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Z’s Karma

March 25th, 2010

With the re-arrival of Big Z, the Cavaliers have officially returned from the land of bad karma. That is, if you believe in the idea of karma. Lebron certainly does:

“As you can probably tell by now, I look for karma. I believe that things happen for a reason or don’t happen for a reason.” –From Shooting Stars.

This reversal of fortune of Z coming back to the team after being traded causes me to reflect on if the Cleveland Indians could have gotten back Rocky Colavito through some trade loophole. Can a possible curse be reversed? Or has the damage been done?

Z is still, ever since he was drafted in 1996, one of my favorite players to watch. He’s unassuming, modest, and easy to like. My wife and I call him ‘Relaxed Guy’, because no matter the situation, his face never contorts into someone of great suffering. Of course, there are rare, awesome moments, such as his epic, tall white-dude fight with Greg Ostertag (50 seconds into the video) that remind me how passionate he is about the game.

Z doesn’t jump when he shoots. When he’s interviewed, he shrugs off any kind of compliment. He is the definition of humility, and players like that (unless you’re a 7’3’’ sweet-shooting center) almost never make it to the NBA.

I don’t think it can be overstated enough how much it means to Lebron that Z is back on the team. Think about Z’s career arc.  Foot surgeries, the star player on several coma-inducing teams, and yet he has remained a Cavalier. His example has to be something Lebron considers, especially this summer, when he will choose whether to reinvent himself with another team or establish his identity as a life-long Cavalier. The fact that Z was traded without a doubt reminded Lebron how the NBA is just a business, and that loyalty is seasonal. Yet, with Z back in the locker room, Lebron can now again see how much fans can truly love someone.

Although Cavs fans love Lebron and respect his abilities, Z, at least to me, is on a higher wavelength of admiration. When Z comes back in his first home game since being traded (Sunday against the Kings), I’m going to get goose bumps. The fact that he wasn’t offended by the trade enough to return, that he loved Cleveland enough to return, says so much about him as a person. Heck, maybe Dan Gilbert should pass out bald caps to all the fans and set a new record for ‘largest crowd pretending to be bald’…or perhaps that would look a bit too ‘Alien Nation’.

And, while I sit in awe every game watching Lebron play, he is still flirting with the idea of leaving. His reasons are of course rational, professional, and justified, but he is years away from getting the ovation Z will get on Sunday. At the moment, Lebron actually has two mirrors in the locker room, two possible career arcs. He can be like Z, who has been through so much,  yet is worshipped by one city, or he can go the way of Shaq, who is well-liked by America but, at the moment, is worshipped  (and when I mean worshipped, I mean ‘part of a family’) by no one.

Perhaps to Lebron, Z’s situation is a kind of karma. Whether the trade loophole absolves the Cavaliers from any wrongdoing, or ‘curse’, can only be determined in time. Coming from a fan who has watched Z his entire career, there’s one thing I know for sure: He deserves a championship.

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The Future of Daniel Gibson

March 19th, 2010

After two years draining threes for the University of Texas, Daniel Gibson declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft. After waiting forty-one slots on draft day, he was chosen by the Cavaliers in the hopes that he would be an outside-threat, coming off the bench ala Dell Curry, B.J. Armstrong, or Steve Kerr (another second round draft pick).

I remember Gibson’s rookie year. I heard about how hard he worked on his jumper with Lebron, how he’d stay after practice and get his reps. His work ethic was off the charts, and slowly he started gaining minutes. Mike Brown’s confidence in him grew, and he started getting heavy playing time in the playoffs, delivering an incredible Game 6 performance against the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 Conference Finals, hitting five threes and scoring thirty-one points.

After that game, we started hearing a lot more praise. Coach Brown compared him, oddly, to Tony Parker during the NBA Finals. He could see Gibson improving into a starting point guard, slashing to the basket, and developing his defense.

After that season, Gibson dealt with injury problems, and at times blipped onto the screen with outstanding performances such as the Rookie/Sophomore Game, where he hit 11 threes in the game. He missed Game 7 of the Boston series, but his up and down season didn’t stop Cleveland from giving him a 5 year contract worth around 21 million, a steal at the time.

Yet, with the arrival of Mo Williams, the defensive grit of Delonte West, and the realization that the kings of the league (L.A., Orlando, and Boston) all have a height advantage on him, Mike Brown has decided to place him as the 10th man on a team loaded with talent.

There is a comfort zone between Lebron and Gibson, and that was never more apparent during their winning streak this season. Lebron would run the point and create space for Gibson, who was filling in for Mo. I’ve always believed Gibson is a pure shooting guard, a far more talented Damon Jones. At times I watch Stephen Curry play 48 minutes for Golden State and shoot 25 shots a game, and I think, “Boobie could do that, and probably better.”

And that’s where I’m going with this article. Whether or not Gibson contributes to the Cavaliers playoff run this season, upper management is going to have a tantalizing choice in the offseason. Gibson is far too talented to be getting DNP-CD’s on a nightly basis. If he wanted, he could demand a trade to a weaker team, and inflate his stats perhaps the same way Curry is with the Warriors at the moment. Or, he could remain with a winner, hoping to improve, but, realistically, continue playing 15 minutes a game and helping the team the same way Armstrong or Kerr helped the Bulls during their championship years.

I think a lot of teams view Gibson as a confused guard. Does he dream of playing the point, or does he simply want to be an outside threat? The way his career is shaping out, I see him as the latter, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He’ll stay healthier, and, considering how the injuries to his ankle, toe, and shoulder bothered him in the past, I wonder if he feels the same way.

In any event, whatever happens this season will be bittersweet. During the playoffs this year, in those Game 5’s and 6’s in Boston or Orlando, it’s going to be Mo Williams we need to make 5 three pointers in a game. Gibson will have to watch from the bench, perhaps play 5-10 minutes in order to give Mo a breather. And he’ll be wondering if he wants to reinvent his career with another team, or remain with a winner, participating in any way he is given. The Cavaliers could use him in a trade during the offseason for a younger big man, since they are loaded at the guard position, but I’m hoping (as is my wife) that he stays with the team, because, when it comes down to it, you can’t replace NBA Finals experience, and playoff success.

Plus, he’s just a bad ass.

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What is wrong with Mo Williams?

March 8th, 2010

Put yourself in Mo’s shoes. Last season you had a career year. You were an all-star. Your team won 66 games and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. You were the point guard, the leader, the man who often set the tempo.

As reported so many times throughout, the Cavaliers have nothing to prove until they make the playoffs. The regular season, according to the critics, is meaningless. As long as you get through the regular season healthy, you’re fine.

As we all know, a few months ago Mo hurt his shoulder, and everyone feared that the Cavaliers would somehow lose their best record status. Instead, the exact opposite happened. The Cavaliers were 11-0 with Mo Williams on the sideline, benefitting from a somewhat soft schedule. As Mo sat, the Cavaliers won…every single time. Mo watched Lebron turn out ridiculous assist numbers. He watched Daniel Gibson, a spot-up shooter (do these kind of shooters fit better with Lebron’s point-forward style?), fill in nicely during Mo’s absence.

It’s important to note that, with a left shoulder injury, you simply cannot practice shooting. Sure, you can keep your right arm in tune by shooting one handers, but the art of the shot lies in the guidance of the left arm. And for more than a month, Mo wasn’t able to do that.

As an optimist, I like to think Mo’s shooting slump (21-64 in his last 5 games) is more attributed to lack of practice and rust. It will take time to get back the flow and rhythm of everything. But there also a few questions I’m asking myself.

1) Is Mo confused as to how much of a point guard he still is? Has Lebron taken over the role and relegated him to a shooting guard?

2) How much of an affect did the left shoulder injury have on his jump shot?

3) What is Mo more comfortable being: A true point guard, or a comes-off-screens shooting guard? (I believe the former…the main difference as to why he starts over Daniel Gibson is because of his fluidity and ability to create his own shot).

4) How much has Antawn Jamison (and his required 15 shots) changed Mo’s shot selection?

I think all of these questions will eventually be answered during the regular season, but there is major work to be done. So many of us, myself included, have been concentrating on how Jamison fits in with the team. I forgot to wonder how the rest of team would be affected by Jamison. Mo, Hickson, and Shaq/Z (when they get back) will all need help learning their role. Thankfully we’ve got 18 more games to figure it out.

San Antonio tonight. If Lebron doesn’t play, I expect an academic lesson in fundamentals to be given to J.J. Hickson by Tim Duncan, but I’ve got a good feeling, with Tony Parker out, that Mo might find a nice shooting rhythm.

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3/5/10 Cavs 99 Pistons 92

March 6th, 2010

It was a game that started with what was supposed to be a sweet and innocent Guinness World Record and ended with the realization of how unpredictable life is, and how, no matter if you’re a world-class athlete, it can all be taken away.

Since this is a recap, I’ll try to get all the game stuff out of the way. The Cavaliers were down 49-28, and then decided to play some basketball. The fact that 20,000 fans had their own soft blanket might have contributed to what looked like sleepy defense and an absolute lack of drive or firepower. Perhaps being down 21 is the body blow this team needs in order to wake itself up. Though they would never get down intentionally by so much, it seems to be getting more and more clear that this team responds solely to challenges. Being down 21 is a challenge, and they conquered it.

Lebron had 40-13r-6a, and Antawn had 17, including a nifty sequence where he basically willed the Cavaliers to a lead. Never does he look better than when he is playing with the second unit. Most of his career he’s played with the mentality that a ’2nd’ unit gives him. Shoot the ball, go to the rim, create. Worry about us later. West and Varejao seem to be jiving well together off the bench. They are such a refresing jolt of energy during the inevitable middle of the quarter lulls.

Lebron, while he shot 16-27, seemed to me a bit scattered out there. An odd backcourt call made by Dick Bavetta, though controversial, should not have even been in contention. Also, an airball on a three-pointer, and some casual walk-ups made me think he (along with all the players and fans, I’m sure) was still concerned with Stuckey.

In the third quarter, Rodney Stuckey had an incident that reminded players of tragic moments past, including Hank Gathers or Reggie Lewis. Although I’m not informed enough, it was first reported a seizure, then dehydration, which he’d dealt with last season. Stuckey is now stable and at the Cleveland Clinic.

It’s so easy to write about this sport and correct other people’s actions, but from time to time I forget how physically hard basketball is to play. A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to find a 5 on 5 pick-up game at the local high school. I hadn’t played a 5 on 5 game in over two years. During that time, I managed to stay in condition playing tennis and walking a lot, but after four pick-up games to eleven at full-speed, I started getting dizzy and could barely lift my arms to shoot. More than that, my chest burned when I breathed in. In no way am I making some kind of ridiculous comparison of my experience to what happened tonight, but seeing Stuckey like that made my arms heavy, and it reminded me how in shape and fortunate you have to be to play this sport. Stuckey is of course in great shape. He was tearing us apart and already had 10 assists in the game before what happened on the bench.

Hopefully he’ll be fine.


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Cavs 111, Nets 92: The Speed Team, Pt III

March 4th, 2010

Ever since Shaq hurt his thumb in the first half against the Celtics, the Cavaliers have been going 100 mph. In the last three games against Toronto, New York and New Jersey, they’ve averaged 120 points a game, and are exploding for a first quarter average of 35 a game. I have to say, when I watch them play this style, I drool. It’s that ridiculous. Some plays, like Lebron’s runaway train, 2nd quarter hammer smash against the Nets tonight, make me think that I’m simply watching a video game, or having flashbacks to my teenage years playing two-on-two NBA live and dunking from the 3-point line.

1st quarter: If they die, they die. Cleveland 35, New Jersey 15

It all starts with a bit of shock and awe. Lebron gets his teammates involved, which is pretty easy this game because the Nets seem asleep and perhaps weirded out that their arena is more than half full, yet most of them are rooting for the wrong team. It’s obvious at this point, if you’ve been following the Cavs for the last year and a half, that they love nothing more than to uppercut a team in the first quarter. They play a bit like Mike Tyson fought. Scare the living hell out of a team the first 12 minutes, and then see if they want to keep standing or not.

Varejao had a  ’hey, let me just hang out of bounds for a sec’ cut to the hoop for an easy two. I swear, while other players are thinking about different ways to dunk, AV is thinking of new ways to cut.

2nd quarter: The Inevitable Letdown: New Jersey 27, Cleveland 24

As soon as the Cavs realized they had this one in the bag, and they had a road crowd starving for some highlights, they intermittently played with brilliance. This quarter contained the Lebron ‘I must break you’  dunk. (By the way, the two Rocky IV mentions are in honor of the new Nets owner: Mikhail Prokhorov)

This is the quarter (along with a bit of the third) to break down when watching the Cavaliers play above-average teams. Coming up, I’ll want to see how the Spurs react to the speed of Cleveland and if they’re able to throw some new things at them.

3rd quarter: Mike Brown: I dare you to extend the lead halftime speech. Cleveland 27, New Jersey 26.

The first six minutes of the third quarter are when I’m always my most nervous. Still I get nightmares from that Orlando series, and how we gave up such huge first half leads. Of course I wasn’t nervous during this game, especially after a nice Lebron alley-oop reverse dunk from Mo. Also, some gritty on the block work by J.J. He’s doing a better job of not letting himself get boxed out and keeping himself free.

4th quarter: Lebron played 40 minutes? Cleveland 25, New Jersey 24

That’s right. 40 minutes. Not really sure of the reasoning behind that. Perhaps because West and Gibson were unavailable, so there weren’t any back up point guards. But this quarter was mostly for Mo and Jamison to get some reps in on the road. This felt like a scrimmage the last few minutes.

The only problem I have with The Speed Team is when they play up-tempo teams like the Raptors, a game that went into overtime. While watching them is glorious (especially in the first half) what Shaq is able to give this team is not only a large defensive presence, but he gets the other team into foul trouble like no other. That is particularly important when the game slows down in the 2nd half. In the Orlando series, Orlando didn’t have to worry about time-management at the end. Unless Lebron posted up, or drove hard to the rim, we had no consistent way to get them into foul trouble.So, enjoy the Speed Team. With Detroit and Milwaukee coming up (the latter a tricky game), it should last at least until the end of this week, or perhaps the rest of the season.

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