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Blogmail response on Hafner
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Stallworth's contract terminated
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QB in Browns future: another mock draft
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KSU Notes – February 9
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Gameblog: Cavs vs. New Jersey Nets
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Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
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Five local gridders to play in Big33
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Law, Love and Chocolate
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Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
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Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
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OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:36 p.m. EDT, Apr 07, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: The final five games of the regular season for the Cavaliers will be nothing more than a case of their competitive spirit meeting a case of pure pragmatism.
The Cavs hold a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, so by winning all five games, they could guarantee that spot.
That's the goal, said center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
''We don't think the Lakers are going to lose, and with them having the tiebreakers over us, we have to win all of these remaining games. It won't be easy, but we're capable,'' he said today after practice.
But at what point does looking for that advantage become a detriment to championship chances? With the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs virtually locked up, the Cavs, if they want to prove they are a championship team, should be able to win on an elite team's court.
But their 2-6 record against the Lakers, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic says otherwise.
As of today, both the Lakers and Cavs have five games left. The Cavs face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
Cavs coach Mike Brown still is considering whether to rest some of his players in preparation for the playoff grind. He answered directly and succinctly when asked if he thought the best record in the league was a necessity for his team.
''No,'' he said. ''Eventually we may get to the point where we may sit some guys if I feel it's necessary.''
The prospect of resting LeBron James is a no-brainer, but Brown mentioned that he might want to rest Ilgauskas, Wally Szczerbiak and Mo Williams.
''I don't think in the last two years Mo has played this long and this many minutes — total minutes,'' he said. ''If we can get the top seed, I'll take it. But it's not something I'm going to kill my guys over.''
Wizards' magic
If the Cavs are going to make a run for that top seed, a nemesis will stand in the way. The Wizards take another shot at the Cavs after beating them 109-101 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.. last week to begin a two-game losing streak. The Wizards, who are just 18-60, lead the season series 2-1.
''We treat them like everyone else, but we have problems with them,'' Ilgauskas said. ''Over the years we've had some good battles with them. Now that they're healthy it won't be easy.
''We don't come out there expecting to win big or run up the score. It's going to be a tough game, a grind-it-out game.''
Teammate Joe Smith is expecting the same thing.
''The history these two organizations have had in the playoffs these last couple of years, it makes sense that last week in Washington and [this game] was going to be the same way,'' he said.
Full strength
The words ''at full strength'' haven't been something the Cavs could claim since forward Ben Wallace went down with a broken tibia against the Houston Rockets.
They might be able to do that tonight against the Wizards.
Wallace and Anderson Varejao, who was sidelined by a wrist contusion, could both play tonight. They participated in a rare full-contact practice today, and, barring any setbacks, will see action.
The dilemma for Brown: Who starts?
Brown said he's leaning toward Varejao. That decision was made somewhat less complicated because of the length of time Wallace has been idled and that his minutes will be restricted.
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
INDEPENDENCE: The final five games of the regular season for the Cavaliers will be nothing more than a case of their competitive spirit meeting a case of pure pragmatism.
The Cavs hold a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, so by winning all five games, they could guarantee that spot.
That's the goal, said center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
''We don't think the Lakers are going to lose, and with them having the tiebreakers over us, we have to win all of these remaining games. It won't be easy, but we're capable,'' he said today after practice.
But at what point does looking for that advantage become a detriment to championship chances? With the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs virtually locked up, the Cavs, if they want to prove they are a championship team, should be able to win on an elite team's court.
But their 2-6 record against the Lakers, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic says otherwise.
As of today, both the Lakers and Cavs have five games left. The Cavs face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
Cavs coach Mike Brown still is considering whether to rest some of his players in preparation for the playoff grind. He answered directly and succinctly when asked if he thought the best record in the league was a necessity for his team.
''No,'' he said. ''Eventually we may get to the point where we may sit some guys if I feel it's necessary.''
The prospect of resting LeBron James is a no-brainer, but Brown mentioned that he might want to rest Ilgauskas, Wally Szczerbiak and Mo Williams.
''I don't think in the last two years Mo has played this long and this many minutes — total minutes,'' he said. ''If we can get the top seed, I'll take it. But it's not something I'm going to kill my guys over.''
Wizards' magic
If the Cavs are going to make a run for that top seed, a nemesis will stand in the way. The Wizards take another shot at the Cavs after beating them 109-101 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.. last week to begin a two-game losing streak. The Wizards, who are just 18-60, lead the season series 2-1.
''We treat them like everyone else, but we have problems with them,'' Ilgauskas said. ''Over the years we've had some good battles with them. Now that they're healthy it won't be easy.
''We don't come out there expecting to win big or run up the score. It's going to be a tough game, a grind-it-out game.''
Teammate Joe Smith is expecting the same thing.
''The history these two organizations have had in the playoffs these last couple of years, it makes sense that last week in Washington and [this game] was going to be the same way,'' he said.
Full strength
The words ''at full strength'' haven't been something the Cavs could claim since forward Ben Wallace went down with a broken tibia against the Houston Rockets.
They might be able to do that tonight against the Wizards.
Wallace and Anderson Varejao, who was sidelined by a wrist contusion, could both play tonight. They participated in a rare full-contact practice today, and, barring any setbacks, will see action.
The dilemma for Brown: Who starts?
Brown said he's leaning toward Varejao. That decision was made somewhat less complicated because of the length of time Wallace has been idled and that his minutes will be restricted.
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
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 12:31 AM, 04/08/2009
The road to the playoffs runs thru Cleveland. . .
Walnut Creek, Oh
Posted 07:34 PM, 04/09/2009
Andy is much more aggressive, but Wallace returning will be a big boost for this team...Maybe Z can get a little more rest
