Post mortem:
Reality check: This is a game that the Cavaliers had no business winning. They were out scored in the paint 50-40, on the fast break 19-9, second chance points 26-8 and out rebounded 44-30.
So why were they able to pull it out 111-107? Timely defense for one and the fact that LeBron James knew that he and his team came into this one lacking focus and he gave them the spark they needed.
While coach Mike Brown had little interest in getting into a track meet with the Pacers, they ultimately had little choice. In short: when you can’t beat them, join ‘em. They out shot them 52 percent to 48 percent.
More importantly, the Cavaliers got 26 points off 24 Pacers’ turnovers and they only got 14 off 16.
Credit the those all-important trips to the line as well, as the Cavs hit on 24-of-28 free throws while the Pacers went to the line only 11 times.
Bench play proved an important factor in this one as well as Anderson Varejao tossed in 18 points and Wally Szczerbiak added 11.
Quotable:
Mike Brown on his team winning a game outside-the-box:
‘’It’s an exciting thing it. Usually if you’re going to have a good team or your team is going to have a chance to be good, you’re not going to be able to play, you’re not going to be able to play the way you want to play every night,’’ he said. ‘’ At times you’re just going to have to figure out a way to win a ballgame…I don’t think we would have won a game like this in the past.’’
LeBron James on the team’s depth:
We’re going to have a very good team. To have six players in double digits just shows the depth that we have and we are going to be really good if we continue to get better each night.
At the half:
Were it not for Zydrunas Ilgauskas the Cavs would be out of this one. Given that the Pacers opened with an 11-4 run to start the game, it looked as if they would be. They’ve scratched their way back, but the defense that they’ve staked their reps on is missing for the first quarter as the Pacers shot a blistering 56.5 percent from the floor and took a 29-20 lead. The Pacers have done a nice job keeping Ben Wallace off the boards and theyv’e hit a healthy number of three-point shots. The Cavs are getting beat in every facet of the game including in the paint, on the break and in second chance points.
Game: Cavaliers (3-2) vs. Indiana Pacers (1-2)
Broadcast:
TV: FS Ohio
Radio: WAKR (1590 AM); WTAM (1100 AM), WHBC (1480 AM)
Starters: Cavs: LeBron James (F); Ben Wallace (F); Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C); Delonte West (G); Mo Williams (G). Pacers: Danny Granger (F); Troy Murphy (F); Jeff Foster (C); Marquis Daniels (G); T.J. Ford (G).
Officials: Dan Crawford, Tony Brown, Derrick Stafford.
Streaking: The Cavaliers have won two in a row. Ben Wallace has had two consecutive games of more than 10 rebounds.
Three things to watch:
1) The Cavs defense against the Pacers and especially guard T.J. Ford. Coach Mike Brown said specifically that he wants his team to inflict their will on opponents. Now’s as good a test as any with a point guard that averages more than 17 points a game and 4 assists and guides a team that likes to run.
2) Pay attention to Ben Wallace on the boards. He’s dominated in that respect the past two games against Dallas and Chicago. It remains to be seen whether he can continue to keep it up at that kind of pace, but it’s good to see nonetheless.
3) LeBron James – I know. You always want to look at what James is doing. What is different this year, however, is that he’s playing on the perimeter less on the offensive end and relying more on his teammates. That in itself shows a basic level of trust, but pragmatically speaking it allows him to attack the hoop more. The result: more free throw attempts.
Quotable:
Mike Brown on the Pacers offense:
‘’For us, we’re trying to run more this year because we have quick guards, but we, at times, because we’re not used to playing that way, are sloppy and it turns into a rat race. And if this game turns into a rate race, the Pacers are going to win.’’
LeBron James on Danny Granger:
‘’He’s become their go to guy with the departure of Jermaine O’Neal and Steven Jackson. I think he’s started to grow and gain more confidence,’’ LeBron James said. ‘’He’s going to become one of the best (forwards) in this league and one of the best players if he continues to work. He’s a guy we need to key on tonight knowing he’s their No. 1 option.’’
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
George…
I….
I think I love you.
Dude, we really cannot go there.
I’ve thought some more. I do, George. I do love you. I’m sorry for being so harsh in the past. But….the past is the past, right?
You will not deny my love, George.
Thanks for all the info on the Cavs George. Greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work!
Good win for the Cavs tonight. I agree with Mike Brown that this is the type of game we would have lost last year – probably by about 10 points. We came out and just looked sluggish, like we were running in quick sand. Even though Lebron played well, I attribute this win to Anderson Varejao. His hustle and energy helped ignite the defense and led to us getting things going on offense.
My early thoughts on this season:
1) There is NO WAY I trade Anderson Varejao by the trade deadline – especially if he stays healthy and keeps playing like he is now. I know that there’s common sentiment on this blog that he should be gone to pick up another piece of the puzzle. I believe now that he IS an important piece of a potential championship team. I was thinking at the end of last year that he’s expendible, but not anymore. I don’t care now if we lose him at the end of this year and get nothing in return. At least we’ll get to take his salary off the books. If he keeps playing like he is now, he’d be worth the 8-10 million per year that he wants and I hope that we’ll be able to re-sign him. I want to win this year, and I think that keeping him would make us more of a contender than trading him for a new piece that has to be worked in the system and who may disrupt chemistry.
2) I’d actually like to keep Wally Z also. I think he plays a nice role on this team. Yeah, he’s overpaid and has a big expiring contract, but again, I don’t think trading him to bring in someone new is going to help us much. I’d rather see his contract come off the books and then try to re-sign him at a lower salary.
3) The addition of Mo Williams is huge. He hasn’t even gelled yet with this team, but he’s already making a big impact.
4) I really like Mike Brown’s rotations. I hope he sticks with the current rotation (with a little tweaking as needed in the event of injuries or just getting Sasha and JJ some playing time).
5) Enough of this talk that Mike Brown can’t coach offense, his system is horrible, he needs an “offensive coordinator”, etc… It’s all a bunch of bull. The reason why we look so much better on offense and are moving the ball much better is that our personnel are better. Yeah, we still bog down at times, but I’m excited to watch as we become even a more well-oiled machine once these guys continue to play together. I’m liking Lebron in his new role of playing closer to the hoop.
thanks for the halftime update george!
It’s admirable for James to always says the right politically correct things to the media. But sometimes he sounds just as silly as when he used to rave to the media about Jeff McInnis’ wonderful assists-to-turnover ratio.
Getting six guys to score 10 points isn’t indicative of a team’s “depth,” especially when guys are on the floor for at least 26 minutes each. Just off the top of my head, last season the Knicks had six guys who averaged at least 10 points. The Knicks really weren’t all too “deep,” unless you count how deep Marbury did that intern. If you are an NBA player and you can’t score 10 points playing at least 26 minutes, then your agent should probably seriously consider that you join Dajuan Wagner in the Polish League.
I loved Larry Hughes’ game … uh, I mean Ben Wallace’s game last night. No points, no rebounds, a shutout that would have made C.C. Sabathia proud. But he should be psyched to play the Bulls tonight, so I think the shutout streak may end.
Damn, if the cavs keep up this winning pace, I get the feeling that there will be a greatly increased incidence of neurological traumas in the country, leading to poor Alan’s absence.
Is Geddy also Rick? Will Cowher be the next Browns coach? Will George ever get consistent with his blog posts? Will Obama ever get his face mole removed?
Please bring Brian W. back. I miss him and his writing.
What’s to miss? I don’t get it. Windhorst isn’t dead. Windhorst is very much alive. He’s still writing stuff, and probably making up a new rumor as we speak. As the trade deadline gets closer, you can multiply his new rumor by 40. Or maybe 50. Go out and buy yourself a Plain Dealer, or put cleveland.com in your browser. There he is.
They all pretty much go to the same press conferences, get the same quotes and write the same things, don’t they?
the peedee blog format sucks. and since they redesigned the page everything is harder to find. ohio.com is a shell of a newspaper but george’s blog is easy to read, find and use.