Ok...this is a definite wallpaper! LeBron's 17th chasedown of the season, and 40th over two campaigns.
It came at the expense of Will Bynum, the 3rd of the season against the Pistons. He had also gotten Rodney Stuckey and Rip Hamilton in the prior two engagements.
The replay showed Bynum got the ball on the glass first, as LeBron had to admit, but it was such a narrow sliver of difference between LBJ catching ball first, his Chasedown reputation undoubtedly helped him. We've all seen him do it with such precision, you expect him to pull off the amazing, athletic feat every time.
Tommy Heinsohn told me last season, Bill Russell is the only player he has ever seen, have the timing, and athletic ability to make these kind of breathtaking deletions. You're now seeing college high flyers try it, easier said than done. To get to the ball in time, not commit the foul and keep it in play makes it the perfect storm. It's almost like an inside the park home run - a rare, rare moment in a game that takes on a life of it's own.
I think we all know what we are watching every night as no one has the total package like the King!
He’s baaack…LeBron says he’s excited about getting back on the floor in Philly as six days off did him good from a body maintenance stand point. If it was the postseason, he would not have missed any time. This was a great call by Mike to give LBJ some time to rest, although he kept himself in shape and as LeBron says, he never really loses rhythm when he sits. He called it a blessing to get this time off. Remember last season, he was able to sit out 14 4th quarters, which helped him stay as fresh as possible.
Exhibit A, today in practice, a coast-to-coast down the LBJ freeway off a rebound and a smash. Then, moments later, a beautiful halfcourt play with LeBron taking a high handoff from Mo. Number 23 had his pit stop and is ready to go. He says at this time of year, aches never totally go away, but that’s the case for every player in the league.
LeBron got a chance to watch St. V. play in the tournament yesterday, and then did his total NBA experience at his home. He says he watches from 7:00 p.m. on, catching a little of each game, on what you would say is a wall of TV’s. Sort of like a TV control room you might say. Yours truly also watched a bunch last night, but on one TV screen and not quite with the attention span the King does. That would be fun to sit with him and watch five hours of hoop. Just seeing how intently he watches games in the locker room and how he breaks it down gives you an idea of how wired in he is.
The guys were back on the practice floor, but Mike gave guys like LBJ, Andy, AP, Antawn and Mo a chance to get some more rest, holding them out of contact practice. In the case of Jamison, he remains day-to-day as far as Friday's game goes. 'Twan says he feels better, that the cyst behind his left knee caused him some discomfort at the beginning of the season too, and with treatment he was fine.
As he mentioned after practice, if this were the playoffs he’d be out there for sure. He’ll let doctors and the training staff determine if he’ll go Friday. He did seem encouraged though how he’s feeling, and that’s a good sign.
LeBron seemed fresh as he shot the ball and all seems like a go for Philly.
Shaq has already reached out to his teammates telling them he feels like he let them down, and go out and get it done. Danny Ferry says Shaq’s spirits are good, and will wear a splint for two weeks, and then beginning rehab. Shaq’s been through this before, in 1995, when he suffered a right thumb injury, which came in the preseason, he returned in 8 weeks and was a force right away. As he said in his tweet this morning, it’s still “win da ring for da king…Luv my team, Cavs baby”!
So, as one Fanatic said today how about “win one for the Thumb”…that works too. The guys are used to winning without key pieces. Remember, a season ago, without Z, 14-4, without Delonte, 11-5, and without both of them at the same time, 5-2. This year, recently, no Mo and Delonte, and a 9-0 mark when both were out. No Shaq, now 6-1. It’s what this deep team does.
More playing time thus comes for guys like J.J. Hickson and Leon Powe, possibly Darnell Jackson...center by committee. AP just mentioned he noticed how well guys stay ready, and how well the coaches keep guys on ready. Mike said the team feels badly for Shaq, but the mood is good, because they know injuries are a big part of the NBA.
Three of the keys will be rebounding as well as paint scoring and defense, areas where Shaq has really impacted, to the tune of being #1 in paint point differential and #7 in rebounding.
See you tonight on the broadcast. Dan Gilbert will join us live in the 2nd quarter.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 12:53 PM EST
[General]
For the first time in nearly 3 months, Mike Brown has a change in his front court trio…Antawn Jamison makes his starting debut against the Hornets…JJ Hickson is under the weather, but Mike was going to make the move anyway…this is not an indictment of the 2nd year leaper from NC State…keep in mind, the Cavs went 40-11 with JJ as a starter…but when you acquire a talent like Jamison, who spreads the floor and is a two time all star, you have to find a way to do what’s best for the team as Mike said today…Obviously ‘Twan poses a problem for defenses who can no longer leave him and double on LeBron or Shaq…The key when JJ comes off the bench, he’ll need to bring that same aggressiveness and energy he did as a starter, and Mike, I’m sure has had that chat with him…
One of the dilemmas, if you want to call it that, is having so many weapons on the offensive side, Mo says it becomes a nightly feel on how aggressive he’ll look to score, or feed the hot hand…but as he says, the entire starting line-up is loaded now with guys who are experienced, and understand who will be the go to guy in certain situations…Bottom line, it’s a nice problem to have, for all the Cavs, and for Mike, who has to find minutes for all those concerned..
Leon Powe may dress tonight for the first time, although no decision has been made…but doctors have given Leon the green light physically, and he says he is ready…
