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.
Showing posts with label Joe Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Smith. Show all posts
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Atmosphere in Boston
The atmosphere tonight will be much the same as Game 1...highly intense! Joe Smith noticed a difference in the atmosphere, in his first taste of a round 2 game.
As good as the atmosphere was in Washington, it was even louder in Boston...part of that is the function of being in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But this is a very knowledgeable fan base, even though there is a generation of fans who know nothing about the banners, other than hearing about them from their parents, and looking up at the ceiling of the TD Banknorth Garden.
Expect things to get even scrappier in Game 2...Delonte West says he loves those kinds of games. He already had games of 19 and 20 against his former mates during the regular season...one with the Cavs, and one with the Sonics.
Mike Brown says, as always, his guys must stay ready, including Devin Brown, who did not play in Game 1...those minutes went to Sasha, who I thought gave the team a lift. Sasha talks more these days about wanting to establish his defense first, and rebound, then worry about his offense. He says before he enters the game, he’s thinking D from the start...perhaps a different approach from his earlier days as a Cavalier.
Devin, as you may know wears New Balance shoes, a rarity for an NBA player as most guys wear Nike, Reebok or Adidas. In fact, for years, players on all 30 teams have made the in-season migration to Nike for apparel when teams visit Portland...a bus is usually needed to take everyone to the company campus. Devin was asked when the bus is going to New Balance on this trip to New England, since their headquarters are here...Devin laughed of course, since he would be the only one on that bus, as a loyal wearer of the shoe.
See you tonight on FSN...join us at 6:30 for Cavaliers Live.
As good as the atmosphere was in Washington, it was even louder in Boston...part of that is the function of being in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But this is a very knowledgeable fan base, even though there is a generation of fans who know nothing about the banners, other than hearing about them from their parents, and looking up at the ceiling of the TD Banknorth Garden.
Expect things to get even scrappier in Game 2...Delonte West says he loves those kinds of games. He already had games of 19 and 20 against his former mates during the regular season...one with the Cavs, and one with the Sonics.
Mike Brown says, as always, his guys must stay ready, including Devin Brown, who did not play in Game 1...those minutes went to Sasha, who I thought gave the team a lift. Sasha talks more these days about wanting to establish his defense first, and rebound, then worry about his offense. He says before he enters the game, he’s thinking D from the start...perhaps a different approach from his earlier days as a Cavalier.
Devin, as you may know wears New Balance shoes, a rarity for an NBA player as most guys wear Nike, Reebok or Adidas. In fact, for years, players on all 30 teams have made the in-season migration to Nike for apparel when teams visit Portland...a bus is usually needed to take everyone to the company campus. Devin was asked when the bus is going to New Balance on this trip to New England, since their headquarters are here...Devin laughed of course, since he would be the only one on that bus, as a loyal wearer of the shoe.
See you tonight on FSN...join us at 6:30 for Cavaliers Live.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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...
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...
Thursday, February 21, 2008
New Faces in Town
An awful lot to digest over the last few hours...six players dealt, with four coming. I think the Cavs have upgraded themselves for this reason: and that is because of how these pieces fit, and how the club retains its financial flexibility to be even better a year from now.
Ben Wallace will be a driving force as always at the defensive end. He's never played with a talent quite like LeBron. He comes full circle, coming back to Cleveland, where it all started for him at Tri-C Metro 15 years ago. You know his pal, Charles Oakley is smiling, since he is the one who led him to Cleveland and then Virginia Union in the first place.
Ben has never played with a talent like LeBron James before, and that's no disrespect to his championship teammates in Detroit. Big Ben allows teammates to gamble on the perimeter. I think he can bring the same kind of edge and toughness that Nate Thurmond brought to town 23 years ago...and Ben is even younger than Nate was at that time.
Wally Szczerbiak flourished with Kevin Garnett for six and a half years, because of all the attention KG drew in Minnesota...he'll get similar open looks with LeBron. Same for Joe Smith...don't fall asleep on this guy, who is still a very accomplished shooter on the baseline and from the elbows.
And Delonte West, whom Dwayne Jones knows so well from their days together at St.Joe's, is a tough-minded guy who will be able to apply ball pressure...plus, he has a knack for blocking shots on help-out.
The gamble here, is of course tinkering with chemistry...but the Cavs culture is well entrenched by now, and the four new guys have been through the battles. Wally and Joe were teammates in Minnesota for three years...so, there is inherent knowledge there.
The most telling statement Danny Ferry made tonight was the current Cavs team was not good enough to win a championship...a move had to be made to upgrade for the short term, still with an eye on the long term. This team, when healthy will be very deep...it will be fascinating to watch things unfold over the next few months, and years for that matter.
Ben Wallace will be a driving force as always at the defensive end. He's never played with a talent quite like LeBron. He comes full circle, coming back to Cleveland, where it all started for him at Tri-C Metro 15 years ago. You know his pal, Charles Oakley is smiling, since he is the one who led him to Cleveland and then Virginia Union in the first place.
Ben has never played with a talent like LeBron James before, and that's no disrespect to his championship teammates in Detroit. Big Ben allows teammates to gamble on the perimeter. I think he can bring the same kind of edge and toughness that Nate Thurmond brought to town 23 years ago...and Ben is even younger than Nate was at that time.
Wally Szczerbiak flourished with Kevin Garnett for six and a half years, because of all the attention KG drew in Minnesota...he'll get similar open looks with LeBron. Same for Joe Smith...don't fall asleep on this guy, who is still a very accomplished shooter on the baseline and from the elbows.
And Delonte West, whom Dwayne Jones knows so well from their days together at St.Joe's, is a tough-minded guy who will be able to apply ball pressure...plus, he has a knack for blocking shots on help-out.
The gamble here, is of course tinkering with chemistry...but the Cavs culture is well entrenched by now, and the four new guys have been through the battles. Wally and Joe were teammates in Minnesota for three years...so, there is inherent knowledge there.
The most telling statement Danny Ferry made tonight was the current Cavs team was not good enough to win a championship...a move had to be made to upgrade for the short term, still with an eye on the long term. This team, when healthy will be very deep...it will be fascinating to watch things unfold over the next few months, and years for that matter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
