Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Warming Up

No escape from the cold for the guys on the trip - brr in Portland today and Seattle tomorrow. LA wasn't a whole lot better.

It was so frosty in the Rose Garden this morning at shoot around, the headbands became ear muffs!

The shooting game warmed things up though. Damon is always the commentator as the competition heats up. He was teamed with LeBron and Larry against Ira, Shannon, Boobie and Eric in the smalls 3 point shooting dual. DJ said "you guys want this to be a quiet competition?. With DJ its never a "quiet competition", and he made sure of it, talking smack.

DJ's team was knockin' em down, but Boobie's crew caught up and took a one shot lead. It came down to Damon to hit one to avoid losing - AND HE MISSED! He fell to the floor in mock shame, and laughter poured in from the competing four.

You could make a movie out of these moments.

Congratulations to Boobie Gibson for making the Rookie Youth Jam Challenge. That means he has gone from being the 42nd pick of '06 to being one of the top-9 players of that draft. How about that for a leap. Paul Millsap of Utah was the other second rounder from that draft selected.

LeBron gave Daniel some love for joining him on all-star weekend. Boobie hopes to also get the nod for the 3 point shootout. He says he is humbled by today's invite. Saying words can't express his gratitude to the assistant coaches who voted him in. He couldn't wipe that famous smile off his face, adding it's tough to come up with the right words to express his joy, but adds, he never thinks about individual honors, however, this makes all the summer work all that more worth while.

Daniel is so humble, and I'm willing to bet, will never lose that. It's a part of his DNA.

See you at 8:30 on FSN.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The Pacific Northwest

On to the Pacific Northwest we go, but first we had to go to the LAX airport where we passed picketers, members of the striking writers guild of America. Those re-runs are getting a little old!

We were met with rain here in Portland and in this part of the country, no one bats an eyelash. In LA it's a headline story, and even on many sidewalks in Manhattan Beach they had "Caution, Slippery when Wet Signs" all over the place. All because it was drizzling!

To us it wasn't even an April shower.

Outside of Portland practice was held at the Nike Gym - a spectacular glass encased floor on the 3rd floor of which is the Bo Jackson building. Its next door to the Michael Jordan building which is not far from the Tiger Woods and Nolan Ryan buildings.

Roger Federer is on campus today and the hope is to have the king of tennis meet another face of Nike, King James. Wouldn't it be fun to run in those circles!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Closer

We witness another example of LeBron being perhaps the NBA's best closer...not only did he score 14 points in the 4th quarter, including the last four against Kobe Bryant, but he also held Kobe to 1 of 6 shooting in the 4th when he guarded him head to head.

After the game LeBron deflected any praise for his defense, but I could tell he was very proud of how he took on the defensive challenge. He really does live for the 4th quarter!

The "rain delay" by roofers leaving their soaking wet coats hanging on the cat walk high above the floor...the local radio stations were laughing because they work for the company called Cavalier Roofing...seriously!!! That's the name of the company! And it all fits because the delay enabled LeBron to get extra rest which is why he says he was able to play the entire 2nd half. Gotta love Wine and Gold Roofing!

The downer, of course, was losing Andy to the ankle sprain...after the game he was in good spirits, but definitely in pain. We'll know more tomorrow.

Amidst all the glitz and glamor of L.A. was Z decked out in a tan colored suit and tie...a rarity for the big guy! I think he just bumped off DJ for the team's best dressed award.

Friday, January 25, 2008

The Cavs have the 2nd best record of Eastern teams against the West at 11-6 with only Boston ahead of them at 11-0. Last season you may recall the Cavs were 19-11 against the West - that's 30-17 in 2 seasons, a .640 win clip. And you know what? I have no idea why, but neither do the players.

I'll take a stab at it, though. The Cavs are built around a great player, defense and rebounding. When all three components are in play the Cavs are hard to beat. The West is so good and deep, they demand your full attention, so perhaps that focus is turned up a notch subconsciously. Who knows.

Tonight the Cavs will be tested by the 2nd best team in the West, the Suns. It will be a game of wills. Can the Cavs' size and strength (LB-Z-Drew combined for 69 points against them on November 4th in their gym) overcome the Suns fastbreak (2nd in the league) and 3 point bombs (4th best pct). You may recall last season the Cavs were run out of the building out there and had trouble with them again here at the Q. But this past November, without Sasha and Andy, the Cavs outplayed them in a slower paced game for a half, then lost down the stretch when Steve Nash took over.

Another compelling match-up tonight.

At the end of practices the guys go through what amounts to shooting contests in groups. The conversation thus becomes lively. Drew professed to recently knock down 12 straight 3's from the corner. LeBron scoffed at the proclamation and Drew had to call upon Boobie to verify. Daniel smiled and said something to the effect of
"I can't lie...he did." Drew roared with approval, as LeBron just shook his head, probably thinking, show me the video tape for proof.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

An All-Star Bid

This just in, Z missed a shot at practice - yep he's not perfect! Z said - tongue in cheek - he stopped shooting against the Wizards once he reached 10 for 10 because he had never done that before.

Mike Brown hopes his Eastern Conference coaching collagues have noticed how consistent the big fella has been when they cast their votes for a back-up center.

I had not heard Mike say this before, but in all his coaching days, he's never been around a player who works harder than Zydrunas.

Pretty high praise.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Don't Take Wizards Lightly

This is not your normal Washington Wizards who come to town tonight. Obviously, no Agent 0 will make a huge difference, but these Wizards get after you on the defensive end. Yes, defensive end! They’re markedly improved in all defensive areas -they challenge you, play physical, and even Antawn Jamison, a brilliant skilled player, never known for his D, has bought in. I think a lot of it comes off the toughness of Caron Butler. What a warrior he is! This game tonight will have a playoff feel because of the recent post season history and because just one half game separates two hot teams. The Cavs since Christmas Day have the best record in the East at 11-2.

On another note, the East coaches will give a hard look at Z for a back-up center role. Zydrunas sort of shrugs off the talk saying his numbers aren’t there with his ’03 and ’05 stats when he was an all-star, but he does admit he has been consistent, as he continues to rebound the ball better than he ever has. Z also smiles and says there just aren’t many true centers left, so maybe by process of elimination he would get in. That’s downplaying what so far has been one of his best all around seasons. Chris Bosh may be the key as he’ll make it, but will he go as a “4” or a “5”.

See you tonight on FSN…

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Exciting Week at The Q

This will be a fun week at the Q with two dynamic teams coming to town - the Wizards and Suns. Washington has won 7 of the last 9 including a sweep of back to back games against the Celtics. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are having career years, and appear to be bound for the all-star game. The Suns lead the West and simply put, are the Suns - more on them later in the week.

We know the Cavs are playing their best basketball of the season, as we reach the halfway mark of the season tomorrow night. The Cavs have won of 8 of their last 9 and are now just two wins behind last year’s 50 win pace.

What I find the most encouraging is the different combinations which are finishing games, meaning Mike Brown has found chemistry among 9 guys at the current time. Sometimes Damon Jones might be on the floor in crunch time, or Larry Hughes, or Sasha, perhaps Drew, Devin or Z even. LeBron, Andy and Daniel are at the core of what’s happening in the final quarter and depending on the match-ups and who’s hot, Mike is able to push a lot of different buttons. That’s not to say Ira, or Eric or Dwayne won’t force their way into the mix, but as Mike often says, a coach can’t play everybody.

Did you catch the high praise for Mike coming from Doug Collins last night on the TNT telecast? He is not one to loosely throw around plaudits. I’ve known and respected Doug for a long time and he knows this league inside and out as a player, head coach and broadcaster. He sees what has happened here and recognizes how the head coach treats his players.

See you tomorrow night on FSN…

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A Good Fit for the Cavaliers

Hey congratulations to Mike Brown and his contract extension. He has earned it in every way - not only back to back 50 win seasons and a trip to the finals, but more than that, has established a culture, and a blueprint for success, long term success, by doing things the right way, with down to the most minute detail.

It goes far beyond his defense first mentality, to how he treats people. Players, assistants, personnel staff, media, fans. Mike gets it - you have to be a good person first and foremost and be true to yourself or players will see right through it.

Mike is the 12th head coach I have had the pleasure of working with in the NBA. It all started with Bill Fitch on down through the likes of Doug Collins and Larry Brown. Brilliant coaches in their own way and I’m here to tell you, they don’t make them any better than Mike because he has built his platform on hard work and honesty. In other words, he has no personal agenda…he only wants to win, and give his players the credit. Those attributes are not always a slam dunk in coaching.

The assistants are given latitude to coach and teach without feeling like they are infringing on Mike’s authority and he allows his players to take ownership in the overall body of work. We always talk about LeBron James being only 23 and having an incredible future. Well, Mike is only 37 years old, and like LeBron, will only get better. He readily admits he will continue to learn as a head coach.

As LeBron says, today is good for the Cavaliers franchise, and for him personally, Mike has helped him grown as a defensive player.

When I asked Danny Ferry who Mike reminds him of, he quickly smiled and said, Gregg Popovich - a pretty good role model.

Mike has quickly become a Cleveland gem and time will prove his staying power.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

BIG win Friday

In case you are wondering about the significance of the win over Charlotte, consider the fact, not only did the Bobcats win in Boston on Wednesday night, but playing without two more starters, (Raymond Felton and Jeff McInnis) the Bobcats left Cleveland and 24 hours later, took the Pistons to overtime. So, that is one scrappy team. Thus, the double OT victory is one of those you gladly take, because it's a win, period.

Damon Jones continues to fight his way into the rotation, giving the Cavs a dependable second unit, along with Anderson, Boobie and Devin. The intriguing aspect of Damon Jones is not the threes he is hitting...you expect that...but he's challenging on the defensive end...even on switches, where he is often times the marked man.

DJ has been fighting the bigger post-ups and more than holding his own. He says he loves that challenge.

This is a guy who has aired his frustrations, but has bought into what is being asked of him. As Damon says, "he just wants to play"...but he also had to earn those minutes from Mike Brown, hitting shots, playing D and running the offense on occasion.

Damon is as outgoing a personality as there is in the league, but he does have a serious, business-like side and we're now seeing that...to wit...he did not "turn on the faucet" after he hit the 2nd overtime three the other night, as he did last season. Damon said, with a smile..."I've grown up...I've matured now...I'm being more serious". Many a true word said in a joke.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Checking in on the Vipers

One up - one down, as in Cavaliers between here and Rio Grande, Texas.

The man up is Cedric Simmons, who spent 3 games with the NBA D League Vipers. He was able to test that ankle which he has been fighting with for months and to gain some confidence. He displayed his best skill - blocking and challenging shots which is a commodity that comes in handy at any level.

The 21 year-old from North Carolina also showed an ability to score with either hand, which will continued to be developed up here. The point is, Cedric is intriguing because he does have the upside. He’ll have to show he can stay healthy and stay ready when his time comes, and it will come. Cedric compared the atmosphere to the summer league where guys are hungry and want to show they deserve a spot in the big time on a regular basis. There is a major difference of course in accommodations, travel, and oh ya, the competition level.

Shannon meanwhile wanted to go down to get in some consistent playing time. The skill set has never been a question with him. Just his opportunity to improve defensively and ball handling as well as his decision making, that takes time and game reps. It’s tough to do on a part time basis here, when full blown practice sessions come so sporadically. This stint will be good for Brown and he is not down there on his own. Wes Wilcox from the front office staff will be there watching intently as he was with Cedric and Mike Brown will receive daily reports as well as video of his performances.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

From the ATL

The Cavs come to Atlanta for the first of two meetings These will be tightly contested games because the Hawks are for real - they are athletic, talented and have bought into Mike Woodson’s defensive mentality. It’s amazing, because when the Cavs faced the Hawks at The Q last week, Atlanta came in 4th in the East and the Cavs were 10th. Now the Cavs are tied for 4th, and the Hawks have slipped to 9th, but this is how it will be the rest of the way. Winning and losing streaks will send teams up and down the ladder in the blink of an eye. Atlanta has lost 4 in a row while the Cavs have won 4 straight.

Anderson Verejao continues to be a rebounding monster with 8 more last night. So, over the last 9 games he’s averaging nearly a double-double at 8.7 ppg and 9 rpg. Andy says part of his rebounding secret is watching the flight of the ball and anticipating where he feels the miss will go. This takes more than guessing, it’s an innate feel. Dennis Rodman used to say the exact thing. Rodman had an amazing ability to also start deep beyond the rim and then back out into the lane to basically sneak in for rebounds where he would many times tip the ball to himself. Rodman, and Charles Barkley used to say over 60% of missed shots go to the weak side - so, they would anticipate in that direction.

Andy does it with that 6th sense and amazing feet, plus he never stops moving. He’s made quite an impact since his return.

Gotta sneak out for a quick lunch at one of my favorite spots, Pitty Pat’s Porch. Gotta say that name with a little southern drawl and you know you are in Atlanta.

See you tonight on FSN!

Saturday, January 5, 2008

North of the Border...Again

Hey from Toronto, excuse me, 'Eh'(sorry had to do it). This is a big Wine and Gold weekend for a lot of team sponsors, who have arrived to root on the Cavs at the Air Canada Centre. This is one of my favorite gyms because the crowd is really, really loud and into it.

Dinner plans include the top of the CN tower, where a section has a glass floor (I won't be dropping my napkin for fear of looking down to grab it). Then we'll be off to Fionn McCauls on the Esplanade, a hot night spot.

The Entertainment District is filled with the nightlife, so much so, the local powers that be, capped the number of waterholes at 150. Only because of the crowds they have drawn, plus the lawmakers have installed cameras on every street corner to keep an eye on the potential rowdies. After passing through the District which is only a couple of blocks long. A good place to rile the locals is called Loose Moose. Hey we have a Winking Lizard and the Laughing Monkey, so we'll fit right in.

As for the game, a win would mean catching those Raptors in the standings at 17-17. Andy wasn't here for our last trip in, but he does smile at the memory of his game winning offensive put back smash that beat these guys last February.

Gotta fly, team FSN Production meeting...

Go Cavs!

Friday, January 4, 2008

We Got a Trap Game on our Hands

A dangerous game tonight with the Kings who are without Bibby, Artest, Martin and Abdur-Rahim, but the Kings will come in and play without pressure and play hard.

They’re coming off a win at NY and can still score the ball. John Salmons and Francisco Garcia are having career years.

Larry Hughes is not making a big deal about his shooting effort the other night, but his stroke looked as good as I have seen it since he became a Cav...Pure.

LeBron thought it was a case of Larry not thinking, and just playing, letting it go without hesitation. What does go unnoticed though is what Larry brings as a floor leader and a defender. He’s a smart basketball player who again wants no credit for it, but does enjoy making the right decisions with the ball.

He also helped LeBron stay on the floor the other night when King James was smoked in the nose by Drew Gooden’s deflection. Larry immediately yelled “blood” which enabled athletic trainer, Max Benton to leap into action to stop the nose bleed before it became an issue. It’s a case of one teammate coming to the immediate aid of another, and recognizing the situation spontaneously.

LB shook his head when talking about all the abuse his face has been taking with shots to the mug. Maybe he still has that ST V-St M face mask laying around the house.

See you tonight on FSN…

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

New Year's Resolutions

Time for New Year's resolutions and most of the guys are merely asking for W's. Mike Brown wants more of the defensive intensity he's starting to see, along with offensive efficiency, pretty normal for a head coach wish list. Andy says he wants to continue play better.

Drew recently said he promised to eat better as his resolution, but then he admits it's merely a continuation of better food intake which he ramped up this past off-season (I'll try and get a few tips, as long as seafood is not a component!!!).

Boobie says he promises to drink more water instead of soda, at least he has good intentions. He also says he will do a better job of staying in closer touch with his family members outside of his Mom and Dad of course.

Knowing Daniel, he'll stay true to his word.

See you tonight on FSN...