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Cavs forward impresses coach, team and fans with improved skills
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Dec 08, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: This season, Anderson Varejao has the moves to match his leonine mane. The Cavaliers forward is lean and moves with a catlike quickness that fans haven't seen from him in previous seasons.
''I'm pretty comfortable, playing with confidence,'' he said. ''I feel pretty good out there. I've lost some weight. I like the way I'm playing.''
Last season, Varejao delayed signing because he was a restricted free agent searching for the best deal. This season, he arrived in camp on time with the right attitude and physique. Varejao, 26, is having his best offensive season, averaging 8.3 points per game, more than two points over his career average.
Offense has never been Varejao's game. He spent much of the offseason working on a medium-range jump shot that revealed itself in a 7-of-7 first-half performance against the Indiana Pacers. He brings intangibles to the court — defense, rebounding and an ability to take a charge. He also can play multiple positions, giving the Cavaliers flexibility on the floor.
''He does look like he's in great shape,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''And not only does he look like it, but watching him move, you can tell by the results when he moves side to side or forward and backward. It's really fun to watch him on the floor out there now.''
Varejao has evolved into an integral part of the Cavaliers. What a difference a year can make in an athlete's life.
The Cavs matched a three-year offer sheet the Charlotte Bobcats extended to Varejao a year ago. He can opt out of the third year. After the first year, which expired Dec. 5, the team could trade him per league rules.
Many insiders had expected Varejao to be the first player that Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry would trade. Varejao's agent, Dan Fegan, said negotiations grew tense as he worked to sign his client to a big deal.
''I met with Danny this summer,'' Fegan recently told the News-Herald. ''This was a business decision for me from the beginning. It got whipped up into an emotional issue. It will come down to a contract.''
Cavs fans shouldn't look for Varejao to go anywhere in the near term.
''Right now, we have guys that are working hard and playing well together, and Anderson certainly is contributing to that,'' Ferry said. ''We continue to value him as a member of this team as we keep our focus right now on this year and what we need to do to be successful.''
Sitting atop the NBA's Central Division with a 17-3 record, the Cavaliers own the third-best record in the league and are blowing teams out. Trading Varejao would upset a delicate balance that the Cavs created in a short time.
Cavs star LeBron James said it best: Team chemistry is at an all-time high. Brown agreed.
''It's hard to attain,'' Brown said. ''We still have a lot of basketball left this year, so it's something we feel pretty good about right now. Anything can make that change.''
Nevertheless, a trade appears to be remote. ''All I want to do is keep my focus on the basketball court and working hard,'' Varejao said. ''The team's doing good. I don't want to think about anything else.''
Ultimately, the NBA is a business and Fegan will try to get the best deal for his client when the time comes. Varejao acknowledges the reality of wearing a Cavs uniform.
''I'm telling you, right now I believe we have the best place to be — it's here,'' he said. ''We have a great organization, a great team, good teammates.''
Quick hits
Fans holding tickets to Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Raptors might see a double dose of team history. James tied Mark Price's career steals record with 734 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas came up with 11 rebounds for a career total of 5,224, falling four short of breaking center Brad Daugherty's team record . . . The Cavs can also break a league record for winning consecutive games by 12 or more points. The Cavs tied the mark Saturday against the Bobcats with their eighth consecutive win.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net Read the cavs blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
INDEPENDENCE: This season, Anderson Varejao has the moves to match his leonine mane. The Cavaliers forward is lean and moves with a catlike quickness that fans haven't seen from him in previous seasons.
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