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Training camp shows shooter likely to fulfill hopes of double digits
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:26 p.m. EDT, Oct 11, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: Wally Szczerbiak is much more at ease coming into his first full season with the Cavaliers.
That will help a player who was expected to add some pop coming off the bench after being traded to the Cavaliers in a three-team deal last winter. Szczerbiak averaged 13.1 points during his time last season with the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) but in 25 games with the Cavaliers, he averaged just 8.1 points per game and shot inconsistently.
He now finds himself auditioning for the job of shooting guard opposite point guard Mo Williams.
''I think the camp's going well. I'm getting to know everyone a little better, going through the rigors, the aches and pains with all the guys doing shooting drills like we're doing, I think that's going to go a long way toward building chemistry and trust,'' Szczerbiak said.
Some of that chemistry and trust might have manifested itself Friday night in Providence, R.I., as the Cavs lost a thriller to the Boston Celtics 96-94.
In that game, Szczerbiak looked like the shooter that the team traded for last season. He made 4-of-5 shots, scored 13 points and looked as if he were comfortable operating within the offense, something that's happened as training camp has progressed.
''Preseason is all about getting your timing, getting your rhythm, getting your stroke back out there and getting your legs and getting comfortable with the offense and coaches and hitting the ground running when the season starts,'' Szczerbiak said.
But have his efforts during the season's infancy paid dividends for him?
He thinks so.
''It's huge,'' Szczerbiak said. ''It really is. I've picked up so many different options in the offense, so the team can see where my strengths are and where I can be exploited offensively and defensively, and that's something that training camp is very useful for.''
Coach Mike Brown isn't worried about Szczerbiak's offensive game, but if you play for Brown, you have to play defense first and foremost.
''He shot the ball well, he scored the ball well,'' Brown said. ''I know Wally can do that. Not only Wally, but everyone else. Wally is part of it, but we have to make sure that we're not getting taken advantage of on the defensive end of the floor.''
Sending a message
Per usual, the coach is sending that message to all of his team members. He wasn't exactly enthralled with their performance against the Celtics at the defensive end.
''We had some good defensive plays,'' he said. ''I'm still concerned about our pick-and-roll defense. I'm concerned about our post-up defense and I'm concerned about our perimeter defense in terms of letting people get to the paint on us. No matter who's on the floor, we need to do a better job in those situations.''
He said that he served notice to the team in a meeting that he will be riding players about their defensive performance until they meet his standards.
''It is my job to push and push and I had a conversation with the team, that I'm going to push until they get really irritated with me,'' he said.
Still one spot
Vernon Hamilton, Ronald Dupree and Jawad Williams have the thankless task of battling each other for one remaining roster spot.
''All three of these guys are great,'' Brown said. ''They all understand their roles, can bring something to the table and we're still looking [at them].''
Translation: No cuts seem imminent.
Status report
Sasha Pavlovic and Ben Wallace practiced on a limited basis Saturday. Delonte West remained absent from training camp.
George M. Thomas can be reached atsportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the cavs blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
INDEPENDENCE: Wally Szczerbiak is much more at ease coming into his first full season with the Cavaliers.
That will help a player who was expected to add some pop coming off the bench after being traded to the Cavaliers in a three-team deal last winter. Szczerbiak averaged 13.1 points during his time last season with the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) but in 25 games with the Cavaliers, he averaged just 8.1 points per game and shot inconsistently.
He now finds himself auditioning for the job of shooting guard opposite point guard Mo Williams.
''I think the camp's going well. I'm getting to know everyone a little better, going through the rigors, the aches and pains with all the guys doing shooting drills like we're doing, I think that's going to go a long way toward building chemistry and trust,'' Szczerbiak said.
Some of that chemistry and trust might have manifested itself Friday night in Providence, R.I., as the Cavs lost a thriller to the Boston Celtics 96-94.
In that game, Szczerbiak looked like the shooter that the team traded for last season. He made 4-of-5 shots, scored 13 points and looked as if he were comfortable operating within the offense, something that's happened as training camp has progressed.
''Preseason is all about getting your timing, getting your rhythm, getting your stroke back out there and getting your legs and getting comfortable with the offense and coaches and hitting the ground running when the season starts,'' Szczerbiak said.
But have his efforts during the season's infancy paid dividends for him?
He thinks so.
''It's huge,'' Szczerbiak said. ''It really is. I've picked up so many different options in the offense, so the team can see where my strengths are and where I can be exploited offensively and defensively, and that's something that training camp is very useful for.''
Coach Mike Brown isn't worried about Szczerbiak's offensive game, but if you play for Brown, you have to play defense first and foremost.
''He shot the ball well, he scored the ball well,'' Brown said. ''I know Wally can do that. Not only Wally, but everyone else. Wally is part of it, but we have to make sure that we're not getting taken advantage of on the defensive end of the floor.''
Sending a message
Per usual, the coach is sending that message to all of his team members. He wasn't exactly enthralled with their performance against the Celtics at the defensive end.
''We had some good defensive plays,'' he said. ''I'm still concerned about our pick-and-roll defense. I'm concerned about our post-up defense and I'm concerned about our perimeter defense in terms of letting people get to the paint on us. No matter who's on the floor, we need to do a better job in those situations.''
He said that he served notice to the team in a meeting that he will be riding players about their defensive performance until they meet his standards.
''It is my job to push and push and I had a conversation with the team, that I'm going to push until they get really irritated with me,'' he said.
Still one spot
Vernon Hamilton, Ronald Dupree and Jawad Williams have the thankless task of battling each other for one remaining roster spot.
''All three of these guys are great,'' Brown said. ''They all understand their roles, can bring something to the table and we're still looking [at them].''
Translation: No cuts seem imminent.
Status report
Sasha Pavlovic and Ben Wallace practiced on a limited basis Saturday. Delonte West remained absent from training camp.
George M. Thomas can be reached atsportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the cavs blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/
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