While We’re Waiting… Dyfunctional Browns, Nakita Filatov takes off, and OSU-Michigan Week
November 18, 2009Browns Should Say Goodbye to Jamal Lewis
November 18, 2009
Welcome to the Club, Monta
In what was slated to be a sure win for the Cavaliers, things got a bit tense in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, the Cavaliers – playing without a few key pieces – prevailed over the also shorthanded Golden State Warriors to the tune of 114-108.
LeBron James managed to do his thing once again, scoring a relatively quiet 31 points on 11-of-19 from the floor. Can 31 points be quiet? It can when 20 points comes in the second half after focusing more attention on setting up teammates. A very patient James allotted the majority of his game to finding open teammates, resulting in 12 assists to go with a steal and and two blocked shots.
One of the blocked shots came early in the game with James adding Golden State guard Monta Ellis to his list of victims of the chasedown block. Yes, the one that is in still form above – that one. Following a turnover on the Cavs’ end, Ellis thought he had a clear lane to the hoop until James swatted a layup attempt off of the glass. The power put into the blocked shot resulted in one bounce before going out of bounds about six feet shy of midcourt. Didn’t see it? We got you covered…
Aside from James, the story of the recent few weeks continues to be second-year forward J.J. Hickson. Dubbed the “Prince of Fresh Air,” The 21-year old finished the game with yet another career night (previously set career nights against Miami, and then again versus Utah), putting up 21 points, nine rebounds, one steal and one block. Hickson was also a part of one of the bigger highlights of the night when Anthony Parker fed LeBron at halfcourt, who proceeded to lob an alley oop to Hickson who finished with the two-hand slam.
Hickson finished the night a perfect 9-of-9 from the floor and made three of four free throws. At times it appears that James is making an extra effort to get Hickson involved and ensure success, but these moments will only mean that much more for the youngster’s confidence come later in the season. Fans may want to get used to No. 21 starting at power forward for the foreseeable future, and after the last three games, it may not draw any complaints.
Daniel “Boobie” Gibson lead the Cavaliers attack off of the bench, logging 32 key minutes and finishing with 13 points, two steals and three three-points field goals. Late in the game, Gibson lost his headband but proceeded to play without it – showing even more of the large Texas-shaped design that is currently in his hair. When asked postgame if playing without the headband would be a new thing for Gibson, the shooting guard replied with a smile, “No, I’m going back to the headband. I sweat way too much to not.”
All was not fun and games, however as the Golden State Warriors put up 29 points in the fourth quarter to make things a lot more interesting than most would have preferred. Having a double-digit lead going into the quarter, the Warriors pulled it within one point thanks to solid shooting by Anthony Morrow (18 points, four three-point field goals) and Monta Ellis (23 points, eight assists, three steals).
Thankfully, the Cavaliers high-percentage shooting (58.2 percent for the game, 45 percent from three-point land) was able to triumph and cool down the Warriors’ run.
Cavaliers’ forward Jamario Moon left the game midway after turning his ankle during a transition defensive set. He went to the locker room for testing, but did not return. He will likely be a game time decision for tonight’s tilt against the Washington Wizards.
The Wiz will have Antawn Jamison back. The Cavaliers, however, will be without Shaquille O’Neal (shouler) and Anderson Varejao (hip). Hickson, Darnell Jackson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas will likely get plenty of run until the frontcourt can regain their collective health.
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(Photos by Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images)
28 Comments
This game was too close and the turning point can be traced back to LeBron’s “shootout” with the legendary Corey Maggette. Seriously, LeBron can’t let guys like that take him out of his game. As soon as LeBron starting chucking in order to show up Corey, the offense fell apart and never recovered.
Like when he was at the FT line, repeating “I didn’t say nothing to you…”
Maggette was definitely in LBJs head.
Great post.
Was the video supposed to be of the block on Ellis? Because it was of two awesome dunks by LeBron instead.
Damn – will fix it. Thanks.
What is it now, 8 of 9? Including Orlando? and we STILL don’t look cohesive. There was never any reason to panic.
It’s too bad Shaq’s out of the lineup. I was kinda looking forward to the completely disgusted, imasculated look on Gilbert Arenas’ face. Not that I’m proud of the Diesel for sleeping with his fiancee (real shady move, in fact) but it woulda made for better TV than another disjointed victory for the wine and gold.
It should have been YOUR fiance Deshawn!
i dont understand that prince of fresh air nickname. can anyone help me out?
I believe it’s just something Fred Mcleod came up with. Obviously, a rip off of the old Will Smith show…
Fresh Prince of Bel Air —> move the ‘Fresh’ as modifier of ‘Prince’ to modifier of ‘Air,’ as in “jumping so high the air is fresher; drop the ‘Bel’
But ‘Fresh’ has many meanings. In the show title it means ‘cool’ or ‘hip,’ as in ‘Fresh to Death.’
I think he should have made it the ‘Fresh Prince of Fresh Air’ since ‘Fresh’ can also mean ‘new,’ ‘young,’ ‘rookie.’ It would add depth.
It also evokes the ‘breath of fresh air’ he has brought to a frontcourt who has not had a player who could dunk with any sort of authority since…um…uh…Shawn Kemp?
right – i get the ripoff from fresh prince of bel air. i just didnt get what connection it had to hickson. i thought maybe he was from bel air or something, but i dont think thats the case since he played at NC State. i think fred mcleod should stay out of the nickname business!
#7 – What makes you think she’s not next? Haha!
The trend of building a 10+ lead early in the game only to slowly give it up in the 2nd half and end-up having to fight hard for a win is bothering me. Yeah, they score 35 points in the first quarter, but they’re allowing the opponent to score 30 points. Where’s the defensive intensity? They can’t do that against healthy teams with killer instincts. Tonight’s game will be interesting.
I miss Michael Reghi:
Boozer – MR: “CARlos BOOzer is a blue-collar worker; he brought his hard hat and lunch pail to the rim on that one” AC: Haha! Workin’ hard down low, Myguel!”
Gooden – MR: “Ohh, that’s Good’n’Plenty right there. Drew Gooden with the sweet baby hook” AC: “Haha! Sweet lie candy, Myguel.”
Bron – MR: AHHOHH! FLIGHT 23 gonna take off and absolutely crush it!” AC: “Haha! Like an airplane, Myguel!”
Nobody got AC excited and babbling regurgitated versions of their playcalls like Reghi. Fred sucks. Instead, “Ahh, that’s pretty! LeBron goes up and strokes that triple. The jumper is looking PURE tonight” I have to hear “3…3-0.” Really? Really? That’s the best you could do? His native area code has a 3 at the beginning, that’s your hook? It’s like he’s shooting from Akron.
Fred sucks.
/”The Bottom!”
Robbie, I don’t think they will do that against healthy teams with killer instincts. They swallowed up Orlando. When they need to, they show up. I know it’s disconcerting. But I think they’ve realized the Boston Celtic play-til-you-die every night mentality is not what gets the job done.
#12- Judging by deshawn’s past dating history, Shaq probably wouldn’t want any legal trouble.
http://www.jazzhoops.net/articles/article8.htm
I’ll take the win for sure, but I agree that it was too close and the Cavs have been struggling lately to close games out against inferior competition. Part of it may have been personnel issues, but the Cavs also don’t seem to play great defense at the Q anymore.
I’ll be at tonight’s game and I agree that it should be interesting. The Wiz have been playing badly the last few games but they get Jamison back tonight and they always get up to play the Cavs. Not having Shaq and Andy will hurt us a little bit I think, since the Wizards’ front line is their biggest weakness. We’ll need quality minutes from Delonte and D-block and another great performance from LeBron to get the W.
Agreed Roosevelt
I’m so happy with the progression J.J. has made over the past few games. I don’t think Lebron has had this kind of consistent play from the PF position since the days of Boozer. Defense continues to be a bit of a struggle, but that’ll come with time. Let’s hope J.J. keeps this up, but continues to develop too.
I have been as hard on Boobie as anyway. I’m glad to see him continue his consistent play. I was especially excited to see him take his man off the dribble and pop a jumper, that’s one of the things really missing from his game.
The license plate said ‘FRESH’ and there was dice in the mirror.
LBJ’s dunks were great and that sky hook might have been one of the greatest shots he’s ever hit in a game, and I’ve watched every game since ’03. It wasn’t very meaningful but man was that insane.
Missed most of the game, so kind of curious whether the combined distance of JJ’s 9 shots exceeded 10 feet.
Would be close…. Trying to remember if there was a jumper mixed in.
HAHA Denny, I was going to ask if when JJ leavs, if he says ‘Yo Holmes – Smell Ya Later!”
I was happy to see Z scoring some points…don’t know if anyone noticed that…
Why does JJ insist on hanging from the rim with one arm every time he dunks…even with 2 hands?
While I am enjoying this coming out party for JJ as much as everyone else, as well as Z showing signs of life for the first time in weeks (Major League reference anyone?), I still worry about the second team. Z’s resurgence may only be a cause of being back in the starting lineup, and Andy has just not looked the same coming off the bench these last couple games. Maybe it’s just the theory that “when you’re on the floor with better players, you play better,” but Z and Andy just aren’t themselves with that second team.
On a side note, I was at the game, decked out in my WFNY Andy “screaming head” tee and Andy wig…and he wasn’t even on the bench! WTF!
Maybe Andy hasn’t looked the same to you because of his hip injury. It could’ve been bothering him and affecting his running and overall pestering of other players.
@25
He not only hangs, but he looks back on the court while he’s hanging. Maybe it’s a cool view … how faces look after he dunks. He’s feeling his oats, I’d say.
Uh, J.J. made a 20 footer. What does it matter anyway? He can hit the jumper. Defenders are paying attention to his jumpshot and that’s why you’re seeing better spacing in our offense and better offensive production in general.