WaitingForNextYear

Two important takeaways from Brian Windhorst’s most recent pieceon our Cavaliers.

1) Wally Szczerbiak is returning from his three-game absence.  His seven points per game will be a solid addition to our bench play.  And…

2) Zydrunas Ilgauskas has not been 100 percent, and it’s showing in the box scores.

When Zydrunas Ilgauskas turned his ankle against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 10, the Cavs were averaging 104 points a game. In the 10 games since, even though Ilgauskas missed just three games, the Cavs have cracked 95 points just three times.

Some of it has been the competition, where games against good defensive teams like the Rockets, Heat and Hawks have dragged on them a little bit.

But with Ilgauskas not fully healthy and the Cavs adjusting to him, and Gibson and Szczerbiak coming in and out of the lineup, their rhythm offensively has been disturbed. They seem to be moving the ball less and taking less advantage of their center.

And consider that these numbers also include Ilgauskas’ huge game against the Nuggets on the road, the rest is that much worse.  With Z’s skill set, his inability to move around has really been a drag on the once-stellar offense. 

Here’s hoping that they didn’t bring him back too soon and the surgically repaired ankle can achieve full motion in the near future.  I would hate to have won that game in Denver and have the cost be long-term effects on the big man’s all-around game. 

If this lingers, perhaps in causes Ferry to make a move that he would not make otherwise?  If this isn’t healed by the break, though we all want Ilgauskas to get is well-deserved spot on the East team, I’d expect the team to use that weekend to their full advantage.

Here’s to the Cavs breaking out of their funk… [Raises Nalgene water bottle]

(Update: Naturally, soon after posting we have this: Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas will miss tonight’s game against Chicago Bulls)