Cavs Figuring Out What It Takes
They’re at the next level. How else to you describe what is going on? I know, I know, losing to two non-playoff teams can not be considered a good thing. Unless you consider that it is just the next step up the ladder of NBA greatness. After owning the Bulls last night 113 - 94 it became apparent to me that the Cavs had reached a new level, and will have to adjust to it.
The Cavs are now talented enough to beat anyone, anywhere. The win in San Antonio proved that. But the league is too deep, too talented for anyone just to show up and win. The Cavs have also found that out against Charlotte and Atlanta. Two teams the Cavs have owned in the past have already beaten them this year. So what gives?
Temas like Charlotte and Atlanta use the Cavs as a measuring stick, like the Cavs have used the Spurs and Mavericks,, etc in the past. Teams amp up to play LeBron. They know they are playing for a full house, whether at home or on the road, and they know there is a good possibilty of being on National TV, or at least being the first highlight on ESPNews that night. So if the Cavs just show up, or shot 50% from the free throw line chances are they are going to lose, no matter who the competition is.
Last night the Cavs came out with a purpose, and were aggressive from start to finish, just like they were against the Spurs. Drew Gooden was a monster again, and has been the one guy to bring it every night. He is becoming a monster in the league and is proving the Cavs wise for re-signing him. His defensive liabilites are shrinking, and at only 24 he has tremendous upside yet. In just 25 minutes over 3 quarters Gooden went 10-13 from the field, scoring 20 points and grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing 3 assists. This and only turning the ball over 1 time. Not bad for only a half of actual basketball.
As for LeBron, he is seeing the opposite side of the love fest that his career has had with the media. There are people out there that are just waiting for him to misstep, and when he does they’ll pounce. His supposed “quitting” on his teammates the other night, as rediculous as it was seemed to fire LeBron up, and as we have seen with star athletes like Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, the worst thing you can do is challenge LeBron James, unless of course you are a Cavs fan!
His numbers last night are somewhat ordinary, for LeBron anyway, 19 points, 12 assists, 4 boards in 38 minutes, but with the way the bench was playing, along with Drew, there was no need for LeBron to take over. He is still learing when he needs to be THE GUY, and when he can just get it to his teammates.
So it’s on to the Celtics, where the Cavs will look to beat a non-playoff team from last season for the first time this year. I think they have learned from their early season transgressions, and know that they East is theirs for the taking, if they bring it every night!
CAVALIERS NOTES:
• The Cavaliers have now won five straight and eight of the last 10 in the series against Chicago.
• The Cavaliers out-rebounded the Bulls 47-30. Cleveland has out-rebounded the opposition by at least eight rebounds in every game this season.
• Drew Gooden put up 20 points on 10-13 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds in 26 minutes. Over his last three games, Gooden is averaging 20.6 points and 13.0 rebounds. He has now posted 20 or more points in three straight games for the third time in his career (Jan. 26-30, 2005 and April 8-11, 2005).
• LeBron James posted his third double-double of the season with 19 points and a season-high 12 assists.
• Sasha Pavlovic scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in 25 minutes. He connected on 6-9 from the field including 2-3 from three-point range. It was his highest scoring output since Feb. 21 last season when he put up 21 points vs. Orlando.
• Donyell Marshall came off the bench to post 15 points on 5-7 shooting including 3-4 from downtown. Over his last three games, he is averaging 13.7 points in 23.3 minutes per game.
• The Cleveland bench combined for 56 points on 21-30 shooting. The Cavaliers previous high in bench points this season was 21 points on two occasions.
• Anderson Varejao scored a career-high 15 points tonight on 6-7 shooting.
• The Cavs 38 assists ties a Quicken Loans Arena record (Cleveland vs. Detroit on Nov. 21, 2000) and was the most by a Cavs team since that date.
• The 25 second-half assists is a new Quicken Loans Arena record, breaking the former record of 23 (by Indiana, 1st half, Dec. 22, 2001).
Technorati Tags: Cavs, NBA, basketball, LeBron James, LeBron, Bulls, Chicago
