While We’re Waiting… On the Z Rumors, Shaqtus Lawsuits, and Rafy Gets Paid
January 20, 2010Shaquille O’Neal: A Legend With No Home
January 20, 2010Only three Cavaliers finished with double digit scoring, but those three were pretty impressive. LeBron James led the way (of course) with 28 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Not a bad stat line, especially since his jump shot wasn’t really working in this one. Shaq joined a very exclusive club early on registering his 28,000th point, and Mo Williams gave us all a scare when he sprained his shoulder in the third quarter reaching in to try and strip a ball. Thankfully, Mo would return to the game just in time.
The Cavs pushed an eight-point lead after three quarters to ten points with a pair of free throws in their first possession of the fourth, but had a lineup on the floor that I’m pretty sure was never designed to be together to start a quarter: Delonte West, Anothny Parker, Shaq, Jawad Williams, and J.J. Hickson. Lebron’s usual rest and Mo’s hurt shoulder had forced this strange grouping. It led to this tweet from yours truly…
How long can Cavs keep LeBron and Mo on the bench?
A good question. The answer, a minute and a half. Pretty impressive really. They blew through seven points of that lead in three Toronto possessions, and it was back to a grind it out, back-and-forth ballgame with patches of decent defense.
I use the term patches loosel as they were small patches. But down the stretch it was the re-insertion of Shaq that fueled the win. The big man doesn’t play in too many games once the four minute mark has passed, but a 9-4 Cavs run was a thing of beauty because of some stellar teamwork by the Cavs’ big three.
For three sets (interrupted by a fast break to Varejao) the Cavs ran their offense not through LeBron or Mo, but through Shaq. He set up in the post on the same side as LeBron and Mo. Once the ball was secure in Shaq’s hands LeBron and Mo ran through a series of cuts. The first was a pick by LeBron freeing Mo Williams for a three which he nailed – assist to Shaq. The second was a fake to Mo and LeBron ran to the rim for a monster jam – assist to Shaq. After Shaq tried to back his man down and missed a shot it was back to James who found an open Shaq for a double-hand throw down – assist to James. It was a great set, and looked eerily like the triangle offense that Shaq ran under Phil Jackson in L.A.
Now before Cavalier fans get too excited, remember that they were running these sets against a very porous defense. There is a defense against it, but certainly not one that the Raptors were going to offer anytime in this game which is why I was frustrated that the Cavs stopped running the set just as quickly as they started. Make them stop you. Especially at that point in the game.
The Cavs will certainly take the win and look forward to the showdown with the Lakers on Thursday night. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this one will be tougher than the Christmas day affair. The Lakers will be properly motivated for certain, and the Cavs will be without Jamario Moon who made a difference defensively in that first meeting. The Lakers on the other hand will have Pau Gasol back, as he played the entire Orlando game.
—
(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
4 Comments
Excellent call on the triangle defense comparison: I got chills just watching. Though the Raptors’ defense is about the worst I’ve seen (as I’ve railed about before), those offensive sets were still impressively set-up and executed.
Chris Bosh would like nice in a Cavs uniform. He can hit the outside shot and move very quickly.
I’d LOVE to see Bosh here, but it’s not going to happen, or at least until after the season. Toronto is still holding hope that he’ll return.
Very glad to see Shaq playing some 4th Quarter minutes. They need him to get his late-game wind for when the playoffs roll around.
A nice win for the Cavs. I was worried they’d still be tired from the West Coast trip and looking ahead to the Laker game. Glad they got the win.
As a side note, Bill Simmons posted a really good story on Lebron that you all should check out. It is a refreshingly balanced story on him that doesn’t resort to pointless rumor mongering. Here’s the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100120&sportCat=nba
The cheap shot and reconstitured rumor mill stories seem to get all the attention. All the more reason that well written and though-out articles like this should be pointed out.