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Brown steers series in Cavs' favor
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
POSTED: 10:38 p.m. EDT, Apr 21, 2008
CLEVELAND: Exactly two months ago Monday, the Cavaliers executed a massive team-altering trade in an effort to make themselves a more potent playoff team.
Whether or not what happened in Game 2 of their playoff series with the Washington Wizards was the start of a trend or another anomaly is yet to be seen. But with everything from their deal falling into place, the Cavs looked quite potent.
Getting contributions from everywhere, especially from the head coach, the Cavs dismantled the Wizards 116-86 to grab a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. It was the largest margin of victory for a postseason game in team history.
Certainly the Cavs know first hand that things are far from over — they came back down 2-0 to beat the Detroit Pistons last season — but history is now firmly on their side. Teams that take 2-0 series leads have gone on to win the series 94 percent (191-13) of the time.
It is only fair to start with LeBron James, who is fast taking a John Elway role in Washington sports history. He had another superior all-around effort as he smelled a triple double with 30 point, nine rebounds and 11 assists.
''We're here to win a series; we're not here to talk,'' James said. ''We're a mentally prepared team, we're focused . . . the way we approached the game was amazing.''
The Wizards' plans to foul him around the basket simply did not work, even when Wizards center Brendan Haywood was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul-2 when he shoved James as he headed up for what appeared to be an uncontested dunk. James said the play was ''scary'' but did not call for Haywood, whom he had a confrontation with in Game 1, to be suspended.
''It was not a basketball play in any way, shape or form and somebody could've gotten hurt,'' James said. ''I was just trying to get a foot under me so I could land; I popped right up.''
In all, James ended up at the foul line 17 times, but it did nothing to deter his will to get to the basket or distribute the ball to his teammates, which is where he was most dangerous during Game 2.
Just as General Manager Danny Ferry had envisioned when he made the big trade, James shredded double teams by finding Wally Szczerbiak, who expertly hit 6-of-9 shots for 15 points. Szczerbiak also did a respectable job at the defensive end guarding a more athletic Caron Butler, helping to hold him to 4-of-13 shooting and 12 points.
Also part of the plan, Ben Wallace was dynamic on the defensive end of the floor. He had eight points, seven rebounds and took two charges. He was part of a much stronger defensive effort on Antawn Jamison, who burned the Cavs for 23 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1.
This time around Wallace and others, including trade import Joe Smith (nine points, four rebounds) stayed more attached to Jamison and he was held to 4-of-13 shooting and nine points.
''We all know LeBron is amazing, now it is what else are we going to get from other people,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''I thought everybody who came on the floor contributed.''
The third part of the Wizards' dangerous threesome, Gilbert Arenas, was also a non-factor. Part of that was James, who used his length to keep Arenas from getting off any long-range shots like in Game 1 when he scored 24 points. But an assist went to Brown, whose management of the matchups at both ends was superior.
By putting James on Arenas, it forced him to drive which is hard on his still healing left ankle. The Wizards star finished just 2-of-10 for just seven points. Pile it all together and the Wizards' top three managed just 10-of-33 shooting and 28 points as the Wizards shot just 38 percent as a team.
''We wanted to put a bigger guy on Gilbert so that he wouldn't go down into the post,'' Brown said. ''LeBron did a great job of chasing him around all night.''
The Cavs, meanwhile, shot 52 percent as a team and were able to combine for 27 assists as the offense ran very smoothly all night. A large part of that credit can be given to Brown, who repeatedly called plays to take advantage of mismatches. Whether it was James, Ilgauskas (16 points, nine rebounds) or Szczerbiak, the ball seemed to often find its way to a man who was being guarded by a smaller defender.
''We are playing the (Eastern Conference) champs,'' Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. ''I know they changed their team, but they still have the same coaching staff and their monster player, and he's taking over the series.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
CLEVELAND: Exactly two months ago Monday, the Cavaliers executed a massive team-altering trade in an effort to make themselves a more potent playoff team.
Whether or not what happened in Game 2 of their playoff series with the Washington Wizards was the start of a trend or another anomaly is yet to be seen. But with everything from their deal falling into place, the Cavs looked quite potent.
Getting contributions from everywhere, especially from the head coach, the Cavs dismantled the Wizards 116-86 to grab a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. It was the largest margin of victory for a postseason game in team history.
Certainly the Cavs know first hand that things are far from over — they came back down 2-0 to beat the Detroit Pistons last season — but history is now firmly on their side. Teams that take 2-0 series leads have gone on to win the series 94 percent (191-13) of the time.
It is only fair to start with LeBron James, who is fast taking a John Elway role in Washington sports history. He had another superior all-around effort as he smelled a triple double with 30 point, nine rebounds and 11 assists.
''We're here to win a series; we're not here to talk,'' James said. ''We're a mentally prepared team, we're focused . . . the way we approached the game was amazing.''
The Wizards' plans to foul him around the basket simply did not work, even when Wizards center Brendan Haywood was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul-2 when he shoved James as he headed up for what appeared to be an uncontested dunk. James said the play was ''scary'' but did not call for Haywood, whom he had a confrontation with in Game 1, to be suspended.
''It was not a basketball play in any way, shape or form and somebody could've gotten hurt,'' James said. ''I was just trying to get a foot under me so I could land; I popped right up.''
In all, James ended up at the foul line 17 times, but it did nothing to deter his will to get to the basket or distribute the ball to his teammates, which is where he was most dangerous during Game 2.
Just as General Manager Danny Ferry had envisioned when he made the big trade, James shredded double teams by finding Wally Szczerbiak, who expertly hit 6-of-9 shots for 15 points. Szczerbiak also did a respectable job at the defensive end guarding a more athletic Caron Butler, helping to hold him to 4-of-13 shooting and 12 points.
Also part of the plan, Ben Wallace was dynamic on the defensive end of the floor. He had eight points, seven rebounds and took two charges. He was part of a much stronger defensive effort on Antawn Jamison, who burned the Cavs for 23 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1.
This time around Wallace and others, including trade import Joe Smith (nine points, four rebounds) stayed more attached to Jamison and he was held to 4-of-13 shooting and nine points.
''We all know LeBron is amazing, now it is what else are we going to get from other people,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''I thought everybody who came on the floor contributed.''
The third part of the Wizards' dangerous threesome, Gilbert Arenas, was also a non-factor. Part of that was James, who used his length to keep Arenas from getting off any long-range shots like in Game 1 when he scored 24 points. But an assist went to Brown, whose management of the matchups at both ends was superior.
By putting James on Arenas, it forced him to drive which is hard on his still healing left ankle. The Wizards star finished just 2-of-10 for just seven points. Pile it all together and the Wizards' top three managed just 10-of-33 shooting and 28 points as the Wizards shot just 38 percent as a team.
''We wanted to put a bigger guy on Gilbert so that he wouldn't go down into the post,'' Brown said. ''LeBron did a great job of chasing him around all night.''
The Cavs, meanwhile, shot 52 percent as a team and were able to combine for 27 assists as the offense ran very smoothly all night. A large part of that credit can be given to Brown, who repeatedly called plays to take advantage of mismatches. Whether it was James, Ilgauskas (16 points, nine rebounds) or Szczerbiak, the ball seemed to often find its way to a man who was being guarded by a smaller defender.
''We are playing the (Eastern Conference) champs,'' Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. ''I know they changed their team, but they still have the same coaching staff and their monster player, and he's taking over the series.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
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