Blog Has Moved

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to let everyone know that my blog has moved to CavFanatic.com and the new address is http://www.cavfanatic.com/joegabriele/blog/.


Thanks!

Vegas Vocation

No one should read too much into the fact that the Cavaliers Summer League squad took the collar (0-5) last week in Las Vegas. What was most noteworthy about the Wine and Gold’s week in the desert was J.J. Hickson’s extremely impressive performance.

In five contests, the No. 19 overall pick led the team – netting 19.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He shot .534 from the floor (39-for-73) and grabbed more offensive rebounds (20) than defensive (19). The Atlanta native turned the ball over a bit much (18) and shot just 50 percent from the line (19-for-38), but if those are problems, Danny Ferry leaves Sin City as a very happy man.

Of course, it’s only Summer League and the competition gets really fierce in about three months. But if anyone was wondering what the rookie would look like when he hit the hardwood – last week was a pretty encouraging preview.

Hickson is aggressive, has a plethora of post moves and is more than comfortable playing with his back to the basket. He may not be able to contribute right away, but this 19-year-old doesn’t have any shame in his game on the offensive end – something the Cavaliers are seeking considering Anderson Varejao and Ben Wallace’s limitations on that end of the floor.

Hickson’s rookie teammate, Darnell Jackson, turned in a solid showing – averaging 5.8 points and 5.4 boards per contest. Though nowhere near as skilled as Hickson, the former Jayhawk could shape up into a nice “rotational” player for Mike Brown.

In an interview with cavs.com, Jackson said that he plays with a bit of a “mean streak.” And that’s as welcome in the Cavaliers’ frontcourt as Hickson’s offensive presence in the post. It’ll be interesting to see how both fare when Training Camp tips off in October.

Robert Traylor, maybe the best story from Vegas, didn’t set the League on fire in the Cavaliers five games. He was active and apparently was impressive in practice. But he averaged just 5.3 points and 5.0 boards – playing around 17 minutes per outing.

Tractor might still be invited to Training Camp and, even if he isn’t, breathed a little life into an NBA career that was all but extinguished after he left the Cavaliers. Plenty of players have parlayed 10-day contracts into nice runs in the Association. (see: Ehlo, Craig)

Aside from the rookie duo and Traylor, it was Lima, Ohio’s own Clay Tucker who was most impressive. The one-time MVP of the Horizon League and UW-Milwaukee’s all-time leading scorer averaged 15.0 ppg, including a 23-point outing off the bench in Saturday night’s loss to the Hornets.

Lance Allred and Billy Thomas – the Cavaliers two major D-League call-ups from last season, each of whom made Cleveland’s playoff roster – didn’t do much to help their cause last week in Las Vegas. Allred averaged 2.3 ppg; Thomas clocked in at 5.0 ppg – but shot just .267 (4-for-15) from the floor.

Summer League is what it is. Some players will go on to be NBA stars, some will hit the D-League in the hopes of a shot at the Show, and some will prepare their passport for a trip overseas to play ball.

This year’s Cavaliers’ roster likely had a little from each category – and hopefully more of the former than the latter.

The Heat is On

The NBA’s free agent frenzy began just over two weeks ago and while some big names have come off the board, there are still several intriguing possibilities. Let’s take a quick look at what’s happened so far, and, more importantly, what impact these moves might have on the Cavaliers and the Eastern Conference.

The biggest name to change addresses so far has been Elton Brand, who left Los Angeles just days after the Clippers acquired Baron Davis. The move affected both Conferences, and Brand – whose image was spotless before bolting to the City of Brotherly Love – has been vilified in ClipperLand.

Brand is one of only four active players – along with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O’Neal – to have career averages of 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds. His defection wasn’t exactly “Boozer-esque,” but it’s safe to say that David Falk won’t be getting warm holiday wishes from Mike Dunleavy this December.

Of course, if the Basketball Gods have any sense of irony, there’s a chance the Clippers could land Philly’s restricted free agent, Andre Iguodala, who has met with Dunleavy according to reports in the Philadelphia Daily News. The Clippers are also still in the hunt for Atlanta’s Josh Smith.

If the Sixers are able to retain Iguodala, their moves propel Philly further into the playoff mix heading into 2008-09. Already one of the tougher matchups in the East, Maurice Cheeks club adds the experience and low-post presence they were lacking last year. If they can keep Iguodala, the 76ers will be a shooting guard away from elite status.

Corey Maggette took part in last week’s California Shuffle that saw Baron Davis go from Oakland to L.A., Maggette to Golden State and Brand to Philly. If Iguodala did happen to wind up in L.A., these four moves would have boiled down, in effect, to two really big trades.

The New Jersey Nets continue to completely reshape their roster. The Nets had 10 players on their roster 25-or-younger and needed an increased veteran presence. So last week, Rod Thorn went out and acquired Eduardo Najera, 32, and Jarvis Hayes, 27. They’re not difference-makers, but add a hint of veteran presence to the NBA neophytes in New Jersey.

In the Cavaliers division, teams have transformed through trades instead of free agency. The Bucks have sat tight after acquiring Richard Jefferson on Draft night. The Pacers have completely re-tooled – adding T.J. Ford, Rasho Neterovic and Jarrett Jack – along with draft picks, Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert.

The Pistons have been pretty quiet, but off-season rumors have linked them to big names like Carmelo Anthony and, most recently, Tracy McGrady. Although Joe Dumars did threaten to shake up “the sacred cows” in Motown, a more realistic scenario involves Chauncey Billups in exchange for either Andris Biedrins or Al Harrington – as reported in the Oakland Tribune.

There were a couple of free agent moves in the Sunshine State last week as well. Mickael Pietrus signed with the steadily-improving Orlando Magic and sharp-shooter, James Jones, got a big payday from Pat Riley. The Magic are still looking to parlay Dwight Howard’s presence into upper echelon status in the East. And the Heat – after drafting Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers – are looking to renew their mojo in South Beach.

In terms of the Cavaliers – it’s been all quiet on the Northern Front.

Cleveland is still looking to ink its two point guards – Delonte West and Daniel Gibson. The latter is rumored to be close, but there still hasn’t been any official word. Both parties are obviously looking to avoid any ugly disputes like the ones that adversely affected Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic’s seasons last year.

In terms of pursuing free agents, the Cavaliers are still rumored to be in the hunt for Twinsburg native, James Posey. The Hornets, Celtics, Spurs, Wizards, Pistons – (and just about any other competitor) – are still in the mix, as well. The sticking point appears to be the length of any potential contract. It’s been reported that Posey, 31, is seeking a four-year deal.

Stay tuned. As teams’ younger players show their stuff on the floor in Summer League, their bosses will be in the stands – watching, wheeling and dealing – as the offseason heats up like the summer months themselves.

Free Agent Frenzy Begins

It might not seem like it, but as we clean up from the 4th of July weekend, the NBA’s offseason is about to heat up like the weather.

The Draft is over, free agency is on, and various summer leagues are about to tip off.

The Cavaliers – and their first round pick, J.J. Hickson – travel once again to Las Vegas, where their summer league runs from July 11th to the 20th. In Orlando, Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley will face off in the exhibition opener, and the team formerly known as the Seattle Sonics will wear generic “NBA-OKC” jerseys when they take on the Pacers on Monday afternoon.

Picking up on the local zeitgeist since June 26, Cavs fans now realize that Hickson at No. 19 was a solid pick by Danny Ferry. And based on the tape we’ve seen of the uber-athletic forward from NC State, those fans will be even happier when they see him in the low post wearing the wine and gold.

Ferry will get a chance to see Hickson and second-rounder, Darnell Jackson, working together for the first time one week from today. In the meantime, like his front office brethren around the league, Ferry will be studying the still-pulsating free agent market to see what pieces he can add to the squad in 2008-09.

Among the four Cavalier free agents, only Devin Brown is unrestricted. Dwayne Jones, Daniel Gibson and Delonte West are all restricted.

Devin Brown’s situation might be the most cloudy, following the perplexing end to a highly productive season. Devin Brown was Coach Mike Brown’s Swiss Army knife all year; his versatility saved the Cavaliers’ bacon during an injury-plagued campaign. But the wily vet wound up in the Coach’s doghouse during the postseason and was limited to six total minutes against Boston.

Of course, Gibson and West will be at the top of the Cavaliers’ priority list.

Gibson’s numbers improved greatly across the board last season. He finished fifth in the league in three-point shooting and was the MVP of the Rookie Challenge. His shoulder injury that sidelined him in the final two games against Boston might have been the difference between the Wine and Gold advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

And let’s not underestimate the fact that LeBron considers Boobie his “younger brother.” James has a trust and friendship with Gibson that cannot be overlooked, especially with pressure mounting as LeBron’s contract enters its final two years.

Delonte West proved to be everything Ferry hoped for when he made the big 11-player trade. He was fearless in the paint, took a lot of ball-handling duties off LeBron’s hands, and proved to be a capable shooter – exhibited by his three-point dagger against the Wizards in Game 4 at Washington.

The one thing Cleveland’s front office wants to avoid more than anything is an ugly contract battle with either player like the ones that sullied last summer’s offseason. There can be no doubt that those imbroglios directly affected Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic’s seasons. Both missed Training Camp and Anderson didn’t join the club until early December. Sasha took a big step backwards after an impressive postseason run in 2006-07.

When the Cavaliers brass does shift their focus outside the city limits, they’ll find a free agent market in flux.

Armed with a mid-level exception, the Cavaliers can consider names like James Posey and Mickael Pietrus. Both would be perfect fits in Mike Brown’s system, and Posey would bring two Rings – along with dogged defense and dead-eye shooting – to his hometown team. (It would be much better watching Posey alongside LeBron instead of guarding him – a job he seems to relish.)

The big name being thrown around recently has been Corey Maggette, and the Cavaliers look to be trying to get into the mix. The former Dukie is on every contenders’ short list – including the Celtics, Spurs, Pistons, Magic and Hornets. The 6-6 swingman is coming off a career year.

Maggette’s Clippers have already made the offseason’s biggest splash, landing Baron Davis hours after the market opened. Golden State is rumored to be in the mix. And Philadelphia, flushed with cash, is also primed to make a push for Brand.

The Sixers, coming off a vastly successful season under Mo Cheeks, seem determined to make a splash. If they fail to get Brand, look for Philly to try and coax J-Smoove or Josh Childress away from Atlanta. A combination of Andre Iguodala and Josh Smith would give the Sixers an explosive young combo heading into the season.

The Eastern Conference, in general, will be getting an overhaul this offseason.

Rumors of the Bucks’ demise were greatly exaggerated as Scott Skiles’ squad acquired Richard Jefferson and No. 8 pick, Joe Alexander, on Draft night. That certainly cools off the Michael Redd rumors as Milwaukee looks to have a “win-now” mentality.

The Nets, who shipped Jefferson, had an excellent Draft. Fretting fans on the “LeBron Watch” will be curious as to what Rod Thorn does with his free agents – Nenad Krstic and Bostjan Nachbar – in the coming days and weeks.

The Bulls extreme makeover is still in its early stages after drafting Derrick Rose with the No. 1 overall pick. With a glut of guards, Chicago will likely ship either Kirk Hinrich or Ben Gordon. Hinrich looked to be the choice, but recent rumors have the Bulls gauging interest on Gordon. Chris Duhon already looks to be headed to the Big Apple.

And finally, there’s the Washington Wizards, who simply re-inked two of their Big Three. Antawn Jamison signed a contract extension to stay in the nation’s capital and Gilbert Arenas left money on the table to remain with the Wiz Kids. These two moves can only mean one thing …

They’ll be traveling to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in April of 2009.

Draft Duo Make Their Way to Cleveland

Let’s be honest: Does anyone really know what fate awaits ANY of the players chosen in Thursday night’s NBA Draft?

Among the 60 players taken, there will be All-Stars and busts and hidden gems. There may be a Hall of Famer or two in the bunch, and some will never put on an NBA uniform.

O.J. Mayo might turn out to be better than Derrick Rose. Or maybe Russell Westbrook will be better than both. Michael Beasley could average 20 and 10 for the next decade, or he could be a classic underachiever like Derrick Coleman – a player he’s frequently compared to.

So when fans panicked over the Cavaliers’ selection of J.J. Hickson with the 19th pick – and expressed their disappointment in no uncertain terms in response to my Draft blog – I took it with a grain of salt.

Hickson leapfrogged bigger names like Kosta Koufos, Mario Chalmers and Chris Douglas-Roberts to be the second First Round selection in Danny Ferry’s tenure with the ballclub. In just one season at Raleigh, Hickson left an indelible impression in the country’s toughest conference – and obviously on Ferry and the Cavaliers scouting department.

Later Thursday night, the Cavaliers made a couple more moves in the second round – acquiring forward Darnell Jackson and center Sasha Kaun, both members of the National Champion Kansas Jayhawks. Both were four-year players at Lawrence and helped the Jayhawks to four straight Big 12 titles.

Jackson averaged 11.2 points on .626 shooting and a team-high 6.7 rebounds in 40 games. Kaun, 23, averaged 7.1 points on .619 shooting, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

On Friday afternoon, Hickson and Jackson made their first appearance in the flesh at Quicken Loans Arena – introduced to some Cavalier employees and members of the media by the man who drafted them.

“Both of these guys were pretty aware that we were very interested in them,” beamed Ferry. “Both of them came in for two workouts – which is the maximum that we can have them in for – and we spent time talking to both of them and made them feel confident that this is a place that had some strong interest.”

Ferry knows that the local punditry – as well as most fans – were looking for a “name” in Thursday’s Draft. More than anything, fans were upset that Hickson is only 19-years-old, and could be a year or two from being a solid contributor.

But Hickson might be a quicker learner than expected. He went 12-for-12 from the floor in his first-ever game at NC State, and shot .591 from the field – tops in the ACC. He averaged nearly 15 points per contest and was a relentless rebounder for a freshman, snagging 8.5 boards per game.

Most people – including myself – hadn’t seen much of Hickson. But just a few minutes of watching him in action with the Wolfpack shows what his game is all about. He loves to play with his back to the basket. He has excellent footwork and an impressive array of moves around the bucket. His game has been compared to Al Harrington’s and his favorite player is Kevin Garnett.

“I kind of pattern my game after a couple players – there’s not one single player that I focus on,” said Hickson. “It’s something I’ve worked at and something I try to continue getting better at.”

More than anything, it’s apparent that he likes to stick his nose into the action and loves to bang in the post – a welcome trait for the Wine and Gold.

On the other side of the coin, Hickson is listed at 6-9, but after seeing him in person, it’s hard to see him as an inch taller than LeBron James. (Although LBJ’s aura usually gives him a couple extra inches.)

Jackson was one of five Jayhawks drafted on Thursday. He was the 52nd pick of the Draft, selected by Miami before being sent to Cleveland for the lower of the two second round picks Cleveland has in 2009. The rugged forward talked about his Draft night experience.

“My mom told me I was going to Cleveland, and I don’t know what it is about this place but it’s always been in my heart and on my mind,” said Jackson. “Ever since I started playing basketball and LeBron came here I would think: ‘Man, I’d love the chance to run up and down the court with him.’”

During their respective workouts, neither player had the opportunity to meet LeBron James, personally. James has been working out at Cleveland Clinic Courts – (and was actually shooting with Chris Jent late yesterday afternoon before the media started filing in) – and at one point, Jackson did get a look at him.

“When LeBron was stretching, I took a look over at him,” smiled the Oklahoma City native. “It’s not every day that you get to see the King. I thought: ‘Is that really him?’”

Much of the concern fans had over drafting Hickson was his timetable – and specifically how it affects LeBron’s contract. But a source close to the King maintains that what he wants more than anything is a “4” who can catch the ball in the post and finish.

One look at Hickson’s highlight reel shows that he knows exactly what to do with the ball when he receives it down low. The only question now is: when will he be ready to do so.

“I’m just ready to do whatever’s asked of me,” said the Atlanta native. “If they want me to come in and contribute right away, then I’m willing to do that. Whatever coach asks of me, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Cavaliers Grab J.J. Hickson

Well, the Cavaliers confounded everyone – not going for the big names like Kosta Koufus or Chris Douglas-Roberts – but instead opting for NC State freshman, J.J. Hickson.

“J.J. can score on the wing and in the post,” said the Cavaliers GM. “He’s a work in progress. And our job is just to put him in the best position to succeed over the next 12 to 18 months.”

Hickson played big in the country’s toughest conference and is already developed physically – with a strong upper and extremely strong lower body for a 19-year-old. He prefers to play with his back to the basket, but can also knock down the 18-footer. Even for a young guy, he’s a tough matchup because of his combination of strength and quickness and has a nice array of moves under the basket.

“Bringing a young big into our group was important for us,” said Cavaliers GM, Danny Ferry. “(Hickson) was a guy we had ranked highly all year. He’s dedicated to being the best he can be. He’s a quality kid with a great background. And talent.”

Hickson has drawn comparisions to Al Harrington – a player the Cavaliers were reportedly interested in as of late. At 6-9, he’s relatively small for a PF. He doesn’t have great mechanics and questionable hands. Hickson also doesn’t have much of a left-hand at this point – a concern for a player who likes the action close to the basket.

“This was a really challenging decision,” continued Ferry. “We just felt very comfortable with J.J. He has exceptional althleticsm, and strength, plays well with his back the basket. He’ll be a solid rotational player in a position that’s tough to fill.”

He has the potential to be an excellent rebounder, and he’ll be with one of the top rebounding teams in the NBA. Hickson gives the Cavaliers an athletic player at a position where they desperately need it.

Wine and Gold Snag J.J. Hickson

Well, the Cavaliers confounded everyone – not going for the big names like Kosta Koufus or Chris Douglas-Roberts – but instead opting for NC State freshman, J.J. Hickson.

Hickson played big in the country’s toughest conference and is already developed physically – with a strong upper and extremely strong lower body for a 19-year-old. He prefers to play with his back to the basket, but can also knock down the 18-footer. Even for a young guy, he’s a tough matchup because of his combination of strength and quickness and has a nice array of moves under the basket.

Hickson has drawn comparisions to Al Harrington – a player the Cavaliers were reportedly interested in as of late. At 6-9, he’s relatively small for a PF. He doesn’t have great mechanics and questionable hands. Hickson also doesn’t have much of a left-hand at this point – a concern for a player who likes the action close to the basket.

He has the potential to be an excellent rebounder, and he’ll be with one of the top rebounding teams in the NBA. Hickson gives the Cavaliers an athletic player at a position where they desperately need it.

The Countdown Begins ...

The word on this Draft was that it was deep one, and that’s proven to be true through the first dozen picks. The Nets have to be tickled that Brook Lopez fell to them at No. 10. And the Pacers – in one day – made a major upgrade of their point guard position, snagging Jerryd Bayless at No. 11 just hours after picking up T.J. Ford in the Jermaine O’Neal trade.

Sacramento just surprised everyone by drafting Rider’s Jason Thompson at No. 12.

Brandon Rush, as expected, came off the board to Portland. The Cavaliers were high on him, but as the Draft continues to shake out, some names are beginning to slip closer to No. 19.

Cleveland will be keeping an eye on Philadelphia – another team in need of a big. Again, the decision will be whether the Cavaliers go with a wing player or a big. The Sixers are reportedly high on Kosta Koufus and if he comes off the board, that could change the Wine and Gold’s plans.

The Cavaliers are within minutes of making their choice …

And They're Off ...

So here we are after the top five picks have come and gone …

The big mystery of the early stage of the Draft was answered when the Heat ended their smokescreen and drafted Michael Beasley with the No. 2 overall pick. Pat Riley had questioned Beasley’s dedication, but when the smoke cleared, the choice was easy. Many people feel that the K-State phenom will be a double-double machine from day one.

For all the bluster about Miami grabbing O.J. Mayo and the Heat waiting to acquire Elton Brand or Carlos Boozer next year, it was Beasley with the pick.

Mayo went to the Timberwolves, who will go with Al Jefferson at the “5” again this upcoming season – unless they make another move between now and Training Camp. (Or the end of the night.)

The Sonics took defensive-minded combo-guard, Russell Westbrook, with the No. 4 overall pick. Most of the punditry here at CCC feels that was a stretch for the Sonics. But the combination of Westbrook and Kevin Durant is still a nice one-two for Seattle.

With the fifth pick, the Grizzlies stuck to the script and went with Kevin Love – the prolific freshman from UCLA. Love has dropped a ton of weight since the NCAA season ended and will fill the frontcourt void left by the departure of Pau Gasol. Memphis has to feel good about this draft.

With Gasol’s younger brother, Marc, agreeing to join the Grizzlies this season, Memphis has to feel like they got two lottery picks out of the night.

The Knicks are on the clock now, and that’s always good for some electricity at MSG …

Let the Games Begin ...

Right now, the talk around Independence is about the same as the buzz around the basketball community – and most of it focuses on the Nets-Bucks trade.

Of course, the name of a player not involved (Michael Redd) is what the media is talking about. Does the deal that sends Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee indicate that Redd is expendable? Or does it portend that Milwaukee is building for this year, and giving Redd a sidekick like R-Jeff is an indication that the Bucks are looking at making a move.

Of course, from the New Jersey side – as it will be from now until 2010 – folks are concerned that the Nets are making salary-cutting moves to make a pitch at LeBron. And it’s not completely crazy to think that way. New Jersey did give up one of the Eastern Conference’s better small forwards for two non-starters. The jury is still out on Yi Jianlian.

I’ve had a couple of readers write in to ask who the Cavaliers would prefer – CDR or Courtney Lee. I think they’re high on both players, but it’ll probably boil down to a simple choice of whether they want a wing player or a big man like Roy Hibbert or Kosta Koufus – if either (or any of the four players) are available.

The Cavaliers do like Courtney Lee and Danny Ferry has said that he likes Douglas-Roberts’ game. Either would certainly solidify the two-guard spot. Both guys are “basketball players” – meaning they’re not shooters or ball-handlers or defenders. They can do it all, and versatility at that position has to be a priority going into 2008-09.

The 2008 tips off in just a few minutes ….

Trade Winds Blowing in the Draft

5:07 p.m. ET -- I’m here at the Cavaliers state-of-the-art training complex – Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence – where we media members will take in the 2008 NBA Draft. I’m going to be blogging from here as the Wine and Gold work their way towards the No. 19 pick.

This is one of the most wide-open drafts in recent memory. And it’s a deep draft.

As many as six point guards – Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, D.J. Augustin, Eric Gordon and Russell Westbrook – could be lottery picks. The entire first round is deep with big men – even in the bottom half and past where the Cavaliers select. Quality wing players like CDR, Bill Walker and Courtney Lee should be, as well.

The story going right now is that the trade winds are beginning to blow. And all the action has been in the East.

Pending physicals ...

Jermaine O’Neal got shipped to Toronto to shore up their frontline. T.J. Ford got sent to Indy to shore up their backcourt. Each player was on the clock with their former teams, so the fact that both moved is no surprise. And it puts an end to the rumor that O’Neal might wind up in Cleveland.

The second big deal also involves a Central Division and Atlantic Division team with the Bucks sending Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons to New Jersey for Richard Jefferson.

Yi moves to the big market, which his people wanted the entire time. And Bobby Simmons ends a snake-bitten stay in Wisconsin. New Jersey has now shipped out two-thirds of their Big Three and continues to get younger.

Boston’s Championship is already having ripple effects across the league, and it’s certain that the complexion of the East is going to be dramatically different between now and October.

And we haven’t even seen the first pick of the Draft yet. Stay tuned …

On the Clock

Although Thursday night will be the fourth Draft night that Danny Ferry has been a part of as the club’s General Manager, it’s only his second with a first-round choice available. Once again, the stakes are high.

In 2005, Ferry was hired literally hours before the Draft, but still managed to unload Jiri Welsch – dealt after an ignominious 18 games – in exchange for the Bucks’ second-rounder, Martynas Andriuskevicius.

One year later, after selecting Michigan State combo-guard, Shannon Brown in Round One, Cleveland snagged a precocious point guard in the second round named Daniel Gibson. All Gibson did later that year was help send the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history with a playoff run for the ages – culminated by a 19-point fourth quarter in the deciding Game 6 against Detroit.

Without a pick last year, the Wine and Gold had a quiet off-season – the calm before a stormy, stressful, yet successful campaign.

In 2008, the Cavaliers – who came within one quarter of toppling the eventual NBA Champs – are back on the clock, with the No. 19 overall selection. In what’s widely-regarded as a very deep Draft, and with teams actively trying to duplicate Boston’s quick-fix, Ferry will likely have an array of options to weigh and decisions to make.

“I think most knowledgeable fans understand that (Boston’s turnaround) was a really unique situation,” said Ferry, dispelling the speculation of a Celtics-style upheaval.

The Cavaliers don’t have the young pieces to pull off what Danny Ainge did last off-season, nor are they so far from the Title that they’ll have to. But this does promise to be an active off-season in Cleveland – and the ball gets rolling on Thursday night.

Ferry estimated working out about “50 to 60” potential picks in recent weeks, but didn’t tip his hand to any one player.

“We’re not scouting just for the Draft, now,” said Ferry. “We’re scouting for trades two years from now – maybe for a guy who may not be playing a whole lot. I scouted Delonte West in college, and that had a lot of impact on us trading for him now. So you’re always gathering as much information as you can.”

It’s a deep draft for big men and the Cavaliers are certainly in the market. With three of their top four frontline players – Zydrunas Ilgauskas (33), Ben Wallace (34), Joe Smith (33) – in the latter part of their careers, it’s crucial for the Cavaliers to begin rebuilding for the future.

Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert or Rider’s Jason Thompson – who could fall to No. 19 – are more refined; OSU’s Kosta Koufas, Nevada’s JaVale McGee and Texas A&M’s DeAndre Jordan are talented, but untested.

“Every player that we’ll be looking at at No. 19 will have a different story,” explained the Cavs GM. “Some of the guys might be able to make an impact this year; some of them might be 18 months away from having an impact. That’s part of the challenge of making decisions on Draft night.”

The Cavaliers could also be in the market for a “2” who can create and score. At 19, names like Memphis’ Chris Douglas-Roberts, Kansas State’s Bill Walker and Western Kentucky’s Courtney Lee have all surfaced as potential picks.

The players that did work out for Ferry and his staff have to be impressive on and off the hardwood.

“We sit down and talk to all the guys because it really is a great opportunity to really get to know the kid – whether you draft him or not,” said Ferry. “You get to see their personality on the court, but you also get to see what kind of person that they are – (as much as you can take from an interview).”

Of course, these young prospects have to be able to perform, and for the past few weeks, teams like the Cavaliers have been putting them through the paces.

“We like to see them in competition,” explained Ferry. “We put them in 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 and let them compete against each other. You try to balance all their schedules because they have a short window of time to do this. If you think a guy’s not that tough, you put a tough guy against him – just to see.”

The Cavaliers will have to see how the first 18 picks shake out before they know what they’ll do. The trade rumor mill is cooking – especially with teams trying to replicate Boston’s instant success from last year. The Sonics are a franchise in transition -- and have four second-rounders. Larry Brown and Michael Jordan will work together for the first time. College seniors are climbing. And Pat Riley is being suspiciously coy about the No. 2 pick.

Those are just a few of the myriad storylines that could unfold on Thursday night – an evening that promises to be one of the more interesting Draft nights in recent memory. The Cavaliers will be ready.

“I do believe that we’re very well prepared,” concluded Ferry. “Our scouting staff – and Chris Grant, in particular – have really attacked the Draft, so I’m comfortable that we’re going to make a sound decision.”

Hands Down, Man's Down

His last words at the podium before getting on the bus to Logan Airport last night said it all: “A LeBron James team is never desperate.”

That’s about all James could say after his Cavaliers dropped a difficult 96-89 loss in Boston, and now face elimination on Friday night at The Q. Throughout the postseason, LeBron has said that – as the team’s leader – if he seems rattled, the team will get rattled. If he is poised and confident, the team will be poised and confident.

LeBron’s past numbers indicated that he would have a big Game 5 in Boston – and he did.

In his two previous playoffs appearances, in Game 5s with a series tied 2-2, LeBron has averaged 41.7 points, seven boards and six assists. He didn’t reach those numbers on Wednesday night, but after the way Cleveland has played in Boston, you might have thought 35 would put them over the top.

“As an individual, I don’t care how well I play offensively,” said James. “If you don’t win that’s all that matters to me. I’d rather play bad and shoot bad from the field and turn the ball over a couple a times and get a win. My individual play doesn’t mean anything when you lose.”

Of course, LeBron’s production wasn’t the problem last night. The Celtics got big games from two of their big three, plus a huge lift from Rajon Rondo. From midway through the second quarter, Boston seemed to get every loose ball, every call and every offensive rebound – including the game-clinching board by Ray Allen with the Cavaliers trailing by four – 89-93 – with 19 seconds to play.

The Wine and Gold have no one but themselves to blame. They shot just 63 percent from the stripe in the second half. They had two fewer assists as a team than Rajon Rondo had individually. And Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who dominated Kendrick Perkins through the first two games of the series in Beantown, took only two shots in the second half on Wednesday.

“I just couldn’t get any shots,” said Z following the tough loss. “I’ve got to find my way to somehow get myself more involved. It’s up to me to figure it out somehow.”

The Cavaliers didn’t get a ton from anyone other than Delonte West – who led everyone with 16 points in the second half. West had four steals and four dimes and, maybe most importantly, was aggressive getting to the rim.

“The outside shot wasn’t falling and, when you’re on the road, that’s what you have to do – you try to force the referees to make some calls,” said the Cavaliers starting point man.

The small lineup of West and Daniel Gibson was very effective in the first half, but Boobie was forced from action early in the fourth quarter when he seperated his left shoulder on a collision with P.J. Brown.

The unexpected hero of last year's postseason might be done for this year's. Gibson had an MRI on Thursday morning and is expected to miss one to two weeks.

The Cavaliers were not dour in the locker room following Wednesday night’s loss. It was more an air of determination. Wally Szczerbiak – the only other Cavalier to net double-figures – put it bluntly. “Well our backs are against the wall, we’re desperate,” said Szczerbiak, apparently not getting LeBron’s memo. “So we’ve got to play that way, and we’ve got to figure out a way to get a win at home – like we did in Games 3 and 4 – and take it one step at a time.”

Delonte West boarded the bus out of the arena, saying – in “colorful” language he later excused himself for – that the Cavaliers would see Boston again on Sunday afternoon for Game 7.

“This is one game, and this (series) is like a heavyweight fight,” said West. “You ain’t gonna win every round. The fight’s not over, so we’re gonna regroup, get back to Cleveland, and get ready for Game 6.”

All Tied Up

… and LeBron James still hasn’t broken out of his shooting funk.

Of course, the Celtics haven’t won a game outside of Suffolk County, either. And LeBron James – despite going 7-for-20 from the floor – made sure of that, throwing down one of those seven field goals with an earth-shattering dunk that punctuated the Wine and Gold’s dramatic 88-77 win.

Now, the Cavaliers and Celtics – a squad that won 21 more games than Cleveland in the regular season – are knotted at two games apiece, with the series shifting back to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Cavaliers have now beaten Boston eight straight times at The Q and are 8-3 all-time against the Celtics at home. And for all the talk of the Celtics’ vaunted defense, it’s been the Wine and Gold that has tightened their grip – holding Doc Rivers’ club to 38 percent shooting (27-of-70) on Monday night, their lowest field goal percentage of the postseason.

And the wear is slowly beginning to show. In his postgame presser, Doc Rivers bristled when it was suggested that LeBron was “struggling” …

“You think LeBron is struggling?!” asked Rivers, pointedly. “He had 21 points, 13 assists and six rebounds. He probably forced 15 fouls. We don’t look at that as LeBron struggling. You only look at field goal percentage, we don’t. We look at the way he’s playing his total game and he’s making plays. The Gibson threes, those threes don’t happen without LeBron James.”

And while LeBron is slowly coming out of his shooting slump, his “little brother” – Daniel Gibson – may have awakened from the funk that saw him averaging just over three shot attempts per game over the first three games of the series.

Boston had refused to leave Boobie and double-down on LeBron. But on Monday night, the sophomore from Texas found all the right spots, and as always was at the right place at the right time – canning a trey with 2:38 remaining to put the game essentially out of reach.

“I just continued to be patient,” asserted Gibson. “I didn’t let it frustrate me – the fact that I wasn’t getting a lot of looks. I also was a little more aggressive going to the basket on pick-and-roll situations, so I just waited for my open looks. I knew they were going to come; I just had to be patient and tonight, I got a lot more than I’ve been getting.”

Gibson was 5-for-9 from the field for 14 points, easily his best game of the series. Equally as impressive has been his defense against Sam Cassell – who killed the Cavaliers in the first two games of the series.

“Every game you learn something new,” said Gibson, on finding ways to guard the 14-year vet. “In Boston, he got me lifted a little bit and hit some fadeaways. You learn guys’ game when you play a series over time. I learned a little bit about his game and I’m getting better guarding him. But, he’s still a great player.”

But the biggest story of the Cavaliers’ two wins in Cleveland has been the trade deadline’s Four Horsemen – Delonte West, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak and Ben Wallace. They’ve given the Wine and Gold exactly what Danny Ferry expected of them when he made the deal in late February.

Joe Smith, in his first foray into the Second Round, was incredible again on Monday night. Over his last two games, Smith is 11-for-14 from the floor, averaging six boards per contest. Coach Mike Brown had Zydrunas Ilgauskas at the scorer’s table with just under four minutes to play, but the combination of Smith and Anderson Varejao was simply too effective.

“We felt in the two games in Boston, that their bench came with more energy than our bench,” said Smith. “So, we felt when we got here at home that, as a group, were going to either build on what the starters had done or if they start off slow, try to bring the energy that’s necessary to win this game.”

Ben Wallace has been huge defending KG, although he gave way to Anderson Varejao last night. The Wild Thing has continued to get under the Defensive Player of the Year’s skin and he was limited to a quiet 15 points.

“I’m just trying to be physical with him,” said Varejao. “I want to take away his space, make him work to catch the ball. Just be aggressive and make it hard for him."

With Anderson and Ben Wallace making life difficult for Garnett, and LeBron making Pierce work on both ends of the floor, the X-factor – defensively – has been Wally Szczerbiak. The former Miami (OH) star has made Ray Allen – who led the Celtics with 28.1 ppg against the Cavaliers during the regular season – work to get any daylight. And there hasn’t been much.

“(Allen's) a great shooter, a great scorer and you can’t give him an inch,” said Szczerbiak. “But my teammates have helped me out a ton – the big guys are great on this team. If you get beat on the dribble, you’ve got Andy back there, or Z or Ben or Joe – and they make it difficult to get a look at the basket. So I owe a lot to them.”

On Wednesday, Wally and Co. will try to do something that hasn’t been done this postseason: beat the Celtics in Boston. If they do that, they can attempt to do what many thought was unthinkable on Friday night at The Q.

Game On!

The Cavaliers seemed rested and ready on Sunday evening at Cleveland Clinic Courts, after having dropped the Washington Wizards in D.C. for the third straight season two nights earlier.

On the bus ride from the arena to the airport on Friday night, nearly everyone aboard was checking their BlackBerry to see who would be Cleveland’s Second Round opponent. On Sunday afternoon, it only took the Celtics one half of basketball to provide the answer.

Now, the Cavaliers will face the Celtics in the postseason for the first time since their memorable matchup against Larry Bird’s bunch 16 years ago. The series tips off on Tuesday night (8 p.m.) in Beantown.

Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak are the only two Cavaliers who have been part of Boston’s recent – (and rather ignominious) – era, and were part of the trade that allowed 1/3 of Boston’s Big Three – Ray Allen – to move east. The Celtics then went on to have the biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history – improving from 24 wins in 2006-07 to 66 in ’07-08.

Szczerbiak, who struggled on and off during the First Round, was vindicated big time on Friday night, exploding for 26 points on 6-for-13 shooting beyond the arc. Aside from LeBron, Wally will probably get the majority of the fans’ Bronx cheers.

“I had a great time in Boston; it’s a class organization – from Doc Rivers to Danny Ainge, up and down the line,” said Szczerbiak. “They’re great people over there and they brought in some great players and they did some special things this year. And now that we have an opportunity to go at it, I’m a Cleveland Cavalier and I want to win this series more than anything.”

These are obviously not your father’s Celtics – far different than the Bird Era C’s and far, far different than the sorry squad that was re-tooled in the off-season. And as big an addition as Ray Allen has been, the heart and soul of the new-look Celts is obviously this year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Garnett.

The Cavaliers, however, have one of the deepest and most-skilled frontlines in the East. And they could give the Big Ticket fits on both ends of the court. But, as Cleveland’s bigs know, he’s still one of the toughest players in the league to stop.

“It’s tough with the way he’s been playing all season long,” said Joe Smith, who will certainly get his chance at Garnett. “But at the same time, you have to try to cut his air space out a little bit, don’t let him get comfortable when he gets the ball to face up, don’t let him get comfortable in the post, and try to do whatever you can to contest his shots up top.”

The Celtics could have never envisioned their First Round series going seven games. Throughout the series, Boston demolished Atlanta at home – including Sunday’s 34-point trouncing at the TD Banknorth Garden, but had a difficult time with the high-flying Hawks down in Dixie.

But did the series help to illustrate any chinks in Boston’s armor?

“We’re a different team than Atlanta,” reasoned LeBron. “They have a lot of athletes. We can’t try to approach the game like Atlanta did; we don’t have those types of athletes. We’re going to approach any series like we always do. Defensively, try to get stops and offensively, execute.”

One player that will be a welcome addition to both sides of the ball is Sasha Pavlovic – who recovered from an ankle injury in the final days of the First Round. Pavlovic’s athleticism will be huge in trying to contain Ray Allen on the perimeter. Wally’s coming-out party in Game 6 at Washington all but cemented his spot in the starting lineup, but Pavlovic gives Mike Brown one more bench weapon against a team that has a bunch of them.

This season, the Cavaliers have split four games with Doc Rivers’ club with each team holding serve on their home turf. One of Boston’s wins at the Garden – it should be noted – took place with LeBron James watching from the bench in street clothes. So, while the Celtics might have dominated the rest of the league, they didn’t exactly send shivers up the Cavaliers’ spines.

“It doesn’t mean much,” countered Mike Brown, referring to the Cavaliers’ moderate success against Boston. “I think we went 2-0 vs. San Antonio during the regular season and had beaten them three out of the last four games, and it didn’t mean much in the Finals. I think Washington had our number this year, and it didn’t mean much in the series.”

With all the pieces in place, the Cavaliers look to return to the NBA’s promised land for the second straight season. Their journey this season will be more challenging than last year’s run, but the Wine and Gold feel like they’re playing their best basketball of the season and are up for the challenge.

“(Boston) has been playing great basketball all the way around,” said Daniel Gibson, who was huge in Friday night’s big win over Washington. “We have to be prepared and we have to be locked in, going into a different arena – especially one where a team is playing so well. But, again, it’s just a matter of us understanding what we have to do and just being prepared to take care of business.”

The Day After

To quote Quentin Tarantino's “Kill Bill”: You didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you?

The Washington Wizards turned the tables in a big way on Thursday night at the Verizon Center, and the Cavaliers club that looked like a well-oiled machine on Monday in Cleveland, looked as muddled as a soup sandwich three days later in D.C. The series may still be tilting the Wine and Gold’s way, but the Wizards definitely served notice in Game 3.

Both clubs practiced on Friday at the Wizards’ gym, with a few hugs and handshakes exchanged when they passed in the halls – primarily with Gilbert Arenas. (Arenas’ dad was down there as well, playfully chiding the Cavaliers as they came through.)

That’s about the only smiles we’ll see for the rest of the series. After the Wizards thumped the Cavaliers by 36 on Thursday night, the two clubs – who really don’t like each other to begin with – know that it’ll be a dogfight to get into the Second Round.

Before the Cavaliers rolled in, Arenas said that the Game 3 crowd was the loudest he’s ever heard at the Verizon Center. The District faithful was definitely smelling blood and gave it to LeBron every time he touched the ball. He is definitely Public Enemy No. 1 – and it’s a role that doesn’t phase the Chosen One whatsoever.

“I think all the fans know how I approach the game every night and how I play the game,” deadpanned James. “Any time you get in a hostile environment, you want to perform well and help your team win. But at the same time, you have to maintain focus, and I’ve always been able to do that.

“The fans are the reason why we have big games,” added LeBron. “Without the fans, there is no NBA, no stars, no superstars. So, I respect their fans.”

LeBron was the only bright spot for Cleveland on Thursday, but even he didn’t have his normal game. LeBron finished with 22 points, but didn’t get an assist until midway through the third quarter and only made four trips to the line. He knows that the Cavaliers feed off his energy and knows they’ll have to be the aggressors in Game 4.

“It’s a big game for them, but it’s a big game for us, too,” said James. “Just to see how we react to getting blown out (Thursday) night. They reacted really well to getting blown out, so we have to react with a sense of urgency too.”

The Wizards closed off LeBron’s passing and driving lanes and, without his teammates sinking shots on the backside, put their captain in a precarious spot. Cavaliers who had been successful in the first two games – notably Delonte West and Zydrunas Ilgauskas – struggled in Game 3.

According to Ilgauskas, Washington’s team defense “wasn’t much different than what they tried to do the first two games, they were just successful (on Thursday).”

Big Z added: “They still double-teamed LeBron, still tried to take us out of our sets. They were just the aggressors. We turned the ball over, had some lazy passes. And that just created dunks on the other end and it got their crowd going. We know how it feels on the other side because in Game 2, everything went our way.”

The Cavaliers will try to get the Large Lithuanian more early touches on Sunday afternoon. But more than any particular strategy, they know it’s important to come out of the gate with much more intensity before the white-out blankets them the way it did in Game 3.

“At the end of the day, it’s one loss,” said LeBron. “But we know we can’t play that way on the road and try to win a game.”

Home Protection

It took 23 minutes and 58.7 seconds to define the series as it now stands at 2-0.

That’s when Brendan Haywood committed his first offense against LeBron James. That’s when the Cavaliers – and the Wizards – officially knew that the bad blood wasn’t just talk.

“Trash talking started three years ago, it just didn’t start this series,” quipped the otherwise-likeable Gilbert Arenas after Saturday’s loss. “That’s what players do – you have teams that don’t like each other on the court, but love each other off the court. Damon Jones and I are best friends, but I talked trash to him before we arrived and throughout the game. That’s what basketball is about.”

Haywood – who was a Cavalier for around 20 minutes on Draft night in 2001 – committed his second offense on Monday night when he knocked LeBron out of the air on a put-back attempt in the third. Haywood got hit with a Flagrant-2, but won’t receive a suspension. James’ teammates talked about the physicality of the series and that particular shot on Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“It was hard foul, but in this series, you have to be prepared for anything,” said Daniel Gibson. “It’s really intense and guys are really getting after it, so you just have to be prepared for those kinds of situations when you take the ball to the basket.”

LeBron’s been fouled harder than the shove Haywood gave him, but it was the precarious mid-air position that made it a dangerous play. The Cavaliers went on a 15-6 run after his ejection, putting the game on ice for the night.

“When somebody’s in the air like that – I don’t know if you’re trying to hurt somebody or it’s just a hard foul,” said Zydrunas Ilgauskas. “But the problem is when you’re in the air that high, you land funny and (could) break a hand or do something to your knee.”

“I don’t think anybody’s out to hurt anyone," added Boobie. “But in a series like this, sometimes play gets out of hand. But I don’t think (Haywood) intentionally wanted to hurt him.”

Obscured among the rough play has been the Cavaliers’ excellent play – especially on the defensive end. The Wizards are shooting just under 39 percent in the first two games. Washington’s “Big Three” were a combined 10-for-36 on Monday.

Wally Szczerbiak found his shooting touch in Game 2, and has frustrated Caron Butler defensively in both contests. “Tough Juice” has gone 9-for-23 over the past two, while Szczerbiak was 6-for-9 for 15 points on Monday.

“We’re not going to relax as a team,” said Szczerbiak. “We did a good job of protecting homecourt. We definitely feel good about how we’ve played in the first two games and now we just have to carry it over to Washington.”

Wally has responded well to the starting assignment, and for the first time since the Cavaliers made the 11-player deal on Feb. 22, the chemistry seems to be coming together. Ben Wallace has been tough in the post and showed some early offense on Monday. Delonte West has been strong in the final three weeks of the season, and has carried that into the first two games.

And Joe Smith has been Joe Smith – rock-solid on both ends of the floor, and a nice complement/alternative to Anderson Varejao. Smith is the perfect blend of toughness and technique and has been a strong, veteran presence.

“They made a statement in Game 1, giving LeBron a couple of hard fouls,” said the 12-year veteran. “We obviously don’t want to hurt anybody out there but we don’t want to give up anything easy. We kind of answered back a little bit with a little bit of aggressiveness (Monday).”

Nothing the referees can do will reverse the tone of the series. No player wants to get thrown out, but it’s the Playoffs and there won’t be any more easy dunks. That part of the season ended last Wednesday.

As the old George Karl saying goes, a series doesn’t start until the home team loses a game. The Cavaliers will be looking for the unofficial beginning on Thursday night in D.C.

Let the Games Begin

“I was built for this.”

That was LeBron James’ response when asked, after Saturday’s riveting Game 1, if he was tired of getting banged around. From the opening tip, that was obviously Washington’s plan – and it probably will be for the remainder of what promises to be a bare-knuckled Round One matchup.

“I’m not built 6-9, 260 to shoot jumpers all night,” James continued. “I go to the hole and I create contact. And don’t ever think that I’m the only one feeling that contact.”

After weeks of fighting the series in the press, the time for talk was over, and the two clubs had to fight it out between the lines. And as the Cavaliers had done six times before, they handed the Wizards another playoff loss. Cleveland held the Wizards to one bucket – a meaningless layup by Caron Butler at the buzzer – in the final 4:38, taking home the 93-86 win that was much closer than the final score would indicate.

One thing was affirmed on Saturday, however: On the court, these are two teams that definitely do not like each other.

It took less than one half of basketball for that to materialize, as tempers boiled over late in the first half, when Brendan Haywood – after fouling LeBron at center court – stood above him “in a very disrespectful manner.” Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace were the first into the fray before officials broke it up.

It won’t be the last time these two teams tangle.

Aside from James’ heroic 32-point effort, it was Ilgauskas who found seams in the Wizards’ defense – canning open jumpers and doing the dirty work in the post. Big Z finished with 22 points and 11 boards, going 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

“Every game we play against these guys, it’s a tough, emotional game,” said the Large Lithuanian. “We expect this to be a tough series, and it will be.”

Ilgauskas was one of three Cavaliers to make eight or more trips to the line. And the Cavaliers made 20 more trips to the stripe than Washington (37-17) – something Coach Brown had underscored to his team coming into the series.

“One thing we stressed is that during the year, we shot a lot of threes against this team and we didn’t shoot enough free throws,” said Brown. “We shot, maybe around 24 threes per game on average, and about 17,18 free throws. And we stressed to our guys that we have to attack. And our guys did a nice job attacking the rim.”

That philosophy led to Cleveland being very aggressive around the rim. And when the Cavaliers – namely LeBron and Z – are going to the hole, they’re awfully difficult to defend. Of course, it’s going to get pretty rough around the hole now that the Second Season has begun.

“It’s the playoffs, so a lot of calls go unnoticed,” said Ilgauskas. “They let you push more, which is good – that’s the way it should be. They let the players decide the game. Both teams have a lot of big guys, so there’s a lot of screens being set and a lot of elbows flying around.

“That’s playoff basketball.”

DeShawn Stevenson – for all his bluster – had yet another terrible game for the Wizards. On Saturday, the man who called LeBron James “overrated” came up 1-for-9 from the floor. Over the past two years, Washington’s thickly-bearded guard has gone 10-for-55 (18 percent) from the field.

Gilbert Arenas was the other Wizard who added some vitriol to the series with his advanced trash talk. But unlike Stevenson, everyone knows Agent Zero can back it up on the hardwood. Arenas canned his first four three-pointers – and fans were having flashbacks to the 2006 Playoffs where he averaged 36 ppg in six contests against Cleveland.

But Delonte West did an excellent job against Arenas in the second half, holding the sharp-shooting star to 2-for-6 from the field in the fourth quarter.

“Delonte’s a fighter,” praised Mike Brown. “He’s not going to back down from anybody. He’s longer than what you think, he’s quicker than what you think and he’s definitely more athletic than what you think. When you take all those things and combine them with toughness, you have a chance to have a pretty good defender.

“Delonte’s not going to stop Gilbert – nobody’s going to stop Gilbert Arenas. But the one thing you just hope is that he make Gilbert work for his shots.”

Delonte didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but he did can four straight free throws in the final 15 seconds – finishing with 16 points, five boards, five dimes, two steals and a pair of blocked shots.

When all the smoke clears, when all the talk has been talked and the pushing and shoving are done, the series will eventually boil down to which team can clamp down on the other, defensively. Yesterday, the Cavaliers’ D down the stretch was better than the Wizards’. And they came away with the win.

Now they need to carry that over into Monday’s Game 2.

“We were the best team in the playoffs last year, defensively,” said LeBron, following Saturday’s win. “We started off on the right foot this year, giving up only 40 percent shooting on the night, and 25 percent from the three-point line – something they’re very good at. We know when we go out there and lock down defensively, we can be very good.”

Rounding Third, Headed Home

If the Cavaliers are to rediscover the late-season magic that propelled them headlong into last year’s playoff run, they need to get busy – the clock is ticking.

Last year, they started the month of April at 2-3 before rattling off their final four to earn the three-seed in the Eastern Conference tournament. Cleveland rode that momentum all the way to San Antonio.

This year, they have just about zero momentum heading into their final five games. A couple of wins early last week – against Philly and Charlotte – seemed like they would turn things around. But two tough, uninspired home losses have the Cavaliers wondering where this road will lead them, and where will it end?

The haters have been lined up all season, ready to label last year’s run a “fluke.” And after two anemic nationally-televised collapses, they’re eagerly anticipating validation. The Wine and Gold lost a 17-point lead to the Bulls on Thursday night and blew an eight-point advantage on Saturday.

On Thursday, Larry Hughes was the most intense player on the floor. On Saturday, the only field goal Dwight Howard had was the opening dunk of the game and Cleveland lost by 15. Combined, the Cavaliers were 10-of-46 from the field in the fourth quarter. These are not good things.

LeBron James has been “Mr. Fourth Quarter” all year long, but back spasms have hampered him in the past two games as well. LeBron has gone 1-for-9 in the fourth quarter over his last two outings and was 2-for-13 in the second half on Saturday.

“I definitely haven't had the lift that I've had in the past with my back tightening up,” said James. “But I don't use that as an excuse. I've just not been able to come through for my team in the fourth quarter the last two games.”

But the fact is that one game, one quarter, one play could turn it all around.

The Cavaliers have refused to use their injuries as an excuse and still feel like there’s plenty of time to turn it around. Delonte West – who’s played very well lately – insists the team isn’t concerned.

“Not at all,” said West. “We’re a no-excuse team. Last two games, we lost – teams beat us. We’re a real good team, but sometimes we get up on teams and go through the motions and allow people to get back in the game. We just have to get that killer instinct where we don’t want to win a game by four – we want to blow teams out.”

Coach Mike Brown has shortened his rotation – so much so that Sasha Pavlovic and Damon Jones, integral parts of the process just two weeks ago, got DNP-CDs over the last two games.

Asked if he will re-visit his new rotation after Saturday’s loss, Brown was particularly terse: “No.”

Aside from his much-publicized missed dunks, Ben Wallace seems to be rounding back into form, and his work on Dwight Howard – (along with Anderson, Joe Smith and Z’s) – is one of the reasons he was brought to Cleveland.

“We just have to go out there and play basketball and everything will take care of itself,” said Wallace after Saturday’s loss. “We’re just turning the ball over too much.”

Big Ben is a man of few words, but he hits the right chord with them. The Cavaliers turned the ball over 16 times on Saturday, leading to 25 Magic points. These are not playoff numbers and will add up to a postseason loss every time.

“I don’t know if we’re looking forward to the playoffs or what it is, but we’re letting some close games get away,” said Devin Brown, who had another strong outing on Saturday. “But we’ll work on it in practice, fix a couple more things and get ready to go again.”

There is still time to get the kinks worked out. It’s ugly now, but everything can turn around as quickly as Wednesday night against the Nets. The Cavaliers ended the season with four straight wins one year ago – and that was all the juice they needed for their run. Five straight sounds just as good.

April Showers

Nothing has come easy for the Cavaliers this season. From a rough road schedule to start out the season to the nagging injuries that are making the final weeks a struggle, it has been a complete departure from last year’s relatively smooth sailing.

After Saturday night’s debacle in Detroit, Coach Mike Brown knew that he had to make a change and by tip-off 20 hours later, Sasha Pavlovic went from starting two-guard to a DNP-CD. He had ice on his foot throughout the second half, but Brown asserted in postgame that Pavlovic could have played.

Brown knows that time is growing short for the Cavaliers, who have seen their lock on the fourth spot become more tenuous in recent weeks – due in large part to the surging Sixers and the Wine and Gold’s woes on the road. The Cavaliers have won just one road game since making the 11-player trade back in late February – and it took LeBron James scoring 50 points to get that one.

Of course, it’s not too late to finish strong and go into the postseason on a roll. Over the past two seasons, the Cavaliers have gone 14-6 in the month of April, including 8-3 in 2005-06 and 6-3 last season. The 14-6 record is the third-best April record in the NBA during that time behind only the Bulls and Magic.

Cleveland bounced back from an anemic first half against Philly to win it down the stretch. Delonte West had easily his best game as a Cavalier, draining a pair of huge three-pointers in the final two-and-a-half minutes and becoming the first player since Eric Snow – and, obviously, LeBron – to have 11 or more assists in a game for the Wine and Gold.

Talking about his two big bombs, West quipped: “It’s funny because it goes to show how mental this game actually is. I remember sitting on the bench right before we came out from a timeout and thinking, ‘I’m getting ready to hit it; I’m going to sting them.’ Sure enough, the ball came right to me and I let it fly.”

The only other Cavalier to have two good games this weekend was Joe Smith. The rock-solid reserve forward went 9-for-12 from the field, averaging 11.5 points and 6.5 boards in 23.5 minutes per contest. He was 4-of-4 from the floor in Saturday’s embarrassing loss to the Pistons.

He and Ben Wallace were both perfect from the field on Saturday. Big Ben was in the midst of having one of his better games with Cleveland before re-aggravating his back.

The affable Smith probably used the most appropriate term to describe the season: “It is very frustrating and we understand that injuries are a part of the game, but at the same time when you are trying to get healthy bodies back on the floor to get a rhythm it is frustrating.”

Wallace might have been able to go as early as Sunday, but the Cavaliers are going to play it very safe with him and any other essential pieces to this year’s postseason run. Daniel Gibson made his return on Saturday – in limited minutes – but had to leave with soreness in his ankle on Sunday.

The Cavaliers got the win and kept the Sixers at bay. And they were still able to give players like Wallace and Gibson a little extra time to get as close to 100 percent as possible. Gibson, especially, is a critical piece to the puzzle if the Cavaliers are looking to make another big run.

“I know it’s a struggle for him mentally because he’s never been injured in his career,” said LeBron James, in reference to the player he considers a younger brother. “Hopefully he can just get his ankle back right and not think about it much. Hopefully he can just continue to get healthy. We’re going to need him.”

It’s likely that Devin Brown will get another start on Wednesday night when the Cavaliers travel to Charlotte. Cleveland has won 11 of 14 all-time against Charlotte, but it doesn’t feel like it. The Bobcats always seem to give the Wine and Gold a hard time.

It could be a crazy eight games in April, as the Cavaliers look to solidify themselves before making another run at the Eastern Conference Crown. To get there, they won’t be facing an undermanned Wizards squad in the First Round or an underachieving Nets squad in Round 2.

So now it’s time to get healthy and get focused on going into the playoffs on a roll.

First-Round Futurama

Last year, at this time, the Cavaliers were eyeing up the three-seed in the Eastern Conference’s version of Bracketology. Getting in touch with the third spot in the East this year – trailing the Magic by 5.5 games with 11 to play – would require a creative imagination.

This year, the Cavaliers have been locked into the fourth-seed pretty much all season. Boston got off to a great start and stayed strong, Detroit has been their steady selves and Orlando, unlike last year, kept their foot on the gas all season.

The Cavaliers have battled through one obstacle after another this season and now find themselves in the position of checking the rear-view mirror for their first round future. Some players and coaches might tell you that they’re taking it one game at a time and not looking back at the standings. Then there’s LeBron James …

“You have no choice but to follow it,” said LeBron. “You have the standings in our locker room, you watch SportsCenter and they show the standings.”

Of course, there’s nothing the Cavaliers can do about it, but watch. “It’s going to go back and forth over the next 12 games, so we’re just going to hold down the fort and see what happens,” added James.

For most of the second half of the season, it looked like the Wine and Gold would be heading north of the border of the first round. The Raptors have been close enough to the Cavaliers to keep an eye on, but never got close enough to threaten homecourt in late April.

The Cavaliers dropped the Raptors on Friday night to take the season series over Toronto, 3-1. And just recently, the streaking Wizards club recently overtook the Raptors for the fifth-seed.

The Wizards are an entirely different animal as far as the Cavaliers first-round opponent. They’ve been Cleveland’s first-round foes for the past two seasons. In 2005-06, the two clubs faced off in a bare-knuckled battle, with LeBron James and Gilbert Arenas staging an epic duel, and Damon Jones finishing off Washington with a series-ending 17-footer in Game 6.

Last year, the Wizards were depleted with late-season injuries and the Wine and Gold rolled them in four straight.

This season, the two clubs have split four games. Each team has won a nail-biter and each has blown the other out at home. And of course, there’s the DeShawn Stevenson quote – that LeBron is “overrated” – simmering beneath the surface. If James gets another crack at Stevenson, you can believe that LeBron will be a man on a mission.

The good news for the red-hot Wizards is that Gilbert Arenas is scheduled to return before the postseason. The bad news is that although they’ve won six of seven – including a convincing win over Detroit on Sunday – they still have to make their West Coast junket where they’ll face the Blazers, Lakers and Jazz.

The team that’s confounded everyone is the scorching Sixers, who are just 1.5 games behind the Wizards. Philly has lost just two games in the month of March and are 18-7 since the start of February. The Cavaliers will get an up-close-and-personal look at Maurice Cheeks scrappy squad on Sunday night at The Q and once more before the regular season ends.

While the Cavaliers will have one eye fixed on their first round opponent, they still have to right their own ship. They’ve won nine straight at The Q, but have dropped five consecutive on the road. Most likely, they will only have homecourt in the first round. After that, they’ll have to win on the road to advance.

“I’m worried because if we expect to be a very good playoff team we have to know how to win on the road,” said a concerned Mike Brown following Saturday’s loss in Milwaukee. “For some reason – and it doesn’t matter who we are playing – we think we can just show up and turn it on at the end of the game instead of coming out and playing the right way.”

The Cavaliers should be getting Boobie Gibson back within a week and Ben Wallace will probably get plenty of time to rest his bad back before the NBA’s second season tips off. When it does, Mike Brown hopes to have his club firing on all cylinders – at home and on the road.

A Good Problem

Maybe when the smoke clears and we look back on this season, we’ll look at in stages.

One of the biggest trades in franchise history is less than three weeks old, and the Cavaliers still have (at least) one more phase to go through before the regular season ends. That stage will begin when the troika of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic make their eventual return to the lineup.

Coach Mike Brown may have some ‘splaining to do as he tries to dole out minutes, but that’s what they call “a good problem” – like the Browns (finally) have at the quarterback position.

All three are integral to the Cavaliers’ return to the top of the Eastern Conference heap – each contributed to last year’s run. Ilgauskas and Gibson were having excellent seasons. Boobie was coming off a fantastic All-Star Weekend and Ilgauskas was having one of his best seasons in an-already exceptional nine-year career.

Sasha’s season has been uneven. After a contract holdout, he didn’t recapture last year’s aggressiveness until, ironically, the final two games before he got hurt. But with the trade of Larry Hughes to Chicago, Pavlovic’s perimeter defense will be needed now more than ever.

Mike Brown has made every indication that Sasha will be in the starting lineup when he returns. Obviously, Big Z will. Daniel Gibson will get his usual minutes, bringing fireworks off the bench. So, crunch the numbers …

Within days, your starting lineup will most likely be LeBron James, Ilgauskas, Pavlovic, Delonte West and Ben Wallace – provided his back spasms aren’t a lingering problem.

Anderson Varejao, Joe Smith and Gibson are all the immediate first options off the bench. Devin Brown is too versatile and has been simply too good this season to cut his minutes. Damon Jones is having easily his best season as a Cavalier and Wally Szczerbiak is the guy Cleveland brought in for shooting off the bench.

Dwayne Jones and Eric Snow haven’t gotten a ton of regular season minutes, but with defense at a premium in the postseason, Coach Brown will probably find a place for each somewhere in the rotation.

That’s a lot of Cavaliers to stuff into 48 minutes of basketball. And speaking of basketball, there’s only one of those allowed on the floor at a time.

That’s also a lot of options if you’re Mike Brown. And a lot of people to prepare for if you’re an opponent.

Ilgauskas’ presence will do wonders for the entire frontcourt, specifically Wallace. And Z’s return will also move Anderson – who’s had two excellent games as a starter against Indy and Portland – back to his normal position. Joe Smith has been rock solid and it’s starting to look like he’ll have a good night, every night.

The backcourt is where it’s going to be touch-and-go for the Wine and Gold. Everyone is playing well enough to warrant big minutes, and it would be a crime to cut floor time for, say, Damon Jones or Szczerbiak or Devin Brown.

But the Cavaliers are going to have to make it work. Depth is never a bad thing. But lack of chemistry and cohesion can be.

Danny Ferry has given his long-time friend and confidant the pieces that can hopefully take the Cavaliers to the next level. (There’s only one level left.) Now, Mike Brown can prove all his doubters wrong, make this work, and make another run at the Ring.

Fitting all the pieces of this puzzle together is going to be a problem. But it’s a good one to have heading into the final stage of the regular season.

Class Reunion

Anyone who knew Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes roots for them to succeed in Chicago and beyond. Media-wise, they were genuine, forthcoming guys – back-to-back winners of Cleveland writers’ prestigious “Austin Carr Award.” Drew Gooden has been here since LeBron’s second season and Larry, through the two postseason years of LBJ’s career.

But certain situations and certain individuals just don’t mesh. If they did, we’d all be married to our first girlfriend.

Hughes and Gooden made their first return since the Feb. 27 blockbuster deal that sent them – along with Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons, who both got DNP-CDs yesterday – to Chicago in exchange for Ben Wallace and Joe Smith. After just over a week, and based on Sunday’s ballgame, it seems like each team is satisfied. Same for the individuals, although Drew seemed a little homesick.

Gooden was constantly in the center of trade rumors, although he was completely content in Cleveland after a nomadic start to his career. Hughes – not so much.

And Larry made no bones that he was glad for the change of scenery.

“I’m happy now,” said the laid-back Hughes, who led Chicago with 23 points on 40 percent shooting. “I’m able to just be me. It’s a fresh place, and it’s a style of play that fits me better. I’m happy. I’m cool with everything.”

Drew had a pretty Drew-like performance, doubling up with 11 and 10. He admitted almost going to the wrong locker room. He got his first start with the Bulls and got a warm reception when he was introduced. “It shows that the fans recognize what I’ve put in here. I might have left, but the banner in the rafters ain’t going nowhere – and I was a part of it.”

Larry didn’t get mauled at The Q like Carlos Boozer does – rightfully so. But Hughes, because of his salary and expectations when he arrived, was booed while he was with the Wine and Gold. He was prepared for the catcalls either way, joking that “if they’re booing now, I’m doing something good.”

Larry was never happy with his role as point guard in Cleveland and he’ll be off the ball for the Bulls. Drew needed to be needed. He’ll get that in Chicago, too.

The always-pragmatic LeBron James put it succinctly before Sunday afternoon’s tip-off. “I had mixed feelings (about the trade), because the guys that I lost, I grew a good bond with those guys,” said James. “But as professionals you have to move on, and we did. And we’re very excited about the guys we have here now.”

Those “guys” had a solid game in the clutch 95-86 win, especially Joe Smith. After going scoreless in the first three quarters, Smith drilled three straight short jumpers as the Cavaliers erased an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Another new guy – Wally Szczerbiak – also had eight points in the fourth. Wally, who became a father for the third time one day earlier, had his best game as a Cavalier, joining LeBron in double-figures with 17 points. For the first time since he arrived from Seattle, Szczerbiak looked like he was having fun.

“I’ve been so amped up and excited for these games that maybe (the birth of his son, Maximus Jack) just slowed me down a little bit,” said the former Miami (OH) star. “There was just so much else going on that I didn’t really press a little too much in the game.”

One major trait that the new infusion of players all share – that perhaps the outgoing players did not share – is “urgency.” The Cavaliers acquired veterans who really want the ring. Ben Wallace has tasted the ultimate success, the other three players have been chasing it, whether it’s been four years (Delonte West), eight years (Szczerbiak) or twelve (Smith).

The Cavaliers are 3-2 since the trade, but they’ve been battling the injury bug that struck once again on Sunday. Already without the services of Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic – both critical to any sort of playoff run – the Cavaliers got news that Zydrunas Ilguaskas will be out at least a week with a strained back.

The Cavaliers play the second of three straight mid-week back-to-backs on the road when they travel to New York to face the Knicks on Wednesday. Cleveland had one of their worst losses of the season at Madison Square Garden back in December.

As for Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, hopefully the fans didn’t get too sentimental about their return. The Cavaliers will see the Bulls three more times in the next 37 days. And in two of those tilts, Hughes and Gooden will have the sold-out crowd on their side.

Early Returns

Over this past weekend, there was a tangible energy at The Q and around the city for the Cavaliers that hasn’t been there since the Finals last June. Cleveland was quietly putting together another great season – trade or no trade. But, after Thursday’s blockbuster, it sure feels like there’s renewed juice for the Wine and Gold heading into the homestretch.

Friday’s crowd was off the chain as the Cavaliers turned in one of the more valiant performances of the season. It was an affirmation of their resiliency – knocking off their back-to-back playoff nemeses with eight bodies. After the 90-89 thriller, Coach Mike Brown stated it plainly …

“I’ve said this a million times but LeBron James is the MVP,” said Brown. “I don’t have a strong enough voice, I guess. He was spectacular. He was phenomenal in every category from the offensive end to the defensive end of the floor.”

Kobe Bryant is having another accomplished season and Chris Paul might be having a better one. But nobody has done more heavy lifting than LeBron this year. Night after night, he puts the team on his back and does so selflessly, brilliantly. Even his statistics – which are prolific – don’t tell the full story of why the young King is the league’s best and most valuable player.

Before Thursday’s trade, the Cavaliers had 11 players having missed a combined 120 games this season due to injury. Last week, Daniel Gibson went down for 4-6 weeks and Anderson Varejao hasn’t played since January 27.

But on Sunday, the injury story thankfully went to the back burner. In what would have been a relatively meaningless matchup with Memphis, the new-look Cavaliers breathed new life into their season and the city.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was on hand to witness the fruits of his and the Cavaliers front office’s deadline deal.

“We’re building this into the franchise that people in Cleveland want and deserve,” said Gilbert. “You put in $375 million for a franchise and break even for a couple years, you can’t start getting cheap now. It’s like pounding the rock 99 times and walking away.”

The new Cavaliers were obviously moved by the Wine and Gold welcome. Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West come from a cellar-dweller to a team that is suddenly being mentioned in the same breath as the Celtics and Pistons. (West was shocked at the group of reporters gathered around his locker postgame yesterday. “It’s been like four months since anybody wanted to talk to me,” he joked.)

“I was in the playoffs my first five years in the league, and I wanted to get back there,” beamed Szczerbiak when he arrived on Friday night. “So just by a few minutes at the Trade Deadline, I have the opportunity to get back. And I’m so grateful for it. It’s a blessing and I’m looking forward to working hard and taking advantage of it.”

The Seattle duo didn’t fare as well as their counterparts from Chicago, but still had some nice moments. West was 2-for-12 from the floor but still managed six dimes, including a sweet alley-oop to LeBron. Wally was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, netting 10 points off the bench.

The Chicago side of the blockbuster deal was as advertised or better. Ben Wallace and Joe Smith were a combined 11-for-14 from the floor. Wallace scored a season-high 12 points – most on uncontested dunks – and doubled-up with 10 boards. Big Ben has a new lease on life without having to play straight center.

“In Chicago, I was locked at the ‘5’ all the time, not having the opportunity to get out on the floor and disrupt the offense,” said Wallace. “I think that’s one of my strengths. Now I’m going to have that opportunity.”

For all the dunks and rebounds Wallace netted on Sunday, a five-second backcourt call might have gotten him more amped than anything else.

Joe Smith was all smiles from the minute he emerged from the locker room and his Cleveland reception – (and in-game production) – kept that grin on the 12-year veteran’s face all night.

“Man I had a lot of fun,” said Smith. “I always try to play with a smile on my face but tonight I couldn’t help but to laugh a few times. I had a lot of fun out there on the floor and playing with guys like LeBron makes the game so much easier, it makes the game fun.”

Of course, it won’t always be this smooth for the new-look Cavaliers. A lot of teams have found their chemistry against the 14-42 Grizzlies. Against the 42-12 Boston Celtics – who the Wine and Gold face on Wednesday – not so much.

The Cavaliers will face the Celtics just once more. But they’ll see Detroit three more times this season, and Chicago, four more.

All three opponents should provide some major fireworks – especially the battles with the Bulls.

On Sunday night, Larry Hughes and a headband-less Drew Gooden made their debuts for Chicago. Hughes was 6-for-11 for 13 points; Gooden 4-for-11 for 12 points and eight boards. Both players came off the bench.

Compared to the quotes from the new Cavaliers and their teammates, Chicago’s Ben Gordon had this to say about his five-point performance in the Bull’s 13-point loss to Houston, the league’s hottest team.

"We've got new guys in and there wasn't much chemistry," said Gordon. "It was difficult and a tough night for me to get my rhythm."

Something tells me Gordon will find that rhythm when he and his new teammates square off against the Wine and Gold. The first meeting with the Bulls is an afternoon affair on March 2 at The Q. The two clash four days later in the Windy City.

The Cavaliers have two big Eastern Conference road games and a matchup with Minnesota on Friday in Cleveland to worry about before squaring off against their old friends. And despite Sunday’s blowout over Memphis, there are plenty of kinks to work out. Of course, having LeBron smoothes out some rough edges.

Before yesterday’s ballgame, one reporter (began to) ask LeBron: “If this deal doesn’t work out …” but that’s as far as the question got before being stopped cold by James.

“It’s going to work,” he asserted. (And the man is nothing, if not assertive.)

The second game in the new era of Cavaliers basketball tips off on Tuesday. Stay tuned – this season is just getting good.