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Do IT this week: Layering
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 11:20 p.m. EDT, Mar 20, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson said the inconsistent guy who looks like him and who didn't play two recent games due to his coach's decision wasn't him. Gibson refers to his alter ego as ''hurt foot guy,'' and now he finally believes he's gone.
Gibson certainly flashed a few moments of his former form Thursday night, connecting on 3-of-6 shots for eight points in duty off the bench. Two of those shots were 3-pointers.
Gibson said when he didn't play in those recent games that it served one purpose — motivation.
''I've been in the gym before everybody; I'm leaving the gym after everybody so the next [time] that I have to get out on the floor I'm going to perform the way I'm capable of performing,'' he said.
Coach Mike Brown certainly sounded pleased to see the other guy gone — for now. He said little has been wrong with Gibson's play this season, except his shooting. That's a problem when it's your stock and trade, however.
Brown said he has talked to Gibson about that recently.
''He stroked the ball well. He came in and shot it with confidence and he looked to be aggressive off the dribble when people closed out to him,'' Brown said.
Gibson analyzed himself after the game.
''I would probably say I was just focused. I just wanted to get out there, play and perform well,'' he said.
Gibson said that his nagging toe injury is almost completely healed, a fact that helped him the other night.
''It's been a long process, but the way I feel lately is great. I've been trying to stay away from other people's feet and shoes so I don't bump it again,'' he said.
But more important to him is staying in the lineup. Had Wally Szczerbiak not suffered a knee sprain, he might have been looking at prolonged bench time, primarily because Brown elected to see what fellow guard Sasha Pavlovic would do. He's been given another opportunity to work his way back into the rotation, and he knows it.
LeBron James said that the Cavs will need Gibson of old in the playoffs.
''There was no hesitation [Thursday]. He was just catching it and shooting it,'' James said. ''We need that, especially with Wally going down, but even when Wally comes back, we are going to need it.''
Fearsome twosome
The Cavs' brain trust obviously had some idea how Mo Williams and James would fit together when they acquired the veteran point guard from the Milwaukee Bucks last summer, but they probably couldn't have foreseen just how well.
James (28.6 points) and Williams (18 points) are the highest-scoring duo in the NBA with 46.6 points per game, ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol with 46.5 points per game.
''The good thing about it is we're both aggressive, and we put a lot of pressure on defenders,'' Williams said.
Brown sets milestone
Brown earned his 200th career win Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers, the fourth-quickest pace of active head coaches in the league. He wouldn't take all the credit for his success.
''Anytime you get an honor or record it's nice to have, but I've been blessed,'' he said. ''I've been extremely lucky to be part of a great organization and great basketball team that has a great player. I just feel like I'm part of, hopefully, the whole that will win the championship someday soon.''
Quick shots
Forward Anderson Varejao suffered a right quad contusion Thursday and is questionable for today's game against the Atlanta Hawks, who, like the Cavs, have won seven in a row. . . . The Cavs held the Portland Trail Blazers to zero points off turnovers Thursday. . . . Along those lines, they only tied the league record for fewest turnovers in a game with two and set the record for fewest turnovers in an overtime game.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
INDEPENDENCE: Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson said the inconsistent guy who looks like him and who didn't play two recent games due to his coach's decision wasn't him. Gibson refers to his alter ego as ''hurt foot guy,'' and now he finally believes he's gone.
Gibson certainly flashed a few moments of his former form Thursday night, connecting on 3-of-6 shots for eight points in duty off the bench. Two of those shots were 3-pointers.
Gibson said when he didn't play in those recent games that it served one purpose — motivation.
''I've been in the gym before everybody; I'm leaving the gym after everybody so the next [time] that I have to get out on the floor I'm going to perform the way I'm capable of performing,'' he said.
Coach Mike Brown certainly sounded pleased to see the other guy gone — for now. He said little has been wrong with Gibson's play this season, except his shooting. That's a problem when it's your stock and trade, however.
Brown said he has talked to Gibson about that recently.
''He stroked the ball well. He came in and shot it with confidence and he looked to be aggressive off the dribble when people closed out to him,'' Brown said.
Gibson analyzed himself after the game.
''I would probably say I was just focused. I just wanted to get out there, play and perform well,'' he said.
Gibson said that his nagging toe injury is almost completely healed, a fact that helped him the other night.
''It's been a long process, but the way I feel lately is great. I've been trying to stay away from other people's feet and shoes so I don't bump it again,'' he said.
But more important to him is staying in the lineup. Had Wally Szczerbiak not suffered a knee sprain, he might have been looking at prolonged bench time, primarily because Brown elected to see what fellow guard Sasha Pavlovic would do. He's been given another opportunity to work his way back into the rotation, and he knows it.
LeBron James said that the Cavs will need Gibson of old in the playoffs.
''There was no hesitation [Thursday]. He was just catching it and shooting it,'' James said. ''We need that, especially with Wally going down, but even when Wally comes back, we are going to need it.''
Fearsome twosome
The Cavs' brain trust obviously had some idea how Mo Williams and James would fit together when they acquired the veteran point guard from the Milwaukee Bucks last summer, but they probably couldn't have foreseen just how well.
James (28.6 points) and Williams (18 points) are the highest-scoring duo in the NBA with 46.6 points per game, ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol with 46.5 points per game.
''The good thing about it is we're both aggressive, and we put a lot of pressure on defenders,'' Williams said.
Brown sets milestone
Brown earned his 200th career win Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers, the fourth-quickest pace of active head coaches in the league. He wouldn't take all the credit for his success.
''Anytime you get an honor or record it's nice to have, but I've been blessed,'' he said. ''I've been extremely lucky to be part of a great organization and great basketball team that has a great player. I just feel like I'm part of, hopefully, the whole that will win the championship someday soon.''
Quick shots
Forward Anderson Varejao suffered a right quad contusion Thursday and is questionable for today's game against the Atlanta Hawks, who, like the Cavs, have won seven in a row. . . . The Cavs held the Portland Trail Blazers to zero points off turnovers Thursday. . . . Along those lines, they only tied the league record for fewest turnovers in a game with two and set the record for fewest turnovers in an overtime game.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
Comments
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Walnut Creek, Oh
Posted 01:12 AM, 03/21/2009
Ya well we still won't get the respect we deserve like LA, Orlando, or Boston. The onesided left wing, if you will, media overlooks Cleveland and the Lebron/Mo Duo..and always will
