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Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 06:42 p.m. EST, Nov 08, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: For some, adjusting to major changes in job responsibilities could be problematic. For Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, it's just a case of rolling with reality after the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal.
Who could fault Ilgauskas had he struggled to contribute to the Cavaliers coming off the bench? It hasn't been an issue, though, because for the most part, there are flashes of Ilgauskas the starter. He currently averages seven points on 38 percent shooting and grabs 5.9 rebounds per game.
The numbers are down, but the shots continue to fall — despite a woeful performance against the Chicago Bulls. But that's to be expected, given the changes.
''I try not to put too much pressure on myself. The shots are going to come,'' Ilgauskas said. ''Sometimes they will [drop], sometimes they will not.''
Last week against the Bulls, Ilgauskas went 0-for-9 shooting.
''I think I would have had the same kind of night if I started. Sometimes it just happens,'' he said. ''Sometimes it's just easier to get a rhythm coming off the bench because you're playing longer minutes as opposed to starting.''
Ilgauskas takes the same number of shots before games and still arrives early. He does take it easy during the team's pre-game layup drill, however.
''Now I know I'm going to be sitting down, so I take it easy,'' he said.
He's also trying to be more vocal as a team leader.
''We have J.J. and a lot of other young guys; [I'm] trying to point them in the right direction since I've been with coach Brown for four years now,'' he said.
That leadership spills over on to the court as well, he added.
''More than anything, you bear responsibility; if the starters give you a decent lead, then you feel responsible not to throw it away,'' Ilgauskas said.
Coach Mike Brown said that Ilgauskas' demeanor has played a key role in his transition coming off the bench.
''He's a guy who is easygoing, so nothing is going to be too strenuous or difficult for him,'' Brown said. ''He's always got that skill set of being able to shoot the basketball and he's always going to be tall.''
Ilgauskas said two things have helped him with his transition: Cavs management kept him in the loop regarding O'Neal's arrival, and he decided to play all the preseason games.
''I didn't want to take any time off or anything like that,'' he said.
Playing from ahead
Brown still wasn't happy with the way the Cavs eased up on the New York Knicks on Friday night, but he had to acknowledge that playing from as far ahead as the Cavs were (20-plus points on more than a few occasions), can prove to be challenging.
''It's difficult because those guys are in the NBA too and it's human nature to let up a little bit when you feel you have something in the bag,'' he said. ''We just have to understand that at any given time that nothing is safe.''
Buzzer beaters
The Cavs reported no significant injuries and LeBron James, who had his left wrist iced after the Bulls game, participated fully in a non-contact practice Sunday.
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: For some, adjusting to major changes in job responsibilities could be problematic. For Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, it's just a case of rolling with reality after the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal.
Who could fault Ilgauskas had he struggled to contribute to the Cavaliers coming off the bench? It hasn't been an issue, though, because for the most part, there are flashes of Ilgauskas the starter. He currently averages seven points on 38 percent shooting and grabs 5.9 rebounds per game.
The numbers are down, but the shots continue to fall — despite a woeful performance against the Chicago Bulls. But that's to be expected, given the changes.
''I try not to put too much pressure on myself. The shots are going to come,'' Ilgauskas said. ''Sometimes they will [drop], sometimes they will not.''
Last week against the Bulls, Ilgauskas went 0-for-9 shooting.
''I think I would have had the same kind of night if I started. Sometimes it just happens,'' he said. ''Sometimes it's just easier to get a rhythm coming off the bench because you're playing longer minutes as opposed to starting.''
Ilgauskas takes the same number of shots before games and still arrives early. He does take it easy during the team's pre-game layup drill, however.
''Now I know I'm going to be sitting down, so I take it easy,'' he said.
He's also trying to be more vocal as a team leader.
''We have J.J. and a lot of other young guys; [I'm] trying to point them in the right direction since I've been with coach Brown for four years now,'' he said.
That leadership spills over on to the court as well, he added.
''More than anything, you bear responsibility; if the starters give you a decent lead, then you feel responsible not to throw it away,'' Ilgauskas said.
Coach Mike Brown said that Ilgauskas' demeanor has played a key role in his transition coming off the bench.
''He's a guy who is easygoing, so nothing is going to be too strenuous or difficult for him,'' Brown said. ''He's always got that skill set of being able to shoot the basketball and he's always going to be tall.''
Ilgauskas said two things have helped him with his transition: Cavs management kept him in the loop regarding O'Neal's arrival, and he decided to play all the preseason games.
''I didn't want to take any time off or anything like that,'' he said.
Playing from ahead
Brown still wasn't happy with the way the Cavs eased up on the New York Knicks on Friday night, but he had to acknowledge that playing from as far ahead as the Cavs were (20-plus points on more than a few occasions), can prove to be challenging.
''It's difficult because those guys are in the NBA too and it's human nature to let up a little bit when you feel you have something in the bag,'' he said. ''We just have to understand that at any given time that nothing is safe.''
Buzzer beaters
The Cavs reported no significant injuries and LeBron James, who had his left wrist iced after the Bulls game, participated fully in a non-contact practice Sunday.
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
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 07:59 AM, 11/09/2009
Zydrunas is a Class Act. I can remember being @ the Gund, err, Quicken Loans Arena, when Wayne Embry & "The Czar", Mike Fratello, made Zydrunas our second pick of that Draft ( behind Vitaly Potepenko), and they were booed vociferously for that by the assembled fans @ that Draft. . .Even Joe Tait was booed for defending that pick that day. . Joe emceed the event. . .It might be the 1st time( and last time )that Joe has ever been booed by the Cavs faithful. . .
akron, oh
Posted 01:39 PM, 11/09/2009
''I didn't want to take any time off or anything like that,'' he said.
Wait and see.
Canton, OH
Posted 07:21 PM, 11/09/2009
@MaryAnn : You were never as nice as Ginger. . . .
