Anhueser-Busch

One-on-One with Zydrunas Ilgauskas

by Dan Dean
clevelandcavaliers.com
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Zydrunas Ilgauskas is Cleveland’s man in the middle and is one of the central reasons why the Cavaliers are barreling toward the playoffs. Z joins LeBron James and Carlos Boozer to form a lethal offensive team, and shores up the Cavaliers’ interior defense with rebounding tenacity and shot blocking prowess.

You’re one of four holdovers from last season (the others are Dajuan Wagner, DeSagana Diop, and Carlos Boozer). Describe the change in environment from last season to this season?

Z: It all starts with the winning attitude we have here right now. Last year, I don’t think people on the team expected to win games at all. But this year, we’re going out and competing every night. So we expect to win. Also, the talent is better this year than last year. We’ve got better players here. And we’ve had good chemistry too, which helps us play together in games.

Is it satisfying for you that almost every home game is packed and road games are widely attended?

Z: It’s great. It’s two different pictures. Last year, there were not a lot of people in the audience, but this year there are lots of people in the stands. It’s great that people come out and support the team and are proud of their home team.

How has LeBron and Carlos’ presence taken some scoring pressure off of you?

Z: They help out a lot. The other teams can’t just concentrate on me, when you have guys like LeBron, Boozer, and other guys to worry about. It leaves me a lot of freedom to score. I’m not getting double-teamed as much as I was last year. My shooting percentage is better (.483 this season, .441 last season) and I’m taking better shots.

In the first three months of the season, you averaged 14.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.96 blocks. Since February 1, your averages are up to 17.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.42 blocks. What’s been the spark in your game?

Z: I think I’m going through a good stretch right now. During the season, you’ll go through some ups and downs. But right now, I think the whole team’s gelling right now, and LeBron, Boozer, and I are able to handle the offensive load. I think, too, since we got Jeff McInnis, he’s been looking for me, and I’ve been able to get good looks and also good shots. There’s consistency there. Coach runs plays for me and I am looking to score and establish the inside game early on, especially in the first quarter. Then I know my teammates will look for me down the stretch.

Having a basketball season under my belt definitely helps, too. It’s my first full season after the surgery, and I feel comfortable. I’m not looking back.

Do you think all of your foot troubles are behind you?

Z: Yeah, I’m pretty positive I’m done with all that stuff. No more surgeries.

During your rookie year, you made the playoffs. Did you expect to be going to the playoffs every year after?

Z: We thought during my rookie year that we’d be headed to the Finals in a couple of years. That’s the way things work in this league. You can’t take anything for granted. I got hurt the next year, we didn’t make the playoffs, they fired the coach. The team has never been the same. You have to enjoy the moments. You can’t get too high or too low.

It has to be especially gratifying to be in the playoff chase this season after suffering through last year’s futility.

Z: It is. I feel good especially for the young guys. We haven’t won anything here in the last two or three years, and it’s great for LeBron, Wags, Boozer, and the other young guys to get a taste of this.

How hard has it been for you to get used to playing with a different core of young players?

Every year, it feels like we have a different team. Seven, eight, or nine new players come in. But, this year, we had our time to get used to one another, like any other players do on any other NBA team. These guys, like LeBron and Boozer, though, are so good, and play beyond their years. So, you don’t have to really tell them anything. If you see something on the floor, you point it out to them, but really, they’re playing like 25 or 27 year olds.