LeBron James.  The reason his jump shot was terrible in the Finals was because he lost confidence in it.  He lost confidence in it because he can’t trust it.  He can’t trust it because he’s not fundamentally sound with it.  He’s not fundamentally sound because he’s always changing his form.  Remember those five days or so when he was hopping one inch on his 3-pointers a la Ira Newble?  Same with free throws, he changed his form, what, three or four times this season.  Want to hear something shocking?  His highest free-throw percentage of the last eight years was when he was a freshman in high school.  He needs to get a correct form and then be consistent with it.  He knows this.  Whether he does it with a personal coach or whatever, it needs to be done.

Second, it doesn’t matter whether LeBron has Jason Kidd playing next to him, if he’s going to dribble the air out of the ball he is going to be easy to defend.  Sometimes the offense stops working because he stops it.  I have had a few NBA players (not on the Cavs…don’t get me in trouble) tell me they think LeBron is a selfish player at times.  I don’t believe that, I think he wants to be the ultimate team player but he needs to refine some tendencies.  Perhaps he needs some better teaching of how.  But here’s the thing I know about him, he’s only going to change something when he’s good and ready.

Third, he’s got to trust his post game more.  He’s not comfortable down there and so he rarely posts low.  It isn’t Mike Brown who tells him to post 22 feet from the basket.  Again, it makes him easier to defend and the Cavs’ offense less potent.

–Larry Hughes needs to go back and watch the film from the first 10 games when he took over at point guard.  He was distributing, not just shooting.  Larry is a quality player and he really helps the team when he plays well, but he’s got to figure out what he is.  Also, I personally believe he and LeBron have some on-court chemistry issues.  There are times when Larry just won’t pass LeBron the ball, I’ve seen it numerous times.  That has to be ironed out, too.

–Mike Brown has made the players respect him for his defensive coaching, he’s pounded it into their heads and got them to buy in.  But he has no cache as an offensive coach, the players don’t show him the same respect on that end.  Not sure I know how he can fix this, but I know bringing up the issue of adding another coach to deal with offense gets a prickly response at One Center Court.

–Over the last few weeks, I’ve read at least 10 or 12 stories where the writers predicted a free agent will "get the full mid-level exception of $5.5 million."  In my view of the market, that’s not happening.  Teams aren’t using the full mid-level much on players anymore, call it the Jerome James market correction.  Four years ago, like half the teams gave it to one guy (please see Cardinal, Brian and Hudson, Troy).  Last year, there were only a handful of players who got it and most of them didn’t work out, either.  Consider Vlad Radmanovic, Jared Jeffries, Nazr Mohammed and Mike James to name a few.  The market for the full mid-level is so weak this summer that even the Knicks say they aren’t using theirs.  Guess there won’t be filet mignon at the annual agents’ convention this year.  Most teams will use pieces of it, that includes the Cavs.

–As far as I can tell the following star-type players are potentially on the trade market: Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, Rashard Lewis, Zach Randolph, Bibby, Kobe Bryant, Shawn Marion, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal, Pau Gasol, and Ron Artest.  This has the makings of a crazy summer.  The Cavs are looking to make a major trade and I have no doubt they will be trolling the waters.  As I mentioned before, they have some assets to work with even if they are not obvious.

–I am wondering if this is the summer/fall when the Cavs are able to join the elite teams who get free veteran players.  You know, key additions who come to a team after a buyout or something and take a cut-rate contract trying to get a ring.  Like Alonzo Mourning in Miami, Michael Finley in San Antonio, Chris Webber in Detroit, Jalen Rose in Phoenix, etc., etc.  Cavs may show some interest in Grant Hill, but trust me, there will be others in the near future available, too.

More to come in the coming weeks.

The Finals are over and the Cavs never really got started.  Their 83-82
loss in Game 4 was pretty much like the other three games.  In fact, I
predict looking back it will be hard to remember when individual
moments occurred in the series.  For the Cavs, it was mostly all
"blah."  The Spurs had more talent, which we all knew, but their poise
showed from the first minute of Game 1 and carried all the way until
tonight.  In my mind, there is little use focusing on the little
details, teams don’t get swept by little details, they get swept by big
ones.

Overall, it was a tremendous season by the Cavs.  They should be
celebrated and lauded for so many different reasons.  But the pain they
are currently experiencing is just as important.  Sometimes it takes
crushing defeat to be forced into fixing what needs to be fixed.  This
goes for Danny Ferry, this goes for Mike Brown and this goes for LeBron
James.  The Cavs need some more dynamic offense players, they need a
more dynamic offensive system and they need their most dynamic player
to become more complete.

All that in the weeks ahead.  Right now, like the Cavs, I’m tired.

When this all over, and that time is soon, the Cavs may very well regret they never gave the San Antonio Spurs their best shot.  Perhaps it would not have mattered, but it may be easier for them to rest in the off-season that way.  It didn’t matter Thursday when the Spurs wrestled the Cavs into submission in the 75-72 win.

Stuff…

–LeBron James probably got fouled on the last play, Bruce Bowen was trying to foul him I believe.  Afterward, LeBron didn’t complain as is Cavs policy.  But let’s be honest, do you think he would’ve made all three free throws under such pressure?  His history of making clutch free throws is spotty.  The intangibles have gone the Spurs way this series and Bowen making a move at LeBron probably forced him to take a worse shot.

–Anderson Varejao always wants to shoot, the man has taken 3-pointers in this postseason.   This is the last guy you want with the ball in a pressure situation trying to create his own shot.  It is a disaster waiting to happen.  It happened.  This is a experience issue, in that case he’s got to be smarter with the ball.  Mike Brown was trying hard to get a timeout there.  We all know the play out of the timeout would’ve been an iso play for the LeBron at the top of the key and the Spurs would’ve been ready.  Who can say the Cavs would’ve even got a better shot with the timeout.  Nonetheless, when the season is on the line there has to be better decisions made.  Another lesson.

–I have been blown away watching the Spurs’ execution in these last three games.  It seems like they have maybe made four or five defensive mistakes in the entire series.  Their rotations are so crisp, it is scary.  The way they react to pick-and-roll and postups to neutralize them is downright awe-inspiring.  It’s almost like their defense breathes, fluidly collapsing and expanding like it’s a living entity.  Gregg Popovich said after the game it is the best defense the Spurs have played all season.  It may be the best defense I’ve ever seen in person.

–Now, the Spurs’ offense.  It is so smart and well-oiled, everyone knows where to be and the spacing and passing is perfect.  Perhaps I am warped from watching the Cavs and their dribblefest for more than 100 games now, but let me give you one play for an example.  In the third quarter, Tim Duncan got the ball in the post on the right block.  The Cavs doubled and Duncan kicked it to the corner and the Cavs started to recover, spreading out to the shooters.  The Spurs passed the ball around the perimeter until it reached Bruce Bowen on the opposite wing.  Bowen looked to pass the ball to Brent Barry in the corner, but the Cavs had every option covered in what looked like good defense.  So Bowen, seeing the Cavs in full-speed spread and with four 3-pointers already in his pocket, pump-faked and went to the basket.  He drew a desperation foul.  Now, it was insignificant in the game, but it was the exact correct play to make there.  He waits another second and the Cavs have stopped the play.  They just make so many proper decisions.  It’s just impressive to watch.

–Want to know where the game was really won?  The 10-0 run to close the first half and the 7-0 at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth.  Yes, Brown took LeBron out with fouls with six minutes left in the half.  He had to, LeBron had three and hadn’t been out of the game yet.  Leaving him out the full six minutes, especially when the Spurs started the run is questionable.  As usual, the Cavs got a 3-4 minute bounce without LeBron, actually extending the lead.  This is a normal for them throughout the playoffs, but it has also been proven that it’s not sustainable.  Brown had a free 24-second timeout to use to get LeBron in the game and break the run.  He didn’t use it until the final Cavs possession and he didn’t put LeBron in for even that play.  Extreme second-guess here, I know, but that run was very penal to the Cavs because it soured the whole first half.

–Moving Daniel Gibson into the starting lineup didn’t work.  It was in part because the Spurs were paying more attention and in part because he forced some shots early instead of letting them develop.  He might just be better off the bench at this point.  Honestly, Eric Snow has played pretty well over the last two games and the offense has responded while he’s been in there.  He had five assists tonight.  Perhaps that’s an option, to start him Thursday.

–I wrote about the Larry Hughes decision here.  Here’s how I can break it down from my viewpoint, having talked to some people close to Larry.  After not taking the injection for Game 1, Hughes went ahead and did it for Game 2 hoping it would help even though he thought it was against his best interests.  He has a fear that he could completely tear the muscle or break his foot and he wouldn’t know it with it numb.  It doesn’t matter what the doctors told him, he hated doing it.  Anyway, he got the needle and he got just 20 minutes of playing time in Game 2, which upset him.  So he pretty much had enough and the Cavs weren’t getting much from him.  He met with the coaches and they came to a mutual decision rather than his foot actually hurting more, which was the story.  It is unfortunate that him doing something he should get credit for (playing through the injury) may not be remembered as much as his poor play.

–The Cavs are shooting 42.3 percent for the postseason and now averaging less than 90 points a game.  Two things should be remembered about this:  1. It was a miracle in some ways for the Cavs to get to this point with those numbers.  2. There needs to be a major, major overhaul/improvement to the offense before the Cavs can get their hands on the trophy the Spurs are about to win.  The Cavs shot a lower percentage than their opponents in the regular season and rebounding and defense somehow got them to 18 games over .500.  They are 12-7 in the postseason while shooting worse than their opponents again.  The Cavs have world-class defense.  But they are miles away on offense and it is an old, old wound.

San Antonio — This was a whipping, nothing else.  I’ve seen them before in the AT&T Center and I’ll see them again probably.  Not only are the Spurs the better-looking team after the 103-92 Game 2 win, they are playing at a very high level.  If they continue to play like this, I don’t think it will matter what the Cavs do in all honestly.  We can talk about adjustments and intensity and coaching all night.  That said, it, too, is just a single game.  Obviously the Spurs look like the dominant team, but I am compelled by my realist nature and perspective-based style to say the series is not over.

So it goes…

–I am inclined to totally disregard the LeBron James foul trouble in the first quarter.  While it is questionable whether Mike Brown left him out too long, I think he played the percentages in thinking long-term about the game.  The Cavs lost six points on the scoreboard with James on the bench for nine minutes.  I don’t care what anyone says, that is an acceptable number under these circumstances.  When the Cavs got buried by 14 points in the second quarter, James was out there the whole time and Tony Parker was on the bench a bunch.

–I have no idea how to judge these fourth quarters.  On one hand, I think the Spurs are totally letting down.  On the other, the small lineup presents some challenges for San Antonio.  Brown may have to consider going with the small lineup more and I explain why in this piece for ESPN.com.  It means more than just giving more time to Daniel Gibson, but some steps need to be taken by the coach.

–Gibson, by the way, just continues to impress me.  With all this other stuff going on, this kid showing he could very well be a star in this league.

–Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are all playing great.  They all scored more than 20 points just four times before tonight this season.  Even for these great players, this was an exceptional night.  Sure the Cavs were off their game, but the Spurs played above their normal level, too.  And their normal level is world class.  Again, another reason to see what happens in Cleveland.

–Zydrunas Ilgauskas, of whom I am a steadfast defender, has been awful in San Antonio.  He’s not doing anything well.  He can’t make a jumper, he can’t make a tip in, he barely gets any rebounds, Duncan is making a mockery of him.  Duncan does this to most everyone, but Ilgauskas has the ability to get some back at the other end and he’s not doing it and it’s killing the Cavs.  By the way, it was Z getting out of position twice that caused LeBron to commit those fouls in the first quarter.

–Larry Hughes says his foot is feeling better.  I believe him.  But he’s playing worse.  Something has to be done there.  If he’s going to go 1-of-10 shooting, you might as well give his time to Eric Snow.

–Why are the Spurs moving faster than the Cavs, getting to more rebounds, diving for more loose balls, and generally showing more passion for the game?  I know the Cavs realize these are the Finals, but they aren’t playing like it.  You can see the difference late when the Cavs intensity to come back shows up.  Considering it is the last round, why this cannot be achieved from the start is beyond my personal comprehension.

San Antonio — Can’t speak for all of you, but this series is already getting a little tiresome for me.  Oh, there’s only been one game played?  Wow, you could’ve fooled me.  Two days with this much attention makes the analysis and conjecture reach a saturation point pretty quickly.  So the Cavs couldn’t stop Tony Parker in Game 1, OK everybody knows.  So Tim Duncan is good, everybody knows.  LeBron James didn’t play well, got it.

One way or another there’s going to be different things to talk about and evaluate after tonight’s game.  So don’t forget everything you saw in Game 1, but please don’t dwell on it too much longer because I simply can’t take it anymore.

Here’s a few things to chew on…

–Larry Hughes seems to be a little peeved that he’s getting so much blame for the Parker domination in Game 1.  He pretty much said today if the Cavs don’t want to play him anymore he’s fine with it, but until then people should get off his back about it.   He also said he only guarded Parker about four times in Game 1.  Larry, I feel ya on the first point, Parker is a horrible mismatch for you and it’s not fair to ask you guard him, especially with a messed up foot.  But only four times?  He burned you at least four times in the first quarter.  I feel like I have to be the Robin Williams character in Good Will Hunting. If I keep saying to him "It’s not your fault," maybe he’ll break down.

–Sounds like Mike Brown is planning on using LeBron and Daniel Gibson a lot on Parker and maybe even Sasha Pavlovic.  The goal will be to use big guys and give him space so he has trouble getting good looks at the basket and will take jumpers more.  This is a total pick your poison choice and Brown knows it.  The Spurs were shooting almost 40 percent on 3-pointers in the playoffs before they missed a boat load — many of them going in and out — in Game 1.  Parker will happily kick the ball out and so will Duncan.

–Today people were asking LeBron if he was "rope-a-doping" the Spurs in Game 1.  I was like "huh?"  Sorry, maybe this dates me as being too young, but I had no clue what the heck a "rope-a-dope" was.  I just assumed it involved a late night tactic at a Country Western bar.  Apparently, it is a boxing term made popular by Ali when he’d let a George Foreman-type pound him and then explode with a flurry of punches.  LeBron, a boxing fan, knew what the question was and gave an average answer.  However, as I point out here, LeBron does have a history of laying low in Game 1s and then adjusting as playoff series advance.

–Of all the things that need to happen for the Cavs to win Game 2, and there are a lot, Zydrunas Ilgauskas returning for form has got to be high on the list.  If nothing else, Z should be able to rebound, especially against the Spurs, who are not a good rebounding team.  Other than LeBron, that’s the key guy for the Cavs.

–This is the point it’s gotten to as well all wait for the Finals to start again: Today after answering questions on The Sopranos and Spiderman 3, a reporter asked  LeBron what he would ask himself if he were a media-type.  LeBron’s answer: "I don’t know."  My answer: Me either, can we play another game, please?

San Antonio — So the Spurs are pretty good.  Here’s the scary part Cavs followers: in the 85-76 loss in Game 1, the Spurs played about average.  They played good defense, Tony Parker was the fastest guy on the court, Tim Duncan was dominant, and Manu Ginobili hit a few shots.  Then they called it a night.  The word you’re looking for is: eek.

Let’s see…

–I respect Larry Hughes for trying, he’s scored the points in my book and all, but there’s a 0 percent change of him staying in front of Parker with that bad wheel.  He managed OK on Michael Finley and some other players, but, honestly, Parker went through Hughes like the Nazis went through Paris.  Bad metaphor?  Oh, sorry.  So Mike Brown simply must play Daniel Gibson and even Eric Snow (you know, the team’s best one-on-one defensive player) more on Parker.  Neither of those guys can totally stop him either but they have a better chance.  Of course, I expect Mike to get ripped by all the media for saying he’s not changing his lineup.  He will change the minutes, though, guaranteed.

–Zydrunas Ilgauskas looked like a kid that accidentally jumped into the deep end of the pool.  He was thrashing around and accomplishing nothing.  Not all of it was his fault, Brown’s play calls gave him no chance at the rhythm, but he couldn’t even hold onto the ball tonight.  He couldn’t even rebound, which he always does.  The Cavs have to win the rebounding battle win have any chance in the series, tonight they got slaughtered and Ilgauskas was a big reason why.  Yes, Brown benched him to go small for long stretches but part of that was he wasn’t getting anything done when he was out there.

–We now have enough data on LeBron James to know that he doesn’t usually play that well in Game 1s of playoff series.  Usually he uses the first quarter to feel things out, but he was searching for three quarters tonight.  The Spurs did a great job of cutting off his usual outlet passes, they knew all of his tendencies of where he goes when he’s trapped.  Also, they did a great job of pressuring the ball, which helped keep the Cavs out of their offense and killed the shot clock.  It was like moving up a level on a video game, they made everything harder.  Nonetheless, the Cavs were still very much in this game until late in the third despite just about everyone — save for Gibson and Drew Gooden — playing below average.  In other words, hold your water, the Cavs did some good things on offense in the fourth and moved bodies much better.  They’ll come back, they always do, we’ll see if it’s good enough.

–Tim Duncan is so damn good, it’s amazing.  In these playoffs, getting to see Jason Kidd work for six games was a reminder of why the guy is a Hall of Famer.  Now watching Duncan will be great.  He is so good at so many facets of the game, it’s hard to even describe it.  How about from the high post when he fakes a bounce pass to Parker then turns and makes the off-balance jumper from 17 feet.  That’s not Earl Boykins making that move, it’s a 7-footer.

–I really appreciated what the Spurs did in the third quarter.  They got up seven once or twice but couldn’t extend the lead.  They knew this was a chance to bury the Cavs if they could get an extra stop or two.  So Ginobili starts pumping up the crowd on defense.  Then, when Brown is forced to call a timeout to calm things down, the Spurs bring out David Robinson, George Gervin and Sean Elliott to be recognized.  The crowd cheered throughout the timeout and didn’t let down.  The Spurs do the little things right as well as the big things.

–Even with all the trouble Duncan and Parker, the Cavs gave up just 85 points tonight.  They had no inside game, LeBron couldn’t make a shot, and they best strength (rebounding) was a weakness.  They’ve still got a chance to make some serious noise and they know it.   But it’s going to take some good adjustments and some moxie.  Let’s see what happens.