Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Angel Food Ministries helps stretch grocery dollars
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 13-47
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
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
Click here to post your comments
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
