Sonics inch past LeBronless Cavs
Posted January 31st, 2008 by admin
Sonics 101, Cavs 95
–I spoke with LeBron after the game. He said the ankle was sore but not too bad, he was able to wear normal shoes. There wasn’t much swelling, mostly it is just stiff and sore. LeBron said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to play against the Clippers on Saturday but was pretty sure he’d be back by Tuesday’s game against the Celtics at home.
–The Cavs only played one quarter of defense, therefore they did not deserve to win. Pretty simple. They gave up 40 points in the first quarter because they seemed like they were pouting that LeBron was out. The Sonic shot 62 percent through the first three quarters, that’s not winning basketball. LeBron not playing is probably good for them in some ways, they have to learn to suck it up. So they are not as good on offense without him, the defensive display was inexcusable against a team like the Sonics.
–Tip your cap to Kevin Durant, he is a rookie and he took the game over when the Sonics saw the lead cut to three points. Major potential there.
–I do give the Cavs credit for not quitting and Larry Hughes played pretty well, except when he tried to shoot over Kevin Durant twice in a row in the second half and getting swatted on jumpers. It was like watching a little kid try to play 1-on-1 against his older brother.
–But that, of course, wasn’t the funniest moment of the night. That belongs to Donyell Marshall when he checked into the game for the first time since November due to a wrist injury. He tore off his warmup…and his jersey as he checked into the game. He was left in an undershirt and had to be told by the official what he’d done. Then the ballboy just sort of stood there and watched instead of helping him as Donyell got called for a delay of game. Which, as Gene Hackman said in The Royal Tenebaums: “That’s one last (bleep) you to the old man.” LeBron nearly needed a new pair of underwear. Afterward, he was still laughing. “They are going to be showing that on the bloopers for years,” LeBron said. “My kids are going to be laughing at that.”
Pregame
Starting lineups
Cavs: Larry Hughes, Ira Newble, Devin Brown, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Sonics: Earl Watson, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox, Kurt Thomas
–On a back-to-back without LeBron with two big wins on this trip, doesn’t bode well for Cavs. They’ll need a big game from Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes just to stay close.
–The Sonics can score, especially at home. The Cavs without LeBron are a terrible team, especially on offense. LeBron should earn MVP votes tonight.
Halftime — Sonics 62, Cavs 42
–Cavs waved the white flag on this one before it even started. It is one thing to have scoring problems without LeBron, but it is another not to defend or rebound. The Cavs gave up 40 points in the first quarter, the most they’ve given up in a quarter this season. The Sonics got something like 12 of the first 13 rebounds of the game. That’s effort stuff. So lose, but at least lose playing hard.
–Mike Brown isn’t setting a very good example for maintaining poise, he was just throwing lineups out there. When LeBron is out his rotations go nuts and that is a weakness. He’s got to have a better handle on what’s going on out there.
Postgame
Stars
Durant, 24 points, four assists
Wilcox, 18 points, 13 rebounds
Hughes, 28 points, six rebounds
Ilgauskas, 17 points, nine rebounds
January 31st, 2008 at 9:45 pm
how reliable is this info.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:57 pm
[...] According to Brian Windhorst, LeBron James will not be able to play against the Sonics this evening in Seattle. Given that the Cavs record without Lebron is exactly 0-5 in the five games he missed, this doesn't bode well for the Wine and Gold… Published Jan 31 2008, 09:57 PM by barrymcbride [...]
January 31st, 2008 at 10:21 pm
This is going to go well…
January 31st, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Does that mean Devin and Ira are starting at the ‘wings’? Wow.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Just goes to show all of us how much we rely on bron bron. Nothing else is needed to proove his MVP value. We need Kidd more than ever the time is now!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
SOMEONE Answer WHY WE CANT GET CASSELL FROM THE CLIPPERS HE SEEMS TO STILL HAVE SOME FIGHT LEFT IN HIM AND WE MAY NOT HAVE TO GIVE UP SO SO MUCH.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Kidd won’t be a Cavalier.
The smarter move would be to trade for Cassell.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I wish Larry would just hit his 40%…
January 31st, 2008 at 11:22 pm
The Clippers have said they’re not trading Cassell. Their owner still thinks they have a playoff run in them. Maybe if their losing ways keep up for the next 3 weeks…
February 1st, 2008 at 12:01 am
I’m also a fan of Cassell. I think he’d help LeBron and be an excellent tutor for Daniel Gibson. Gibson reminds me alot of Sam Cassell. The problem is Cassell has an expiring deal and I don’t know if the Clips would deal him for anything that added more years to their roster.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:34 am
Well, the clear advantage of Marshall taking off his jersey before coming into the game was his ability to immediately answer my question. I had openly wondered how many tons he had gained while off. With that gut protruding out over his shorts, he’s looking like a fashionable feminine Mel Turpin.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:50 am
ok part one….this game showed how BAD the cavs are without lebron. part two….lebron really needs to man up. i understand he is making sure hes health for the playoffs and the important part of the season but seriously, there is no highschool player who hasnt played with his injuries. its really sad how big of a baby he is
February 1st, 2008 at 5:55 am
I’m not sure Lebron is getting enough run from the national media. Some idiot on ESPN (Adrian Wojnarowski) actually wrote a column promoting Kobe Bryant as the obvious MVP because it’s “his turn”, whatever that means. The year Lebron is having is one for the ages. Not only is the stat line stuffed, he’s become the NBA’s best fourth quarter killer. 30.1ppg, 7.8rpg, 7.2 apg. That’s just sick. Jordan, in 1988 posted a 32.5-8.0-8.0 year. Bird in ‘87 put up 29.9-9.3-6.1. Magic had a year of 23.9-6.3-12.2. At 23 years old, Lebron is putting up one of the three or four best individual seasons in the past 30 years of the league. I can’t believe a guy like that actually plays for a Cleveland team.
Now, as for him not playing, I don’t blame him. It’s a message to boatshoes. Look what happens when I’m not there. Even with Larry Hughes having a statistically decent game (in a Ricky Davis sort of way) they looked like a D-League team. He watches other teams sign guys like Damon Stoudemire, Earl Boykins, Luis Scola, Beno Udrih, James Posey, eddie House, etc and the Cavs stand pat. Despite the injuries and holdouts. Despite the obvious needs. Seriously, what does Boatshoes do all day?
February 1st, 2008 at 8:52 am
LOL @ Dan. You have no idea how bad it hurts or how bad it is hurt. If you haven’t noticed, he’s the freaking franchise. The be all end all for this Cavaliers team. The fact that they couldn’t get by a terrible Sonics team without him is testament to that fact. I, too, didn’t like him sitting (as I figured they would lose) but it’s a long season and that bunch should have won without him.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:23 am
I would just like to say that neither the fans nor the local media should EVER criticize Lebron. Yes, I know he isn’t perfect but when it comes to basketball, he’s about as close as a human being has ever come (including MJ). So, as Cleveland fans, we should wake up every day and thank god for the gift of Lebron and vow never to take it for granted. Along with this, we should never be critical. He’s allowed to take a bad jumper in crunch time. He’s allowed to rest a sore ankle. In two years when his contract is up, he needs to know that no market will every treat him like Cleveland has. He needs to feel like he has it good here.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:55 am
Thoughts on the Cavs loss to the Sonics:
- This game was not evidence that Danny Ferry has done a bad job, any more than the previous 13-3 streak was evidence that he had done a good job. If the outcome of the games is all that matters, then Danny Ferry is doing a pretty good job over his first 3 years here.
- The Sonics beat the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday at home. I don’t hear anyone saying that Greg Popovich has done a bad job of putting players around Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
- The Cavs lost because they didn’t play any defense in the first half. That’s on the players for not making the effort, and on the coach for letting the players use LeBron’s injury as an excuse. I’m sure that LeBron deciding he couldn’t go an hour before the game didn’t help matters. The Cavs were facing a combination of circumstances that made it very difficult to win, but they lost because of their lack of effort and focus early in the game.
- Daniel Gibson needs to develop some weapons for when he puts the ball on the floor. He’s fast enough to penetrate, but not fast enough to get to the rim before the help defense. This leads to a lot of charging fouls as he barrels into the defense, and a lot of awkward shots as he tries to avoid the blocked shot.
- Was Shannon Brown’s 8 minutes of atrocious basketball enough for people to stop calling for him to play more?
February 1st, 2008 at 10:35 am
If it were up to LeBron he would’ve played against Seattle. Don’t be naive to think that he’s the one that decided to sit out. It was management’s decision.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:26 am
I don’t know if it’s James’ decision to sit whenever he has a boo-boo, I don’t know if it’s the Gilbert-Ferry online mortgage guru/incredible dumbass combo. What’s the difference who’s decision it is, why not protect the sole asset the franchise has? Makes total financial sense. James has already sold season tickets for this season, there’s still two more seasons to fully milk what’s left of his stay in Cleveland, and they’ll always be in the playoffs no matter how lousy Ferry’s other 14 wax figures actually are. So who cares? The guy should sit and giggle and guffaw to his heart’s content, they’ll still make the 8th seed even if he sits for a month at a time.
Bottom line, and it is all about the bottom line, is that it’s not worth the risk, and everybody in the NBA should have learned a very expensive lesson after what happened with Grant Hill. If it’s a regular season game and James has an unsightly pimple, then he should sit. Ain’t worth the risk. The zit might become infected, the cooties might travel to his brain, and his brain might swell and he’ll spontaneously combust and leave the team with nothing but a little green globule on the court like a Spinal Tap drummer.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
“The zit might become infected, the cooties might travel to his brain, and his brain might swell and he’ll spontaneously combust and leave the team with nothing but a little green globule on the court like a Spinal Tap drummer.”
Funny, Alan, I wish that exact same fate for you.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I’m zit-free, Mike. Thanks for the props, though. With that said, I’m a lot more worried about James getting one, though, since I ain’t worth a penny to Gilbert.
By the way, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I love your recent posted play-by-play during the games underneath Windy’s posts. It’s a brand-new twist for Windy’s blog. As if Tait can’t describe it well enough for folks, such as myself, without access to a TV during a late game. For example, during the Blazers game, your “Another Hughes dunk” was both enlightening and profound. You’re like eyes for my ears.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
This is stupid. Why does LeBron sit games out, completely destroying momentum that the Cavs have spent weeks garnering? I am going to be in stitches when, 3 months from now, the Cavaliers lose the chance to have home-court advantage in a playoff series by one or two games because either LeBron or Management felt it was necessary for him to sit tonight and maybe saturday when he is clearly capable of playing.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
“Clearly”? You know something that we don’t, Jimmy. Funny stuff.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
No prob, Alan. By the way, that’s “Mike C.” that does the posted play-by-play you love so much. I’m just plain ol’ “Mike”. Just thought you should give proper credit where credit is due, since you’re all about the facts.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:05 pm
i’m convinced someone can take larry hughes , kwame brown just got traded for gasol . ferry get off your ass
February 1st, 2008 at 7:07 pm
that lakers trade was crazy, what is wrong with the grizzlies, we could of gave them drew, brown or even boobie and a draft pick, but instead they got gummy bears and ju ju beads, ferry get your big head out of your butt and make a move or gilbert should fire you.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:12 pm
when lbj leaves in two year what will gilbert do with his 300 million dollar investment, do u think he will move the team or sell them to another sucker. I use to think that dan gil was a shrew business man, but he is not, if he still got ferry the captian of this ship after this season then his investment was for short term funds, because after lbj leave so will his profits, FIRE FERRY WHILE YOU STILL GOT A CHANCE AND GET SOMEONE THAT KNOWS TALENT, CHUCK DALY, WAYNE EMBRY ANYBODY BUT LONG HEAD FERRY.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Ferry worked very hard on a Gasol trade and was thisclose to pulling it off, according to league sources.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
We couldn’t give the Grizzlies anyone with as much potential as Crittendon nor as big an expiring contract as Kwame. And while we could give up picks, we could use some young talent instead, preferably in a form that fits our system better than Gasol.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
the seattle vs cleveland game was a fix it should be investigated the gangsters in vegas own the nba i have been a handicapper for twenty years and believe me i know when the fix is in
February 1st, 2008 at 11:54 pm
That Gasol trade is something else. In terms of talent, highway robbery. Easy to see why Jerry West wanted to get the hell out. The way they’re now being forced by ownership to dump salary, you’d think Gordon Gund had a second franchise.
But hey, at least Cavs fans can bask in the comfort of knowing they have a general manager who was once able to pull a trade deadline heist of future Hall-of-Famer Flip Wilson. Or was it his alter-ego Geraldine. Can’t recall.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:33 am
Hey, I just come to say:LeBron ,you are amazing! Take care!
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 am
I’m amazed this team is doing as well as it is, especially given the games lost to injuries and hold outs.
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 am
Kevin is right and I’m not sure Coach Brown deserves BW’s criticism for the team’s struggles finding a rotation when LeBron is out.
Finding the right rotation is a constant problem, even with all the players healthy, because many of the players are either limited in some way or inconsistent. Brown’s pretty good at it.
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Is it me, or is Alan T the most negative person on the planet? Does anything positive come out of his mouth? If he is married, I feel sorry for his wife having to listen to his constant negativity.
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Larry and Ferry quite contrary, how does your garden grow.
With silver bells and no hair gels we watch them react too
slow. With Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown we wait for our
franchise to blow.
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
LeBron not listed in the starting lineups for tonight..
Chalk up another “L” for the Cavaliers as they ensure that they can’t get a top-3 playoff seed by essentially forfeiting games against inferior opponents.
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
JoeHoops, Tucker is the most profoundly dysphoric person I’ve ever come across anywhere. I imagine he gets some pleasure from his Starbury’s and Ricky Davis jerseys, but other than that, I’m betting the guy is ready to step out in front of traffic on east 9th street at any given moment. I’m sure you did notice, though, that the Tuck blogged more infrequently during the cavs’ stretch of good games…then came back in full force following the sonics game. par for the course for this message board’s idiot savant (minus the savant, of course).
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Actually, I blog relatively infrequently regardless if they have a good stretch or a bad stretch. What’s the difference? It’s all LeBron, all the time. Which, of course, doesn’t otherwise explain why seemingly every other competitive franchise in the NBA is somehow able to pull off bold transactions, with the notable exception of Ferry Central.
But hey, I’m sure he’s still sweatily working the phones. A Daniel Gibson, Shannon Brown and Ira Newlbe for Stromile Swift deal just might shake and quake the boots off the NBA. A massive shift in the balance of power.
Thanks for making this all about me, though. Shrewd insightful cerebral commentary. Appreciate it.
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Also, I want to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences and prayers to Windy and his family. That public print campaign to shoehorn ‘ol Z onto the All-Star team ran aground like a beached porpoise. C’est la vie.
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
“Shrewd insightful cerebral commentary. Appreciate it.”–I’m sorry I can’t compare with your prowess of incessant talk about “boat shoes,” Donyell’s physique, or LeBron’s sperm. That sure makes for the shrewd insightful cerebral commentary you seek. Your comments are far more useless than anything else on this board, yet your typing comes out fast and loose like the man with intractable diarrhea.
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Big Z is the most unappreciated 7′3″ 13 ppg. scorer in the league and the All Star snub proves it.
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
ttss … I’m puzzled. Are you Rageaholic Rick in font drag? Sure appears that way. And by the way, I’ve never used the term “boat shoes.” That’s doc, larry d. and the rest. Despite my own non-usage of the derogatory name, they still retain my full nickname support. Two thumbs up.
By the way, much like larry d., I am both shocked and appalled. The Big Z All Star snub is the snub of the modern basketball era. I haven’t been this disappointed since that time my dad took me to see Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal, and I discovered that Meadowlark really wasn’t wasn’t made from lemons and that Curly really wasn’t curly. It was like discovering the Tooth Fairy wasn’t real. Devastating.
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
Like I said, Alan T is the most negative person on the planet. I would hunt thru all of his blog postings to see if could find a positive post from him, but I doubt I could. He just pisses and moans about everything. I swear, if the Cavs won a championship, he’d be on here complaining that Ferry isn’t doing anything to secure a second championship.