Cavs vs. Pacers
Posted December 11th, 2007 by bwindhorst
Pregame
Starting lineups
Pacers: Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Dunleavy, Danny Granger, Jermaine O’Neal, Jeff Foster
Cavs: Eric Snow, Shannon Brown, Sasha Pavlovic, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Officials:
Tom Washington, Leon Wood, Gary Zielinksi
–Yes LeBron James is playing, no LeBron James is not starting. No, there’s no good reason for that. I’ve covered like 600 games LeBron has played in, heck maybe more, and he’s started them all.
–Boobie Gibson is swollen and out after having a tooth pulled.
–Snow is starting because they need someone to defend Tinsley. That I understand.
–Andy Varejao said he expects to be booed and then he blamed it on the newspapers. Look elsewhere, buddy, try the mirror.
–Pacers like to shoot 3s, Cavs defensive rotations better be strong. But let’s see how Varejao does guarding O’Neal, which I am sure will happen.
Halftime — Cavs 65, Pacers 49
–The Cavs are feeling good and it is showing in their play. They are aggressively driving to the basket, stepping into their jumpers and being very active on the defensive end. They are getting a lot of frustration out in this one.
–Wow, seeing the Cavs right now it is overwhelming to see the talent they have on the floor and off the bench. It’s like emerging from the desert after what they’ve been putting out there. Plus Boobie Gibson isn’t even active. Been a long time coming.
–I was on WKNR about 10 minutes before tip and Kenny Roda’s producer, Chris Fedor, said he thought not starting LeBron was so that they could bring him into the game with Varejao so there wouldn’t be boos. That is why they did, although I don’t know if that was the motive. Frankly, I don’t think the Cavs would be in the mood to do Andy any favors right now but you can decide for yourself.
–That glove on LeBron’s hand is scaring small children here at the Q. Seriously, I have no idea what that thing is.
–The Cavs are shooting 61 percent and they are 5-of-7 on 3-pointers. Larry Hughes has 17 points and has made a bunch of jumpers. We’ll see if they (and Larry) can keep it together if the jumpers stop falling.
–Sasha Pavlovic’s minutes are in serious jeopardy with Hughes and LeBron coming back. Right now, he’s playing like it with 12 points in the half.
–The Pacers were 3-of-12 on 3-pointers in the first half. They play fast and shoot loose, 16 points is nothing for them to overcome if things turn around from outside. The Cavs cannot cruise and expect to win this game. That said, LeBron has just nine points and I feel like he could take over this game if he wants.
Postgame — Cavs 118, Pacers 105
Stars
Larry Hughes, 36 points
LeBron James, 17 points
Zydrunas Ilguaskas, 17 points
Mike Dunleavy, 23 points
–After the game, LeBron said he asked Mike Brown to come off the bench. He said he wanted to come in with Andy so he wouldn’t hear any boos. He said he wanted to “protect” his teammate. That is a nice story and explains why he didn’t start. Although it was funny to watch Brown dance around the issue with the media. When Bill Livingston of the Plain Dealer asked whether LeBron would start Friday in Jersey, Mike paused and said: “I’ve got to watch the film.” Priceless!
–Anyway, it’s not 100 percent true. LeBron did ask to come off the bench but there was no discussion about bringing him in with Andy. But LeBron did pick up that ball and run with it and give great quotes about it. I just wrote a story for ESPN.com about it and I’m sure the soundbyte will make the rounds. Don’t say he needs media training.
–Forget about the politics, that trio made a major impact on the game. In the first half with LeBron, Hughes and Varejao came in the Cavs went on a 22-5 run. In the second half they came in and went on a 15-0 run.
–This was an energy victory, they Cavs shot 55 percent and lots of things went their way. They cannot win this way every night. But after seeing them average 82 points and shoot 37 percent with LeBron out, seeing them put up 118 points was a change of pace. It wasn’t just LeBron either, it was like a team-wide exhale.
–Hughes is playing happy at shooting guard, at the moment he’s getting what he’s always wanted. Obviously this was one of those once-in-a-season nights. He was making everything, including bank shots. By the way, going 13-of-17 from the field brought him to 39 percent for the season. So close to that magic 40 again. So he’s not going to play this way every night, but if he can be a viable second offensive option to LeBron — what the Cavs thought when they signed him in 2005 — it will be difference-making. Need to see a lot more of it before this can be classified something besides a blip. Despite all that, seeing him mix up his drives with his jumpers is a welcome change. He is looking to go the basket more.
–Interesting that Z played his best game since LeBron last played tonight.
–The Cavs had a skit during the game that showed mascot Moondog running away from someone and wetting his pants when he was backed into a corner. When the camera panned out, the guy chasing him had a Michael Vick jersey on. Whoa.
–After the game, the Cavs were all upset in the locker room after seeing the clip of T.J. Ford getting hammered and needing to be carried off on a stretcher.
Quotes:
LeBron: “”I thought it would raise the intensity of the fans, having me, Larry and Andy come in at the same time and it worked. I thought by coming in with Andy it might stop of the boos Andy might get. Andy is one of my favorite players, I was just protecting my teammate.”
Larry Hughes: “I enjoy the opportunity to play off the ball. I’ve been catching a rhythm.”
Jim O’Brien: “Larry Hughes was fantastic. I thought they had two LeBron Jameses out there.”
December 11th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Lebron not starting is the most ridiculous thing I have encountered in a while. Seriously put him in the damn game already
December 11th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I wonder if Mike brown didn’t start Lebron so he can bring him off the bench with Varejao to avoid the fan reaction toward Varejao. That is interesting though!
December 11th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Do you think Brown justified not starting LeBron so Andy could enter the game with him and Larry therefore not get booed by the home crowd?
December 11th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
The mirror! That’s rich!
December 11th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Why can’t the Cavs play like this all the time?!??!?!?! Alan Tucker is going to be so depressed after this win!! He can’t stand it when they play well!!!!!
December 11th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I stand by everything I have posted here before. The Cavs have no talent and are going nowhere. LeBron is going to New York, so nothing else matters. And I don’t appreciate Windhorst doing the world any favors by posting more candid thoughts on this blog than he’s able to in the paper. How misguided of him.
Your local dunce, scrooge, and grinch rolled into one idiot.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
It’s been a long time since we had the pleasure of a 4th-quarter garbage time extravaganza.
Just keep it together for awhile here, and cruise on in.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
I agree lineup change was to protect Varejao & lessen the blow to Hughes confidence if they keep him coming off the bench. But I think it also sends a subtle message of its not how you start but how you finish. Tonight’s game does have a feel like the season has now just started for the Cavs.(minus the Jazz & Celts game)
If LB wants to get involved in the mixed martial arts, he has got at least one glove for it now. You never know when a little Gracie jiu-jitsu can come in handy. Beware the glove!
December 11th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
AV (the Braziller Thriller) certainly has mostly himself to blame, but I don’t think he’s totally unjustified in calling out the “newspapers” given McManamon’s recent column. I can’t say I was actively happy when Pluto left, but wow… I definitely never thought I’d actually miss him.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
do not let this game get yall hopes up, its the pacers, wait to the big boys come to town. but a win is a win, hey lebron new name is “thriller”, ie micheal jackson.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:40 am
Allan, explain to me why Lebron would go to NY when he already makes as much money in cleveland as he would there and without the hassle. Allen’s idiotic analysis aside, this was a great win for the Cavaliers. This is the team that shocked everyone by going to the finals last year. Although they stood pat in the offseason, the difference will be if Lebron continues to improve (already showing that), Gibson grows into a serviceable point guard, and Larry Hughes finally returns to form. If those things happen, look out. If not, the Cavaliers will still make some noise and have kept their options personnel wise for the future.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:04 am
Phil, two points: First, according to Wayne Embry, the only roster guy he wanted to keep when he first interviewed for the Cavs job was you. So, although I didn’t particularly care for your style of play, too damn lumbering, I do respect you. Second, I didn’t post that post above, it was somebody else using my name (Ain’t online anonymity grand?), based upon the writing style and the years of online stalking using it, I’m guessing Rageaholic Rick/TuckTuckSuckSucks.
Regardless, since you did ask, I actually do think James is gone after the 2009-2010 season. You asked for my reasons, so I’ll simply answer for the exact same reasons that Henry Abbott, Windy’s good blogging buddy at ESPN, also believes he’s gone.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:23 am
I wonder if this is a preview of things to come or a couple of healthy guys coming back and playing like they’re “100 percent.” Either way, Alan Tucker is a moron and the Cavs got a much-needed win. No talent? Are you kidding?
December 12th, 2007 at 5:46 am
LeBron coming off the bench was reported on realcavsfans.com long before tipoff.
Double check your facts, Brian. You may want to make some retractions. Whoever told you that LeBron never asked to come off the bench or never mentioned trying to save Andy some boos apparently didn’t attend the morning shoot-around.
December 12th, 2007 at 7:42 am
Hold-off on giving Larry “Mark Price Only Had to Give Me Few Tweaks, My Shot Is Pretty Much Perfect” Hughes praise for at least three games
this great game has almost got him to 40% shooting this year and he has already missed more games than last year
Trust in Hughes jump shot? ha ha ha ha
Give me a break
This guys defines streak, usually he streaks to the training room cause he is injured or his bruise hurts
And whats with LeBron “protecting” AV
While that nice from a touchy-feely perspective, its bad basketball
Is this the NBA or the Dr. Phil Show?
He should focus on helping the team win, not giving AV a backbone
Let AV reap what he sows
Maybe it’ll keep him from saying that he doesnt want to play on the team for which a whole city roots
December 12th, 2007 at 8:27 am
*sigh*
Cleveland fans are so jaded, they can’y even give their own guys props. Hughes played well tonight. I hope he keeps it up.
Fairweathers…..*shaking head*
December 12th, 2007 at 10:41 am
HEY THALL, the only prop hughes need is a crutch, cane, or air cast for his ankle, the guy is garbage and i am not buying into his one good game, i remember 2 years ago or even last year he scored 42 against the sixers, once again, look how long ago that was, so what he hooked up with barry bonds boy before the game and go him a little something, something, lets see what he do the next three or four games. I hope “bill dukes” continue to give shannon some playing time….PEACE AND GRACE, BILL
December 12th, 2007 at 10:59 am
[...] Brian Windhorst somewhat disputes this as being the true motive, writing, “After the game, LeBron said he asked Mike Brown to come [...]
December 12th, 2007 at 11:17 am
“–The Cavs had a skit during the game that showed mascot Moondog running away from someone and wetting his pants when he was backed into a corner. When the camera panned out, the guy chasing him had a Michael Vick jersey on. Whoa.”
I did not wet my pants. I think I spilled a diet coke earlier that day. Just to set the record straight.
–Dog
December 12th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Something looks different about Larry since he came
back. I hope he doesn,t have to go testify with Barry
because he is a totally different person. He and James
and Wild Turkey are almost on some kind of telepathic
wave length. Varejoa brings instant intensity to this
team. He makes up for our seven foot three center
who won’t slam with a clear pass to the basket. He
shoots and tips very nicely though.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
jmoe, don’t go nuts with that Hughes thing. He’s like Ilgauskas, he is who he is. This blog (between book signings) should start some kind of office pool for the number of games before Hughes is out again, with Windy holding the funds in escrow. No way he makes it straight through 60 games and the playoffs.
And it may be my imagination, but doesn’t it always seem that when Hughes comes back from his injury sabbaticals, he has more ink than the day he left? Most dedicated guys immediately make a beeline for the trainer to get themselves back onto the court, this guy instead chooses to immediately makes a beeline for the tattoo parlor. I wonder if there’s such a thing as an acupuncture artist, save some time and kill two birds with one stone.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
It’s good to see the both of them back. Not sure where they’ll fall as far as playoff seeding is concerned yet, but if everyone stays healthy we could make another deep run to the conference finals.
Your book just shipped via Amazon…can’t wait to check it out.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
All the talk about Hughes returning to his original position is moot. Last spring, he had a similar short-term improvement after being switched to point guard. He hasn’t been able to sustain any kind of good run no matter the position.
I say Hughes plays well for the next ten days, then tails off again. He’ll complain soon after the New Year and on Jan. 10 he’ll turn an ankle and miss a few weeks.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Hey Brian, can you give us some more info on this glove LBJ is wearing? Is this something special they made for him? I don’t recall seeing or hearing of anything like this before, and I didn’t notice any swooshes on it, so I’m guessing it wasn’t made by Nike.
Of course, I fully expect to see Nike branded “Protective Basketball Gloves” in Dick’s in a couple of weeks.
December 12th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
This team still needs a veteran point guard, and andre miller is there for the taking. Deal a couple of our bums and a draft pick and get this ship a rudder… Let’s get the welcome home Andre party started!
December 12th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
It did look like Hughes got another tattoo or something, but what really struck me on Saturday is that he looks bigger in the upper body. I think he did actually train hard while out.
As Cavs fans, I think we can get somewhat excited. It will be interesting to see how the team fits togeher when Gibson is back in the lineup. I can only assume he continues starting, and Sasha goes to the bench, but with as good as Hughes has been of the bench these couple games, maybe they should take their time with that. I’ve always liked first tier players coming off the bench.
As far as the pool goes, I take 15. Sigh.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
enter the taco.
the over/under on games before larry goes down again is officially set at 20.
odds of ferry making a roster move that we can all agree is progressive are set at 5 to1.
winners get a gift certificate to fuddruckers. for realz.
last night was awesome. i now have a raging lebroner…
December 12th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
one more thing of “hotdog head” making a deal, i really think they will make a deal, that will be significant for the team. but by chance they do make a big deal, the miller deal is a reachable one because the sixers new gm do not like him, the question is will he be willing to give up some gummie bears for him.
December 12th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
You have a raging lebroner…. wow. Yeah the Cavs are pretty worthless right now. I really can’t see them winning more than 45 games this year because they definitely don’t have any talent outside of Lebron. Tonight’s game was an aberration, so don’t expect them to put up 120 points every night.
December 12th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Lebron2Chicago what is yours teams record like 7-12.
The Bulls are a bullseye on the Cavs calendar like
everybody else in the league because they stink like
bull_________. Ben Wallace is a washed up electric
headed loser. Ben Gordon wants 10 million for absolutely
nothing. Kurt Hinrich is a sissy and Luol Dung stinks just
like his last name. Lebron could beat you 1 on 5 and would
of if you hadn,t choked in your last game against the
New Jersey Mets who are really a baseball team.
December 12th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
I never said the Bulls were good…
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