Waiting is the Hardest Part

The bad news is that the Cavaliers have dropped five straight – their longest skein in almost two years. The good news is that help is on the way.

After a brutal first month of the season, Cleveland gets a nice little break here at the beginning of December. (They need it.) Between today and next Thursday, they play a total of two games – and could have two or three of their key players back in uniform when they return to The Q on Tuesday night.

Coach Brown has said – since last Friday – that if these were playoff games, LeBron James would be in uniform. But the organization also knows that this team is built for the bigger picture and, rather than risk a nagging injury that could return, it’s best for the Cavaliers to take their lumps now and have a healthy James later.

LeBron’s absence is as much a testament that he’s the league’s Most Valuable Player as his presence. And it’s not all about wins and losses or LeBron’s personal numbers, either. The reason James is so incredibly valuable – as it always has been – is what he does for his teammates.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas – just to cite one example – looked rejuvenated to start the year, hitting the 18-footer off the pick-and-pop with LeBron. Over the last five contests, however, he’s averaging just eight shots a game.

What’s been most frustrating to Mike Brown through LeBron’s injury is that in the past, when James went down, the team would dig for something extra. They were 9-3 without him before this year, and looked to have a chip on their shoulder without LeBron. This year, it’s been just the opposite.

Brown was wearing that frustration on Tuesday night.

“Obviously if LeBron plays, we’re a lot better team – he does a lot for us,” said Brown. “I know for a fact that we’ve won ballgames without LeBron. Do I want to be without LeBron for a long time let alone one game? No sir. But LeBron is human; he’s got to rest, and if he’s out, we’ve got to at least fight. Against Boston I thought we fought. Against Toronto we didn’t defend. Against Detroit I thought everybody came out in the second half and tried to do it on their own. Tonight we flat out gave in.”

The Cavaliers showed more fight against Washington, but it took them falling into a 28-point hole to do so.

That fight that Mike Brown was talking about will return when Anderson Varejao gets back to form. An unfortunate effect of his contract holdout was that people focused solely on Andy’s numbers. But his contribution can’t always be measured by points or rebounds. His contributions are intangible: energy, heart, hustle, extra possessions, frustrating the opponent. These contributions sound trivial – until you’re not getting them.

Losing streak aside, there have been positives from the last few games. Shannon Brown has looked really good, averaging 16.5 ppg over the last two contests. I realize the word “showcase” has been used to describe his last two starts. That’s a front office issue, but it sure would be tough to lose a player with such unlimited athletic potential. The mental mistakes will fade with experience.

Ira Newble has done yeoman’s work on both ends of the floor and Dwayne Jones, whose minutes will diminish with Anderson’s arrival, has shown that he’s a legitimate NBA big man. He’s got limitations – especially on offense – but provided some toughness to a team in desperate need of it.

Larry Hughes has struggled to stay healthy since his arrival in Cleveland, but when he’s got his game working, is a valuable piece of the puzzle. He worked out on Tuesday morning and could practice when the Cavaliers take the floor at CCC on Friday.

“It’s frustrating, but I’m trying not to get down,” said Hughes after Tuesday’s shoot around. “I always have to look at things positively, knowing that I’m doing everything I can do to get my body ready to work on my basketball skills. But (injuries) happen – I don’t know why and I don’t really want to ask why – but I just have to keep pushing through it.”

The Cavaliers are close to getting their regular unit back together. They’re a team built for spring basketball, not December. Hopefully, Danny Ferry and Mike Brown are building for, what Austin Carr calls, “the crescendo.” In the meantime, the Wine and Gold have a get-well game to prepare for against a team with a longer losing streak than them.

Wine and Gold, Under the Weather

The Cavaliers got a rude awakening in their first game back from their longest road trip of the season on Wednesday night. The Magic hung 117 points on the Wine and Gold, and LeBron’s second triple-double of the season was, once again, obscured by a heartbreaking loss.

LeBron put up numbers on Wednesday – as he did last week in Utah – that have stood for 40 years and were last accomplished by players named Baylor and Chamberlain. And people can say what they want about the foul that wasn’t called on the last play, but the Cavaliers had their chances to win it before that jump ball.

“I never get into referee battles,” said a subdued James following the OT loss. “I think we had opportunities to win the ballgame and they made more plays than us. It is as simple as that. I’ve always been a no excuse guy and I voice my opinion throughout the course of the game, but after the game I don’t need to go after them.”

Right now, the Cavaliers are a beat up team. Fans can say what they want about chartered flights and luxury hotels, but the travel numbers add up no matter how you slice it. In the past month, the Cavaliers have traveled 23,500 miles, taken 13 flights, played 12 games in 11 cities, and stayed in 10 hotels while visiting four different time zones.

They’ve been without Eric Snow all season and Donyell Marshall for most of it. LeBron, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and and Damon Jones were all nicked-up on Wednesday. Larry Hughes will miss at least a month. Sasha Pavlovic’s NBA body-clock is still in preseason and Anderson Varejao is still M.I.A.

The result is a 4-5 record.

The Cavaliers have been kept afloat by their starting frontline. Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are the only pair of teammates in the league each averaging a double-double. Gooden’s averaging 14.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest and Z is going at a clip of 15.9 and 12.1. And LeBron has been off the charts all year and would easily be the early favorite for MVP if not for Kevin Garnett’s performance paired with Boston’s record.

The backcourt, on the other hand, has been erratic, at best. Between injuries and an ejection, Hughes simply has not found his rhythm, shooting 29 percent from the floor and averaging 6.8 ppg – over eight points below his career average. Pavlovic is right at his career average of 5.8 ppg, but he’s shooting 28 percent from the floor and has broken double-figures once – a 17-point effort in Utah, with all 17 coming in the first half.

Mike Brown’s defensive mettle has been tested lately, too. The Cavaliers gave up 122 points in Denver and 117 more to the Magic. For their troubles, they get a matchup with the league’s highest scoring team (Utah – 109.6 ppg) on Friday night.

Let’s see what LeBron can pull out of his hat when C-Booz and Co. roll into The Q. The two squads passed like ships in the night at the Cleveland Clinic Courts on Thursday afternoon, but it’ll be up-close-and-personal when the popcorn starts popping on Friday.

Pick Up the Pieces

The ink was flying around Independence on Thursday in what’s already been a pretty dramatic fall in Cavaliers’ camp. Sasha Pavlovic ended his hold-out, signing a multi-year deal to remain with the team that he’s started 56 games since coming over from Utah before the 2004-05 season.

The Wine and Gold also extended a player from the 2006 Draft – but not their pick – when they exercised the third-year contract option on forward Cedric Simmons. Cleveland did not make the same deal with guard Shannon Brown, who the Cavaliers chose with the 25th overall pick two summers ago, declining his third-year option.

Brown – who’s averaged 3.0 ppg in 24 contests in Cleveland – will be become unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

“We really like Shannon,” said GM Danny Ferry following Cavs practice on Thursday. “At this point, we haven’t used him a whole lot. This is the right decision for now and something we can re-address at the end of the year.”

Ferry has been put in some tough contract issues this off-season. “None of these decisions are simple,” he added. “And this is definitely one of these.”

When asked about Shannon’s contract issues, LeBron James said, “I don’t want to get involved in that (stuff). I just went through that with Andy and Sasha. When I become a GM later in life, then I can answer all those questions. But now I’m good.”

Pavlovic’s signing comes just in time for a team that is in desperate need of a spark – not to mention some firepower off the bench. He may or may not be in uniform when the Cavaliers welcome the Knicks to town on Friday in the final home game before hitting the West Coast for six games in eight nights. In fact, Ferry saw him as “Doubtful” – with a twist.

“I would list him as ‘Doubtful’ – not due to injury. Due to immigration.”

Sasha is not above the international red tape that’s required, even to play professional basketball in this country. Pavlovic had to go to Toronto on Friday after Buffalo on Thursday. It’s all “planes, trains and automobiles” and “VISA stuff” before Sasha can suit up with the Cavaliers.

He’ll be a big lift for a team that needs it. The Cavaliers were 20-8 in games he started late last season. he averaged 12.7 points and three boards per game in that stretch and netted double figures in eight of the Cavs’ 20 Playoff games. His defense in the postseason was markedly improved.

Unfortunately, the other half of the holdout imbroglio is still on hold.

“On the Varejao issue, nothing has changed,” said Ferry. “He’s a guy we respect and like and would like to have back with our team. We’ve made – I think – fair proposals, several times. And we have to make decisions not just for the short term, but for the long term of this franchise. And that’s the process we’re going with in this situation with Anderson.”

Now that at least one of the contract situations is settled, the Cavaliers can continue to work through their on-court problems. They know that Friday night’s game against a new-and-improved New York team is critical. And LeBron knows that he can’t have a scoreless first half like he did on Wednesday if the Cavaliers are going to have a chance to get into the win column.

“I’m going to definitely put a little more emphasis on offensive end tomorrow,” LeBron asserted. “Try to get it going for us, early. And see how my teammates react.”

Stay tuned …

Putting Preseason in the Past

“The season starts next Wednesday, so we need to either get it together or keep getting blown out some more,” said LeBron James after Friday night’s thumping in Boston. “That’s as simple as it is, either get it together or get blown out.”

The Chosen One is very good at many things. Sugar-coating the truth is not one of them.

The Cavaliers dropped their final exhibition game on Friday – once again in ignominious fashion – and their leader is rightfully concerned. The Wine and Gold went 2-6 in last year’s preseason, but they had all their pieces parts and didn’t have the pressure of being Eastern Conference Champs.

Only a pair of Dwayne Jones free throws have kept the Cavaliers from going winless in October. And Cleveland has lost its last two games – including Thursday’s drubbing in Toronto – by a combined 58 points. On Friday night, in what should have been a pretty convincing tune-up, Mike Brown’s club was out-hustled and out-muscled – giving up 62 points in the paint and allowing the new-look C’s to shoot 60 percent from the floor. They had ten turnovers in a single quarter and made Big Baby Davis look like Big Bill Russell.

Cleveland finished the preseason as the lowest-scoring club in the league, averaging a paltry 83.6 points per contest. The Cavaliers were also the only club to finish the exhibition schedule with a shooting percentage under 40 percent – (.394).

Is all this reason to panic? Of course not. As noted, the Cavaliers didn’t light the world on fire last October. Atlanta finished 7-1 and it’s doubtful that they’ll win at an .875 clip this year; Miami was 0-7.

But the Cavaliers struggles can’t be easily dismissed either. Their second unit has been listless and point guards have devoured Cleveland in the paint. They ranked near the bottom of the league in turnovers, three-point shooting and assists. Dwayne Jones – who played in four games and was inactive for 73 – has been their most effective big off the bench.

“I think we are still a good team, its just about finding our niche, finding our stride,” said Larry Hughes. “And hopefully we can get that done sooner than later. We are still focused on being a good team.”

It doesn’t get much easier for the Wine and Gold. In fact, it gets much more difficult in the coming days and weeks. After facing off against the heavyweight Mavericks in Wednesday’s home opener, they welcome in the Knicks – who always play the Cavaliers tough, with or without Zach Randolph. After that, it’s six out West, including games against the Suns, Jazz and Nuggets.

Neither side has budged in the contract imbroglios of Anderson Varejao or Sasha Pavlovic, and Devin Brown and Cedric Simmons haven’t exactly made fans forget about either one, either. Teams are making their final cuts, and someone could shake loose that could help. Juwan Howard recently accepted a buyout from the Timberwolves and Cleveland is on his short list of destinations. Local product, Earl Boykins, remains unsigned.

In the meantime, Mike Brown needs to fix the problems he’s having with the men he’s got in his locker room. Boston killed the Cavaliers in the paint and Toronto did them in from long range. His offense isn’t scoring and his second unit – save Damon Jones – has shown little signs of life.

It’s not all bad. LeBron James and Larry Hughes look like they’ve improved their jumpers from last season. Daniel Gibson continues to grow and Shannon Brown – despite a spate of preseason turnovers – looks ready to contribute.

But the Cavaliers need to get the entire team on the same page come Wednesday night. It would have taken a big effort to beat the Mavericks with the squad at full-strength; without them, it might take something superhuman.

Luckily, superhuman effort is one of those previously mentioned things that LeBron James is very good at.

The Cavaliers released two over the weekend: guard Hassan Adams and forward Darius Rice. Adams – a former second-rounder with New Jersey – had flashes but couldn’t crack the guard rotation behind Devin Brown and Shannon Brown. Rice – who was impressive with Wine and Gold in Summer League – got off to a slow start and never quite caught up.

Missing Persons

After eight days on the open road, the Cavaliers returned to Cleveland Clinic Courts on Monday morning for a short practice, if for no other reason than to get back into some sort of a routine before their final two exhibition games – a back-to-back against Toronto and Boston to wrap up the preseason.

Not all the players were overjoyed with a return to the practice court after the extended Asian sojourn. Back in the days of John Lucas or even Paul Silas, guys could catch more of a break. Sometimes, practice would get cancelled or cut short if someone could make a half-court shot. Mike Brown doesn’t swing that way.

There was definitely a tangible relief to get back to the business of basketball. The players’ body-clocks still aren’t totally synchronized – everyone (except Drew Gooden) mentioned that they’re sleep patterns were off and several players, including Shannon Brown and Donyell Marshall, have talked about losing weight.

But with the season opener just over one week away, the Eastern Conference Champs are still lacking an identity. And most of that can be attributed to the state of flux caused by the extended holdouts of Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic.

Sasha’s absence has been mitigated by the play of Shannon Brown, who looks more comfortable with each passing preseason game. He’s averaging 12 ppg despite shooting just 37 percent from the floor. Brown’s jumper looks better and his athleticism is unquestionable. Plus he’s given a desperately needed spark to the second unit.

But he’s still not earned the complete trust of his head coach. “He’s got to take better care of the basketball,” said Mike Brown. “Right now he’s got 18 turnovers and four assists and I think our next turnover guy has a total of twelve, so as a young guy he’s made some progress, but he’s got to do a better job of not making mistakes out there that hurt the team possession-wise.”

The Cavaliers collectively didn’t look great in the two losses to Orlando in the Far East, but Brown has, at least for now, all-but usurped Pavlovic’s role.

Devin Brown has been solid but far from spectacular. (Not that “spectacular” is Devin’s forte.) Damon Jones got the spot start in Shanghai and looked decent, dishing out six dimes in limited action. Hassan Adams has had his moments.

Mike Brown said it best after Saturday afternoon’s game in Shanghai. “There are minutes available (in the backcourt). But right now, nobody has stepped up and taken them.”

The frontcourt is a little more complicated. Cedric Simmons has been battling an ankle injury and, if healthy, will hopefully make a statement later this week in Toronto and Boston. The absence of Simmons has given time to Dwayne Jones, who has been impressive as a banger. If Jones had a better set of hands, he could truly set himself apart. He’s been tough on the boards and challenging shots. He’s easily been Cleveland’s best big off the bench.

With just over a week until the regular season tips off, the Cavaliers are still a work in progress – not exactly the place they want to be while trying to defend a Conference championship.

“We have to go to war with who we have right now,” said Drew Gooden. “That’s the business side of things, more than having to go out and compete and play basketball. Once that’s resolved, whether they’re with us or without us, we have to work with what we got and have the mindset that they’re not going to come back, because we don’t know if they are.”

The always-pragmatic LeBron James knows that it will be an uphill battle without his two young running mates, but they still have that battle either way when Dallas rolls into town next Wednesday.

“We’re not as good as we are if we don’t have those guys; that’s simple – we all know that,” said James. “There’s no reason to sit here and say we’re a better team without them. They’re a big part of our team, but by the same time we have to continue to get better if they’re not here.”

Far East, Far Out

Greetings from Shanghai, everyone. We’re just about ready to head to the Arena for the first of two matchups with the Orlando Magic. The Portman Ritz-Carlton is buzzing as both teams, their huge traveling groups, and the international media prepares for the start of China Games 2007.

I still haven’t mustered the culinary courage to eat the squid-on-a-stick that I wrote about on Monday. Call me a coward.

We’ll be leaving Shanghai for Macao right after Wednesday night’s game, so I wanted to check in with four final observations from the Paris of the East. And I’ll check back from Macao in a couple days.

There isn’t anything that can happen on Wednesday night at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena that could match the pure joy that three Cavaliers – Donyell Marshall, Devin Brown and Cedric Simmons – gave to scores of small children on Tuesday afternoon at the Lu Bing Hua Migrant School in Shanghai. Click here for the photos

Lining the corridors of the school’s entrance, a handful of pre-schoolers greeted us with glowing smiles and a word they might have just learned earlier that day – (Hello!) It was enough to melt the hearts of hardest ballers – their tiny voices ringing the school’s halls, belying the poverty that surrounded them. The adorable four- and five-year olds repeated their new word over and over, happily flashing the peace sign to their enormous guests.

Soon after the Cavaliers arrived, NBA Commissioner David Stern rolled in, and the ceremony to christen the opening of a brand new library, technology center and adidas basketball court commenced. Commissioner Stern, Donyell and representatives from adidas and Lenovo computers spoke after a pair of performances by some of the children. Also on hand were NBA legends George Gervin and Chocolate Thunder himself, Daryl Dawkins.

These were the children of migrant workers, some of whom watched the event from the factory next door.

After the ceremony, Donyell, Devin and Cedric played some ball with the kids. Devin and the Ice Man read to some of the pre-schoolers, and the eager tikes parroted Gervin’s reading flawlessly. (He’d turn the page and say “Very good!” They replied “Very good!” It was priceless.)

It was truly a heart-warming event, pulled off to perfection – as always – with the assistance of Cavs Community Relations Director, Colleen Garrity.

Let’s be honest: the big draw here at China Games 2007 is LeBron James, who – based on observations in the first part of the week – has demi-god status here in Shanghai. He is the NBA’s rock star.

From the 100-ft. tall billboards to his new Nike commercial which plays on 36” video screens throughout the city to his jam-packed Nike event on Monday night, it’s apparent that he is the top hoopster in the world. (Or at least the Far East.) When the Chinese media is allowed into practice, they descend on James, six or seven deep. Naturally, LeBron fields their questions with patience and aplomb.

But the one thing that’s catching the most attention from his American observers here in Shanghai is that he goes everywhere donning a Cleveland Indians cap. Without dredging up CapGate, I can’t help but get a warm and fuzzy feeling every time I see LBJ sporting Chief Wahoo.

Speaking of the Tribe, all of us have been watching the Indians-Red Sox games here in Shanghai. The games have come on at 7 or 8 a.m. in the morning – (we’re 12 hours ahead of Cleveland) – and some of the fellow travelers have had impromptu watch parties in their rooms.

I had to miss Game 3 in order to attend Cavaliers practice, but was kept abreast of events thanks to an e-mail play-by-play from Cavaliers Graphics Director, Mark “It’s Tribe Time Now” Podolak – watching back in Cleveland.

The games are broadcast on ESPN International, which is pretty wild in itself. Soccer is definitely the big programming and the big news this morning was soccer hooliganism in Russia. The second biggest soccer story was a South African player who challenged a cheetah to a foot-race. (The cheetah won, and for his efforts, was promptly shot with a tranquilizer gun.)

I mentioned some of the street oddities in Monday’s blog, but I think it bears elaboration.

If there are traffic rules, I have not figured them out. It is absolute insanity. Buses pull U-turns in rush hour, bicycles dart in and out of traffic. There is no regard for the double-yellow or speed-bumps. And the other night – hand to God – I saw four people on a single moped.

I have yet to get into a taxi cab with a driver that has good vision. Because we don’t speak the language, you simply present a business card – picked up at the consierge’s desk – of the place you want to go. Without fail, the cabbie squints at the card, puts on a pair of busted-up eyeglasses, and squints and the card again. Then he takes off the glasses and proceeds to drive like a maniac to said destination.

We were warned before the trip that it is not uncommon for the Chinese to spit on the sidewalk. “Not uncommon” – as it turns out – means “very common” because both men and women have no shame in their game when it comes to busting a loogie at any time.

Shockingly, this is not the most disgusting thing that we’ve witnessed. On several occasions, we’ve seen grown men urinating in public. (On the way back from Lu Bing Hua, Cedric Simmons sheepishly pointed at a man whizzing off a bridge into a river.) Frequently, you’ll see a parent have their small child drop trough and do their business on the corner of a building. Some of these shorties even have little “pajamas” with a slit down the backside for easy access. Classic!

Well, that’s it for today, Cleveland. I hope I haven’t spoiled your breakfast. We’re rolling up to the Arena as I write. Hopefully everyone is able to check out Fred McLeod’s call of the game on WTAM this morning. He’s subbing for the injured Joe Tait – who missed the trip to China with a foot injury.

I’ll check back in from Macao in just a bit. Hopefully after a Cavaliers win. In the meantime … GO TRIBE!!!

Shanghai Surprise

As many of you read in Fred McLeod’s blog yesterday – (This morning? Tonight? I’m a little screwed up.) – we landed in Shanghai on Sunday morning at around 6:30 a.m. It was an 18-hour flight – with a re-fueling stop in Anchorage – that left everyone in our traveling party a little wiped out.

After breakfast, we were given the lowdown on the area surrounding the hotel and nearly everyone went to their rooms to crash. (Although the NBA folks warned everyone not to fall asleep until 10 p.m. so as not to mess up our body clock for the remainder of the trip.) In Shanghai, we’re 12 hours ahead of Cleveland, so whenever you’re reading this, it’s a half-a-day ahead here in China.

One thing that helped everyone stay awake was the Indians-Red Sox game, which was just getting under way. We were able to get the game in our rooms via ESPN International. (God bless the Worldwide Leader in Sports!) Watching the Tribe top Boston in that epic 13-6, 11-inning victory with the bustling streets of Shanghai below was something I’m sure none of us will ever forget.

The Cavaliers were pretty much given the day off after playing three games in four nights before the prolonged intercontinental plane ride. A few players shot around in the afternoon between 3-5 p.m., but for the most part, Sunday was a day to rest and recuperate from the flight. The first official practice is on Monday morning at 10 a.m.

Some of the guys went out shopping and were amused by the knock-offs and their prices. Donyell Marshall was laughing about buying an “MP4” – (huh?) – for approximately $25, American.

Shanghai is difficult to describe. It is definitely old world China meets new world China. On Sunday, we traveled to “Old Shanghai” – which was quite an experience.

There’s construction everywhere – from high-rises to road work. There is construction on just about every block, with kids playing among the rubble. Small streets have scaffolding built with bamboo.

The streets are a chaotic cacophony of cars, cabs, mopeds, bicycles and pedestrians with eyes in the back of their heads. It is completely frenetic, with no real semblance of traffic laws – at least none that we could figure out. The only rule seems to be every man (or vehicle) for themselves. Somehow it seems to work.

Throughout downtown there are alleyways packed with vendors selling everything from tiny Chairman Mao alarm clocks to squid on a stick. On one corner, live prawns are being shoveled into a plastic bag; on another old women are shucking oysters on the sidewalk. If you’re not Anthony Bourdain or you don’t have a cast iron stomach, you might want to skip this part of the city. Near the hotel, there’s a Papa John’s pizza for wusses like me.

If you make eye contact with most vendors, they will engage you and begin the haggling process before you know what hit you. Occasionally, they’ll follow you and continue the process as you’re walking away. You’re repeatedly approached by hustlers with laminated photo catalogues of knock-off watches and Gucci bags at almost every stop. And they do not take “no” for an answer.

One thing that was prevalent in Old Shanghai – (but actually we’ve seen in all parts of Shanghai) – that there is laundry hanging EVERYWHERE. Pants, pajamas, t-shirts, baby clothes, rugs. Clothes are hanging out of nearly every apartment in every high-rise and on lines in the street. The Maytag Repairman would have a coronary.

That about does it for our first day and my visit to “Old Shanghai.” Tomorrow, we resume the business of basketball here in the Paris of the East. And I’m sure I’ll have more photos and updates, forthwith.

Enjoy your washers and dryers back in the States and please have a ham and cheese sandwich for me. I’ll be back tomorrow.

In the meantime … GO TRIBE!

Rough Start

Let’s get it out of the way right now. Tuesday night’s exhibition opener was ugly. As far as exhibitions go, the 81-62 loss wasn’t much of one.

Good thing the Cavs play two more this week and the Tribe is hot.

Daniel Gibson was the only player in double-figures with 13 points and the Cavaliers allowed 29 points in the second quarter. Aside from Boobie, the rest of the Cavaliers starting five shot a combined 6-for-27. Cleveland had 26 turnovers.

“We’re still learning some new things,” said LeBron James, who went 1-for-5 in just 15 minutes. “We know each other, but we’re still learning some new things and we want to play better, of course. We just don’t want to play as bad as we did, especially in the first and second quarter.”

Yes, it was rough, but it was only one game – and the first preseason game, at that. And the Cavaliers are still missing some key components from last year’s run and learning the new offense.

“I expect our offense to struggle like our defense did the first couple of months in my first season here,” said Mike Brown. “Hopefully, over time of being on the practice floor and being on the game floor and watching tape, we’ll be on the right way.”

I’m pretty sure that that’s something Cavalier fans don’t want to hear right now. But for many of those same fans – who were calling for Brown to bring in an “offensive coordinator” to jumpstart the Wine and Gold’s attack – it’s the reality. Brown’s defensive tutelage took the Cavs from one of the worst defensive clubs in the league to one of the best in two years.

Brown has always preached defense, and specifically, his three defensive staples: 1. Contest all shots, 2. Shrink the floor, and 3. Give up the middle on close outs.

But this year – with the Cavaliers comfortable with Brown’s defense – he intends to focus on installing the bulk of his new offense.

“For the first time since I’ve been here, we’ve given the guys three offensive staples, and these are things we’re going to harp on, harp on, harp on,” Brown explained at an impromptu film session with a couple local media members on Monday. (You might have read about it in Fred McLeod’s blog on cavs.com.)

In a Cliff’s Notes version, the three tenets of Brown’s new offense are: 1. Throw ahead/ball reversal – pushing the ball quickly from the backcourt to the frontcourt and moving the ball from one side of the floor. 2. The “hockey assist” – the first penetration moves the defense, the second penetration kills the defense. 3. Floor spacing – cutting and screening ‘with a purpose’ to open the middle for the bigs to attack.

A checklist indicates that the Cavaliers did almost none of these on Tuesday night, but it’s (very) early and – with LeBron James at the helm – one might expect the offense to begin warming up incrementally as October 31 approaches.

The Cavaliers open at home for the third straight season, matching up with the Mavericks on Halloween.

That’s as easy – logistics-wise, not opponent-wise – as the Cavaliers’ schedule is for from this point until midway through November. The Wine and Gold go back-to-back starting Thursday night against Detroit, get directly on a plane after the Seattle game on Friday for a 15-hour plane ride to China – (with a re-fueling stop in Alaska).

The Cavaliers will be in Asia for a week to participate in the NBA China Games 2007, where they’ll take on the Orlando Magic for two exhibition games – the first in Shanghai on Oct. 17, the second in Macao on Oct. 20.

Cleveland plays another road back-to-back later that week against Toronto and Boston before getting ready for the home opener.

“I think that six games is enough,” quipped Drew Gooden, looking ahead at the Cavs’ challenging preseason. “Sometimes it’s just too long and there is a high risk of injuries.”

After the Wine and Gold take on Dirk and the Mavs, it’s the Knicks at The Q on Friday, Nov. 2, followed by a six-game West Coast trip starting with Suns on Sunday.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown …

Second-year guard, Daniel Gibson, was easily the best player on the floor for Cleveland on Tuesday night – notching a game-high 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting. He was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, grabbed four boards and had an assist and a blocked shot.

Barring some kind of move, it’s hard to imagine Gibson relinquishing his starting role between now and the start of the season.

He’s not the pure point guard that some would like, but neither was Chauncey Billups when he was Gibson’s age. Boobie looked great in the Wine and Gold Scrimmage and, frankly, has been the Cavs’ second-best player since mid-way through the Eastern Conference Finals.

Gone Camping

The Cavaliers first day back to school – marred by an injury and a pair of contract disputes – wasn’t exactly the start they had hoped for. But as Training Camp tips off on Monday night, the squad is still rested, ready and carrying a big chip on their collective shoulders from last June.

LeBron came to camp fresh off his solid gold performance on the season premier of “Saturday Night Live” and he expected much ribbing by his teammates – although not for his dancing. (“None of those guys can dance!” he shrugged.)

Monday marked the annual feeding frenzy known as Media Day – a chance for local scribes and talking heads to run the squad through the wringer. Naturally, the dominant topic wasn’t on the players that were there, but more on who wasn’t: Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic.

Technically, neither player is “holding out” in the traditional, Brady Quinn sense. But that’s only because neither is under contract and their one-year qualifying offers expired at midnight.

“They’re two terrific young men and terrific players, but we have guys right here in Camp today that I know, as a coach, I have to focus on and start getting better with,” said Mike Brown. “That’s going to work out however it may, but right now I’m just happy and looking forward to working with the guys I have here in Camp.”

Anderson is the Cavaliers’ energy player off the bench, is equally effective at two front court positions and has been a crowd favorite since his arrival. Pavlovic finished last season as the squad’s starting two-guard, with the Cavaliers going 21-8 with him in the starting lineup. Both players have threatened to play overseas.

“We respect Danny. And we respect Sasha and Andy,” quipped Donyell Marshall. “But we’re here to play basketball. That’s part of the business and we know that. Is it a difficult time? Yeah. Because we’re starting the season without two of our main players – but that’s the way the business goes.”

“For me, as a leader, I hope something can get done,” added LeBron. “I don’t know Sasha’s or Anderson’s side. I don’t know Danny’s side. But I need my soldiers here to play. I hope something can get worked out because – no matter how you look at it – those two guys are a big part of our team.”

To Danny Ferry’s credit, he didn’t sit still while waiting on his two young international players – swinging a pair of productive deals over the weekend. Devin Brown is a versatile guard who can play three positions and Cedric Simmons is a 21-year-old athletic, shot-blocking forward.

“This is part of the business side of sports,” said Ferry. “It happens in baseball; it happens in football. This is part of it. And this is something that professional players, coaches and front office people – you can’t allow it to distract you. You go out, have a great Camp, and try to get those issues resolved – one way or the other – through the process.”

Eric Snow will be sidelined at least four weeks after he undergoes arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn left meniscus that he suffered last Tuesday after a workout.

“I knew right away it was something – I felt it pop. I didn’t think it was (hurt) to the extent that it was. But I knew it was something.”

Snow’s injury makes the weekend signing of Devin Brown even more prescient. Brown – along with Boobie Gibson, Shannon Brown and Damon Jones – will pick up the slack for the Canton Bulldog, who hurt his knee right after a standard workout.

“I’ve never had any trouble with my knee,” said Snow. “That night, I worked out, felt a little pop and finished working out. I stretched, iced and finished the rest of my physical. I got on a plane, went back to Atlanta and it just kept getting worse – swelling up, swelling up. Went in to get treatment, checked out in Atlanta and found out it was a torn meniscus.

“Initially, once the swelling went down I thought it would be OK. It was something I’ve never experienced, but it could have been a lot worse.”

Damon Jones wasn’t in his usual ebullient mood on Monday morning – and LeBron might have been the host of a comedy show – but the DJ can still rattle off the one-liners with the best of them.

When asked about what was new in the off-season, Jones said: “I had a great summer. I tested positive … for being handsome.”

Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his newly shaved and streamlined head isn’t the only player who comes to Training Camp with a new look. Drew Gooden might have lost the duck tail, but he did acquire some new ink.

Gooden’s left bicep is freshly adorned with a colorful wrap-around tattoo that’s truly too complex to describe – even Drew couldn’t put it into exact words. The good news is that it looks really cool. The bad news is that it’s a 20-hour project to complete the tattoo and Gooden still has 10 hours left before it’s finished.

Larry Hughes worked on his jumper this summer, and who better to coach him than legendary Cavalier sharpshooter, Mark Price.

“We worked on a little balance,” said Hughes. “Just minor things really. He said I had good form and good technique and there were just some minor things that he had to tweak. I had developed some bad habits, but playing so much and so many games, it’s hard to correct those things while the season’s going.”

LeBron James has taken his share of heat for admitting that he’ll root for the Yankees when the Tribe takes them on when the ALDS begins this Tuesday. But he was quick to qualify his comments.

“I didn’t just pick the Yankees, I’ve been a Yankee all my life,” James smiled. “If the Indians are playing anyone besides the Yankees, I want the Indians to win. It’s just like with the Browns. If the Browns play anyone else besides the Cowboys I want the Browns to win. It’s as simple as that.”

Ribbon Cutting, Chrome Domes and Merry Pranksters

On Wednesday afternoon, the Cavaliers officially unveiled their breathtaking state-of-the-art practice facility – the Cleveland Clinic Courts. It was the first time that the local media got a look at the complex and it’s fair to say that they left mightily impressed.

It’s hard not be impressed by the hoops utopia located just north of Rockside Road in Independence. From the spacious weight room to the cavernous courts, the new complex should ensure the Cavaliers’ continued ascent among the NBA elite. Quite simply, the Courts will provide players the opportunity to work longer and work smarter. They’ll be able recover more quickly from injuries and even stave off a few from the grind of an 82-game campaign.

And while The Q is still one of the premiere arenas in the league, the Cleveland Clinic Courts are all about the business of basketball.

The impressive attributes of the CCC are almost too numerous to mention and it’s a toss-up between Strength and Conditioning Coach Stan Kellers and Head Trainer Max Benton as to who got the cooler toys.

Stan’s stash ranges from high-tech (Kaiser machines, which use air-pressure training instead of weights) to low-tech (kettle bells, which have been around, literally, for centuries).

Max has a pair of high-tech gadgets that sets the Cleveland Clinic Courts apart. One is the HyrdroWorks underwater treadmill – something only a handful of teams have throughout the league. Basically, the hydrotherapy area allows players to work out their aches and pains using water’s therapeutic elements. The other is the Primus computer rehabilitation system – used by just one other NBA team as well as the U.S. Olympic Committee. Among other things, the Primus system allows the training staff to test players’ range of movement and strength before and after an injury.


Despite tight security, somehow some merry pranksters made their way into the Cleveland Clinic Courts just before the Grand Opening. Their first bit of chicanery was to paint infamous Duke alum, Danny Ferry’s office North Carolina blue. As if the color wasn’t enough, Tarheel decals festooned his walls and windows.

Mike Brown got off relatively easy. His office got the Haden Fry treatment – it was painted pink.

The Cavaliers GM vowed: 1. revenge against the culprit, and 2. to get “that mess” off his wall, in no particular order.


The start of Training Camp is somewhat akin to the first day of school. It’s always interesting to come back from an off-season away to see who has changed their look over the summer.

Several Cavaliers have been working out at the Cleveland Clinic Courts in the past couple weeks and a few were on hand for Wednesday’s opening ceremonies and/or working out in the gym.

Three quick observations …

1. Daniel Gibson has a little more hair. 2. Zydrunas Ilgauskas has a little less. OK, maybe he has a lot less. Big Z busted it down, shaving his head down to stubble. Mixed with a nice tan, Ilgauskas looks pretty good – much younger. He said he buzzed it off around two days after the Cavs were knocked out of the Finals. 3. For all the talk of LeBron James gaining weight over the summer – (the rumor had him at 260) – the only places it looks like he’s gained anything are in his guns and his shoulders.

It’s known that muscle weighs more than fat, so if LBJ is tipping it at 260, the Eastern Conference can drop the allusion that it’s 10 pounds that will slow the young King down.

Questions, Questions

Why hasn’t Danny Ferry made a move and when will he?
The Cavaliers have never had a summer as quiet as this past off-season’s, but then again they’ve never reached the pinnacle of success that they did this past June. Still, while the East champs sat tight, other foes in the Conference took that opportunity to reload. Boston re-tooled their entire team, Chicago had a productive Draft, and Detroit re-signed Chauncey Billups while getting younger and more athletic.

The Cavaliers – without a Draft pick or the salary cap space to go after a big fish – were content to stick with last year’s developing combination of young guns and savvy vets. Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson looked good in Summer League and Cleveland might have found a Training Camp keeper in Darius Rice.

Other than that, the ink hasn’t exactly been flowing on the corner of Huron and Ontario. Even free agents Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao are without contracts with Training Camp less than three weeks away. The four-corners approach to Pavlovic and Varejao – both integral parts of the Wine and Gold’s young nucleus – works well for the Cavaliers’ bottom line, but it remains to see how happy the duo will be when they get into Camp.

A mid-summer deal that might have landed Sacramento’s Mike Bibby fell through, but Ferry continues to look for ways to make the Cavaliers better. But he won’t make a deal just to make one and the last thing Ferry wants to do is retard the growth of Gibson – (and to some extent Shannon Brown) – by unnecessarily clogging the backcourt.

If a move is going to be made, the brass will wait until the right offer is on the table; one that won’t cripple them cap-wise or ruin the chemistry of a team that reached the Finals slightly ahead of schedule. So to narrow it down, Ferry could make a move any time between when you read this blog and February 22, 2008.


What will Cavaliers’ backcourt look like?
After 139 consecutive starts, Eric Snow was moved to a reserve role – with Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic taking over alongside Larry Hughes. The Cavaliers found immediate success with Hughes at the point, running off eight straight at the beginning of March.

The combination of Hughes and Pavlovic propelled the Cavaliers into the postseason feeling good. With Hughes orchestrating the action, the league’s longest lineup was free to run off rebounds and blocked shots. In regular season games that Hughes had five or more assists, the Cavaliers were 21-3. Combined with the athletic Pavlovic, Cleveland seemed to find the perfect combo. The Wine and Gold were 20-8 in games Sasha started – 10-3 when he netted 15 points or more.

But Hughes and Pavlovic both found the sledding much tougher in the postseason. Hughes battled an ankle injury heading into the Finals and Pavlovic showed both the flashes of greatness that got him in the starting lineup and the mental lapses that kept him out of it. Emerging amidst all of this was Daniel Gibson, who seemed to get better as the Playoffs continued along, including his 31-point outburst against Detroit that put the Cavaliers in the Finals for the first time.

The Cavaliers would still love to land a “true” point guard if he was a major upgrade, but – (see Question 1, above) – won’t clog up the backcourt or take minutes away from Gibson for just anyone. Boobie showed glimpses of stardom last June and will be looked to for more of the same heading into 2007-08.

Shannon Brown, chosen 19 players ahead of Gibson, will also look to make him impact felt after last year’s underwhelming rookie season. And Eric Snow is as solid a backup point as you’ll find in the league. Anyone who can’t see Snow’s value now that the Cavaliers are contenders either didn’t watch the Detroit series or doesn’t know anything about basketball other than the ball’s round.


Will LeBron’s off-season experiences (FIBA and otherwise) have an effect on his game this year?
It’s hard to say with a straight face that LeBron James can still get better, but he showed exactly how dominating he can be when he’s playing off the ball or with his back to the basket. LeBron had his way in the FIBA Americas Championship this past August, shooting an astonishing 76 percent from the field(!)

LeBron established himself as the ultimate team player – deferring to Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony – but also grabbing the reigns when necessary. He netted 31 points in the title game against Argentina and, for the first time in years, Team USA looked like the dominant Dream Teamers from yesteryear.

On the negative side, if anything, James experience with Team USA might have spoiled him. He has a nice talent pool around him in Cleveland, but it’s tough to work out all summer with Jason Kidd and not get used the sweet dimes he put on James during the tournament.

This was also supposed to be a semi-restful summer for the young King. But unlike the rest of the Cavaliers, James had a very busy off-season. Aside from winning the gold medal at the FIBAs in Vegas, LBJ hosted the ESPY Awards, got Lasik eye surgery and will host the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” in less than two weeks. Oh, and speaking of no rest, he also became a father for the second time on the final night of the Finals.

How will the Cavaliers respond to playing with a bull’s-eye on their backs?
The words “Cleveland” and “champion” don’t always go together smoothly, but for the first time in franchise history, the Cavaliers will carry that title when they travel throughout the league. The Wine and Gold have always been a marked team, simply because of LeBron James. But now, teams will be bringing their A-game every night as the Eastern Conference Champs roll through the schedule.

And while this ups the ante on a nightly basis, it might be just the thing the Cavaliers needed. According to Austin Carr, Cleveland dropped about 14 or 15 games to lesser opponents that they easily could have won. But this wasn’t a new problem; the Cavaliers have had a penchant for playing down to the competition. If that lesser competition turns it up a notch, so will Cleveland. You always fight harder when someone’s trying to take something from you.

The Cavs whirlwind tour begins on opening night, when they take on the heavyweight Mavericks. (This, after a preseason that sends them to China for eight days.) Mike Brown’s men take the show on the road early this year – making a six-game West Coast swing – after just two contests at The Q.

Usually, it’s the Pistons that had the opportunity to get their prolonged Western Conference swing out of the way early – before those teams had completely settled or the Pistons/Cavs became road-weary heading into/out of the All-Star break. This year, the Cavaliers get that chance. It’s just one of the spoils of winning the East.

So where do the Cavaliers go from here?

Young Americans

Cavaliers Coach Mike Brown isn’t in Las Vegas for the FIBA Americas Championship, which ended pool play on Sunday night. But the defensive guru is probably enjoying what he’s seen through four games.

Team USA has done what it was expected to do – steamroll over their international competition. With America’s 113-76 drubbing of Brazil on Sunday night in Sin City, the U.S. is now beating their opponents by an average of 48.4 points per game. This trend is more like the Dream Team’s dominance – (they won by an average of 43.8 ppg in the nine-game Olympic tournament in 1992) – than Team USA’s recent disappointments on the international stage.

It might seem like the U.S. is just running past teams; scoring 115 points a game through their first four. But what’s triggering that run-and-stun offense is their defensive intensity – they haven’t let a team breathe.

On Sunday night, Team USA faced a Brazilian team that was supposed to offer them at least a challenge. Despite the absence of Anderson Varejao – who has yet to ink a deal this summer – Brazil does sport two NBA players, including the 2006-07 Sixth Man Award winner, Leandro Barbosa, as well as Denver’s Nene. Tiago Splitter – who was the best player on the floor for Brazil on Sunday – will be a San Antonio Spur when they’re ready for him. (How does R.C. Buford always manage to get these guys?!)

Defensively, Coach K’s group of young Americans completely locked down on Brazil – aside from a brief lapse or two by the U.S.’s best player, Carmelo Anthony – holding the tournament’s leading scorer (Barbosa) to a scant four points. Kobe Bryant dominated his Western Conference adversary on both ends of the floor.

Kobe’s first foray into international play has been a huge boon for Team USA. Some wondered whether Kobe could sacrifice his individual excellence for the team concept. He’s done that and more. And Bryant brings one thing to the U.S. team that they’ve lacked in their lackluster performances in Greece and last summer in Japan – his cold-blooded killer attitude. Any man who scores 82 points in a game doesn’t believe in a “mercy rule.”

“When you see Kobe Bryant diving for loose balls," said USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, "and you see LeBron and Carmelo giving it the kind of work that they're putting into this, that commitment and passion, that's a message."

Granted, the competition hasn’t been exactly top notch in Vegas. Brazil was without Varejao, Canada without Nash, and Argentina without Manu Ginobili. But that hasn’t diminished how impressive the U.S. has been. And having a solid, experienced point guard in Jason Kidd has made all the difference.

As far as LeBron James’ performance in the FIBA tournament – his style is suited to any form of hoops as long as the ball is round. LeBron has been massive in the paint, on the perimeter and – based on Sunday night’s halftime buzzer-beater – from half-court. He’s been menacing on defense and unstoppable offensively.

The second round begins on Monday night when Team USA takes on the Mexican squad, coached by former Arkansas’ top man, Nolan Richardson.

If the past two international tournaments have taught us anything, it’s to not be overconfident that America will prevail. But if the current tourney has taught us something this summer, it’s that this is a very different U.S. team.

Big Ticket Item

Normally, we’re not in the business of talking about other team’s trades on this site, but the Kevin Garnett-to-Boston deal is one that will have a profound effect on the Eastern Conference and, of course, the reigning Champions of said Conference.

Six weeks ago, the Celtics were a talented young team whose GM and Head Coach were hanging tenuously to their jobs as the once-proud franchise was teetering on the verge of irrelevance. They were one of the weaker teams in a weaker conference.

Everyone knew that Kevin Garnett was going to play the 2007-08 season in a uniform other than Minnesota’s.

Phoenix emerged early, but it was unlikely that Kevin McHale would send his superstar somewhere where he could return to thump the Wolves four times per year. Chicago was a team with enough parts to get the deal done, but the Bulls reportedly were hesitant to add Luol Deng to the mix.

So the Celtics – another team loaded with young talent – stepped up to the plate, and a slightly nepotistic deal was struck between former C’s, McHale and Danny Ainge, to bring Garnett over to the Eastern Conference. The Big Ticket will join recently-acquired Ray Allen and the incumbent Paul Pierce to form one of the most deadly trios in the NBA. On paper, anyway.

Celtic fans were crestfallen after losing the Greg Oden-Kevin Durant Lottery, but they’ve got a lot to smile about now after landing the 10-time All-Star who averaged 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 38.3 minutes per game in 12 seasons for the Wolves. Garnett – drafted fifth overall by Minnesota in 1995 – was the league’s MVP in 2003-04.

The Timberwolves have to be pretty happy, themselves. Despite what ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons feels, there are some talented young pieces moving West in the trade. Al Jefferson is a stud-in-waiting and the inconsistent Gerald Green has a high ceiling. Sebastian Telfair and Ryan Gomes are nice pieces and Theo Ratliffe is cap relief. Two first-rounders are … well … two first rounders. Randy Foye had a solid rookie season and Corey Brewer is a versatile player who excels on both ends of the court.

In other words, both teams should go home happy when the smoke settles on the deal.

So how does this affect the Cavaliers?

First and most obviously, it shakes up the power of the entire Conference. Before the deal, you could argue that every single team that reached the postseason last year would do so again and no team was poised to move into the Elite Eight.

But Boston – (and again, on paper) – has to be considered among the top four in the East at this point. They have three of the league’s top 17 scorers and its rebounding leader. They're strong on the perimeter and in the paint. Now they just need to find some bodies to fill out the roster.

It’s not a stretch to say that Cavaliers personnel and fans were just a little relieved that Garnett went to the Titanic Division rather than the Central. The Celitcs immediately move past each team in their division. His addition would have had the same effect on, say, the Bulls.

The Cavaliers have stood pat all summer and still have to ink their two young guns – Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic – before moving forward. Danny Ferry has exercised patience; not making a move just to make one.

But the deal that brings the Big Ticket to Beantown is a reminder that the Eastern Conference won’t remain weak forever. Even if the Celtics currently have a problem filling out a roster, they’re just one more team that is in it to win it – and have their eyes fixed squarely on what the Wine and Gold won just two months ago.

Who's the Man?

The NBA off-season – especially for the Cavaliers – has reached its true dog days. With the Anderson Varejao-Sasha Pavlovic situations still in relative limbo, there isn’t the usual amount of Cavs chatter and debate going on.

But two discussions – both surrounding LeBron James – have emerged around our Cavaliers offices and we’ve been wondering how to settle the issues. Then I remembered that I have a blog on cavs.com.

On the first one, I’m simply going to offer my opinion. On the second, I’m going to ask for yours.

By all accounts, LeBron did a fantastic job in his first hosting job at the ESPY Awards. For the most part, he looked cool and comfortable and his “My Prerogative” number was outstanding.

But one bit has received some bad pub, including a semi-scathing piece in Wednesday’s Plain Dealer by columnist Bill Livingston.

This, of course, was LeBron’s “dunking baby” bit in which he faked slamming his newborn son, Bryce Maximus, and made a quip about Angelina Jolie adopting it. Some viewers – like Livvy – were incensed. Others wrote it off as just another failed joke. The debate continued in Thursday’s PD.

I personally feel that it wasn’t a great choice by LeBron, but it was more a case of bad humor than bad taste. It was a poorly written, poorly conceived sketch. But that’s why ESPN is known for sports and not comedy. The ESPY’s have always been hit-or-miss.

Jimmy Kimmel in the showers – for example – with Danica Patrick and a racehorse: not funny. Jimmy Kimmel in the showers trying to wipe off Mike Tyson’s facial tattoo with soap: funny. LeBron dunking an infant: not funny. LeBron in Hammer pants: funny.

It’s not that the young King doesn’t know from comedy. Each of the commercials with Kimmel and his writing staff were great. His “LeBrons” Nike ads are priceless. His SportsCenter commercials are stellar – most notably when Scott Van Pelt steals his throne. He’s as deft in each comedic role as he is in his dramatic role on the court for the Cavaliers. LeBron is genuinely, naturally funny.

In September, LeBron will host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live – something reserved for only sports’ heaviest hitters like Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky and, yes, O.J. Simpson. If his sketches are well-written and well-conceived, LeBron’s appearance will be a hit. If they’re not, it won’t.

So his ESPY dunk was an airball. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to bring the funny in the future. I have complete faith that he’ll do so with honors.

Now, it’s time for a little audience participation …

With soccer icon David Beckham about to make his Stateside debut for the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday night, Cavaliers Public Relations’ managers a/k/a “The Defiant Ones” – Garin Narain and John Manuszak – have had an on-going argument about which athlete is bigger worldwide: Beckham or LeBron James.

(I won’t say which one feels which way.)

Soccer is obviously the biggest sport in the world, but basketball has caught fire around the globe and the 2008 Olympics – along with David Stern’s determination – should assure its exponential growth in China.

Other athletes – like Derek Jeter or Tiger Woods or Payton Manning – are huge in their respective sports and are known almost worldwide. But James and Beckham have similar appeal, plus rock star status. Each wear No. 23 in honor of the original king of sport: Michael Jordan.

In the first two days of sales, the Galaxy sold 250,000 Beckham jerseys at $80 apiece. And Beckham, of course, enhances his rock star status with a Spice Girl spouse.

But James recently hosted the ESPYs, will play with Team USA in August and helm SNL in September. He’ll return to China with the Cavaliers in October and watch the Eastern Conference Championship banner raised at The Q in November. He is 22 years old and by every account one of the top 5 players in his sport. Beckham is 30 years old and probably no longer in the top 15 in his.

You’ve heard the argument. Try to remove your subjectivity as a Cavaliers fan and tell me: who is the top athlete in the world – LeBron or Beckham? Maybe it’s someone else. Here’s your chance to weigh in.

Just CLICK HERE and tell me who and why. I’ll print the best responses on Monday.

Free Agent Frenzy Begins

Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry hasn’t had much of an off-season. The Cavaliers were eliminated from the Finals on June 14 and exactly two weeks later, Ferry was dealing with a Draft, despite the fact that Cleveland didn’t have a selection in either round.

The Wine and Gold stood pat on Draft Night, but over the weekend the 2007 free agent frenzy began – with Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao whetting teams’ appetite, and the Cavaliers’ backs against the cap.

LeBron James decided to play for Team USA and the 2007 Vegas Summer League tips off in under a week.

Suffice to say: When Ferry finally finds time for some fun and sun this summer, the man will have earned it.

It’s already been an interesting off-season, and we’re not even three weeks in. The coming two weeks of the free agent frenzy promise to make things even more compelling.

Who would have thought that the first free agent to reportedly agree to jump ship would be former Cavalier, Jason Kapono?

According to ESPN.com, the league’s three-point shooting leader tipped off the annual moratorium period by agreeing to a reported 4-year $24 million deal with the Toronto Raptors after the best season of his career last year in South Beach.

Kapono – one of the league’s coolest characters and the man Cleveland drafted in the second round of the “LeBron James Draft” – shot 51 percent from beyond the arc in 2006-07, netting a career-best 10.9 ppg. He won the FootLocker Three-Point Shoot-Out at All-Star Weekend in Vegas to cement his status as the league’s best bomber.

By itself, the Kapono signing isn’t huge news. But taken in the context of how it will affect other free agent’s price tags – see: Sasha Pavlovic – the signing could be big when the smoke clears and the ink flows on July 11. If a relatively one-dimensional player like Kapono is perceived as a six million dollar man, what kind of money will be required to retain a skilled 23-year-old swingman with a high-ceiling?

Pavlovic averaged just over nine points per contest in the regular season and Playoffs, but it might have been his postseason defense that opened numerous teams’ eyes enough that they’ll open their pocketbooks.

Anderson Varejao will draw as much (or more) interest than Pavlovic, and the rumors are already flying. The Cavaliers are back in a luxury tax corner and the Wild Thing is a lucrative target for quite a few teams. Anderson might never average 20 ppg, but he’s a young, marketable, high-energy big man who’s about to get a very large raise. The only question now is which team is going to give it to him.

The Cavaliers have the mid-level exception (approximately $5.5 million) to offer, so they’ll be playing their cards a little more close to the vest than some of this summer’s free-wheeling clubs like Memphis, Atlanta or Orlando.

With this in mind – please, please, please don’t write in to suggest that the Cavaliers should go after Chauncey Billups.

If I need a new car, I’m not going to shop for a Mercedes. Do I want a Mercedes? Yes. But in my current financial state, I am unable to afford one. Do the Cavaliers want Chauncey Billups? Yes. But in their current state, they are unable to afford him. Let’s not get into the absurdities of a sign-and-trade.

Either way, the complexion of the league – and possibly the Cavaliers – will be completely different two weeks from today. Last year, Ben Wallace got the big bread from Chicago. Whether it’s Rashard Lewis or Billups or Kobe or KG, this promises to be a very interesting off-season.

LeBron James shocked some people when he said he would fulfill his commitment to Team USA this summer as they attempt to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

James welcomed Bryce Maximus to the family before the final game of the Finals and it seemed like he would forgo this year’s 10-team tournament that begins on August 22. But last week, James ended the speculation, saying, “It was a long and tough year. But for me, if I make a commitment, I want to keep it. I'm a loyal guy. I committed to three years and I'm going to hold up my end of the bargain.''

The Cavaliers backed their young superstar. “We certainly support LeBron's decision and respect his desire to uphold his commitment to Team USA,” said Ferry. "As he said he knows his body and feels he will have time to rest and recuperate from the season. We will always take into consideration where he is going into our season next year with extra rest if necessary."

Team USA hasn’t lived up to its expectations in the two tournaments since LeBron has joined the team and perhaps the continuity of players showing up from year-to-year will make a difference. Of course, the addition of Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd can’t hurt.

[Editor’s note, Part II]: Last week, I wrote – (then retracted) – that Bulls first round pick, Joakim Noah, might have been the first player ever to wear a bowtie to an NBA Draft, but was quickly corrected by Basketball Operations Coordinator, Matt Yatsko – who said that Karl Malone was the first to rock the bowtie.

I should have known better than to take a Steelers fan at his word.

Thankfully, a diligent reader wrote in to correct that it was NOT the Mailman, but Hakeem Olajuwon who donned the Draft Night tuxedo. Yatsko backtracked, saying Chuck Person was the one who wore the really bad tuxedo. He was correct, but by then the damage was done.

On behalf of myself, Matt Yatsko and the entire Cavaliers organization, I would like to apologize for this egregious oversight.)

Cavs Stand Pat

Although the West – specifically the Pacific NorthWEST – made the biggest splash in Thursday night’s NBA Draft, it was the East that might have gotten the bigger facelift when it was all said and done.

Portland and Seattle fulfilled the NBA’s worst-kept secret by selecting Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, 1-2. But the two rainy-weather clubs didn’t stop there – each making blockbuster trades that will affect both Conferences. Portland sent Zach Randolph to the Knicks and Seattle shipped Ray Allen to Boston.

The Cavaliers, as predicted, didn’t buy or trade their way into the 2007 Draft. Like the Raptors and Nuggets, the Cavaliers didn’t have a pick in either round. Danny Ferry admitted being tempted in the First Round, but after his top 15 players were taken, he decided to stand pat.

“We were prepared to (purchase a pick), and we explored every opportunity that there was,” said Ferry. “We had two opportunities that I thought there was a chance of it happening – one being Phoenix – and one later than that.”

The Cavaliers may be the reigning Eastern Conference Champs, but the competition definitely made gains on Thursday night. The Pistons – who came into the Draft with two first rounders – got good bang for their buck. At No. 15, they got the player they’d been targeting – Rodney Stuckey – and added Arron Affflalo with the 27th selection. Both are typically hard-nosed, physical guards who can score and defend.

Another Division foe – the Milwaukee Bucks – got bigger and better. That’s assuming that their top pick, Yi Jianlian, is willing to sign with them. His representation was adamant that Yi would go to a city with a viable Asian community – something Wisconsin is not exactly known for. Whether he plays at the Bradley Center or is merely trade bait, the Bucks have definitely improved their lot in the East.

The Bulls seemed a shoe-in to select versatile Washington big man, Spencer Hawes. That is until Joakim Noah fell into their laps at No. 9. The high energy seven-footer gives Chicago another energy player in their frontcourt (to go with Tyrus Thomas) and should just add fire to the budding rivalry between the Cavs and Bulls. The two-time NCAA champion also donned a bow-tie – possibly a first at the Draft.

(Editor's note: Since the publication of this blog, I have been corrected by Basketball Operations Coordinator, Matt Yatsko, who reminded me of Karl Malone's famous Draft Night tuxedo -- as the actual first player to don a bowtie on the eventful evening.)

In other Eastern Conference moves, the Charlotte Bobcats selected Brandan Wright, then sent him to Golden State in exchange for veteran swingman, Jason Richardson. The Hawks landed two quality, NBA-ready players in Al Horford and Acie Law IV. And the Heat snagged former Buckeye sharpshooter, Daequan Cook.

The blockbuster trades that might have seen superstars Kevin Garnett or Kobe Bryant change addresses never materialized, with Allen and Randolph being the two biggest names on the move.

The bold moves by Portland and Seattle threaten to shake up the West. The Suns, Spurs, Rockets and Mavericks continue to collect wins and international players, but aren’t getting any younger. Meanwhile, the Blazers – who won 11 more games last year than the year before – got a possible franchise center and landed Channing Frye as well. Oden joins last year’s Rookie of the Year – Brandon Roy – as well as promising forward, LeMarcus Aldridge.

The Sonics got younger with Durant and added Georgetown’s Jeff Green, who could be the perfect sidekick to the former Longhorn.

Dick Vitale insisted all night that the 2007 Draft is even deeper than the 2003 Draft that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. Only time will tell, but if he’s right, Thursday night’s moves could shift the league’s complexion – both East and West – for years to come.

Feeling the Draft

It’s Draft Day 2007 – known to future generations as the Greg Oden-Kevin Durant Draft.

The Cavaliers don’t have a pick in either round. Their first rounder goes to Phoenix via Boston from the ill-fated Jiri Welsch trade two years ago. Welsch played 16 forgettable games, averaging 2.9 points in those contests. This year’s second rounder brought a much more productive yield. Together with Tony Battie, Cleveland acquired Drew Gooden and a young Brazilian unknown named Anderson Varejao.

The Cavaliers would need to buy or trade their way into this year’s Draft, something GM Danny Ferry certainly hasn’t ruled out. Several teams have multiple first rounders – (including Phoenix) – and San Antonio notoriously trades out if nobody grabs their interest.

But do the Cavaliers – who reached the Finals for the first time in franchise history – want to get any younger? Aside from Zydrunas Ilgauskas, their core players are all in their early-20’s.

Last year’s second rounder, Daniel Gibson, exceeded all expectations. Their first round choice, Shannon Brown, got lost in a numbers game and battled nagging injuries throughout the season. Still, he showed glimpses of brilliance that will get him into the lineup more extensively in the upcoming season. Management might simply consider Brown this year’s Draft pick and sit back fielding phone calls on Thursday.

Despite their amazing run, the Cavaliers are still missing some pieces that can solidify their standing. They’d love to get their hands on a pure point guard or some muscle in the middle. Rumors are swirling around Charlotte’s No. 22, but on an already young team, it’s hard to imagine that Cleveland would prefer to add those pieces through the Draft.

Other teams in the East will get stronger through this year’s Draft. The club that worries me is Milwaukee, which has the sixth overall pick. The Bucks were a promising team last year, but a spate of injuries knocked them out of the Playoff picture and into the Lottery. Whoever they grab at six – (anyone from Joakim Noah to Corey Brewer to Jeff Green) – will join a club that will return a healthy Andrew Bogut, Bobby Simmons, Charlie Villanueva and Michael Redd.

The Sixers are another team to watch on Thursday night. They have three first round picks and a high pick (No. 38) in the second round. They could easily package some of these picks and move up. They will be fielding calls all night – (and might even get a couple from the 216 area code). Or they can stand pat and reap the returns from the Allen Iverson trade, selecting a foreign player or two and let them develop overseas for a while.

Aside from the Bucks, teams within the Division will be busy on Thursday. The Pistons have the No. 15 selection and are said to be sold on Eastern Washington guard, Rodney Stuckey. The Bulls will be picking at No. 9 and it appears they’re high on Washington big man, Spencer Hawes. They desperately need more offense in the post and Hawes would give them just that. The skilled seven-footer actually played some guard before reaching his current height.

It should be an interesting evening either way for the Wine and Gold. Whether acting as spectators or getting into the mix somewhere late in the first round – (or early in the second) – all eyes will be on the Board when David Stern makes his first trip to the podium at 7:30 p.m.

Cornered Cavaliers

They say that the NBA Playoffs can expose a team for what they really are. The Bulls made the Heat look old in the First Round and the Cavaliers made the Pistons look that way in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Cavaliers are a young team. And on Tuesday night in Game 3, the Spurs made them look that way.

Just over a week-and-a-half after the euphoric win over Detroit to capture the Eastern Conference title, the Wine and Gold’s season is in danger of extinction. The Spurs calmly weathered the Cavaliers’ storm, turned an eight-point deficit into a two-point lead in the three minutes before the half, and got clutch stops down the stretch.

LeBron James missed bunnies he hadn’t all year and Daniel Gibson came down to Earth. On the other hand, Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had big games for the first time in the Finals. Basically, the Cavaliers have gotten some really good performances, just never at the same time.

The Spurs gave Cleveland more than a few chances to beat them in the closing minutes of Tuesday night’s heartbreaker. But the Cavaliers wilted under the pressure. Their backs were against the wall heading into Game 3. They’re behind the wall heading into Game 4. No NBA team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a Playoff series. The most recent time the phenomenon occurred was when the Boston Red Sox came back to beat the Yankees for the American League Pennant.

Neither team looked great, but the Spurs simply shot better from long-distance and made the clutch plays when they had to. Once again, they forced the Cavaliers to be a perimeter team.

“We kept saying, ‘Drive the ball, drive the ball, drive the ball, drive the ball,’ and our guys felt like they were open,” said Coach Mike Brown. “I don't ever want to tell a guy not to shoot if he feels like he's open because that's putting restrictions on guys that they shouldn't have. We just have to be disciplined enough to continue to drive, continue to see if we can get to the free throw line. It's as simple as that."

The Spurs were 10-for-19 from three-point range; the Cavaliers were 3-for-19, with LeBron and Daniel Gibson combining to go 0-for-10.

Thursday night’s Game 4 now literally becomes do-or-die for the Cavaliers. The dream season can come to an abrupt end or the Wine and Gold can live to fight another day. You could see the seriousness in the players’ eyes following Tuesday’s tough loss. The Spurs are an NBA dynasty, but on Thursday they’ll have to deal with a cornered group of Cavaliers.

Light It Up

For the first time ever, the eyes of the basketball world are all on Cleveland. I’m publishing this blog at 5 p.m. ET and there’s a noticeable buzz on the streets outside The Q. It’s 75 degrees with no humidity and there isn’t a cloud in the sky.

From a personal standpoint, this is a day I’ve waited for my entire life. From nights listening the Miracle of Richfield in my room as a kid to Sunday’s Game 2 smackdown in San Antonio, I’ve been with the Wine and Gold. Before I worked for the Cavaliers, I was in the building the night Cleveland won the LeBron lottery in Secaucus. I was in Madison Square Garden a few weeks later when the Cavaliers made it official.

On that night in the World’s Most Famous Arena, LeBron strode to the podium – resplendent in white like the hero of a previously tragic tale – and promised to light Cleveland up like Vegas. Less than four years later, the young King has delivered, lifting the franchise to heights previously unimagined.

“It's definitely going to be a great experience I think for all Cleveland fans, for Northeast Ohio, for the whole state of Ohio,” said James of Tuesday’s historic game. “It's going to be something that hasn't been experienced in a long, long time for our city, for our fans. It's going to be electrifying. If you're not there, I expect you to try to get there.”

Now that the James Gang has arrived to the Championship round, can they close the deal?

The Larry O’Brien Trophy is in the building, but if the Cavaliers hope to get their hands on it, they’ll have to do so back in San Antonio. Like the Pistons series, the Cavaliers come home in an 0-2 hole. Unlike the Pistons series, they were never really in either loss to the Spurs.

If there’s a bright spot from both games at the AT&T Center, it’s that the Cavaliers combined to outscore the Spurs, 57-35, in the fourth quarter of both ballgames.

LeBron was solid in Game 2 and Daniel Gibson hasn’t cooled down since his emergence against Detroit. The Texas rookie has averaged 18.8 ppg over his last five contests – shooting 59 percent from the floor, 55 percent (11-for-20) from beyond the arc and 91 percent (31-of-34) from the stripe.

Gibson has led a productive Cavaliers bench, which had 31 points in Game 1 and 35 in Game 2.

The Cavaliers might have said they were ready for the Finals, but based on their shell-shocked performance in the first three quarters of each game, they weren’t. Now, they’ve gotten a taste of the intensity. And on Tuesday night, they’ll have 20,562 fans to give them the lift they’ve needed out of the gate. In the 2007 postseason, the Cavaliers are 7-1 at The Q.

Home crowd support, however, won’t keep Tony Parker out of the lane. The lightning-quick Parker is already a mismatch for the bigger Larry Hughes, but it’s even more of a Spurs advantage considering Hughes’ left foot.

Mike Brown was reticent to make a move in the starting lineup in February, and if Hughes is cleared by the doctors to start – and feels that he can – he will.

Of course, whichever guard is playing Parker the toughest – Hughes, Gibson or Snow – will stay in the lineup. The French point guard has been Cleveland’s Achilles’ heel and until the Cavaliers solve that problem, it’ll be more of the same in Games 3 and 4.

The city of Cleveland has waited a long time – 37 years – for this night. From a franchise that played its first five games on the road because of the Ice Capades to the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers franchise has come full-circle. But just getting here isn’t enough. Now, it’s time to see if King James and Co. can close the deal.

Let's Do It Again

It’s not like they haven’t been here before. In fact, they were JUST here.

The Cavaliers are still suffering from a Piston hangover, and they’re picking a terrible team to do it against. The Spurs are known for exploiting an opponent’s weakness and they’re doing a great job of cutting the Cavaliers up right now. It would almost be fun to watch if it wasn’t Cleveland on the other end of the knife.

But the Cavaliers have been here before. And the Finals have, too.

Last year, the Mavericks thumped the Heat twice in Dallas and led by 13 with six minutes to go in Miami. That’s when Dwyane Wade took over and didn’t stop until the Larry O’Brien wound up on South Beach.

But Cleveland will have to get more production from more people. Larry Hughes has to come up bigger on both ends as does Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The perplexing thing about both players’ performances is that they both usually match up well with the Spurs.

Tony Parker has scorched Cleveland in two straight games. Eric Snow and LeBron James looked better guarding him than Hughes and Daniel Gibson, but nobody’s consistently stopped the French point guard. Duncan has been murder from 15-feet, in.

But aside from individual matchups, the Spurs have been the team to play with more aggressiveness and a greater sense of urgency. For as much as Mike Brown preached attacking Tim Duncan’s chest, the Cavaliers continued to settle for jumpers even with Duncan picking up his third personal midway through the third quarter.

The Cavaliers have their backs against the wall one more time. The difference is that the Cavaliers played Detroit more than a dozen times in a year-and-a-half and see the Spurs twice a year – and not since January. Back then, Sasha wasn’t a starter and Daniel Gibson was still worried about picking up Krispy Kremes.

Cleveland should be encouraged by their fourth-quarter performances in both games, but they’ll have to figure out the first three. And they’ll have to figure it out fast.

Split Seekers

I’m here at the AT&T Center – (still trying to get used to saying that) – and waiting for tip-off in Game 2.

The Cavaliers were loose and limber on Saturday before practice and after checking out the locker room, seem pretty confident for the second of two in Texas. San Antonio might be the eighth-largest city in the States, but it’s hard to go anywhere without bumping into one of the Cavaliers family every time I leave the hotel – whether it’s Anderson eating dinner or Boobie shopping at Dillard’s.

I think the squad feels like San Antonio did what it was supposed to do in Game 1 – (big games from Duncan and Parker; solid contribution off the bench for Ginobili) – and the Cavaliers actually had a chance to win it in the final minutes despite playing a pretty poor overall game. Cleveland’s goal was to keep the Spurs within striking distance, though, and an 18-point fourth quarter lead doesn’t qualify.

Larry Hughes – who besides LeBron – had the two best games against the Spurs during the regular season, is suddenly a marked man by the media because of a nondescript performance in Game 1. Of course, with the pundits collapsing on a single series, Hughes has been put on the defensive – especially with Daniel Gibson’s meteoric rise.

“Well, if we win, I don't think (the criticism) would be said,” asserted Hughes. “It doesn't affect me either way. I understand the situation. If it's better for us to have somebody else in the lineup that guarantees us a win, then I'm all for it. But if not, then I definitely want to get my shot and help the team the best way I can.”

It’s impossible to ignore Gibson’s emergence, but Coach Brown is smart enough to know how to make subtle changes without rocking the entire boat.

“Daniel especially is in a nice rhythm coming off the bench, so we don't want to try to mess with that right now,” said Brown. “But I understand Larry's injury, so does he, and it's something that we'll just continue to monitor.”

You won’t see a lineup change, but it’s a safe bet that you’ll see a different mindset from the existing lineup. Look for LeBron and his mates to try to attack the Spurs interior more in Game 2. Tim Duncan had five swats in Game 1 and the Cavaliers were kicking themselves for not attacking his body more.

“Well, you definitely look at it and see how you can attack it a little bit better,” said James. “I've definitely faced double‑teams and triple‑teams throughout this postseason, so I have to do a better job of trying to attack the double‑team early and see if I can swing it to the other side to a teammate that can make a play.

“We got into too many late shot clocks in Game 1, which is not good for us,” LeBron continued. “We don't work well when we get into the shot clock down to three and two on the clock, and it makes us make bad plays. We just have to do a better job of trying to attack the double‑team and being a little bit more aggressive getting to the lane.”

LeBron was frustrated by Detroit in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, but he managed to figure them out – at times, with a vengeance – in the second half of the series.

So, looking forward to Game 2 – and you can see how this works out after Sunday night’s matchup is said and done – here are three concerns for the Cavaliers.

Will they be able to slow down Parker?

Hughes’ injury isn’t the only reason Tony Parker had a field day against the Cavaliers in Game 1. But he was a little too quick for Hughes and a little too crafty for Gibson. Look for the Cavaliers to make him work harder on the defensive end and maybe even mix in a little Eric Snow to work on him physically.

Snow can’t match Parker’s speed, but he’ll make him feel every minute the Canton Bulldog is on the floor.

Can LeBron figure out the Spurs’ defense the way he figured out the Pistons?

LeBron talked a lot during the Detroit series about attacking early and not allowing the D to set up. With San Antonio blitzing him with a big off the pick and roll, James has to do exactly that. When he waits for the Spurs to set up, they get him – to use a football analogy – moving east and west and not north and south.

He’ll need to change his mindset and find a way to get to the bucket in Game 2.

If LeBron is able to drive and kick, which player – besides Gibson – is going to step up and make some shots?

Boobie was 7-for-9 in limited minutes in Game 1. Everyone waiting for the rookie to come back down to earth is going to have to keep waiting.

But LeBron will need someone else to hit a shot. Zydrunas Ilgauskas was 1-for-8 and will need to turn it around. Donyell Marshall can stretch the defense if he gets it going. And of course, Anderson Varejao is one of LeBron’s favorites coming off the pick-and-roll.

If James can find his rhythm and get his teammates involved, the Cavaliers have a chance of stealing one in San Antonio. If he can’t, the Wine and Gold could come home in a hole.