Friends on Opposite Sides

Ben Wallace attended shootaround this morning and looked much better...he says he is feeling better from that viral infection in his inner ear, but is still doubtful for Game 3 tonight. Anderson Varejao will get the call in his place.

In the middle of most if not all heated playoff series, are friendships on opposite sides of the ball, such is the case with Joe Smith and Kevin Garnett, who along with Wally Szczerbiak, played together for four years together in Minnesota. Joe and KG forged a bond that is just as strong today as it was then...something that has to be put aside when they are dueling each other, trying to get to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Joe and Kevin also have a little ritual when they see each other, a quick hug and a tap of each other’s tattoo, to honor their fallen teammate from the T-Wolves, the late, Malik Sealy. In 10 days, it will be eight years to the day, since Sealy was leaving KG’s birthday party, when his life was senselessly taken by a drunk driver going the wrong way on a suburban Minneapolis freeway. Thus, Joe had a tattoo placed on his right forearm, which reads, “Only God can judge me, rest in peace MS 2 (Sealy’s number)." Soon after, Kevin joined Joe with his own tattoo honoring their close friend, who died at the age of 30.

On a side note, the driver who served a four year prison term as a result of that accident, was recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving again in Minnesota, and has been sentenced to an even longer prison term...a sobering reminder for us all.

See you tonight on FSN Ohio, for Cavaliers Live at 7:30.

Returning From Injury

The wait is finally over for Sasha Pavlovic - 7 weeks to be exact - as he makes his return from his mid foot sprain. It's his left one which experiences a little pain when he goes to his right, but Sasha says...."I don't care...I want to play". He's missed 23 games and says this has been the toughest wait of his basketball life. He says it has seemed like 10 years, not 7 weeks...

If he comes off the bench, he just hopes to make an impact any way he can. Certainly at the defensive end, where he was playing his best basketball before he injured his foot...

Timing is always an issue when returning from an injury. Anderson Verejao has said not only does he have more lift from his ankle sprain, but his timing is coming back. Knowing again, where he can get his shots - the last two games he has 31 points and 25 rebounds, getting back to his boundless energy.

I know I've relayed this many times of how entertaining Damon Jones is during shooting games, just talking junk. DJ often yells..."get me to the 9th...get me to the 9th", meaning he'll close out the competition by hitting the clinching 3. Today, DJ failed as a closer...admitting..."even Mariano Rivera has a bad day". Damon explained why he had three consecutive misses to possibly win for his group, "sometimes I just get tired of all the applause". He is a riot!

See you tonight on FSN...

Jekyll and Hyde

From blustery Milwaukee we come to you, where the Bucks are coming off two impressive home wins over Detroit and Denver. They also lost recently at home to the Clippers and Knicks. So it’s been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde act, but talent? They have plenty - Andrew Bogut has been lights out since the turn of the calendar to ’08, while Mo Williams and Michael Redd have been scoring big. So, this will be a stern test...

If the Cavs get Anderson Varejao back tonight, that will be huge. Andy says it feels like he hasn’t even played this season, missing 21 games with the contract holdout and another 13 with the ankle sprain. Mike Brown’s task will be to find the balance of minutes for Andy, Z, Ben and Joe. A pleasant problem to have, but a challenge none the less. I am intrigued to see the times when Joe Smith plays the 3, LeBron the two, and then a combination of Z/Andy/Ben at the 4-5. This will happen in certain match-ups...

But clearly once Daniel and Sasha get back, this team goes 11 deep, and you can’t play all 11. It will Mike’s toughest job since he has been in Cleveland to find the right mix, and make guys understand he can’t play everyone, every night...but when the goal is winning it all, egos have to take a back seat. All of these guys can play multiple positions and because of this I think the defensive numbers are going to come down, even though we are in the “getting to know you” period...

See you tonight on FSN...

Back from All-Star Weekend

Back from All-Star weekend, where it will get hot and heavy with 30 games in 57 days, the trading deadline this week, and jockeying for playoff position. Now the fun really begins...

Although Daniel had plenty of it, he says he has never taken 20 3's in a game. Maybe half of that in any game in his career. Boobie says he asked Mike Brown if maybe he'll run a few plays for him to take a 3, and the answer came back quickly, "No!" Boobie knew it was a rhetorical question, as he laughed...

He's anxious to get back. Remember it was against the Rockets that he strained his hamstring, forcing him to miss the next 4 games. He's back tonight against his hometown team - the blazing hot Rockets, winners of 8 in a row, playing the 2nd best basketball of any NBA team in the new year...

Anderson Verejao is getting closer to returning from that ankle sprain with tonight being his 10th missed game in a row. Hopefully we'll see him by the end of the week...

See you tonight in FSN..

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.