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Cavs, Magic not really a rematch

By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 09:00 p.m. EST, Nov 10, 2009

INDEPENDENCE: When the Cavaliers and Orlando Magic tip off tonight, two significantly altered teams will hit the court.

Both teams were aggressive in the offseason in finding players who can help dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers.

Gone from the Cavaliers are Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak. Replacing them are Shaquille O'Neal, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon.

The Magic's most significant loss was forward Hedo Turkoglu. In his place, the Magic added forward Ryan Anderson and guard Vince Carter to pick up some of the scoring slack. The status of both for tonight's game is uncertain because of injury.

That shouldn't lessen the hype of this rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals, which the Magic won in six games.

''They got some guys who can really help their team,'' Cavaliers forward LeBron James said after practice Monday.

The Cavs are confident they will play well tonight despite the disappointment of last season.

For former Magic player Shaquille O'Neal, it will be a homecoming — his family still lives there. Last year, he watched the conference finals as a spectator, showing up at Amway Arena at least once, and he liked what he saw.

''I thought both teams played well,'' he said. ''The Magic is a great team with a great big man and a lot of great shooters. Guys shot the ball well, especially Hedo Turkoglu, and it was just their year.''

James said that no one should take this game for more than a regular-season meeting.

''It's too early for that, obviously,'' he said. ''I'm not looking to make a statement, but I am going to try to go down there and dominate like I always do.''

Hickson starts again

 

Cavs coach Mike Brown liked what he saw after inserting second-year forward J.J. Hickson into the lineup Friday against the New York Knicks. The move improved the bench players' play considerably, much of it coming from the energy that Anderson Varejao brings into the game. Brown also played last year's starting five together more than he has, and he got noticeable results.

''It allows me to run Andy longer and get another guy into the rotation,'' Brown said of the move.

''It gives me an opportunity to take a look at a young, talented player in J.J., and allows everything to flow better starting with the rotations.''

Hickson had a strong preseason, showing some of the talent that gave the team reason enough to draft him in the first round of the NBA Draft in 2008.

He still has a tendency not to block out on rebounds.

''He's gotten better from last year to now and even the preseason to now,'' Brown said.

''He just has to stay focused and keep working, and with his talent, he's going to have a chance to do it.''

For now, Brown said, he's willing to stick with the lineup.

Just a technicality

 

The best way to describe the Cavs' shooting of technical fouls this season is an adventure. Brown said he doesn't have any policy regarding who shoots it, although Daniel Gibson grabs the ball when he's on the floor.

''I just wait and see who's confident enough to step up there,'' Brown said. ''Gib isn't our quote-unquote technical guy, he was just the most aggressive stepping up there.''

Brown also understands that he cannot get too upset if a technical is missed.

''It's a different shot than a normal free throw,'' Brown said. ''It puts you on an island out there, so you have to have the confidence to step up there and shoot it.''

George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ

 

INDEPENDENCE: When the Cavaliers and Orlando Magic tip off tonight, two significantly altered teams will hit the court.

Both teams were aggressive in the offseason in finding players who can help dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers.

Gone from the Cavaliers are Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak. Replacing them are Shaquille O'Neal, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon.

The Magic's most significant loss was forward Hedo Turkoglu. In his place, the Magic added forward Ryan Anderson and guard Vince Carter to pick up some of the scoring slack. The status of both for tonight's game is uncertain because of injury.

That shouldn't lessen the hype of this rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals, which the Magic won in six games.

''They got some guys who can really help their team,'' Cavaliers forward LeBron James said after practice Monday.

The Cavs are confident they will play well tonight despite the disappointment of last season.

For former Magic player Shaquille O'Neal, it will be a homecoming — his family still lives there. Last year, he watched the conference finals as a spectator, showing up at Amway Arena at least once, and he liked what he saw.

''I thought both teams played well,'' he said. ''The Magic is a great team with a great big man and a lot of great shooters. Guys shot the ball well, especially Hedo Turkoglu, and it was just their year.''

James said that no one should take this game for more than a regular-season meeting.

''It's too early for that, obviously,'' he said. ''I'm not looking to make a statement, but I am going to try to go down there and dominate like I always do.''

Hickson starts again

 

Cavs coach Mike Brown liked what he saw after inserting second-year forward J.J. Hickson into the lineup Friday against the New York Knicks. The move improved the bench players' play considerably, much of it coming from the energy that Anderson Varejao brings into the game. Brown also played last year's starting five together more than he has, and he got noticeable results.

''It allows me to run Andy longer and get another guy into the rotation,'' Brown said of the move.

''It gives me an opportunity to take a look at a young, talented player in J.J., and allows everything to flow better starting with the rotations.''

Hickson had a strong preseason, showing some of the talent that gave the team reason enough to draft him in the first round of the NBA Draft in 2008.

He still has a tendency not to block out on rebounds.

''He's gotten better from last year to now and even the preseason to now,'' Brown said.

''He just has to stay focused and keep working, and with his talent, he's going to have a chance to do it.''

For now, Brown said, he's willing to stick with the lineup.

Just a technicality

 

The best way to describe the Cavs' shooting of technical fouls this season is an adventure. Brown said he doesn't have any policy regarding who shoots it, although Daniel Gibson grabs the ball when he's on the floor.

''I just wait and see who's confident enough to step up there,'' Brown said. ''Gib isn't our quote-unquote technical guy, he was just the most aggressive stepping up there.''

Brown also understands that he cannot get too upset if a technical is missed.

''It's a different shot than a normal free throw,'' Brown said. ''It puts you on an island out there, so you have to have the confidence to step up there and shoot it.''

George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ



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csledzik

Posted 08:15 AM, 11/11/2009

No matter what Lebron or any of the players say, this is a big game for the fans. Cleveland fans want to see if the addition of Shaq helps aginst Howard. Period. With a shaky start thus far in the season, the Cavs really have a chance to prove themselves tonight.

Though a win/loss doesn't mean much this early, the way the teams performs against their new conference rivals (sorry Detroit & Boston), is a symbolic thing -- at least to B-ball fans in Northeast Ohio.


The_Original_Jason
RichRodforOH2010.com, .

Posted 09:57 AM, 11/11/2009

This is a big game. There's bad blood between Shaq and Howard and Shaq and that little troll that walks the Magic bench.


citizenk62
uniontown, oh

Posted 01:31 PM, 11/11/2009

Could be trouble for the Cav's. Hope not. Good luck.


Karbunkle
Tallmadge, Oh

Posted 01:43 PM, 11/11/2009

My understanding of the rules is that, on technical fouls, the opposing team is not to line-up along the lane as is during a normal free throw attempt.

There is no rule prohibiting the shooting team having their players line-up as usual.

You never see it, but why not?

Mike Brown should try it.


Danielle

Posted 02:57 PM, 11/11/2009

Shaq was not a good addition for the Cavs. They are going to end up with a record worse than last year and Lebron is going to leave. Shaq does not have a full season of games in him and he and Lebron are not complimentary players.
















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