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Some want to get on with semifinals; others want future foe tired
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 10:56 p.m. EDT, Apr 28, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: Instead of playing basketball, the Cavaliers get to play the waiting game.
Having eliminated the Detroit Pistons in a four-game sweep, the Cavs have the luxury of sitting back and watching the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat battle it out for the right to meet them in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Two rules of thought exist regarding whether it would be a good thing for that series to go the maximum seven games, delaying the start of the semifinals until sometime next week.
It currently stands at 2-2 with Games 5 and 6 set for Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
The first is that the sooner the Cavs are back on the court the better, at least according to a couple of veterans with more than a decade in the league.
''We're in a pretty good rhythm right now, we're playing some pretty good basketball,'' forward Wally Szczerbiak said. ''I'm not saying we're going to lose that, but a few days off would be nice and now we want to get back to work.''
Joe Smith, a veteran of 13 seasons, offered the same assessment.
''Hopefully the sooner they get it over with, the better. We love this time off, but there's nothing like [playing] games,'' he said. '' Hopefully they can get it over in the next couple of games and we can start preparing for who we've got to play.''
But point guard Mo Williams took a pragmatic view of the situation, which is the more those two teams scrap against one another, the better for the Cavs.
''Obviously we want them to play as many games as they can,'' Williams said. ''We just played four games and I know how my body felt after just playing four games. Them playing seven games, getting banged up and bruised, you want every advantage you can [get]. I don't feel sorry for those guys who have to play seven games.''
The players said it doesn't matter with whom they eventually tangle, but it would be easy to think that the wait might delay preparation for the second round of the playoffs.
That's not necessarily the case, Williams said.
''Both teams are similar,'' he said. ''Their go-to guys are two-guards so it's not like we're preparing for Shaq and Kobe. We know it starts and ends with [Dwyane] Wade and with Atlanta it starts and ends with Joe Johnson.''
For now, the Cavs will concentrate on just team drills with no particular opponent in mind, coach Mike Brown said.
''As a staff, we're ready for either team, but other than that we're just working on ourselves right now,'' he said.
Like father?
LeBron James put on a show during practice today — that would be LeBron James Jr., who is just five months shy of his fifth birthday.
The media in attendance got an unexpected treat when James Sr. worked with his son on the court after practice.
Many looked on in awe as James Jr. consistently connected on shots from eight feet in front of the hoop and from each side of the basket.
When asked if his son would eventually sign a letter of intent with Ohio State, a proud James Sr. smiled broadly and said: ''Absolutely.''
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
INDEPENDENCE: Instead of playing basketball, the Cavaliers get to play the waiting game.
Having eliminated the Detroit Pistons in a four-game sweep, the Cavs have the luxury of sitting back and watching the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat battle it out for the right to meet them in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Two rules of thought exist regarding whether it would be a good thing for that series to go the maximum seven games, delaying the start of the semifinals until sometime next week.
It currently stands at 2-2 with Games 5 and 6 set for Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
The first is that the sooner the Cavs are back on the court the better, at least according to a couple of veterans with more than a decade in the league.
''We're in a pretty good rhythm right now, we're playing some pretty good basketball,'' forward Wally Szczerbiak said. ''I'm not saying we're going to lose that, but a few days off would be nice and now we want to get back to work.''
Joe Smith, a veteran of 13 seasons, offered the same assessment.
''Hopefully the sooner they get it over with, the better. We love this time off, but there's nothing like [playing] games,'' he said. '' Hopefully they can get it over in the next couple of games and we can start preparing for who we've got to play.''
But point guard Mo Williams took a pragmatic view of the situation, which is the more those two teams scrap against one another, the better for the Cavs.
''Obviously we want them to play as many games as they can,'' Williams said. ''We just played four games and I know how my body felt after just playing four games. Them playing seven games, getting banged up and bruised, you want every advantage you can [get]. I don't feel sorry for those guys who have to play seven games.''
The players said it doesn't matter with whom they eventually tangle, but it would be easy to think that the wait might delay preparation for the second round of the playoffs.
That's not necessarily the case, Williams said.
''Both teams are similar,'' he said. ''Their go-to guys are two-guards so it's not like we're preparing for Shaq and Kobe. We know it starts and ends with [Dwyane] Wade and with Atlanta it starts and ends with Joe Johnson.''
For now, the Cavs will concentrate on just team drills with no particular opponent in mind, coach Mike Brown said.
''As a staff, we're ready for either team, but other than that we're just working on ourselves right now,'' he said.
Like father?
LeBron James put on a show during practice today — that would be LeBron James Jr., who is just five months shy of his fifth birthday.
The media in attendance got an unexpected treat when James Sr. worked with his son on the court after practice.
Many looked on in awe as James Jr. consistently connected on shots from eight feet in front of the hoop and from each side of the basket.
When asked if his son would eventually sign a letter of intent with Ohio State, a proud James Sr. smiled broadly and said: ''Absolutely.''
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
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 09:06 AM, 04/29/2009
GO CAVS!!!
Posted 02:18 PM, 04/29/2009
This is not really the same subject but what the *&#^ is the deal with Austin Carr anyone else wish he would loose his voice for a few games? I like "throw the hammer down" but not from him. He's a idiot. Please Gilbert, find a new announcer.
Brooklyn, Oh
Posted 02:50 PM, 04/29/2009
your crazy AC is the MAN.
