Feeling Bullish
by Joe Gabrielecavs.com
David Liam Kyle NBAE/Getty Images |
“It’s like my cape,” quipped the Chosen One following last night’s big 91-72 win. “If you knock a superhero’s cape off they get very angry at you. My cape got knocked off.”
The Bulls found out the hard way that LeBron plays best angry, and the scowl came out after he had his “cape” knocked off in the second half of last night’s victory. The Bulls were up two at halftime on Sunday evening. But LeBron took over in the second half, scoring 11 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth. There would be no Bulls comeback on Sunday.
“I’m glad he’s on my side,” said Cavaliers’ rookie head coach, Mike Brown.
Cleveland gave Coach Brown a splendid birthday present, while simultaneously ruining Scott Skiles’, who also “celebrated” his on Sunday.
“Tonight by far was our best night of executing offensively,” added Brown. “Offensively our guys were doing something right out there. They set screens, they waited on screens, they passed the ball at the right time.”
The Cavaliers looked like themselves in Sunday night’s sellout and not the club that seemed hungover following the All-Star break. They had the first half formula working to perfection: Drew Gooden getting the Cavaliers out of the gate in the first half, Donyell Marshall providing support in the second, and LeBron James taking them home down the stretch.
The Cavaliers got something they didn’t get in the first half of the season last night – a big contribution from Anderson Varejao, who scored only a single bucket, but led the squad in rebounds with 13, six of those on the offensive end.
The Bulls stood pat through the trade deadline and, with two excellent first round choices in the upcoming draft, will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. But for now, the Cavaliers have their number. The season sweep of Chicago was a first since 1998-99, when they knocked them off three straight.
Of course, the Cavaliers have a rough stretch ahead, going on a four-game trip following Tuesday night’s matchup with Toronto. The back-to-back wins over the Bulls are welcomed and every win in the Division – the Cavaliers are now 11-4 against the Central, 7-1 at home – but now it’s time to get down to business and close out the playoff stretch.
“This only one game and we need to get more consistent because we are winding down to the playoffs,” said former Bull, Donyell Marshall, after the win.
After 60 games, the Cavaliers have 34 wins. Forty-two victories did not put them in the Playoffs last season and they shouldn’t count on that happening this season, either. They just need to keep the roll going and beat the teams they’re supposed to beat. If Cavaliers opponents don’t want that to happen, they better mind how they treat LeBron James’ headband.
Be sure to tune in during every Cleveland Cavaliers' game for Joe Gabriele's IN-GAME LIVE quarterly updates.
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 March 6, 2006Anderson Varejao led the Cavs with a season high 13 rebounds and set another season high with three assists in last night’s win. Six of those rebounds were offensive and Varejao also added two steals and a block as the Cavs swept the season series against the Bulls for the first time since the 1998-99 season. |
The Playoff Picture
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In the Paint
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Baker’s Dozen: The New Jersey Nets held on to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-100 on Saturday, thanks to the 72nd regular-season triple-double of Jason Kidd's NBA career. This was not your ordinary triple-double, it was actually a triple-baker's-dozen as Kidd scored 14 points, collected 13 rebounds and was credited with 15 assists. It was the first NBA game this season in which a player has notched 13 or better in all three of those categories, but Kidd’s third time achieving the feat in his career. Richard Jefferson had 30 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. (Elias)
Housewarming Party: The home of the Washington Wizards is no longer the MCI Center, but rather the Verizon Center. The Wiz wasted no time in hosting a housewarming party. Antawn Jamison had 31 points and eight rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards over the Sacramento Kings 117-107 Sunday. The victory was No. 100 with the Wizards for coach Eddie Jordan, who became the 10th active NBA coach to notch 100 victories with his current team. Glbert Arenas scored 23 points and Caron Butler scored 22 for the Wizards, who became only the fifth opponent to score 100 points against the Kings since they acquired Ron Artest. (Elias)
Around the League
Draft Ready: From NBA Draft expert Chad Ford…a rather intense disagreement is emerging about the 2006 NBA draft. For the third straight year there is no consensus on the biggest question of the draft: Who's No. 1? The best NBA prospects are thought to be UConn sophomore Rudy Gay, Texas sophomore LaMarcus Aldridge and Gonzaga junior Adam Morrison. Almost the only thing the three have in common is their position. Each is a forward, but they appeal to NBA scouts for very different reasons. Gay is the prototypical small forward and does just about everything well. Aldridge is deadly both facing the basket and with his back to the basket. He's extremely difficult to guard in transition and he's a dominant force on the glass. Morrison is the most dominating college player to come along in some time, but his quirky nature and similarities to Larry Bird have led to lots of intrigue, even among scouts. Right now, there isn't a good answer to who’s #1. (ESPN.com)
| MARCH 2006 |
Tuesday, March 7th vs. Toronto 7:00 p.m. Purchase Tickets
Sunday, March 19th vs. L.A. Lakers 1:00 p.m. Purchase Tickets
Wednesday, March 22nd vs. Charlotte 7:00 p.m. Purchase Tickets
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