CAVS RECORD: 19-63
W&GR Links: Cleveland Vs. Dallas? / Jamison on Cavs’ Potential “Destiny”
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered Chicago up two games to none in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs.
At this point, there’s not a lot to say that hasn’t been said.
Here’s the CliffsNotes version: The Chicago Bulls are playing balls-out. The Cavs are ironing things out. The Cleveland fans are sweating these games out. And Joakim Noah is out. Of Cleveland. Hopefully for the season.
Things to look for: Signs of sustained effort by the Cavaliers at the defensive end. Signs of sustained offensive success by the Bulls. And Shaq and Noah, arguably the two most unpredictable individual players in this series. Oh, and Jamario Moon . . . just because he’s earned some real time in this game.
But that’s about all I have today.
So instead, I’ll share two new links that I’ve enjoyed.
#1.) If the Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks met in the NBA Finals, it would reunite four former Washington Wizards. Cleveland has Antawn Jamison, obviously, and the Mavericks now have Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and the “Joakim Noah” of 2008, DeShawn Stevenson.
Andrew at WaitingForNextYear wrote up a great piece on this . . . apparently with a nice assist from Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com. It includes quotes from Antawn Jamison . . . and this note:
“Everything you have ever heard or read about what a standup guy and true professional [Jamison] is has been 1000% true. Whereas most guys will answer a handful of questions and then politely say ‘thank you’ and walk away, Jamison stood there answering every single question until everyone there had a chance to get their quote that they needed. Which isn’t to say everyone else is rude for cutting reporters off. That’s hardly the case. Rather, it just goes to show what a unique kind of personality Jamison is and why the Cavaliers are truly lucky to have him be a part of this team.” [WaitingForNextYear]
One Cavaliers / Mavericks connection the article doesn’t address is the reunion of Anthony Parker and Tim Thomas, who were both with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1997 to 1999. (Also, Shawn Marion played about two dozen games with AP in the latter part of last season in Toronto.)
It’s not really all that relevant, I just thought I’d toss it out for any vintage AP fans. (?)
#2.) To continue the love: Jamison was one of six Cavaliers to take part in . . . well . . . a sort of Mad Libs game for an article on SlamOnline, in which the players were asked why they will (or won’t) end up as NBA Champions.
For why they would’ve won, Jamison said “destiny” would play a role, adding: ”With the guys brought here, the unselfish play, no egos involved, you know just to do it for the team mentality . . . just a great group of guys assembled together to have one common goal.”
Colin Zvosec analyzed each of their responses. Of Jamison, he said:
“I love ‘Tawn’s answer to the reason they won. I’ve always kind of believed in fate and destiny when it comes to sports, and when you think about all ‘Tawn has gone through in his career, it makes a ton of sense why he would view things this way. He must truly believe there’s a bigger reason he’s getting this chance now.
“If there’s anyone in the NBA who’s walked through the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, it’s Antawn Jamison.” [Colin Zvosec - Cavaliers Central]
Colin is obviously referring to the 2002 movie “40 Days and 40 Nights”, in which Josh Hartnett tried to make it through lent without masturbating. I think it was a comedy, but I forget.
That movie hit theaters on March 1st, 2002. On that night, Jamison and the Golden State Warriors were engaged in an epic NorCal face-off with Chris Webber and the Sacramento Kings.
The Warriors lost, but Antawn had a nice game: 20 points (on 8-of-15 shooting) with three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Also in that game . . . Erick Dampier, who was also playing for the Warriors at that time. He now plays for the Mavericks, and so he’ll be another former teammate of Antawn’s in that series, if by chance it does end up being the Cavs and the Mavs in the Finals.
Gilbert Arenas was also playing for the Warriors on March 1st of 2002. (But he ruined his chances of being traded to the Mavericks or the Cavs with an ill-advised act of brandishment.)
While we’re just screwing around here . . .
Larry Hughes was also on that 2002 Warriors team, and on March 1st, he was in classic pre-Cavs form: 19 points (on 7-of-14 shooting, if you can picture that), plus four assists, five rebounds and a steal.
And so were former Cavs Cedric Henderson and Bobby Sura, who went 2-for-7 with seven points. (That sounds about right.)
And so was Troy Murphy, whom the Cavs were supposedly going to trade for if the Antawn Jamison deal (and Amar’e Stoudemire and any other better options) fell through.
And so was Jason Richardson, whom the Cavs would supposedly have had to take along with Stoudemire had one particular version of that deal worked out, if it was available in the first place.
Talk about a stacked team . . . how did Golden State finish 21-61 that year???
The LeBron 2010 Quote Collection
LeBron James will be a free agent this summer . . . you know, in case you haven’t heard.
Whether or not you believe he will leave, if you’re a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, you’re probably sick of people talking about it.
So I’ve decided to put together a mini-database of . . . well . . . people talking about it.
Sorry!
But if it’s any consolation, the general consensus is that most people would LIKE to see him stay. (Although that doesn’t really share any insight into where LeBron wants to live for the next few years.)
All right, before we begin, here’s where I need your help.
Please drop me a quick line (in one of the contact methods on the right sidebar, or in the comment section below) if you can remember someone notable (not just a random columnist, unless it’s particularly interesting) giving a personal opinion on what he/she thinks LeBron will do, or thinks LeBron should do.
I dug up as many as I could, but I inevitably missed some good ones. So if you notice one I missed, or notice a new one come down at some point, let me know. Just the name will suffice. You don’t need to have a link . . . I’ll find it.
This page will be updated as often as necessary, so feel free to bookmark it if you’re interested in following along with the latest.
All right, here’s The LeBron James 2010 Quote Collection . . . so far . . . in chronological order, newest to oldest:
LeBron James.
“I got a goal, and it’s a huge goal, and that’s to bring an NBA championship here to Cleveland. And I won’t stop until I get it.” [April '10]
CBS Power Rankings Guy.
“Put yourself in James’ shoes. If you lead the Cavaliers to a championship, you’ll feel justified moving to the next challenge. And if you don’t, then it’s logical to conclude it just cannot happen in Cleveland. Either way, it’s bad news for the Cavs.
“2010-11 prediction: Fewer wins. Simple mathematics here: The chances of LeBron James returning are less than 50-50, and if he’s not back, the Cavs are back in the pack.” [April '10]
Kevin McHale.
“I’m not sure you want to be the first marine on the beach charging into New York City [to play with the Knicks] unless your name is LeBron James. I’m not sure who wants to go to New York City, it’s going to be very interesting to see what’s going to happen there.
“I think players will look at what they have around them and make the best decision for them and where they can win a championship. If you win a championship, it doesn’t matter if you’re in a big market. Look at San Antonio, they’ve won four (championships). That’s what all players want is to win a championship. I don’t think there’s going to be as much movement as people anticipate. I think LeBron and Dwyane are going to stay. There’s the potential for a lot of these guys to stay and sign with their own teams. How they do in the playoffs will have a small bearing on that.” [April '10]
Charles Barkley.
“I am going to be crushed if LeBron James does not stay in Cleveland. Let me say this, Danny Ferry has done more in the last two or three years than any GM in the history of basketball to get a guy a championship in a small period of time. I am going to be crushed from a fan standpoint if LeBron James does not stay in Cleveland.” [April '10]
Tracy McGrady.
On whether he sees LeBron coming to New York: “To me, in my honest opinion, I don’t see it happening. I really don’t. It’s set for him [in Cleveland] right now.” [April '10]
Al Harrington.
”A lot of teams would love to have him and the Knicks are one of them. But if he’s as loyal as he says, I would think it’s very hard for him to leave, especially because he’s home.
“If it was a different city, maybe not as much a connection [maybe it's different] . . . but at the end of the day, he generates every single thing for this whole state. It would be tough for him to make that decision to leave.” [March '10]
Danny Granger.
“If I was LeBron, I’d go to New York. New York is the media mecca as far as endorsements and being able to expand your personnel net worth. The exposure you can get there isn’t only nationally but globally. New York does all that for you. [March '10]
[FYI: Granger signed a five-year contract extension with the Pacers in 2008.]
Carlos Boozer, a.k.a. The Last Person to Walk Away from the Cavs.
”I think LeBron’s going to stay. That’s my gut. They’re doing everything they can to build him a championship. His biggest thing is winning a ring. I think his best chance to win a ring is probably where he’s at.” [March '10]
Carmelo Anthony.
“He’s already got the money and the fame. I think the only thing weighing in right now is the championship. If he feels that he can win a championship in Cleveland, then he will stay. The team in Cleveland is that much better than the team in New York.”
On if he thinks LeBron has already made his decision: “No. Not at all, not at all, not even close.” [March '10]
Scottie Pippen, a.k.a. Michael Jordan’s “Scottie Pippen”.
On LeBron + Chicago Bulls: “I don’t know if LeBron James fits with the Chicago Bulls. I don’t know if I want Derrick Rose to give the ball up and let LeBron run the show. There are some great free agents out there. For me, you have to have the right fit. You just can’t go and get the best player. You got to have chemistry in this game.”
“[LeBron] has definitely brought a lot of equity to [Cleveland's] franchise and he has a huge fan base. I think that he will ultimately stay there. I think that’s the best place for him and I think he realizes that team has been assembled to help him win a championship. They have a good team now, so there are no excuses now to turn your back and walk out the door.” [March '10]
Joe Maloof, Owner of the Sacramento Kings.
“I’d like to see players stay with their team. Cleveland has been a great city for him. He’s done a great job for that whole franchise. Dan Gilbert has been a great owner.
“[In] my own personal opinion . . . he started off in Cleveland, it would be wonderful to see him finish his career there. [I hope he] retires a Cavalier.” [March '10]
NBA Team Executives.
From “Sports Illustrated’s” Ian Thomsen:
“An informal “S.I.” poll of a dozen NBA insiders: Team executives, coaches and a high-profile agent . . . finds only two predicting that James will leave the Cavaliers, with both anticipating he’ll jump to the Knicks.
“‘Every time I fly into Cleveland and drive toward [Quicken Loans Arena] downtown and look around, I just can’t see him re-signing there,’ said an Eastern Conference executive whose team is not in the running to sign James. Adds a Western GM, ‘This whole Tiger Woods scandal comes into play. The world is looking for a new guy to be Number 1, and that makes the New York stage more important to LeBron than ever.
“But seven insiders are convinced that James isn’t going anywhere, while the other three rate his chances of sticking around at 50/50 . . . depending on Cleveland’s performance in the playoffs.” [February '10]
C.C. Sabathia, of the New York Yankees (and formerly of the Cleveland Indians)
“He’s seen both sides of the fence, being in Cleveland and now [playing as a visitor] in New York. The Knicks have a little ways to go, but any time you add that guy with another guy, you definitely have a chance to win. [James] and [Amar'e] Stoudamire, whoever else, you’ve got to think your chances to win would be pretty good.
“No doubt, [I'd like to see him here]. This is it. This is the stage he wants to play on. And I think he’ll be great here.” [February '10]
Walt “Clyde” Frazier, who’s like New York’s Austin Carr.
“I think LeBron would gain in stature by coming to the Knicks. I think if he signed with the Knicks, he’d be right up there with Kobe. By being in L.A. and playing for the Lakers and winning four titles already, I think Kobe is above LeBron. I think playing in L.A., in that market, does that for him. But I think coming to New York would help LeBron get to be on Kobe’s level.” [January '10]
Jim Brown, Cleveland football legend.
“Looking at the fact that it is a business, I put that first. But having said that, I would love to see him be here. I think it’s a terrific marriage. He does so much for this city and I think he has an owner that tries to do everything he can. When you have an owner who is trying to do the best he can do and a player, it’s a terrific set of circumstances. But the business is the business.” [January '10]
Gordon Gund, Former majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I’m very hopeful that he will [stay]. I think it will be hard for him to find a better situation. I think that if something were near equal he’s going to stay where he is. There’s the saying, ‘The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.’
“He knows the other players on the team. He knows the way the fans feel about him. If he has a rough patch, they’ll support him. He knows the coaching staff. He knows the management. So he’s got a real leg up on what the future looks like that he doesn’t with other places. I know he’s a smart young man. I’m very hopeful.” [January '10]
Magic Johnson.
“I think he’s going to go to New York.
“They’re in the lead, they just have to make it [attractive] for him. LeBron will come to New York if he knows they’re gonna win. So, if they sign a free agent first, that would probably seal the deal, I believe. They should have somebody else on their radar to make him want to come.”
But not Dwyane Wade: “[LeBron] and Wade can’t play together, I don’t care what they say, because they both dominate that ball. You want somebody like a Chris Bosh . . . you want somebody like Stoudemire to go along with LeBron. You got Yao Ming, if he’s healthy, I’d take a look at him as well.”
“He could really be a ‘King’ if he could revitalize the Knicks. You got some of the best basketball fans in the world, and now you could be responsible for bringing a championship back to New York. Now, it’s gonna take a few years, because you still gotta add more pieces. He’s got more talent in Cleveland, but he can do more incredible things in New York.
“I would say for [LeBron], and knowing what he wants to accomplish, if he said he wants to be a billionaire, or close to it, you gotta go to New York. And I would tell him this: ‘Wherever you go, sign for three or four years, and then look at the situation.’
“If you don’t like it, you could go somewhere else. I think he’s looking at the Knicks very, very hard. He really probably wants to go to New York, but I think he’s gonna see what both teams end up doing, who has the most talent.” [December '09]
Larry Bird.
“I hope he stays in Cleveland. He’s from Ohio and he means so much to that team and that state. I used to love to go and play in Cleveland because they love the game. And, I like to see the great players stay in the cities and with the teams that drafted them. It means so much for the league and the state. So I would rather see him stay.” [November '09]
Larry Hughes.
“I still feel that [he'll stay in Cleveland]. He’s got a good opportunity to win there. And I know a lot of people talk about him playing in a big market, but he just wants to win a ring. It’s not about playing in a big market.” [October '09]
Reggie Miller.
“Personally, in my opinion, I want LeBron to stay in Cleveland. I think it’s better for the league when you have superstars in smaller markets . . . like Brett Favre in Green Bay. You don’t always have to be in L.A. or New York to get all the endorsements and be a superstar. Peyton Manning has been the face of the NFL and he’s in Indianapolis.” [October '09]
David Stern, NBA Commissioner.
When asked if he had any guess where LeBron would be playing next year:
“None whatsoever, although I hope it’s in Cleveland.” [October '09]
Charles Barkley.
“LeBron James should stay in Cleveland. People say you are going to be bigger if you are in New York but the only people who say that are people from New York. LeBron is not going to be bigger than he already is.” [October '09]
Kenny Smith.
“There is no rationale for him to leave and go to any other city other than New York. There are only three franchises you can leave Cleveland if you are LeBron James: The Lakers, Celtics, and the Knicks. All the others are parallel in terms of mystique or anything else.” [October '09]
Gloria James, LeBron’s mother.
“He’s a hometown boy.” [September '09]
Michael Jordan.
“He’s made his mark in Cleveland. I know New York fans would love to have him, but you need a lot more components than just one player. He’s done a heck of a job in Cleveland and they deserve to have him there. He’s from that area.
“In terms of the game itself, small markets can benefit from it a lot more than the big markets can. That’s not a discredit to New York at all.” [June '09]
LeBron James.
”I’m comfortable with being in Cleveland. I’m excited about it. ‘I’m loving the direction we’re [going] in and I’m loving the teammates I have and the organization. So if that’s any indication of me leaving, then somebody must be looking out the wrong box.” [May '09]
LeBron James, at a Barack Obama voter-registration rally in Ohio.
“I love Ohio, and I ain’t going nowhere.” [October '08]
Dan Gilbert, Owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“[The non-stop speculation that LeBron would leave to go to a "major market"] is kind of an insult to the city of Cleveland in my opinion . . . an insult to the Midwest.
“I think we’re one of the top organizations in the NBA. I think we’re going to compete for a championship . . . and we’ll worry about that summer when it comes.” [September '08]
[Again, be sure to let me know if you can think of something to add. Thanks.]
[Also, if you haven't read "The Franchise" by Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst, you should. It's a great read. So good, that I'm doing this plug. For free.]
In a Rush: The 10 Count for Cavs-Bulls, Game Two
This is the debut of a new feature on The Wine and Gold Rush . . . called “The 10 Count.”
Basically, it’s a rundown of 10 random, and possibly pointless observations from the most recent game. Simple. Sounds only mildly intriguing, I know, but I promise I’ll try to make it fun.
By the way, the boxing reference is pretty meaningless. To be honest, I didn’t have the creativity to come up with a cool Wine and / or Gold Rush allusion . . . or a workable basketball reference that hasn’t already been used by at least 18 blogs.
If you can think of one, shoot me a line . . . and I’ll repay you with digital thanks.
OK, let’s get on with this thing:
Cleveland 102 – Chicago 92. [Cavs up 2-0, First Round]
#1.) Yeah, he’s wearing a multi-colored mouthpiece . . . although buckteeth would be sort of fitting for him.
#2.) Jamario Moon became the first honoree from the school of Intrigue Over Who Will Break Up Mike Brown’s Playoff Rotation. He received 19.9 minutes . . . up from the 7.2 he had in Game 1. He, along with Delonte West (27.3 total minutes), played the final 16 minutes of the game.
Most of those minutes came from Shaquille O’Neal. He left the game just 4:30 into the third quarter with foul trouble, and never returned. Anthony Parker’s minutes were also down from Game One. Jamario replaced AP with four minutes to go in the third, and AP never re-entered the game.
#3.) Jamario played well. He was part of the late-game defensive unit that was finally able to gain some traction against the Bulls . . . and offensively, he hit four of his five shots (all 3s) for 12 points. Nine of those points came in the fourth quarter.
He also had three rebounds and two blocks (including an uproarious one on Joakim Noah that was deadened six seconds later when Luol Deng blocked a Mo Williams shot). Moon led the team with a plus/minus of +14.
#4.) J.J. Hickson only got 9.5 seconds of playing time; Daniel Gibson received 0.0 seconds. In the middle of the third quarter, J.J. and Boobie were the two Cavaliers featured in an “NBA Cares” spot. It took place at the Cleveland Clinic, and the thought crossed my mind that it could be filming in REAL TIME.
#5.) Delonte West should look for his shot more. Not on corner 3s or on bail-out jumpers . . . but on the drive. He looked great on a couple of clever moves to the basket early in the fourth quarter. It’s nice that he operates as a facilitator first, but there are definitely times when he could be more aggressive.
Delonte finished with seven points (on 3-of-7 shooting) with five assists.
#6.) This was another crazy game by LeBron James. He finished with 40 points on just 23 shots. He was an incredible 16-for-23 from the field, 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 from the stripe.
He also had eight rebounds, eight assists, two dynamic blocks and a steal.
#7.) The turning point was probably the 3-pointer that LeBron hit in front of the Chicago bench (followed by a wink to the Bulls) with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter. That kicked off a run of 10 straight points (on four field goals) from LeBron . . . in less than three minutes. During that time, the Cavs increased their lead from three to nine.
#8.) After the game, LeBron said:
“[The Bulls] were talking the whole game . . . just, every time I caught it over there, just daring me to shoot the ball. Telling me I couldn’t shoot or you can’t make jump shots, so take the shot. So, um, that’s what I did.
“They asked me to shoot a jumper, and I did that . . . over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.”
That’s transcribed exactly. And oddly enough, LeBron called out every single one of his nine jumpers. He says he hit one, and then went through eight “overs.” Is this just a coincidence? You’d think so. But with LeBron James . . . who knows?
#9.) In the first quarter, TNT’s Marv Albert exclaimed “Anthony Parker is firing from all angles.” Now, that isn’t something that you normally dream about, necessarily . . . but he was on early. Then, he never took another shot the rest of the game. He finished with nine points (on 3-of-5 shooting; all 3s).
Not that it’s a bad thing . . . I don’t think . . . but it’s interesting how the Cavs’ offense often seems to operate in bunches. There’s the stretch where they’re pickin’-n’-poppin’ with Z, there’s the stretch where LeBron wants isolation, there’s the stretch where we work the ball inside-out, there’s the stretch where we force the ball to work inside-out, there’s the stretch where AP gets a touch, etc.
#10.) The Cavs shot the ball 12.2% better from the field than the Bulls in this game, 56.3% to 44.1%. So what gives?
Here are a few reasons why this game was close: Weak-sauce Cavs defense (or “no Cavs defense,” as I initially typed), the Bulls’ offensive rebounding edge (13-to-5), the Bulls’ second-chance points, the Bulls only turned the ball over four times (to 11 times by the Cavs), and Joakim Noah’s career performance to prove to the feisty Cleveland crowd that he does not suck. At least, at basketball.
[Knockout.]
A Matter of (Playoff) Minutes
In Game One of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-round playoff series with the Chicago Bulls, the Cavs implemented their “playoff rotation,” which basically consisted of seven players . . . with two others receiving less than ten minutes.
In previous playoff runs, the rotation-shrinking was essentially a no-brainer. It was just up to Mike Brown to divvy up the minutes . . . based on tandems he wanted to utilize and match-ups he wanted to exploit.
But now that the Cavs have one of the deepest teams in the NBA . . . if not the deepest . . . Brown also must decide who to play, in addition to the minutes and the five-man units.
It’ll be a mildly interesting storyline to follow throughout the series. For example, in Game One, Brown was using a pretty short rotation, with all the starters playing big minutes.
There were two likely reasons for this: With Shaquille O’Neal’s injury and all the time off the other starters were getting in the last two weeks, Brown wanted to give his main guys an opportunity to reconnect and work out any wrinkles. Also, Brown was not taking any chances. He was not about to let the Bulls come in to The Q and steal a game while the Cavs were still feeling things out.
Here’s how the minutes worked out, along with season averages for comparison.
- LeBron James: 40 minutes . . . 39.0
- Mo Williams: 39 minutes . . . 34.2
- Antawn Jamison: 33 minutes . . . 32.4
- Anderson Varejao: 32 minutes . . . 28.5
- Anthony Parker: 31 minutes . . . 28.3
- Shaquille O’Neal: 25 minutes . . . 23.4
- Delonte West: 24 minutes . . . 25.0
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 9 minutes . . . 20.9
- Jamario Moon: 7 minutes . . . 17.2
- J.J. Hickson: 1 minute . . . 20.9
- Daniel Gibson: 1 minute . . . 19.1
- Jawad Williams: 1 minute . . . 13.7
While you don’t necessarily love to play your starters big minutes in the first round of the playoffs unless you have to . . . it’s interesting to note that only Mo and (to a lesser extent) Andy and AP played significantly more than they averaged throughout the regular season.
The high regular season averages (including Leon Powe at 11.8 minutes) were inflated by all the injuries that the Cavs suffered to their core rotation players . . . along with Mike Brown’s tendency to give minutes (and DNP-CDs) in bunches.
And now, here are a few notes from the lineups in Game One:
#1.) The most productive time in the game came in the first 9:30 minutes of the game, when the Cavaliers were +14 over the Bulls. All the starters were in that whole time, with the exception of Andy subbing-in for Shaq 7:30 in.
Here’s how that breaks down: The Cavs’ starters were +8 with Shaq and then went +6 with Andy.
That rotation was less successful after halftime, when the Cavs were +3 with all the starters . . . and -4 after Andy came in for Shaq. (That happened in the heart of the Cavs’ seven-minute dead zone.)
#2.) LeBron rested for 2:55 in the second quarter and 4:12 at the top of the fourth.
#3.) Individually, the Cavs bench players had a few nice moments in the game . . . but Chicago was making up ground when they were in. The Cavs were even with the Bulls when Z was in the game, -4 when Moon was in, and -1 with Delonte on the floor.
Andy had the only positive number. He was +3.
Every series will be different, and every game will be a little different . . . but the lukewarm performance from the bench collectively could provide an opening for someone else to get some minutes. (J.J., Boobie or Powe . . . depending on what they need.)
Naturally, there could also be more minutes for those players . . . although more garbage-y . . . if the current subs rebound (figuratively) in Game Two, and the Cavs are able to maintain bigger leads.
#4.) In Game One, Z and Jamario basically split near-five-minute openings at the beginning of the second and fourth quarters, while LeBron was resting. Z took the second quarter, and Moon took the fourth.
#5.) Even though it seems like the Cavs relied a lot on their starters . . . at least, compared to what we’re used to . . . the Bulls were even tighter. Like the Cavs, they essentially used a seven-man rotation, but their bench only played 48 total minutes, compared to the 75 minutes the Cavs’ bench played.
Also, the Bulls did not make a substitution during the third quarter . . . the one that included their 12-0 run while the Cavs’ offense fell off track. Their starters also played the first 2:30 minutes in the fourth, meaning that Vinny Del Negro rode his starters for 14-and-a-half minutes to start the second half.
Those are just a few things to keep in mind if you’re interested in seeing how the Cavs’ rotations evolve throughout the series and the playoffs.
A Message to the NBA . . . From Cleveland Fans
[This is a guest column written by our friend (and my little brother!) Nate Shultz.]
The Cavaliers took care of business.
Joakim Noah came into the game with a false bravado, and left the game with 40 seconds to play, suffering from a ruptured ego. He effectively created a rival with the best team in the league. Smart on his part? Definitely not. Awesome for us Cavs fans? Yes. Every time Noah touched the ball, the crowd at The Q booed. He did not stand a chance in that arena, and the crowd let him know that. Joakim turned the crowd into a roaring, 20,562-person monster.
“Noah Sucks” chants were almost constant for minutes at a time. This is why we want home-court advantage. When players come into our arena and say they were hoping they would play us, I hope they are ready for a battle. The banners all over the building told us to be “All Together,” and it worked.
I have been fortunate enough to attend six games this year . . . including the one where Anderson Varejao hit that three to seal the win. None of those games have added up to the atmosphere I just experienced at The Q. Imagine the feeling if you have been to a game where a big shot saved a win, or a LeBron dunk or chase-down block brought the fans to their feet. Now take that feeling, and extend it from 10 minutes before the tip-off through the entire first half. That is exactly what the Q felt like on Saturday. It was one of those games where every person in that building felt like they could high-five the sweaty guy next to him or her.
LeBron was awesome as usual (24 pts., 6 rebs., 5 assists, 4 blocks) . . . but he performed in a way that only he can do it. He had 5 points in the first quarter, and the Cavs were up 32-18. The great thing about having a smart star like LeBron is that he knows when the team needs him to score, and he knows when to let the game just flow. The first quarter was a case where he saw that the team was doing fine in the area of producing points. He let the game flow and waited for his turn to break out into his method of disarming the defense. That time came in the late part of the third quarter . . . after the Cavs went scoreless for about seven minutes, which is a whole other conversation. LeBron had THREE blocks in the third quarter and within the span of 15 seconds, he scored FIVE points. Three of those points came off of an and-one where he made a ridiculous lay-up after being hacked for the foul. If LeBron continues to sense out the timing for the “break-out” moments . . . and I fully expect him to . . . then the Cavs have everything they need for a successful postseason.
Shaq did more than prove all of the critics wrong on Saturday (12 pts, 5 reb., 4 assists, and 3 blocks). He proved the Cleveland crowd wrong as well. The national media kept telling us how rusty he would be after missing 20+ games. And in Cleveland, we kept telling ourselves that the Diesel would be fine. We were both strongly misguided. Shaq came out and destroyed the opposition. Never mind the fact that the opposition looked like a 6’11″, 230-pound version of Shaq’s sister (if she had bad teeth, frizzy hair, and a knack for stirring up drama). Shaq taught Noah a lesson on bringing Kool-Aid to a gin party. The Diesel used post-moves that he hadn’t encountered in years. He banged around on the inside like there was no tomorrow. He came out and played like the piece we were missing last year. That is all we could ask for, and much more.
Anderson Varejao came off the bench, and had FIFTEEN rebounds. I heard many people talk about how much more talent Noah has than Andy. I am not going to tell them they are wrong, but I think Andy knows how to consistently do things on the court whether he is having a good game or a bad one. If he is struggling with getting the ball down low, he goes and gets it himself. Andy is not the most talented post player in the league, but he definitely plays with the most effort. He’s that guy that everyone else hates because they don’t want to try so hard on every possession.
The rest of the guys did what they do every night, which is much more than being role players. They hit big shots, drew fouls, played defense, passed to the open man, and cheered on the five guys on the court. I could focus on the abysmal seven minutes in the third quarter, but I am just too amped up on the energy of the Q and the potential that this team has to play good team basketball.
The following is a letter that does not apologize for the unusual, cohesive play of a successful team in the NBA.
A message from Cleveland fans to the national media and so-called “big market” sports-writers:
Keep your cameramen. Keep your All-Star Ballots. Keep your expectations and keep your predetermined requirements for a Superstar. Keep your Kobe, we don’t want him. Keep your Rondo, no one cares. Certainly keep your Skip Bayless, we are fine with A.C., Fred, and Jeff. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not your typical best-record-in-the-NBA team. We don’t have a Kevin Garnett throwing elbows during a dead-ball situation. We don’t have a Rasheed Wallace guaranteeing playoff wins. But we will tell you what we DO have.
We have the best player in the NBA, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. He has been everything our city has asked for in an athlete. He may be flashy, but he cares about his teammates. He leads them to wins and corrects them with an arm around their shoulders and a confident look in his eye . . . not a grasp of a jersey and an expletive-laden degradation.
We have role players. Not just the one-shot-wonder role players that you label everyone in a Cavs jersey not bearing a #23. Our role players come in day in and day out to provide us with the most depth in the league. These guys may not get in the next game, but we have news for you . . . when they get the chance to play, they aren’t looking to jack up their stats. No, they will play how they practice. They play with heart, and they play effectively.
People call the Cavaliers a team that jokes around too much. That’s just because every other team in the league has so many self-proclaimed stars that they can’t stand to mesh as well as we do. We dare you to try to watch one of our games, one postgame conference, or one pregame ritual . . . and not wish your team had as much fun as we do.
So keep voting for the “All-Stars,” and we will keep playing with our “scrubs.”