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O'Neal bears no animosity toward former teammates
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: Shaquille O'Neal has no hard feelings about playing the Phoenix Suns tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavaliers acquired him in an offseason trade with the Suns. O'Neal played a season and a half with the Suns, but often looked out of place in their uptempo offense.
O'Neal said that he's glad to see the Suns playing well.
''I still have a bunch of friends on the team,'' he said. ''They're playing well, but for us, it's just another game against a good team. It will be a good test for us.''
The Suns have the NBA's best record at 14-4. After unsuccessfully trying to change their style of play last season, the Suns reverted to the fast-paced style of former coach Mike D'Antoni.
The Suns lead the league in points, field-goal percentage and 3-point field-goal percentage and are second in assists. Add it up and you have a potent offense.
Cavs coach Mike Brown recognizes that his team will have its hands full.
''It's tough because they're a high-possession team,'' Brown said. ''No matter if you make or miss shots, they're coming after you. Our biggest thing is we have to get back in transition, but we have to have vision of the basketball.''
Suns point guard Steve Nash (16.4 points, 12.1 assists per game) is the catalyst.
If he keeps up the pace, Nash will set his career high in assists.
O'Neal said stopping Nash is easier said than done.
''It's kind of hard because he's a great all-around player,'' O'Neal said. ''He doesn't mind giving the ball up. You just have to play your game and just give him the one shot and try to keep him from running.''
Brown said the best way to beat the Suns is to manage and maintain the game's tempo, much as the Cavs did in Saturday's win over the Dallas Mavericks — playing small and controlling the pace.
''That was probably the best we played since we've played small this year and obviously we're going to have to play small during various times of the year because a lot of teams have shooting forwards,'' he said. ''So hopefully it's something we can grow on.''
Although he wants to control the game's tempo, Brown is not looking for reticence on offense, especially considering the Suns give up more than 104 points per game.
''I don't feel like calling guys off their shot is the right thing to do,'' he said.
More Delonte West?
Delonte West's play in the Mavericks game was overshadowed by other things, but there is no denying the impact that he had against a smaller lineup. West scored 10 points and had 10 assists in 28 minutes, helping to lift the Cavs. Given the way the Suns play, it would not be a surprise to see West get more playing time tonight.
''To be able to play him the minutes that I did was a key to our team and us getting a win,'' Brown said. ''Offensively, he was great . . . then, defensively, I thought he did a great job chasing Jason Terry.''
About Saturday night
Brown still hadn't talked to center Zydrunas Ilgauskas about not playing him against the Mavericks.
Had Ilgauskas appeared, he would have broken General Manager Danny Ferry's team record for games played.
''I have not talked to him,'' Brown said. ''I intend to talk to him. I didn't write anything out or anything like that, so I don't know yet and when I do I'm not going to tell everybody.''
It sounds as if Brown will be relieved when it's over.
''I understand and respect the process of what he's been through and I'll be just as happy as anybody else when the record is accomplished,'' he said.
Ilgauskas is scheduled to play in tonight's game.
Buzzer beater
More Than a Game, the documentary about LeBron James' years at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, was nominated for a Spirit Award, which recognizes achievement in independent film.
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: Shaquille O'Neal has no hard feelings about playing the Phoenix Suns tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.
Get the full article here.
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