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Do IT this week: Layering
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 06:04 p.m. EDT, Oct 25, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: Anthony Parker likes the position he's in right now with the Cavaliers — right between LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.
The 6-foot-6 forward, who was acquired during the free-agency period this summer, stands to benefit greatly from playing alongside the two as he assumes the starting job as the Cavs' shooting guard.
''They get most of the attention. They make it easier for guys like myself offensively,'' Parker said.
And Parker has taken the opportunity to show what he can do offensively on a few occasions during the preseason. A couple of times, he has moved off O'Neal screens to make a quick jump shot with little difficulty. It's not something that the Cavs did with consistency.
But as smooth as he can be offensively, one of the reasons General Manager Danny Ferry signed Parker was to shore up the team's perimeter defense after the Cavaliers' loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, courtesy of sharp shooting by the Orlando Magic. The fact that Parker averaged 10.7 points per game for the Toronto Raptors is a bonus. He's still picking up coach Mike Brown's complicated defense, but he said his adjustment is progressing.
''It's just a different defensive scheme usually from team to team and you have to get used to that,'' he said.
However, he has taken the chance to flash some of his defensive skills. During a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks, Parker showed how wily and athletic he can be. He was locked man-to-man with a Mavs player moving without the ball, laid off on him ever so slightly and when a pass was attempted by the Mavs, Parker reached out and got it and found Anderson Varejao for an easy basket.
''It's something you have to have the desire to do,'' Parker said of playing defense.
However, he didn't always have the desire to do it.
''I wasn't a defensive-minded player and it started for me in college. It really makes it easier on yourself if you do your work early and do what you're supposed to do,'' he said. ''Defense is something if you shortcut, you're going to get burned. You may as well get into the habit of doing everything the right way every time. Honestly, it makes it easy in the long run.''
By no means, however, does he believe that he's completely immersed in the Cavs' defensive schemes.
''There are a couple of things that are instinctive that I still do from Toronto that I have to get used to doing here until it becomes instinctive,'' he said.
Cleaning it up
The Cavs certainly didn't look ready to go for the regular season after their final preseason game against the Boston Celtics, and Brown knew that.
In the days before the opener Tuesday night, Brown said, he and his players will be looking to straighten out the team's kinks.
''It gives you a chance to clean up things you think you need to clean up going into Game 1, but also knowing the fact that even though you have these days, you're still a ways away from where you want to be when it's time to get into the playoffs,'' he said.
Brown also said that the Celtics didn't see everything from his team on either side of the ball Wednesday.
The computer says
EA Sports simulated the entire NBA season on NBA Live 10, its video game, and the Cavs came up the big winner — capturing the NBA championship along with LeBron James being named MVP for a second consecutive season.
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: Anthony Parker likes the position he's in right now with the Cavaliers — right between LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.
The 6-foot-6 forward, who was acquired during the free-agency period this summer, stands to benefit greatly from playing alongside the two as he assumes the starting job as the Cavs' shooting guard.
''They get most of the attention. They make it easier for guys like myself offensively,'' Parker said.
And Parker has taken the opportunity to show what he can do offensively on a few occasions during the preseason. A couple of times, he has moved off O'Neal screens to make a quick jump shot with little difficulty. It's not something that the Cavs did with consistency.
But as smooth as he can be offensively, one of the reasons General Manager Danny Ferry signed Parker was to shore up the team's perimeter defense after the Cavaliers' loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, courtesy of sharp shooting by the Orlando Magic. The fact that Parker averaged 10.7 points per game for the Toronto Raptors is a bonus. He's still picking up coach Mike Brown's complicated defense, but he said his adjustment is progressing.
''It's just a different defensive scheme usually from team to team and you have to get used to that,'' he said.
However, he has taken the chance to flash some of his defensive skills. During a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks, Parker showed how wily and athletic he can be. He was locked man-to-man with a Mavs player moving without the ball, laid off on him ever so slightly and when a pass was attempted by the Mavs, Parker reached out and got it and found Anderson Varejao for an easy basket.
''It's something you have to have the desire to do,'' Parker said of playing defense.
However, he didn't always have the desire to do it.
''I wasn't a defensive-minded player and it started for me in college. It really makes it easier on yourself if you do your work early and do what you're supposed to do,'' he said. ''Defense is something if you shortcut, you're going to get burned. You may as well get into the habit of doing everything the right way every time. Honestly, it makes it easy in the long run.''
By no means, however, does he believe that he's completely immersed in the Cavs' defensive schemes.
''There are a couple of things that are instinctive that I still do from Toronto that I have to get used to doing here until it becomes instinctive,'' he said.
Cleaning it up
The Cavs certainly didn't look ready to go for the regular season after their final preseason game against the Boston Celtics, and Brown knew that.
In the days before the opener Tuesday night, Brown said, he and his players will be looking to straighten out the team's kinks.
''It gives you a chance to clean up things you think you need to clean up going into Game 1, but also knowing the fact that even though you have these days, you're still a ways away from where you want to be when it's time to get into the playoffs,'' he said.
Brown also said that the Celtics didn't see everything from his team on either side of the ball Wednesday.
The computer says
EA Sports simulated the entire NBA season on NBA Live 10, its video game, and the Cavs came up the big winner — capturing the NBA championship along with LeBron James being named MVP for a second consecutive season.
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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Bethesda, MD
Posted 11:36 PM, 10/25/2009
The Cavs are about 12-18 games away from being ready for the season -- no Cleveland team ever is.
wadsworth, oh
Posted 10:13 AM, 10/26/2009
Certainly NOT the Browns. The Browns SUCK!!!
Go Cavs !!!
akron, oh
Posted 11:11 AM, 10/26/2009
@ EastsideJo. The CAVS team from last year was able to do it, I doubt this one will though.
This has been more like a fantasy draft season where we see superstars all on one team. LA has somewhat of an ALLSTAR lineup. I can't wait to see the new NIKE Lebron & Kobe Commercials. GO CAVS!!!
Posted 12:51 PM, 10/26/2009
The Cavs are ready now... Never judge by the pre-season. When Leon Powe gets healthy this team is going to go on a run like Cleveland has never seen before. The Cavs win it all despite the negative thinking of most ignorant Cleveland Sports fans.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:27 PM, 10/26/2009
Vince Carter was going off the other night in Orlando. Watch out for the Magic again. Hopefully the Cavs can avoid anymore blowouts by them during the regular season and beyond.
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh
Posted 04:02 PM, 10/26/2009
the cavs are very deep. unfortunately they are deep with average players/role players. theyre going to be solid and probably win 55-60 games but they wont get to the championship. theyre stll the best thing going around here so i intend to enjoy the season
Lorain, OH
Posted 07:14 PM, 10/26/2009
I'd enjoy it for another season, because should LBJ leave as I expect he will, Cleveland's going to become a ghost town for pro teams. The Cavs are still the 3rd best team in this conference (which ain't saying much to begin with).
The Cavs are not ready. Should they face a team like Orlando again, they cannot score enough to win if their defense isn't capable of keeping the score in the 70s-80 (any higher than 88 and they're in trouble). In car terms, the Cavs are like a Ford Tempo. Top speed's 85, they're built for effiency and to get you from Point A to B and back. They've got a great engine (LBJ), but too many old parts around him that are either broken down, breaking down or unreliable.
Cleveland fans are going to have their heads pumped up by media and talking heads within that are too afraid to speak the truth I say now...
The Cavaliers are not quite ready to take that next step yet.
churchview, va
Posted 08:20 PM, 10/28/2009
Laker fan here, no comment
