ducks
12-24-2004, 06:09 PM
Struggling Cavs seek some spark
By Brian Windhorst, Beacon Journal staff writer
Like most Ohio drivers these days, the Cavaliers find themselves spinning their wheels.
After a bitter 92-90 loss to the New Jersey Nets on a last-second defensive breakdown that allowed Richard Jefferson to score an uncontested layup on Wednesday, the Cavaliers hit their three-day Christmas break having gone just 6-7 in their past 13 games.
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Thanks to mass suspensions from a certain brawl and some inconsistent play out of the defending world champion Detroit Pistons, at 15-11 the Cavaliers still hold a two-game lead in the Central Division.
That is the good news.
The bad news is that they don't seem to be drastically improving after that hopeful run in which they captured nine of 10 games last month.
"We're learning, hopefully; we have to learn from everything," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "We're still in first place. I venture to say not too many people thought we'd be where we are right now."
That is likely true, but the Cavaliers and their fans have not been enjoying the fruits of success lately as much as they've been pining for what might have been. Giving up double-digit leads to the Pistons and Boston Celtics last week and then letting the 9-16 Nets take one Wednesday has left thoughts of what might have been.
All three losses featured a degree of mental letdown rather than physical. Some losses, like the blowouts in Chicago and San Antonio two weeks ago, where the opponent was simply red hot and undeniable, are easier to take that others.
The defensive breakdown that allowed Jefferson to get open was an all-too-classic example of a mental foul up costing the team a game.
"We're not there yet, but certainly we're going to get there because we've developed mental toughness, but not enough yet to be a quality club," Silas said. "I'm very satisfied with where we are."
Silas' teams are known for not playing their best basketball until after the All-Star break, a trend that certainly held true last season. But the time for the Cavaliers to act is now.
Their next seven games leading up to what promises to be a nasty six-game West Coast road trip are against teams that don't have winning records. Five of the games are at home, where the Cavaliers are 10-2. They play the stretch of games over a 21-day period, leaving plenty of time for rest as well.
"This a period that we play some good home games," Silas said. "And we've got to win an overwhelming majority to stay in this thing."
Varejao hurt
The Cavaliers' depth at power forward took another hit on Wednesday when Anderson Varejao sprained his right ankle. It happened in the second quarter as he was trying to fight through a pick. He left the game and did not return. The injury isn't believed to be severe, but it is compounded by the fact that Robert Traylor is already on the injured list with a broken finger. Varejao's status for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Hornets is questionable.
"It is not bad, but it hurts," the Brazilian rookie said.
Dribbles
After picking up 14 points and 11 rebounds against the Nets, Drew Gooden has posted double-doubles in seven of the past 12 games.... Jeff McInnis has made 24-of-26 free throws during the past 10 games and is shooting 81 percent from the line on the season.... The Cavaliers are 1-5 on the second day of back-to-back games on the road. They have 11 more back-to-backs scheduled, seven of them will involve road games on the back end.
Messages for Brian Windhorst can be left at 330-996-3819 or [email protected] Check out Windhorst's Cavaliers weblog at http://clevelandcavs.blogspot.com.
By Brian Windhorst, Beacon Journal staff writer
Like most Ohio drivers these days, the Cavaliers find themselves spinning their wheels.
After a bitter 92-90 loss to the New Jersey Nets on a last-second defensive breakdown that allowed Richard Jefferson to score an uncontested layup on Wednesday, the Cavaliers hit their three-day Christmas break having gone just 6-7 in their past 13 games.
ADVERTISEMENT
Thanks to mass suspensions from a certain brawl and some inconsistent play out of the defending world champion Detroit Pistons, at 15-11 the Cavaliers still hold a two-game lead in the Central Division.
That is the good news.
The bad news is that they don't seem to be drastically improving after that hopeful run in which they captured nine of 10 games last month.
"We're learning, hopefully; we have to learn from everything," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "We're still in first place. I venture to say not too many people thought we'd be where we are right now."
That is likely true, but the Cavaliers and their fans have not been enjoying the fruits of success lately as much as they've been pining for what might have been. Giving up double-digit leads to the Pistons and Boston Celtics last week and then letting the 9-16 Nets take one Wednesday has left thoughts of what might have been.
All three losses featured a degree of mental letdown rather than physical. Some losses, like the blowouts in Chicago and San Antonio two weeks ago, where the opponent was simply red hot and undeniable, are easier to take that others.
The defensive breakdown that allowed Jefferson to get open was an all-too-classic example of a mental foul up costing the team a game.
"We're not there yet, but certainly we're going to get there because we've developed mental toughness, but not enough yet to be a quality club," Silas said. "I'm very satisfied with where we are."
Silas' teams are known for not playing their best basketball until after the All-Star break, a trend that certainly held true last season. But the time for the Cavaliers to act is now.
Their next seven games leading up to what promises to be a nasty six-game West Coast road trip are against teams that don't have winning records. Five of the games are at home, where the Cavaliers are 10-2. They play the stretch of games over a 21-day period, leaving plenty of time for rest as well.
"This a period that we play some good home games," Silas said. "And we've got to win an overwhelming majority to stay in this thing."
Varejao hurt
The Cavaliers' depth at power forward took another hit on Wednesday when Anderson Varejao sprained his right ankle. It happened in the second quarter as he was trying to fight through a pick. He left the game and did not return. The injury isn't believed to be severe, but it is compounded by the fact that Robert Traylor is already on the injured list with a broken finger. Varejao's status for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Hornets is questionable.
"It is not bad, but it hurts," the Brazilian rookie said.
Dribbles
After picking up 14 points and 11 rebounds against the Nets, Drew Gooden has posted double-doubles in seven of the past 12 games.... Jeff McInnis has made 24-of-26 free throws during the past 10 games and is shooting 81 percent from the line on the season.... The Cavaliers are 1-5 on the second day of back-to-back games on the road. They have 11 more back-to-backs scheduled, seven of them will involve road games on the back end.
Messages for Brian Windhorst can be left at 330-996-3819 or [email protected] Check out Windhorst's Cavaliers weblog at http://clevelandcavs.blogspot.com.