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Gibson joins Gooden, Pavlovic, Varejao on list of sidelined players
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Feb 09, 2008
ATLANTA: In an effort to ward off bad karma, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown often will look for wood to knock on or even bang his own bald head when making comments about injuries.
It's more than a little corny and it's not working in the least.
The only luck the Cavs have had on the injury front this season has been bad. It might have reached critical mass in Atlanta on Friday, when the club was down four of its rotation's top eight players.
Daniel Gibson missed the game with the right hamstring strain he suffered Thursday night in Houston. The Cavs did not give an update on his condition, but he's believed to be day to day and the injury is not expected to keep him out an extended period.
Despite thinking he would miss only one game, Drew Gooden's pulled right groin didn't allow him to play for a second night. His status, therefore, also is uncertain.
Of course, Sasha Pavlovic (foot) and Anderson Varejao (ankle) weren't even on the road trip. They stayed in Cleveland for treatment.
LeBron James, meanwhile, had a wrap around his right thumb after jamming it against the Rockets. He said it was bothering him and might affect his shot for a few days.
''You just have to try to lead your team and maintain focus,'' James said in the Cavs' locker room, his pregame routine slightly altered with the training room full of players getting treatment.
''It's not easy to have four of your top eight guys out. I don't know if any team in this league could do it. It's going to be a challenge.''
In these situations, Brown has gotten creative — some might say wild — with his lineups. On Thursday, he gave Donyell Marshall his first start in nearly three years. On Friday, Eric Snow started at point guard, Larry Hughes moved to shooting guard and Ira Newble moved to power forward.
''It's difficult for me when we're missing multiple guys,'' Brown said. ''I've got to keep trying to mix and match combinations until I find a right one, and guys just have to stay ready to come in and contribute.''
In the locker room
• It is not clear whether Gibson's injury will affect his participation in next weekend's All-Star festivities. He is scheduled to take part in the Rookie Challenge on Friday and the Three-Point Shootout next Saturday in New Orleans.
''If the doctors say he can, I won't stand in the way,'' Brown said.
• The Cavs want to remind fans that Sunday's game against the Denver Nuggets has been moved from 1 p.m. to 7. Instead of being on ABC, the game will be on ESPN, FSN and WUAB (Channel 43).
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
ATLANTA: In an effort to ward off bad karma, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown often will look for wood to knock on or even bang his own bald head when making comments about injuries.
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