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21st Century Skills and Akron’s new middle school
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Looking back on the season
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Seven prospects reassigned to minor-league camp
Cleveland Browns:
Yates latest to re-sign
Balanced Ledger:
How times have changed?
Kent State Sports:
Kent State gears up for WNIT at Michigan
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Chicago Bulls (Green Mascot and All)
Buckeye Blogging:
Bucks High Seed – Turner High Praise
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Report: Ohio offers Olack
All Da King's Men:
ObamaCare To Reduce Premiums By 3000% ?
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Pathetic GOP Nullification Attempts
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More on Shaming Corporate Criminals
Car Chase:
2010 CONCOURS SEASON IS UPON US
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Deals in Miami?!.
Sound Check:
Willie Nelson & Family coming to the Akron Civic Theatre May 11
See Jane Style:
Who Wore What – The Oscars
HRLite House:
Horses of Courses
Akron Gamer:
Video: Gamers expected to 'reach' for new 'Halo'
New guard struts stuff at Rhodes
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 06:14 p.m. EDT, Oct 04, 2008
It didn't take long for Mo Williams to show the different dimension he brings to the Cavaliers.
On the very first possession of the team's annual intrasquad Wine and Gold Scrimmage Saturday at Rhodes Arena, Williams gave a head fake and crossover dribble in transition and went right to the basket.
There wasn't a spectacular finish — LeBron James saved that for later. All Williams did was draw a shooting foul. But that wasn't the point; it was just what the Cavs hope is the start of a new offensive trend.
It certainly was the a start of a pattern Saturday afternoon. Williams scored 13 points in the Gold team's 49-45 win and was creating fastbreak chances throughout.
Once, he hit Anderson Varejao from halfcourt on an alley-oop. Another time, he tracked down a loose ball, spun and threw a long pass up the floor to start another easy break.
''That's one of my gifts. I can make plays in the open court,'' Williams said. ''That is an area we're trying to get better at. We've put an emphasis on it this year. We have guys who can run, and we're getting out there and doing it. It starts with me, guys see me doing it and it has to trickle down.''
In the fourth quarter with Williams' Gold team comfortably ahead, he switched jerseys and nearly led a comeback with the Wine team, combining with Daniel Gibson, who scored a team-high 16 points, in the backcourt.
''With Mo's quickness, we want to get the ball up the floor quicker,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. '' We don't want to be Phoenix. We have guys who are push guards, and we want to take advantage of it.''
James played only the first quarter and then retired to the bench and ate popcorn. He made just one basket but it left an impression — especially on Sasha Pavlovic.
In transition, Gibson bounced the ball off the backboard in a highlight pass attempt to James. Pavlovic got there first and thought he had the ball until James soared over his head and dunked it.
He also had four rebounds and two assists in his eight minutes on the floor.
Ben Wallace had six points and three rebounds and was quite active, especially when matched up against rookie J.J. Hickson. Wallace challenged Hickson physically whenever he could. The rookie did hold his own, even stepping up and drawing a charge on Wallace in the first half.
Hickson did have another strong moment when he blocked a shot and then hustled to the other end for a dunk on a fastbreak.
Big men Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who had eight points and three blocks, and Varejao, who had seven points and four rebounds, showed good form. As did Lorenzen Wright, who made all four of his shots for eight points.
James gets award
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic presented James with the key to the city before the game in honor of his performance at the Olympics in Beijing, where he helped Team USA win the gold medal. After the game, James attended a rally in Cleveland to support young voter registration. He has donated money to Barack Obama's campaign as well.
''It's all about getting young people to understand how important it is to vote,'' James said. ''This is a time that could be life-changing for a lot of people. You want to stress how important it is to vote. It only comes around every four years. If you want change, you have to be heard.''
West takes leave
Guard Delonte West was excused from training camp Saturday to attend to a family emergency. Brown said he was not sure when West would return. Camp invitee Michael Dickerson has been away from the team dealing with a family matter since midweek as well.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
It didn't take long for Mo Williams to show the different dimension he brings to the Cavaliers.
On the very first possession of the team's annual intrasquad Wine and Gold Scrimmage Saturday at Rhodes Arena, Williams gave a head fake and crossover dribble in transition and went right to the basket.
There wasn't a spectacular finish — LeBron James saved that for later. All Williams did was draw a shooting foul. But that wasn't the point; it was just what the Cavs hope is the start of a new offensive trend.
It certainly was the a start of a pattern Saturday afternoon. Williams scored 13 points in the Gold team's 49-45 win and was creating fastbreak chances throughout.
Once, he hit Anderson Varejao from halfcourt on an alley-oop. Another time, he tracked down a loose ball, spun and threw a long pass up the floor to start another easy break.
''That's one of my gifts. I can make plays in the open court,'' Williams said. ''That is an area we're trying to get better at. We've put an emphasis on it this year. We have guys who can run, and we're getting out there and doing it. It starts with me, guys see me doing it and it has to trickle down.''
In the fourth quarter with Williams' Gold team comfortably ahead, he switched jerseys and nearly led a comeback with the Wine team, combining with Daniel Gibson, who scored a team-high 16 points, in the backcourt.
''With Mo's quickness, we want to get the ball up the floor quicker,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. '' We don't want to be Phoenix. We have guys who are push guards, and we want to take advantage of it.''
James played only the first quarter and then retired to the bench and ate popcorn. He made just one basket but it left an impression — especially on Sasha Pavlovic.
In transition, Gibson bounced the ball off the backboard in a highlight pass attempt to James. Pavlovic got there first and thought he had the ball until James soared over his head and dunked it.
He also had four rebounds and two assists in his eight minutes on the floor.
Ben Wallace had six points and three rebounds and was quite active, especially when matched up against rookie J.J. Hickson. Wallace challenged Hickson physically whenever he could. The rookie did hold his own, even stepping up and drawing a charge on Wallace in the first half.
Hickson did have another strong moment when he blocked a shot and then hustled to the other end for a dunk on a fastbreak.
Big men Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who had eight points and three blocks, and Varejao, who had seven points and four rebounds, showed good form. As did Lorenzen Wright, who made all four of his shots for eight points.
James gets award
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic presented James with the key to the city before the game in honor of his performance at the Olympics in Beijing, where he helped Team USA win the gold medal. After the game, James attended a rally in Cleveland to support young voter registration. He has donated money to Barack Obama's campaign as well.
''It's all about getting young people to understand how important it is to vote,'' James said. ''This is a time that could be life-changing for a lot of people. You want to stress how important it is to vote. It only comes around every four years. If you want change, you have to be heard.''
West takes leave
Guard Delonte West was excused from training camp Saturday to attend to a family emergency. Brown said he was not sure when West would return. Camp invitee Michael Dickerson has been away from the team dealing with a family matter since midweek as well.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 09:43 PM, 10/05/2008
Windhorst doesn't even have the courtesy to tell his Beacon Journal readers, "See ya."
Posted 11:53 PM, 10/05/2008
so what? the journal barely told the readers when he was sick.
Posted 06:49 AM, 10/06/2008
Its starting to really look great for all of us Cavalier hopefuls!
Posted 06:51 AM, 10/06/2008
see ya? where is he going?
Posted 07:18 AM, 10/06/2008
Where's he going? The Plain Dealer.
Posted 04:01 PM, 10/06/2008
How do you know he is leaving?? any proof or just speculation?
Posted 12:59 AM, 10/07/2008
j, It's not secret. He accepted the Beacon Journal's buyout offer and started at the Plain Dealer today, October 6. He's already gone from the Beacon Journal.
